Two way communication token interrogation apparatus

• US 4,926,996 A
• Filed: 06/22/1987
• Issued: 05/22/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mei Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, Adrian, Eglise, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ammeen, Edward S.
• Application Number:
  US07/064,877
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 194/205, 194/210, 194/212, 194/213, 194/214, 194/317, 194/318, 194/319, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/487, 364/479, 340/825.34, 340/825.35
• US Class Current: 194/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/047 the record carrier being shaped as a coin or a gambling token
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader

Abstract

A token handling device transmits, using an electromagnetic carrier, data, clock pulses and power to a token. The token transmits data by varying the degree of absorption of the carrier in synchronism with the clock pulses. These data transmissions are detected by a receiver in the token handling device, the sensitivity of which is adjusted each time a token is received. The token could be used in transactions in place of coins, or alternatively could be used for identification purposes in other areas. Data stored by the token could be used to change the way in which the token handling device operates. The token handling device may for example form a vending machine, and the token could be used to alter the pricing of goods vended thereby. The token handling device may be combined with a coin validator, in which case there is preferably a common path from an entrance slot for carrying both the tokens and the coins to appropriate testing apparatus.

Claims

1. A token reading device for communicating with a data-storing token, said device comprising:

inductive coupling means for inductively coupling said reading device with said token, the inductive coupling means comprising transmitting antenna means for transmitting a signal to a token, said signal directly supplying power to said token;

signal generating means for generating and applying said signal to said antenna means, said signal generating means comprising means for modulating said signal in dependence on data to be transmitted to said token; and

data detection means coupled to said inductive coupling means for detecting changes in the transmitted signal caused by alterations of the impedance of said token, thereby detecting data transmitted by the token.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1. wherein said inductive coupling means further comprises, receiving antenna means, said receiving antenna means being separate from said transmitting antenna means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inductive coupling means comprises a single coil forming said transmitting antenna means and permitting detection of data transmitted by the token.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal generating means is operable to alter the amplitude of the signal dependent upon the data to be transmitted to said token.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the signal generating means is operable to interrupt the signal dependent upon the data to be transmitted to said token.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal generating means is operable to generate a first signal directly supplying power to said token to enable the device to perform a first communication sequence in which data is said token is read, and subsequently to generate a second signal directly supplying power to said token to enable the device to perform a second communication sequence for transmitting data to the token.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein during each said communication sequence, said token and said token reading device establish two-way communication.

8. A device as claimed in claims 6 or 7, wherein each said communication sequence involves the sending of a first code from the token to said token reading device, and the sending of a second code from said token reading device to said token, subsequent communications being permitted only if the first and second codes are deemed appropriate by, repectively, the token reading device and the token.

9. A coin operated machine comprising a coin validator and a token reading device for communicating with a data-storing token, said token reading device comprising:

inductive coupling means for inductively coupling said reading device with said token, the inductive coupling means comprising transmitting antenna means for transmitting a signal to a token, said signal directly supplying power to said token;

signal generating means for generating and applying said signal to said antenna means, said signal generating means comprising means for modulating said signal in dependence on data to be transmitted to said token; and

data detection means coupled to said inductive coupling means for detecting changes in the transmitted signal caused by alterations of the impedance of said token, thereby to detect data transmitted by the token,

said coin operated machine being capable of performing operations in dependence on an output of the coin validator.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9, the machine additionally being capable of performing operations independence on an output of said token reading device, whereby said machine can be operated by both coins and tokens.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein said token reading device is additionally operable to update the token data in accordance with a value of products vended by the machine or a service performed by the machine.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 11, the machine further comprising control means for initiating a transaction performed by the machine and having means for storing a credit value, said coin validator being operable, in a coin operated mode of the machine, to provide signals to said control means to increase said credit value in response to receipt of valid coins, said token reading device including means responsive to the detected data transmitted by one token for supplying, in a token operated mode of the machine, signals to said control means to increase said credit value, and said control means being operable in said token operated mode to cause said token reading device to update the credit value stored in said token after said transaction had been performed, the machine further including means for dispensing a token whose stored credit value has been updated.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12, comprising manually operable means for initiating the updating of the data stored by said token and the dispensing of said token to the user.

14. A machine as claimed in claim 9, said coin validator and said token reading device comprising first and second testing stations, the machine having a first common path for receiving coins and tokens and for delivering them to a first of said testing stations, second and third paths for selectively receiving items from said first testing station, and directing means operable in response to results of an operation performed at said first testing station for selectively directing items to said second or third path, the second of said testing stations being disposed along said second path.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 14, including a common entrance slot through which coins and tokens can be inserted into said first path.

16. A machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said coin validator is said first testing station and said token reading device is said second testing station.

17. A machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second path is a rejected path for conveying non-genuine coins and tokens to said token reading device, and said third path is an accept path for conveying genuine coins.

18. A machine as claimed in claim 14, including fourth and fifth paths for selectively receiving items from said second testing station, and second directing means for selectively directing items from said second testing station to said fourth or fifth path in response to results of an operation performed at said second testing station.

19. A machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein said fourth path is arranged to convey items leaving said second testing station to a dispensing location for dispensing of the items and said fifth path is arranged to convey items leaving said second testing station to a storage location for storage of the items.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second directing means is arranged to direct a token to the fifth path if an updated credit value of the token equals zero.

21. A machine as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for generating an output permitting the performing of an operation, said means storing operational data and being operable to generate said output in dependence on said operational data and signals from said coin validator, said token reading device being operable to generate a signal dependent on data read from said token for altering said operational data.

22. A machine as claimed in claim 21, wherein the operational data comprises a code, the machine being operable in a first mode to perform said operation on condition that said token data includes data which matches said code, and the machine being operable in a second mode to alter said code in accordance with said token data.

23. A machine as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein said operational data comprises price data, the machine being arranged to generate a signal permitting dispensing of a product or performing of a service and to generate a price signal indicative of a value of said product or service and dependent on said price data, said machine being operable to alter said price data in accordance with said token data.

24. A token for use with a token reading device for communicating with a data-storing token, said device comprising:

inductive coupling means for inductively coupling said reading device with said token, the inductive coupling means comprising transmitting antenna means for transmitting a signal to a token, said signal directly supplying power to said token;

signal generating means for generating and applying said signal to said antenna means, said signal generating means comprising means for modulating said signal in dependence on data to be transmitted to said token; and

data detection means coupled to said inductive coupling means for detecting changes in the transmitted signal caused by alterations of the impedance of said token, thereby to detect data transmitted by the token, the token comprising (a) inductive coupling means for receiving the signal transmitted by the inductive coupling means of said token reading device. (b) power supply means for supplying the token with power derived from the signal received by the inductive coupling means of said token, (c) data detection means for detecting modulations of said signal and deriving data therefrom, (d) data transmission means for selectively altering the impedance of said inductive coupling means of said token in dependence upon data to be transmitted to said token reading device so as to cause changes in the signal transmitted by the inductive coupling means of the token reading device, (e) a non-volatile writable memory, and (f) control means for deriving from said memory data for transmission by said data transmissions means of said token for writing into said memory data determined by the data detected by said data detection means of said token.

25. A token as claimed in claim 24, wherein said memory stores flag data, said control means being operable to perform first and second communications operations, each involving the communication of data with said token reading device, in dependence upon said flag data, said control means being operable to alter said flag data in a respective predetermined manner during each said communication operation, whereby a different said communication operation is carried out when the token is subsequently powered up.

26. A token as claimed in claim 25, wherein each said communication operation involves the sending of a first code from the token to said token reading device, and the sending of a second code from said token reading device to said token, subsequent communications being permitted only if the first and second codes are deemed appropriate by, respectively, the token reading device and the token.