Universal credit card apparatus and method
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
84 Citations
43 Claims
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1-35. -35. (cancel)
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36. A universal credit card apparatus for providing and receiving account data including account information from a host system comprising:
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a carrier having a planar surface said carrier supporting the components of the apparatus;
at least one memory device, chosen from the group consisting of volatile memory and nonvolatile memory, affixed to said carrier, for storing account data including account information for at least one account;
an emitter device, affixed to said carrier, programmed with account identifier information for transmitting account identifying information to said host system;
a receiver device, affixed to said carrier, for receiving account data including account information from said host system;
a display device, affixed to said carrier, for selectively displaying account information;
a control circuit, affixed to said carrier, coupled to said memory, to said display device and to said receiver device and which is operable to store account data including account information received by said receiver device from the host system into said memory and to cause said account information stored in said memory to appear on said display device;
a power source, affixed to said carrier, and coupled to at least one of said memory, said receiver device, said display device and said control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A universal credit card apparatus for providing and receiving account data including account information from a host system comprising:
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a carrier having a planar surface said carrier supporting the components of the apparatus;
at least one memory device, chosen from the group consisting of volatile memory and nonvolatile memory, affixed to said carrier, for storing account data including account information for at least one account;
an emitter device, chosen from the group consisting of infrared LEDs, coils, magnetic strips, antenna and transducers, affixed to said carrier, programmed with account identifier information for transmitting account identifying information to said host system;
a receiver device, chosen from the group consisting of phototransistors, magnetic strips and antenna, affixed to said carrier, for receiving account data including account information from said host system;
a display device chosen from the group consisting of LCDs, LEDS, CRTs, incandescent displays, florescent displays, flip dot displays, beepers, buzzers, and vibrators, affixed to said carrier, for selectively displaying account information;
a control circuit, affixed to said carrier, coupled to said memory, to said display device and to said receiver device and which is operable to store account data including account information received by said receiver device from the host system into said memory and to cause said account information stored in said memory to appear on said display device;
a power source, affixed to said carrier, and coupled to at least one of said memory, said receiver device, said display device and said control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification