EP0198642A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Transaction system
Assignee: The General Electric Company PLC
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Filing: 1986-04-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A transaction system enables a portable token to cooperate with a fixed terminal. The token is inductively coupled to the terminal, and receives data from the terminal via a frequency modulated carrier signal. Data is sent from the token to the terminal by amplitude modulation of the carrier signal from the terminal, e.g. by modulating the power drawn by the token from the terminal. The power needed to energise the on-board processing capability of the token is also obtained from the terminal via the inductive coupling. The token includes an arrangement for commencing processor operation in an orderly manner when it is brought into the proximity of a terminal, and for providing an orderly shut down when the token is withdrawn.
Inventors
- 👤 John Alexander Mccrindle
- 👤 Antony Francis Steiner
- 👤 Andrew Martin Jackson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:52
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/06; G07B15/063; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/0723; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10118; G06K7/10128; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A transaction system including a terminal; a token having an on-board data processing capability; means for inductively coupling the token with the terminal to permit data communication therebetween; means for transmitting data from the terminal to the token via a modulated carrier signal; and means for transmitting data from the token to the terminal by modulation of the level of the carrier signal at the terminal by the token as it draws power from the terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A transaction system including a terminal; a token having an on-board data processing capability; means for inductively coupling the token with the terminal to permit data communication therebetween; means for transmitting data from the terminal to the token via a modulated carrier signal; and means for transmitting data from the token to the terminal by modulation of the level of the carrier signal at the terminal by the token as it draws power from the terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein data is transmitted from the terminal to the token as a frequency modulation of the carrier signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 and wherein reception of data from the token is inhibited at the terminal whilst the terminal is transmitting data to the token.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims and wherein the terminal is provided with an inductive loop having a plurality of turns which is of larger area than a co-operating inductive loop mounted on the token.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 and wherein the token is in the form of a plastic card having the inductive loop positioned around an edge thereof.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
58 words
A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, and wherein an inductive loop which is carried by the token is tuned to the mean frequency of said carrier signal, and means are provided for modifying the impedance of the loop in accordance with the data which is to be transmitted from the token to the terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system, as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the loop is switchably tuned between two predetermined frequency characteristics which represent the two binary states of data transmitted from the token to the terminal, the voltage level developed at said loop being substantially the same for the two frequency characteristics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 7, and wherein the loop is switchably tuned by switchably altering the reactance of a tuned circuit of which the loop forms a part.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
55 words
A system as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8 and wherein the inductive loop at the terminal forms part of a tuned circuit which is tuned to a resonant frequency which lies between two frequencies which represent different binary data states of the frequency modulation with which data is transmitted to the token.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 9, and wherein the signal level developed across - the tuned circuit is substantially the same for the said two frequencies.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
ll. A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, and wherein the carrier signal which is received by the token is used as its source of power to energise its on-board processing capability.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A transmission system including a terminal; a token having an on-board data processing capability; means for inductively coupling the token with the terminal to permit data communication therebetween and means associated with the terminal for transmitting a carrier signal and for detecting a variation in the power demand thereof which is indicative of the presence of an inductively coupled token.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A transmission system including a terminal; a token having an on-board data processing capability; means for inductively coupling the token with the terminal to permit data communication therebetween and means associated with the terminal for transmitting a carrier signal and for detecting a variation in the power demand thereof which is indicative of the presence of an inductively coupled token.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
42 words
A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims and wherein means are provided for transmitting the carrier signal at a relatively low stand-by level which is raised to a higher operating level when a token inductively couples with the terminal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
61 words
A system as claimed in any of the preceding claims and wherein the token includes voltage detection means operative to initiate operation of the on-board processing capability when the detected voltage rises above a threshold level, and means operative to shut down, in an orderly manner, operation of the on-board processing capability when the detected voltage falls below a threshold level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 14, and wherein the voltage detection means is operative to monitor the voltage induced in an inductive coil mounted on the token and which is operative to receive said carrier signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A terminal adapted for use with the system as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A token adapted for use with the system as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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