US3705294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data card and method of encoding same
Assignee: Elliott Business Machines Inc
•
Filing: 1970-04-08
•
Granted: 1972-12-05
•
Expires: 1990-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A data card which can be encoded by the user without special encoding facilities has a substrate with a first light reflection characteristic. The substrate carries a code field embracing all possible ''''bit'''' locations in the code. Selected bit areas in the field are treated to give them a different light reflection characteristic from the substrate in the remainder of the field, thereby impressing a code pattern in the code field consisting of ''''bit'''' locations having one of two different light reflection characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred R Kuehnle
- 👤 Jurgen Kok
- 👤 Dieter Jochimsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A data card comprising A. a flexible, impact-resistant substrate, B. a code field in a surface of the substrate, C. an array of depressions in the code field, the bottom walls of the depressions having a selected light reflection characteristic, and D. a separate strip removably secured to the bottom wall of each depression, said strip 1. having a different light reflection characteristic, and 2. being individually strippable from selected depressions following encoding instructions to impress an optical code pattern in the code field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A data card comprising A. a flexible, impact-resistant substrate, B. a code field in a surface of the substrate, C. an array of depressions in the code field, the bottom walls of the depressions having a selected light reflection characteristic, and D. a separate strip removably secured to the bottom wall of each depression, said strip 1. having a different light reflection characteristic, and 2. being individually strippable from selected depressions following encoding instructions to impress an optical code pattern in the code field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
being individually strippable from selected depressions following encoding instructions to impress an optical code pattern in the code field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
being individually strippable from selected depressions following encoding instructions to impress an optical code pattern in the code field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A data card as defined in claim 1 wherein the strips are separate small sections of opaque adhesive tape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
forming an array of depressions in a surface area of the card, B. forming tape strips having essentially the same size and shape as the depressions and having a different light reflection characteristic, and C. removably inserting a separate tape strip into each depression so as to cover its bottom wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
forming an array of depressions in a surface area of the card, B. forming tape strips having essentially the same size and shape as the depressions and having a different light reflection characteristic, and C. removably inserting a separate tape strip into each depression so as to cover its bottom wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
having a light reflection characteristic different from said first characteristic, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
having a light reflection characteristic different from said first characteristic, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A data card comprising A. an impact-resistant substrate having a first selected light reflection characteristic, B. an array of depressions in a surface of the substrate, C. a coating having a different light reflection characteristic covering the entire area occupied by the array of depressions except for the bottoms of the depressions, and D. individual tape strips
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A data card comprising A. an impact-resistant substrate having a first selected light reflection characteristic, B. an array of depressions in a surface of the substrate, C. a coating having a different light reflection characteristic covering the entire area occupied by the array of depressions except for the bottoms of the depressions, and D. individual tape strips
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
being individually removable so that the strips in selected depressions can be stripped away in accordance with encoding instructions to expose the bottom walls thereof having the first light reflection characteristic so as to impress an optical code pattern on the card substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
being individually removable so that the strips in selected depressions can be stripped away in accordance with encoding instructions to expose the bottom walls thereof having the first light reflection characteristic so as to impress an optical code pattern on the card substrate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
17 words
A method of making a data card comprising the steps of A. forming an impact-resistant card substrate
Claim 15
Independent Claim
17 words
A method of making a data card comprising the steps of A. forming an impact-resistant card substrate
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of making a data card as defined in claim 4 and including the additional step of applying a coating having said different light reflection characteristics to the card surface encompassed by the array except for the bottoms of the depressions so that the entire card surface encompassed by the array has substantially the same light reflection characteristic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of making a data card as defined in claim 4 and including the additional step of removing the tape strips from selected ones of the depressions in accordance with written instructions so as to create a code pattern on the card surface consisting of the depressions containing no tape strips and having the first light reflection characteristic and the depressions containing tape strips and having the second light reflection characteristic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
A data card comprising A. an impact-resistant substrate having a first light reflection characteristic, B. indicia marking an array of bit locations on a surface of the card, and C. an etch-type coating having a second selected light reflection characteristic covering selected ones of the bit locations so as to create a code pattern on the card substrate consisting of bit locations having two different light reflection characteristics.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
A data card comprising A. an impact-resistant substrate having a first light reflection characteristic, B. indicia marking an array of bit locations on a surface of the card, and C. an etch-type coating having a second selected light reflection characteristic covering selected ones of the bit locations so as to create a code pattern on the card substrate consisting of bit locations having two different light reflection characteristics.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A data card as defined in claim 7 wherein the coating is a black acid ink which etches into the surface of the card substrate, forming a relatively permanent coloring theReon.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a data card comprising the steps of A. forming an impact-resistant card substrate having a first light reflection characteristic, B. printing indicia on the card for outlining an array of bit locations, and C. coloring in selected ones of the bit location outlines with an acid type ink having a second light reflection characteristic so as to create a relatively permanent etched code pattern composed of bit locations having a first or second light reflection characteristic.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a data card comprising the steps of A. forming an impact-resistant card substrate having a first light reflection characteristic, B. printing indicia on the card for outlining an array of bit locations, and C. coloring in selected ones of the bit location outlines with an acid type ink having a second light reflection characteristic so as to create a relatively permanent etched code pattern composed of bit locations having a first or second light reflection characteristic.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of encoding a data card having an impact-resistant substrate including a first light reflection characteristic, said method comprising the steps of: applying to a surface portion of the card substrate a coating having a second light reflection characteristic; engaging an encoding means with the card substrate, said encoding means having an array of openings therein in register with the coated surface portion of the card when the encoding means is engaged on the card; and scraping away from the card surface the coating exposed through selected ones of the openings in the encoding means in accordance with written instructions so as to form a code pattern composed of areas having one of two different light reflection characteristics.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of encoding a data card having an impact-resistant substrate including a first light reflection characteristic, said method comprising the steps of: applying to a surface portion of the card substrate a coating having a second light reflection characteristic; engaging an encoding means with the card substrate, said encoding means having an array of openings therein in register with the coated surface portion of the card when the encoding means is engaged on the card; and scraping away from the card surface the coating exposed through selected ones of the openings in the encoding means in accordance with written instructions so as to form a code pattern composed of areas having one of two different light reflection characteristics.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
A data card comprising: an impact-resistant substrate; means defining an array of bit locations on a surface of the substrate; and a coating covering all of the bit locations, said coating normally having a first light reflection characteristic and assuming a second light reflection characteristic when subjected to an external pressure so that a code pattern consisting of bit locations having one of two different reflection characteristics may be impressed on the card.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
73 words
A data card comprising: an impact-resistant substrate; means defining an array of bit locations on a surface of the substrate; and a coating covering all of the bit locations, said coating normally having a first light reflection characteristic and assuming a second light reflection characteristic when subjected to an external pressure so that a code pattern consisting of bit locations having one of two different reflection characteristics may be impressed on the card.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2525837A
Cited
US2735617A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |