Patent US2126177A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0455315A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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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 electro-magnetic 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
2026-11-03 22:26
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: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A token reading device for communicating with a data-storing token, said device comprising: inductive coupling means (104,108) for inductively coupling said reading device (100) with said token (106), the inductive coupling means (104,108) comprising transmitting antenna means (104) for transmitting a signal to a token (106) for powering said token (106); signal generating means (102) for generating and applying said signal to said antenna means (104); and data detection means (110) coupled to said inductive coupling means (104,108) for detecting changes in the transmitted signal caused by alterations of the impedance of said token, thereby to detect data transmitted by the token; characterised in that said signal generating means (102) comprises means for modulating said signal in dependence on data to be transmitted to said token (106).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inductive coupling means (104,108) comprises, in addition to said transmitting antenna means (104), a separate receiving antenna means (108).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
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.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the signal generating means (102) is operable to alter the amplitude of the signal in dependence on data to be transmitted to said token (106).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the signal generating means (102) is operable to interrupt the signals in dependence on data to be transmitted to said token (106).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
77 words
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said signal generating means (102) is operable to generate a first signal for powering up the token (106) to enable the device to perform a first communication sequence in which data in said token (106) is read, and subsequently to generate a second signal for powering up the token (106) again to enable the device to perform a second communication sequence for transmitting data to the token (106).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein, during each said communication sequence, said token (106) and said token reading device (100) establish two-way communication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein each said communication sequence involves the sending of a first code from the token (106) to said token reading device (100), and the sending of a second code from said token reading device (100) to said token (106), subsequent communications being permitted only if the first and second codes are deemed appropriate by, respectively, the token reading device (100) and the token (106).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A coin operated machine including a coin validator (4) and a token reading device (100) as claimed in any preceding claim, the machine being capable of performing operations in dependence on the output of the coin validator (4).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine as claimed in claim 9, the machine additionally being capable of performing operations in dependence on the output of said token reading device (100), whereby said machine can be operated by coins or tokens (106).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein said token reading means (100) is additionally operable to update the token data in accordance with the value of products vended by the machine or a service performed by the machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
A machine as claimed in claim 11, the machine comprising control means for initiating a transaction performed by the machine and having means for storing a credit value, said coin validator (4) 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 (100) including means (112) responsive to the detected data transmitted by the token (106) 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 (100) to update the credit value stored in said token (106) after said transaction has been performed, the machine further including means (42) for dispensing a token (106) whose stored credit value has been updated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine as claimed in claim 12, comprising manually operable means for initiating the updating of the data stored by said token (106) and the dispensing of said token (106) to the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, said token reading device (100) and said coin validator (4) comprising respective testing stations, the machine having a first, common path (7) for receiving coins and tokens and for delivering them to a first of said testing stations, second and third paths (30,12) for selectively receiving items from said first testing station, and directing means operable in response to the results of the operation performed at said first testing station for selectively directing items to said second or third path (30,12), the second of said testing stations being disposed along said second path (30).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as claimed in claim 14, including a common entrance slot through which coins and tokens can be inserted into said first path (7).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein said coin validator (4) is said first testing station and said token reading device (100) is said second testing station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second path (30) is a reject path for conveying non-genuine coins and tokens to said token reading device (100), and said third path (12) is an accept path for conveying genuine coins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A machine as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17, 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 the results of the operation performed at said second testing station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
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.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
A machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein said token (106) is operable to store a credit value which can be updated in accordance with the value of products vended by the machine or services performed by the machine, and 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.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 20, 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 the signals from said coin validator (4), said token reading device (100) being operable to generate a signal dependent on data read from said token (106) for altering said operational data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A machine as claimed in claim 21, wherein the operational data comprises a code, the machine being operable in a first mode to perform a 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.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
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 the 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.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
194 words
A token for use with a token reading device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, the token (106) comprising (a) inductive coupling means (130) for receiving the signal transmitted by the inductive coupling means (104,108) of said token reading device (100), (b) power supply means (134) for supplying the token (106) with power derived from the signal received by the inductive coupling means (130) of said token (106), (c) data detection means (136,138,140) for detecting modulations of said signal and deriving data therefrom, (d) data transmission means (156) for selectively altering the impedance of said inductive coupling means (130) of said token (106) in dependence upon data to the transmitted to said token reading device (100) so as to cause changes in the signal transmitted by the inductive coupling means (104,108) of the token reading device (100), (e) a non-volatile writable memory (148), and (f) control means (142) for deriving from said memory (148) data for transmission by said data transmission means (156) of said token (106) and for writing into said memory (148) data determined by the data detected by said data detection means (136,138,140) of said token (106).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
83 words
A token as claimed in claim 24, wherein said memory (148) stores flag data, said control means (142) being operable to perform first and second communications operations, each involving the communication of data with said token reading device (100), in dependence upon said flag data, said control means (142) 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 (106) is subsequently powered up.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
71 words
A token as claimed in claim 25, wherein each said communication operation involves the sending of a first code from the token (106) to said token reading device (100), and the sending of a second code from said token reading device (100) to said token (106), subsequent communications being permitted only if the first and second codes are deemed appropriate by, respectively, the token reading device (100) and the token (106).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination of a token reading device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 and a token as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26.
Claim 28
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 29
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 30
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 31
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 32
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 33
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.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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