Capacitive card and reader parking system
First Claim
1. An automatic system for dispensing services controlled by cards carrying successively positioned individual capacitances of a predetermined value comprising a card reader including a frequency generator, capacitance sensing means driven by said frequency generator, means coupling said capacitance sensing means successively to said successively positioned individual capacitances carried by said card, means driven by said capacitance sensing means for triggering service dispensing means adapted to dispense a predetermined quantum of services in response to a capacitance of said predetermined value sensed by said capacitance sensing means, and means triggered by said capacitance sensing means for altering the magnitude of said sensed individual capacitance to a value other than said predetermined value to prevent reuse of said capacitance in said card reader.
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Abstract
The apparatus includes a card which entitles the holder to a number of units of parking time represented by discrete capacitances carried by the card. The parking time is metered by a card reader which accepts the card senses the capacitance carried thereby and measures out a unit of parking time for each unused capacitance. The reader responds to a predetermined capacitance and renders inoperative each capacitance as it is used up. The elements of each capacitance are formed so that the value of the capacitance can be greatly reduced by a mechanical or other type of punching operation. Two types of reader are disclosed, one which accepts the card in increments corresponding to a single capacitance and the other which accepts the entire card and automatically scans the capacitances carried thereby. Several forms of cards are disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. An automatic system for dispensing services controlled by cards carrying successively positioned individual capacitances of a predetermined value comprising a card reader including a frequency generator, capacitance sensing means driven by said frequency generator, means coupling said capacitance sensing means successively to said successively positioned individual capacitances carried by said card, means driven by said capacitance sensing means for triggering service dispensing means adapted to dispense a predetermined quantum of services in response to a capacitance of said predetermined value sensed by said capacitance sensing means, and means triggered by said capacitance sensing means for altering the magnitude of said sensed individual capacitance to a value other than said predetermined value to prevent reuse of said capacitance in said card reader.
Specification