Credit card system with key module

• US 5,818,030 A
• Filed: 01/23/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rene A. Reyes
• Original Assignee: Rene A. Reyes
• Inventors: Reyes, Rene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/787,646
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/487, 235/493
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07739 comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor

Abstract

A secure, smart credit card system having the same basic dimensions of a standard credit card. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a main body having situated thereon a main central processing unit (CPU). A portion of the main body has formed therein a space or slot for accepting a key unit, which is configured to engage the main body in the formed space or slot, the joined pieces maintaining the same basic dimensions of a standard credit card. The key unit may include an intelligent micro-memory module and power supply, and, upon physical engagement to the main body, may be programmed to initiate a "key" protocol to open or lock access to the functions of the main body, communicating with the main CPU upon physical insertion into the main body, thereby initiating or preventing functioning of electronically programed features of the main CPU. The key unit may further include a ROM memory for encoding data and/or a security code in memory, which code may be communicated to the main CPU, upon sliding insertion of the display into the display slot formed in the main body. Additionally, an LCD on the key unit may display the only indication of the credit card number of the card, so that without said LCD display "key" and ROM data and security codes properly inserted into the main body, the body of the card (and the key unit) each individually is merely a blank with no value to a thief.

Claims

1. A security verification system for preventing the unauthorized utilization of proprietary data, comprising:

a two piece, selectively engage able smart card system configured to engage to form a structure having the same general dimensions as a credit card;

said first piece comprising a key unit component having memory, said memory having a security code and proprietary data stored therein, said key unit further comprising a key unit body having first and second edges, said key unit body enveloping said memory, said key unit body having a key unit contact interface situated generally adjacent to the exterior of said key unit body for transmitting data from said memory to an exterior device;

a main body having generally about the same dimensions as a standard credit card, said main body having a key unit engagement area formed therein for selectively receiving and engaging said key unit body in such a manner as to maintain the general dimensions of a credit card, said engagement means further having a main body contact interface configured to engage and contact said key unit contact interface upon full engagement of said key unit with key unit engagement area formed in said main body, said main body further including verification means for accepting, via said main body contact interface, said security code from said key unit memory, said verification means further including a CPU programmed to discern the authenticity of said security code upon full engagement of said key unit to said main body, and transmittal of said security code from said key unit memory to said main body CPU via said key unit contact interface;

display means for displaying data upon verification of the authenticity of said security code by said verification means.

2. The credit card system of claim 1, wherein said key unit and main body engage via tongue and groove, sliding engagement.

3. The credit card system of claim 1, wherein said key unit further houses said display means, and said display means comprises an LCD display.

4. The credit card system of claim 1, wherein said key unit has first and second surfaces, said first surface comprising said display means, said second surface comprising a magnetic strip having data encoded therein.

5. The credit card system of claim 1, wherein said key unit has first and second surfaces, said first surface comprising said display means, said second surface comprising a metallic strip.

6. The credit card system of claim 4, wherein said display means further includes LED means on said main body, said LED means indicating the verification status of said security code by said verification means.

7. The credit card system of claim 5, wherein said display means further includes LED means on said main body, said LED means indicating the verification status of said security code by said verification means.

8. The credit card system of claim 1, wherein said main body further comprises terminal interface means for communicating data to an outside peripheral upon verification.

9. The method providing a security verification system for preventing the unauthorized utilization of proprietary data, comprising the steps of:

a. Providing a two piece, selectively engage able smart card system configured to engage to form a structure having the same general dimensions as a credit card;

b. Providing said first piece comprising a key unit component having memory, said memory having a security code and proprietary data stored therein, said key unit further comprising a key unit body having first and second edges, said key unit body enveloping said memory, said key unit body having a key unit contact interface situated generally adjacent to the exterior of said key unit body for transmitting data from said memory to an exterior device;

c. Providing a main body having generally about the same dimensions as a standard credit card, said main body having a key unit engagement area formed therein for selectively receiving and engaging said key unit-body in such a manner as to maintain the general dimensions of a credit card, said engagement means further having a main body contact interface configured to engage and contact said key unit contact interface upon full engagement of said key unit with key unit engagement area formed in said main body, said main body further including verification means for accepting, via said main body contact interface, said security code from said key unit memory, said verification means further including a CPU programmed to discern the authenticity of said security code upon full engagement of said key unit to said main body, and transmittal of said security code from said key unit memory to said main body CPU via said key unit contact interface;

d. Providing display means for displaying data upon verification of the authenticity of said security code by said verification means;

e. engaging said key unit to said main body;

f. transmitting said security code from said key unit to said main body;

g. verifying the authenticity of said security code;

h. if the authenticity of said security code is positive, displaying said proprietary data from said key unit on said display means;

I. if the authenticity of said security code is negative, locking the system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein in step "c" said main body further comprises a terminal interface, and wherein in step "e" there is included the step of engaging said terminal interface to an exterior peripheral, and there is further included in step "h" of transmitting said proprietary data to said exterior peripheral via said terminal interface.

11. The credit card system of claim 10, wherein in step "c" said main body further comprises terminal interface means for communicating data to an outside peripheral upon verification, and there is further included in step "h" of transmitting said proprietary data to said exterior peripheral via said terminal interface.