EP0147099A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tokens and token handling devices
Assignee: Mars Inc
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Filing: 1984-12-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-12-05
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 David Eglise
- 👤 Adrian Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:23
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/0866; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/04; G06K19/041; G06K19/047; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/077; G06K19/07749; G06K19/07773; G06K19/07777; G06K19/07779; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G06K7/01; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/215; G07C9/28; G07C9/29; G07F1/00; G07F1/06; G07F7/0873
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A device for communicating with a data-storing token, the device being operable to (a) transmit a carrier signal to the token, (b) transmit data to the token using the carrier signal, and (c) receive data from the token by detecting changes in the degree of absorption of the carrier by the token.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
52 words
A device for communicating with a data-storing token, the device being operable to (a) transmit a carrier signal to the token, (b) transmit data to the token using the carrier signal, and (c) receive data from the token by detecting changes in the degree of absorption of the carrier by the token.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is operable to transmit power to the token using said carrier signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device is operable to transmit clock pulses to the token using said carrier signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A combination of a token handling device and a data-storing token, the device being operable to transmit to the token clock pulses and data synchronised with the clock pulses, and the token being operable to transmit data to the device in synchronism with the clock pulses received from the device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A combination of a token handling device and a data-storing token, the device being operable to transmit to the token clock pulses and data synchronised with the clock pulses, and the token being operable to transmit data to the device in synchronism with the clock pulses received from the device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A data-storing token arranged to receive power from a device used to read data from the token, the token having a non-volatile writable memory and being arranged to perform, following power-up, one of a plurality of sequences of operations dependent upon flag data stored in the memory, at least one of those sequences resulting in a change in that flag data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A data-storing token arranged to receive power from a device used to read data from the token, the token having a non-volatile writable memory and being arranged to perform, following power-up, one of a plurality of sequences of operations dependent upon flag data stored in the memory, at least one of those sequences resulting in a change in that flag data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A token handling device having means for receiving data transmissions so as to determine data stored by a token, and means for automatically performing an adjustment operation whereby the sensitivity of the receiving means is altered in the presence of a token.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A token handling device having means for receiving data transmissions so as to determine data stored by a token, and means for automatically performing an adjustment operation whereby the sensitivity of the receiving means is altered in the presence of a token.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the device is arranged to transmit a carrier, and the receiving means is operable to detect changes in the absorption of the carrier by the token.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the device is operable to transmit power to the token.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the device is operable to perform said adjustment operation each time it receives a token.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
A token handling device which performs operations in accordance with operational data stored in the device, and which is capable of communicating with a token in order to determine token data stored thereby, the device being operable to enter a first mode or a second mode in dependence upon the type of data, the device being operable in the first mode to perform a said operation and in the second mode to alter the operational data in a manner dependent upon said token data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A token handling device which performs operations in accordance with operational data stored in the device, and which is capable of communicating with a token in order to determine token data stored thereby, the device being operable to enter a first mode or a second mode in dependence upon the type of data, the device being operable in the first mode to perform a said operation and in the second mode to alter the operational data in a manner dependent upon said token data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coin validating and token reading device having a common path for receiving coins and tokens and for delivering them to testing apparatus for validating the coins and communicating with the tokens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coin validating and token reading device having a common path for receiving coins and tokens and for delivering them to testing apparatus for validating the coins and communicating with the tokens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, including validating means arranged to receive items from said common path, and to direct non-genuine coins to a reject path and genuine coins to an accept path, and token reading means situated in the reject path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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