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Transparent/translucent financial transaction card including an infrared light filter

DC
  • US 6,296,188 B1
  • Filed: 11/24/1999
  • Issued: 10/02/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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 having a source and a 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 being transparent or translucent with respect to human visible light; and

    a near Infrared light filter covering one of said upper or lower surfaces of said material sheet, said filter comprising a screen-printed coating of a light filtering powder dissolved in a clear liquid carrier at a powder-to-carrier ratio of about 0.2-5% by weight;

    said filter producing sufficient card opacity relative to one or more near Infrared light wavelengths to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs by blocking near Infrared light emitted by said source from reaching said detector, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to transmit human visible light.

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