Transparent/translucent financial transaction card
First Claim
1. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs, each source/detector pair including a near Infrared light source and a near Infrared light detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted from said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:
- a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
said material sheet having an area that is at least minimally transparent or translucent to human viewing and located so as to span an optical pathway of one or more of said source/detector pairs when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection; and
an Infrared light filter associated with said area, said filter providing sufficient opacity to near Infrared light to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs and being arranged to block the optical pathways of all source/detector pairs spanned by said area, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to remain transparent or translucent to visible light in said area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A financial transaction card is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment. The card includes a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge. The material sheet has one or more areas that are at least minimally transparent or translucent to human viewing. A filter associated with at least one of the areas provides sufficient opacity to light used by card sensors in the automated card processing equipment to render the card detectable.
221 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs, each source/detector pair including a near Infrared light source and a near Infrared light detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted from said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:
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a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
said material sheet having an area that is at least minimally transparent or translucent to human viewing and located so as to span an optical pathway of one or more of said source/detector pairs when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection; and
an Infrared light filter associated with said area, said filter providing sufficient opacity to near Infrared light to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs and being arranged to block the optical pathways of all source/detector pairs spanned by said area, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to remain transparent or translucent to visible light in said area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for manufacturing a financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs, each source/detector pair including a near Infrared light source and a near Infrared light detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted from said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising the steps of:
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forming a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
said material sheet being formed with an area that is at least minimally transparent or translucent to human viewing and located so as to span an optical pathway of one or more of said source/detector pairs when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection; and
associating a near Infrared light filter with said area, said filter providing sufficient opacity to near Infrared light to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs and being arranged to block the optical pathways of all source/detector pairs spanned by said area, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to remain transparent or translucent to visible light in said area. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs, each source/detector pair including a near Infrared light source and a near Infrared light detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted from said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:
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a sheet of material having an area that is at least minimally transparent or translucent to human viewing and located so as to span an optical pathway of one or more of said source/detector pairs when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection; and
filter means associated with said area for rendering said card detectable by source/detector pairs in said automated processing equipment, said filter means providing sufficient opacity to near Infrared light to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs and being arranged to block the optical pathways of all source/detector pairs spanned by said area, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to remain transparent or translucent to visible light in said area. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs arranged in two parallel bands separated by an intermediate band, each source/detector pair including a near Infrared light source and a near Infrared light detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted from said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:
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a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
said material sheet having one or more areas that are at least minimally transparent or translucent to human viewing and located so as to span an optical pathway of one or more of said source/detector pairs when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection; and
an Infrared light filter associated with said one or more areas, said filter providing sufficient opacity to near Infrared light to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs and being located on said card so as to be in correspondence with said two parallel bands of said automated card processing equipment to block the optical pathways of all source/detector pairs spanned by said one or more areas, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to remain transparent or translucent to visible light in said one or more areas. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification