Patent US3740530A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3740530A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for verification of a credit card
Assignee: Transvac Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-07
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1990-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for verifying a credit card: The card has three groups of machine readable information. The first and second groups of information are functionally related and a comparator compares them for validity. A second comparator sequentially compares them for validity. A second comparator sequentially compares the third group with information provided by the card holder. If both comparisons are favorable, recordation of purchase information is enabled. If either comparison is unfavorable, an alarm system is activated.
Inventors
- 👤 A Hoffer
- 👤 J Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:57
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/347; G07F19/00; G07F19/20; G07F19/201; G07F7/1025; G07F7/1058; G07F7/1066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
438 words
Apparatus for verification of a credit card containing data in the form of indicia on the surface thereof comprising: first sensing means for sensing a first portion of said indicia recorded on the credit card; said first sensing means including means for combining the first portion of indicia derived from said card in a predetermined manner to generate a first resultant output; second sensing means for sensing a second portion of said indicia, which second information group is functionally related to said first portion in a predetermined manner; said second sensing means including means for generating a second output representative of said sensed indicia; a first comparator coupled to said first and second sensing means for comparing said first resultant output with said second output to determine whether the first and second portions of said indicia are functionally related in said predetermined manner; said comparator including further means for generating an enabling signal when the comparison operation shows the presence of said first predetermined functional relationship, and for generating an alarm signal when the comparison shows said first predetermined functional relationship is absent; means for storing data relating to the credit transaction; said storing means including means coupled to said first comparator for enabling said storing means to be operated only when said first predetermined relationship is present; third sensing means for sensing a third information group recorded on said card; second comparator means; manually operable encoding means for entering information into said second comparator in a predetermined sequence; said second comparator means including means for sequentially comparing the information derived from said encoding means with succeeding group of characters sensed from the card with the encoded portions of said third information group to detect comparison therebetween; said second comparator means including means for generating an enabling signal when all of said sequential comparisons are valid; said third character sensing means also senses the sequence of the characters in the third group and transmits information as to the sequence to said second character comparator; said encoding means being adapted to be encoded with a group of characters in a sequence and to transmit the sequence to said second character comparator; said second character comparator including means for holding information from said third characters on said card, means for receiving information as to the sequence in which characters are encoded on said encoding means, means for comparing the sequences of the sensed and encoded third characters, means for transmitting the go signal when the compared sequences bear a second predetermined relationship and means for transmitting the no-go signal when the compared sequences do not bear said second predetermined relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
438 words
Apparatus for verification of a credit card containing data in the form of indicia on the surface thereof comprising: first sensing means for sensing a first portion of said indicia recorded on the credit card; said first sensing means including means for combining the first portion of indicia derived from said card in a predetermined manner to generate a first resultant output; second sensing means for sensing a second portion of said indicia, which second information group is functionally related to said first portion in a predetermined manner; said second sensing means including means for generating a second output representative of said sensed indicia; a first comparator coupled to said first and second sensing means for comparing said first resultant output with said second output to determine whether the first and second portions of said indicia are functionally related in said predetermined manner; said comparator including further means for generating an enabling signal when the comparison operation shows the presence of said first predetermined functional relationship, and for generating an alarm signal when the comparison shows said first predetermined functional relationship is absent; means for storing data relating to the credit transaction; said storing means including means coupled to said first comparator for enabling said storing means to be operated only when said first predetermined relationship is present; third sensing means for sensing a third information group recorded on said card; second comparator means; manually operable encoding means for entering information into said second comparator in a predetermined sequence; said second comparator means including means for sequentially comparing the information derived from said encoding means with succeeding group of characters sensed from the card with the encoded portions of said third information group to detect comparison therebetween; said second comparator means including means for generating an enabling signal when all of said sequential comparisons are valid; said third character sensing means also senses the sequence of the characters in the third group and transmits information as to the sequence to said second character comparator; said encoding means being adapted to be encoded with a group of characters in a sequence and to transmit the sequence to said second character comparator; said second character comparator including means for holding information from said third characters on said card, means for receiving information as to the sequence in which characters are encoded on said encoding means, means for comparing the sequences of the sensed and encoded third characters, means for transmitting the go signal when the compared sequences bear a second predetermined relationship and means for transmitting the no-go signal when the compared sequences do not bear said second predetermined relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
In combination, the apparatus for verification of a credit card of claim 1, and a credit card means adaptable for automatic verification, said credit card means comprising: a card element; first and second groups of data recorded on said card element in a predetermined arrangement and being adapted to be sensed by and said first and second sensing means, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for verification of a credit card of claim 1, wherein said storing means is coupled to at least one of said first and second sensing means in order to record at least one of said groups of characters; transaction information entry transmitting means for inserting information relating to said transaction into said storing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, said encoding means includes a keyboard with manually operable keys each representing a different character and/or symbol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and said second enabling devices comprise a common enabling gate means coupled to said first and second comparator means for generating an enabling signal when both said first and second comparator means generate enabling signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further including: recording means responsive to the enabling of said enabling gate means and being coupled to said sensing means for recording at least one of said sensed information groups.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising alarm means responsive to said second comparator for providing an alarm condition when said second comparator fails to generate an enable signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for verification of an indicia bearing credit card, comprising: sensing means for sensing indicia on said card and for generating signals representing said indicia; manually operable encoding means, including entering means for generating signals representative of the operation of said entering means; a comparator responsive to said sensing means and said encoding means for generating an enabling signal only when the encoded information presented to said comparator is related to the indicia sensed from said card in a predetermined manner; normally disabled transaction recording means responsive to said enabling signal for enabling the recording of a transaction; said sensing means further comprising means for transferring portions of said card indicia to said comparator in a predetermined order; said encoding means including means adapted to be operated to enter information sequentially; said comparator including means for comparing the information sequentially presented thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus for verification of an indicia bearing credit card, comprising: sensing means for sensing indicia on said card and for generating signals representing said indicia; manually operable encoding means, including entering means for generating signals representative of the operation of said entering means; a comparator responsive to said sensing means and said encoding means for generating an enabling signal only when the encoded information presented to said comparator is related to the indicia sensed from said card in a predetermined manner; normally disabled transaction recording means responsive to said enabling signal for enabling the recording of a transaction; said sensing means further comprising means for transferring portions of said card indicia to said comparator in a predetermined order; said encoding means including means adapted to be operated to enter information sequentially; said comparator including means for comparing the information sequentially presented thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein, said entering means includes a keyboard with manually operable keys representing certain predetermined characters and/or symbols.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for verification of an indicia bearing credit card to facilitate the purchase transaction at an unattended location, comprising: sensing means for sensing indicia on said card and for generating signals representing said indicia; manually operable encoding means, including entering means for generating signals representative of the operation of said entering means; a comparator responsive to said sensing means and said encoding means for generating an enabling signal only when the encoded information presented to said comparator is related to the indicia sensed from said card in a predetermined manner; normally disabled transaction recording means responsive to said enabling signal for enabling the recording of a transaction; said sensing means further comprising means for transferring portions of said card indicia to said comparator in a predetermined order; said encoding means including means adapted to be operated to enter information sequentially; said comparator including means for comparing the information sequentially presented thereto with the indicia derived from said sensing means in said predetermined order for generating a release signal when said indicia and said information favorably compare; normally disabled vending means coupled to said comparator; said vending means being enabled to dispense the goods being vended when said release signal is present.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for verification of an indicia bearing credit card to facilitate the purchase transaction at an unattended location, comprising: sensing means for sensing indicia on said card and for generating signals representing said indicia; manually operable encoding means, including entering means for generating signals representative of the operation of said entering means; a comparator responsive to said sensing means and said encoding means for generating an enabling signal only when the encoded information presented to said comparator is related to the indicia sensed from said card in a predetermined manner; normally disabled transaction recording means responsive to said enabling signal for enabling the recording of a transaction; said sensing means further comprising means for transferring portions of said card indicia to said comparator in a predetermined order; said encoding means including means adapted to be operated to enter information sequentially; said comparator including means for comparing the information sequentially presented thereto with the indicia derived from said sensing means in said predetermined order for generating a release signal when said indicia and said information favorably compare; normally disabled vending means coupled to said comparator; said vending means being enabled to dispense the goods being vended when said release signal is present.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for determining whether the holder of a card is its rightful possessor wherein said card contains indicia representing information related to the card holder; first sensing means for sensing at least selected portions of said indicia; comparator means; manually operable input means for entering information units derived from said card holder into said comparator means in a predetermined sequence; means coupled between said first sensing means and said comparator means for transferring the sensed selected portions of indicia in a predetermined arrangement into said comparator means; said comparator means including means for comparing the arrangements presented thereto for generating a valid signal only when the arrangement of information received from said card compares with the arrangement of the information group entered into said input means; said indicia on said card representing a plurality of characters arranged in an orderly fashion; said first sensing means comprising means for sensing selected ones of said characters which are separated from one another by characters on said card which are not being sensed by said first sensing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for determining whether the holder of a card is its rightful possessor wherein said card contains indicia representing information related to the card holder; first sensing means for sensing at least selected portions of said indicia; comparator means; manually operable input means for entering information units derived from said card holder into said comparator means in a predetermined sequence; means coupled between said first sensing means and said comparator means for transferring the sensed selected portions of indicia in a predetermined arrangement into said comparator means; said comparator means including means for comparing the arrangements presented thereto for generating a valid signal only when the arrangement of information received from said card compares with the arrangement of the information group entered into said input means; said indicia on said card representing a plurality of characters arranged in an orderly fashion; said first sensing means comprising means for sensing selected ones of said characters which are separated from one another by characters on said card which are not being sensed by said first sensing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
288 words
Apparatus for determining whether the holder of a card is its rightful possessor wherein said card contains indicia representing information related to the card holder; first sensing means for sensing at least selected portions of said indicia; comparator means; manually operable input means for entering information units derived from said card holder into said comparator means in a predetermined sequence; means coupled between said first sensing means and said comparator means for transferring the sensed selected portions of indicia in a predetermined arrangement into said comparator means; said comparator means including means for comparing the arrangements presented thereto for generating a valid signal only when the arrangement of information received from said card compares with the arrangement of the information group entered into said input means; said indicia sensed from said card representing groups of coded information each representing a character; said input means includes keyboard means having a plurality of keys adapted to permit sequential operation of only one key at a time; means coupled to said keyboard for generating a coded representation of the depressed key; said transferring means including means coupled to said keyboard means for sequentially enabling only one group of said coded information to be transferred to said comparator means as a key is depressed; at least two characters being inputted through said keyboard means for comparison with two characters sensed from said card; alarm means coupled to said comparator means for providing a failure of comparison indication only after the last comparison operation has been performed; further means coupled to said alarm means for resetting said enabling means a predetermined number of times to permit additional comparison operations to be performed after the initial comparison operation provides a failure of comparison indication.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
288 words
Apparatus for determining whether the holder of a card is its rightful possessor wherein said card contains indicia representing information related to the card holder; first sensing means for sensing at least selected portions of said indicia; comparator means; manually operable input means for entering information units derived from said card holder into said comparator means in a predetermined sequence; means coupled between said first sensing means and said comparator means for transferring the sensed selected portions of indicia in a predetermined arrangement into said comparator means; said comparator means including means for comparing the arrangements presented thereto for generating a valid signal only when the arrangement of information received from said card compares with the arrangement of the information group entered into said input means; said indicia sensed from said card representing groups of coded information each representing a character; said input means includes keyboard means having a plurality of keys adapted to permit sequential operation of only one key at a time; means coupled to said keyboard for generating a coded representation of the depressed key; said transferring means including means coupled to said keyboard means for sequentially enabling only one group of said coded information to be transferred to said comparator means as a key is depressed; at least two characters being inputted through said keyboard means for comparison with two characters sensed from said card; alarm means coupled to said comparator means for providing a failure of comparison indication only after the last comparison operation has been performed; further means coupled to said alarm means for resetting said enabling means a predetermined number of times to permit additional comparison operations to be performed after the initial comparison operation provides a failure of comparison indication.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said resetting means is further comprised of counting means for counting the number of failure of comparison operations and second alarm means for providing an indication that said predetermined number has been accumulated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |