Electronic card with indicator of normal operation

• US 5,889,267 A
• Filed: 09/11/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Robin, Philippe, Dubois, Jean-Claude, Riguidel, Christian, Facoetti, Hugues, Paschal, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Gross, Anita Pellman
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US08/927,963
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/384, 235/382
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0704 the battery being rechargeable, e.g. solar batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• 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 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03

Abstract

An electronic card having an electronic control circuit, an elector-optical element configured as a normal operation indicator, and a power supply source. Electrical tracks connect the electronic control circuit with the electro-optical element and the power supply source, and affixing elements attach the electronic card to a substantially planer surface. The electrical tracks having embrittlement grooves which destroy the connections made by the electrical tracks upon removal of the electronic card from the substantially planer surface to which the electronic card is attached. The electronic card is suited for applications in the identification and automatic detection of objects and in particular, stolen vehicles.

Claims

1. An electronic card comprising:

an electronic control circuit;

an electro-optical element connected to the electronic control circuit and configured as an operation indicator;

a power supply source connected to the electronic control circuit;

at least one affixing element adapted to attach the electronic card to an object;

electrical tracks connecting the electronic control circuit with the electro-optical element and the power supply source; and

at least one embrittlement groove configured to destroy at least one of the electrical tracks, the electronic control circuit, the electro-optical element, the power supply source, and other physical elements, upon removal of the electronic card from the object to which the electronic card is adapted to be attached.

2. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical element is placed before a transparent zone of the electronic card, to let through visible light.

3. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein the electronic card comprises a catadioptric mirror reflecting zone on which the electro-optical element is placed.

4. An electronic card according to claim 1, comprising communications means connected to the electronic control circuit and configured to receive, memorize and store data elements.

5. An electronic card according to claim 4, wherein the communication means includes microwave reception and transmission means.

6. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein the power supply source for the electronic control circuit comprises any one of solar power units, a power cell, and a battery.

7. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control circuit, electro-optical element, and power supply source are integrated into a plastic card.

8. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein the object to which the electronic card is adapted to be attached comprises a substantially planer surface.

9. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein the electronic card has holes into which there are incorporated the affixing elements having bonding tips.

10. An electronic card according claim 1, wherein the electro-optical element and the power supply source are integrated into one face of the electronic card, the electronic control circuit is integrated into another face of the electronic card;

and

the electrical tracks connect the electronic control circuit with the electro-optical element and the power supply source in a plane parallel to a plane of the electronic card and along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the electronic card.

11. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein the affixing elements comprise first and second cylindrical elements, respectively having diameters d1, and d2, d1 being substantially equal to a diameter of the holes, d2 being greater than d1, the first element having a bonding tip located in a plane parallel to the electro-optical element and the power supply source and a length equal to a thickness of the electronic card, the second element having peripheral metallizations enabling an electrical connection between the electrical tracks connecting the electronic control circuit with the electro-optical element and the power supply source of the electronic card.

12. A system for the identification and automatic detection of vehicles or objects, comprising:

in each vehicle or identifiable object, an electronic card according to any one of claims 1, 4, 6 or 7 affixed to the vehicle or the identifiable object; and

at least one mobile reader, comprising,

a memory for recording a file of identification codes for the objects or vehicles to be identified;

microwave means for the simultaneous interrogation of the electronic card to prompt a transmission of all the identification codes of the vehicles or objects;

means for the comparison of the identification codes contained in the file of identification codes with those transmitted by the electronic card; and

signalling means to report a presence of vehicles or objects whose identification codes correspond to those stored in the file of identification codes.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic card is affixed to a transparent element of the vehicle or of the identifiable object.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical element is a cell comprising polymer dispersed liquid crystal.