Universal credit card apparatus and method

• US 5,834,747 A
• Filed: 02/19/1997
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pixel Instruments Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, J. Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/802,672
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/449, 235/493
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• 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: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The apparatus and method described herein provides for creating multiple spatial patterns, such as magnetic patterns on credit cards. The invention includes storage of information from which patterns may be created, a pattern creation device for creating the spatial patterns, and control whereby the information which is stored is selectively utilized to cause the pattern creation. This allows multiple desired patterns to be simulated, allowing convenient replacement of a number of separate pattern carrying devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing simulation of multiple sets of magnetic spatial patterns for use by a magnetic pattern reading device, including in combination:

a carrier having a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to said long axis, and a reading surface coplanar to said long axis and short axis;

a control circuit including memory for storing data from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed, said control circuit located on said carrier, said memory for storing data from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed;

a programmable magnetic spatial pattern creating device comprising an elongate magnetic strip oriented principally along said carrier long axis and said magnetic strip having a plurality of periodic extensions to said reading surface, said extensions oriented principally perpendicular to said carrier long axis and positioned between said elongate magnetic strip and said reading surface, a plurality of electromagnetic coils located on said carrier magnetic strip and positioned between said extensions and capable of reconstructing said magnetic spatial patterns;

wherein said control circuit is responsive to an external stimulus to cause said programmable magnetic spatial pattern creating device to reconstruct a known one of said magnetic spatial patterns in response to data from said memory, wherein said magnetic spatial pattern is maintained at a constant value while in use by said magnetic pattern reading device.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein said control device comprises a machine having finite states.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein said control device comprises a computer.

2. An apparatus for generating multiple sets of magnetic spatial patterns, including in combination:

a carrier having a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to said long axis, and a reading surface coplanar to said long axis and short axis;

a pattern creating device comprising a plurality of electromagnetic devices linearly arranged along said long axis of said carrier and producing a multi-valued magnetic flux along said long axis, said pattern creating device located on said carrier;

a control circuit located on said carrier and coupled to said pattern creating device, said control circuit including a storage device for storing information from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed, said control circuit operable to determine which of said information is received by said pattern creating device and at a time thereafter causing said pattern creating device to create a pattern in response to said information, said pattern remaining constant while in use by said magnetic pattern reading device, said control circuit located on said carrier;

an input device coupled to said circuit device and translating information from a user into the selection of at least one of said magnetic spatial patterns in said storage device.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, 3, or 4 wherein said input device comprises one or more user operated switches.

3. An apparatus for generating multiple sets of magnetic spatial patterns, including in combination:

a carrier having a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to said long axis, and a reading surface coplanar to said long axis and short axis;

a storage device located on said carrier for storing information from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed;

a magnetic spatial pattern creating device comprising an elongate magnetic strip oriented principally along said carrier long axis and said magnetic strip having a plurality of periodic extensions to said reading surface, said extensions oriented principally perpendicular to said carrier long axis and positioned between said elongate magnetic strip and said reading surface, a plurality of electromagnetic devices located on said carrier magnetic strip and positioned between said extensions and coupled to said storage device to receive pattern data created in response to said information and to create a pattern therefrom;

a control circuit operable to determine which of said information is utilized to create said pattern data and pass said pattern data to said pattern creating device wherein said pattern data constant while in use by said pattern reading device;

an input device coupled to said control circuit and translating information from a user into the selection of at least one of said magnetic spatial patterns stored;

a power source coupled to at least one of said storage device, said magnetic spatial pattern creating device, or said control circuit.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein said power source comprises a battery.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said power source includes a solar cell.

4. An apparatus for generating multiple sets of magnetic spatial patterns, including in combination:

a carrier for supporting the elements of said apparatus, said carrier having a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to said long axis, and a rectangular reading surface along which said magnetic spatial pattern is generated;

a storage device for storing information from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed;

a magnetic spatial pattern creating device comprising a plurality of electromagnetic devices arranged along said long axis and coupled to said storage device to receive pattern data created in response to said information and to create a pattern therefrom, said pattern remaining temporally stable while in use by said magnetic pattern reading device;

a control circuit, said control circuit operable to determine which of said information is utilized to create said pattern data and pass said pattern data to said pattern creating device;

an input device coupled to said control circuit and translating information from a user into the selection of at least one of said magnetic spatial patterns stored;

a display coupled to said control circuit and offering information to the user;

a power source coupled to at least one of said storage device, said magnetic spatial pattern creating device, or said control device.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said display comprises a planar array of liquid crystal elements.

11. An apparatus for providing simulation of multiple sets of magnetic spatial patterns for use by a magnetic pattern reading device, including in combination:

a carrier for sup porting the elements of said apparatus, said carrier having a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to said long axis, and a rectangular reading surface along which said magnetic spatial pattern is generated;

a memory for storing data from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed;

a programmable magnetic spatial pattern creating device comprising a plurality of linearly arranged electromagnetic devices located on said long axis and capable of reconstructing said magnetic spatial patterns;

a control device responsive to an external stimulus to cause said programmable magnetic spatial pattern creating device to reconstruct a known one of said magnetic spatial patterns in response to data from said memory, said control device causing said magnetic spatial pattern to remain substantially constant while in use by said magnetic pattern reading device.

12. An apparatus for generating multiple sets of magnetic spatial patterns, including in combination:

a carrier for supporting the elements of said apparatus, said carrier having a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to said long axis, and a rectangular reading surface along which said magnetic spatial pattern is generated;

a storage device for storing information from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed;

a magnetic spatial pattern creating device comprising a plurality of linearly arranged electromagnetic devices located along said long axis and coupled to said storage device to receive pattern data created in response to said information and to create a pattern therefrom;

a control device operable to determine which of said information is utilized to create said pattern data and pass said pattern data to said pattern creating device said pattern data remaining substantially constant while in use by said magnetic pattern reading device;

an input device coupled to said control device and translating information from a user into the selection of at least one of said magnetic spatial patterns stored;

a power source coupled to at least one of said storage device, said magnetic spatial pattern creating device, or said control device.

13. An apparatus for generating multiple sets of magnetic spatial patterns, including in combination:

a carrier for supporting the elements of said apparatus, said carrier having a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to said long axis, and a rectangular reading surface along which said magnetic spatial pattern is generated;

a storage device for storing information from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed;

a magnetic spatial pattern creating device comprising a plurality of linearly arranged electromagnetic devices located along said long axis and coupled to said storage device to receive pattern data created in response to said information and to create a pattern therefrom;

a control device, said control device operable to determine which of said information is utilized to create said pattern data and pass said pattern data to said pattern creating device, said pattern data remaining constant while in use by said magnetic pattern reading device;

an input device coupled to said control device and translating information from a user into the selection of at least one of said magnetic spatial patterns stored;

a display coupled to said control device and offering information to the user;

a power source and coupled to at least one of said storage device, said magnetic spatial pattern creating device, or said control device.

14. An apparatus for providing simulation of multiple sets of magnetic spatial patterns for use by a magnetic pattern reading device, including in combination:

a carrier having a long axis, a short axis perpendicular to said long axis, and a reading surface coplanar to said long axis and short axis;

a control circuit including memory for storing data from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed, said control circuit located on said carrier, said memory for storing data from which said magnetic spatial patterns may be reconstructed;

a programmable magnetic spatial pattern creating device comprising an elongate magnetic strip oriented principally along said carrier long axis and said magnetic strip having a plurality of periodic extensions to said reading surface, said extensions oriented principally perpendicular to said carrier long axis and positioned between said elongate magnetic strip and said reading surface, a plurality of electromagnetic coils located on said carrier magnetic strip and positioned on said extensions and capable of reconstructing said magnetic spatial patterns;

wherein said control circuit is responsive to an external stimulus to cause said programmable magnetic spatial pattern creating device to reconstruct a known one of said magnetic spatial patterns in response to data from said memory, wherein said magnetic spatial pattern is maintained at a constant value while in use by said magnetic pattern reading device.