Automatic transaction machine system for checking card data and embossed characters
First Claim
1. An automatic transaction machine system giving access to information recorded on a card as embossed figures and printed information before starting a transaction comprising:
- (a1) data read means for reading data stored by said card;
(a) means for controlling said data read means to read data stored by said card,(b) first light emitting means for radiating a first set of rays onto figures embossed on a surface of said card,(c) second light emitting means for radiating a second set of rays onto printed information on said card;
(d) image sensor means for receiving one of said first and second sets of rays after reflection from said card, said image sensor means including a plurality of photodetector elements,(e) means for controlling said image sensor means, and(f) checking means, connected to said data read controlling means and said image sensor means, for comparing information from said data read by said data read means with both of said embossed figures and said printed information for determining legitimacy of said card.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In order to check if information stored on a card is authentic, the embossed character and figure information is compared with the information on the card. The rays radiated from the light emitting elements arranged in a line pass through a slit whose width is substantially equal to the thickness of embossed portions. Then, the rays are reflected on a card surface and received at an optical sensor consisting of LED elements arranged in a line as the card is in transit. The optical sensor is oriented in a manner to keep the same angle of reflection as the angle of incidence with respect to a normal. The light emitting elements are oriented to form another angle of incidence. These elements are used for reading the printed characters. To read a color pattern, a sensor having a photo detection sensitivity toward a normal of the card serves to receive the scattered rays reflected on the card, which rays are obliquely radiated to the card.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. An automatic transaction machine system giving access to information recorded on a card as embossed figures and printed information before starting a transaction comprising:
-
(a1) data read means for reading data stored by said card; (a) means for controlling said data read means to read data stored by said card, (b) first light emitting means for radiating a first set of rays onto figures embossed on a surface of said card, (c) second light emitting means for radiating a second set of rays onto printed information on said card; (d) image sensor means for receiving one of said first and second sets of rays after reflection from said card, said image sensor means including a plurality of photodetector elements, (e) means for controlling said image sensor means, and (f) checking means, connected to said data read controlling means and said image sensor means, for comparing information from said data read by said data read means with both of said embossed figures and said printed information for determining legitimacy of said card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An automatic transaction machine system including a checking means for reading information recorded on a card before starting a transaction, said checking means having means for reading information stored in a magnetic stripe on said card, means for optically reading embossed information formed on a surface of said card, means for optically reading printed information formed on said card, and means for determining whether the information stored in the magnetic stripe is identical to the printed information and the embossed information.
-
9. A method for preventing unauthorized use of an automatic transaction machine card having information stored in a magnetically-readable region located thereon, having embossed information stored in a first optically-readable region located thereon, and having printed information stored in a second optically-readable region located thereon, comprising the steps of:
-
reading a set of information from the magnetically-readable region; reading a set of embossed information from the first optically-readable region; reading a set of printed information from the second optically-readable region; comparing the magnetically-readable information with both the embossed and printed information; and verifying the authenticity of the card if both comparisons indicate identity of compared information, and indicating that the card is not authentic if at least one of the comparisons indicates a lack of identity of compared information.
-
Specification