Article having an embedded accessible storage member, apparatus and method for using same

• US 7,988,036 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ultracard, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ultracard, Inc.
• Inventors: Mann, Donald C., Cook, Bert D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US12/210,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20090127338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493, 235/435, 235/439, 235/449, 369/13.17, 369/13.41, 369/13.11, 369/78, 705/41, 360/22, 360/17
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"

Abstract

A portable card adapted to interact with a data processing station when the portable card and the data processing station are moved relative to each other is disclosed. The portable card includes a substrate having a predetermined shape, e.g. rectangular. An accessible embedded storage member is enclosed within said substrate. The storage member includes at least one layer of storage material for storing information in a predetermined format for processing by the data processing station. The storage member and the substrate are adapted to be transported relative to each other to expose at least a portion of the storage member to the data processing station to facilitate processing of stored information and for embedment of the storage member within the substrate. The storage member may be in the form of an elongated strip member, or a circular member.

Claims

1. A portable encoded memory card and card writer/reader system comprising:

a portable encoded memory card including;

a substrate defining a slot-like hollow area in the card having an opening; and

a storage member having at least one layer of magnetic recording material for storing information, wherein said storage member and the slot-like hollow area are cooperatively formed such that the storage member is transportable relative to the substrate through said opening between a first position in which the storage member is fully enclosed within the slot-like hollow area, and a second position in which at least a portion of said storage member is removed from the hollow area and fully exposed outside of said slot-like hollow area to facilitate processing of stored information by a data processing station when the member is exposed; and

said data processing station including a writer/reader having a transducer for at least one of writing encoding signals in said storage member and reading encoded signals from said storage member during relative movement of said storage member relative to said data processing station to enable data flow between said storage member and said transducer,

wherein the data processing station further comprises a removal and reinsertion mechanism adapted to cooperate with said substrate to at least partially remove said storage member from said hollow area to facilitate processing of stored information by said data processing station, and to reinsert said storage member into said hollow area for embedment of said storage member within said substrate.

2. The card and card writer/reader system of claim 1,

wherein said removal and reinsertion mechanism includes:

a stationary member for urging said storage member from said hollow area to position a portion of said storage member so as to extend slightly beyond at least one of a side edge and an end edge of said substrate; and

a positioning member for removeably engaging and transporting said storage member a predetermined distance out of said hollow area to facilitate processing of the stored information on the storage member by said data processing station.

3. The card and card writer/reader system of claim 2 wherein said positioning member is adapted to transport and reinsert said storage member into said hollow area for embedment of said storage member within said substrate.

4. The card and writer/card reader system of claim 1 wherein said transducer is an inductive head.

5. The card and card writer/reader system of claim 1 wherein said transducer is a thin film head.

6. The card and card writer/reader system of claim 1 wherein said transducer is a magnetoresistive head.

7. The card and card writer/reader system of claim 6 wherein said magnetoresistive head includes a dual stripe magnetoresistive element.

8. The card and card writer/reader system of claim 1 wherein said transducer is a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) head.

9. The card and card writer/reader system of claim 1 wherein said storage member has at least one layer of high density, magnetic material which is capable of reading and storing data as magnetic signals.

10. A portable encoded memory card and card writer/reader system comprising:

a portable encoded memory card including;

a substrate defining a slot-like hollow area in the card having an opening; and

a storage member having at least one layer of magnetic recording material for storing information, wherein said storage member and the slot-like hollow area are cooperatively formed such that the storage member is transportable relative to the substrate through said opening between a first position in which the storage member is fully enclosed within the slot-like hollow area, and a second position in which at least a portion of said storage member is removed from the hollow member and fully exposed outside of said slot-like hollow area to facilitate processing of stored information by a data processing station when the member is exposed; and

said data processing station including;

a first transducer for reading the stored information from said storage member during relative movement of said storage member relative to the data processing station to enable data flow between said storage member and said first transducer; and

a second transducer for writing data onto said storage member during relative movement of said storage member relative to the data processing station to enable data flow between said data storage device and said second transducer,

wherein the data processing station further comprises a removal and reinsertion mechanism adapted to cooperate with said substrate to at least partially remove said storage member from said hollow area to facilitate processing of stored information by said data processing station, and to reinsert said storage member into said hollow area for embedment of said storage member within said substrate.

11. The card and card writer/reader system of claim 10 wherein said storage member comprises:

at least one thin film layer of high density, high coercivity magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic field orientation for storing data; and

a diamond-like hardness, abradeable protective coating formed on said thin film magnetic material layer.

12. A system comprising:

a portable encoded memory card including a substrate having a predetermined shape; and

an accessible embedded storage member having at least one layer of storage material for storing information enclosed by said substrate, said storage member and said substrate being adapted to be transported relative to each other to expose at least a portion said storage member to facilitate processing of stored information by a data processing station when the member is exposed and for embedment of said storage member within said substrate and to fully enclose said storage member within said substrate;

said data processing station including writer/reader having a transducer for at least one of writing encoding signals in said storage member and reading encoded signals from said storage member during relative movement of said portable card relative to said data processing station to enable data flow between said storage member and said transducer,

wherein the data processing station further comprises a removal and reinsertion member adapted to cooperate with said substrate to at least partially remove said embedded storage member from said substrate to facilitate processing of stored information by said data processing station, and to reinsert said storage member into said substrate for embedment of said storage member within said substrate.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said storage member comprises a magnetically encoded storage member.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said storage member comprises an optically encoded storage member.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said storage member comprises a magnetic-optically encoded storage member.

16. A portable encoded memory card swiping system comprising:

an elongated member having a wedge shaped end adapted to be inserted between and moving a first layer and a second layer of a substrate of said card wherein said substrate has a first layer and a second layer each having an obverse side and a converse side operatively coupled to each other with the obverse side of said first layer positioned in an opposed relationship from the converse side of said second layer enabling at least a portion of said first layer to be moveable relative to said second layer and wherein a storage member comprising stored information is located on at least one of the obverse side of said first layer and converse side of said second layer; and

at least one transducer positioned in said wedged-shaped end and positioned to swipe the stored information from said storage member of said card as said wedged-shaped ends moves at least a portion of said first layer relative to said second layer.

17. The portable encoded memory card swiping system of claim 16 wherein said storage member includes at least one layer of magnetic material for storing the information as magnetic signals and wherein said transducer is a magnetic transducer.