Radio frequency activated charge card

• US 5,412,192 A
• Filed: 07/20/1993
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Company
• Inventors: Hoss, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKORSKI, EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/094,753
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/435, 235/439, 235/449, 235/492, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133 Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements arrangements or circuits for control of liquid crystal elements in a matrix, not structurally associated with these elements G09G3/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0704 the battery being rechargeable, e.g. solar batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A system for changing the activation status of a selected data card such as a charge card by broadcasting an appropriate RF signal. An antenna embedded in the card detects and decodes the signal, and operates a transducer which changes the card appearance, alters magnetic stripe information, or alters the information contained within the card.

Claims

1. An alterable wallet-size data card of the type including a magnetic stripe, the card being capable of responding to a unique RF signal transmitted from a remote source, said data card comprising:

antenna means in the card for detecting said unique RF signal;

means for decoding said unique RF signal upon detection thereof;

transducer means for selectively altering a characteristic of the data card indicative of its status; and

means for operating said transducer means, in response to operation of said decoding means, to alter the status of the data card;

wherein said transducer means comprises a magnetic coil positioned over said magnetic stripe, said magnetic coil focusing flux over a portion of said magnetic stripe when said transducer means is operative.