US3767305A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retro-reflex viewer for detecting counterfeit identity cards
Assignee: ELECTRO PHOTO SYST Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-09
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1992-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A device for viewing identity cards and other documents having on their surfaces an overlay pattern of microscopically small beads which are normally invisible but which become visible by retro-reflection of a strong light projected on the retroreflective surface within a casing which encloses the optical parts of the viewer so as to largely exclude ambient light rays. Any alteration of the card surface becomes apparent in a resultant degrading of the reflective surface.
Inventors
- 👤 J Craven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:50
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A viewer for inspecting a retro-reflex security surface on an identity card, or the like, comprising: a casing having at one end a viewing opening and a card support in opposed relation, and having in said end a card-insertion slot at one end of said support; a beam-splitter in said casing between said viewing opening and said card support, disposed diagonally across a viewing axis extending between said opening and said support, said support being disposed at right angles to said axis; a transverse partition disposed between the ends of the casing and dividing it into a viewing chamber surrounding said axis in said one end of the casing, and a lamp chamber in the other end of the casing; a light source lamp in said lamp chamber; a mirror in said lamp chamber, in a diagonal position such as to reflect a light beam projected thereon on an axis substantially parallel to said partition, along a projection axis toward said partition at right angles thereto; and a field lens in said partition, in a plane at right angles to said projection axis and substantially centered thereon, operable to bend the rays of the reflected beam into substantial parallism and to transmit the bent rays to said beam splitter for reflection onto said security surface of an identity card inserted through said slot and resting against said support; said beam-splitter being operative to transmit rays reflected from said card through itself to said viewing opening along said viewing axis, and so inclined as to reflect the rays coming from said field lens also along said viewing axis, for maximum reflection of rays from said security surface to the viewers eye.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
A viewer for inspecting a retro-reflex security surface on an identity card, or the like, comprising: a casing having at one end a viewing opening and a card support in opposed relation, and having in said end a card-insertion slot at one end of said support; a beam-splitter in said casing between said viewing opening and said card support, disposed diagonally across a viewing axis extending between said opening and said support, said support being disposed at right angles to said axis; a transverse partition disposed between the ends of the casing and dividing it into a viewing chamber surrounding said axis in said one end of the casing, and a lamp chamber in the other end of the casing; a light source lamp in said lamp chamber; a mirror in said lamp chamber, in a diagonal position such as to reflect a light beam projected thereon on an axis substantially parallel to said partition, along a projection axis toward said partition at right angles thereto; and a field lens in said partition, in a plane at right angles to said projection axis and substantially centered thereon, operable to bend the rays of the reflected beam into substantial parallism and to transmit the bent rays to said beam splitter for reflection onto said security surface of an identity card inserted through said slot and resting against said support; said beam-splitter being operative to transmit rays reflected from said card through itself to said viewing opening along said viewing axis, and so inclined as to reflect the rays coming from said field lens also along said viewing axis, for maximum reflection of rays from said security surface to the viewers eye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A viewer as defined in claim 1, said card insertion slot being only slightly wider than the thickness of the average identity card, with a width such as to freely receive the card.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A viewer as defined in claim 1, including a circuit for energizing said lamp and a switch, normally open, for closing said circuit in response to insertion of a card through said slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A viewer as defined in claim 3, including a switch actuator in the form of a leaf spring attached to said partition in a position opposed to said card-insertion slot, said actuator being yieldable under pressure of the inner end of an inserted card and operable to transmit closing movement to said switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A viewer as defined in claim 4; said casing including top and bottom walls; said partition extending vertically between said top and bottom walls; said viewing opening being located in said top wall above said viewing chamber; said card support comprising a shelf at the bottom of said viewing chamber, in opposed relation to said viewing opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A viewer as defined in claim 5; said card support shelf being spaced above said bottom wall to defined a switch chamber, and spaced horizontally from said partition to define a transverse slot; said switch actuator spring projecting downwardly through said slot at its lower end; said switch including a movable switch contact disposed beneath said shelf, and a lever extending from said contact to a position beneath said slot, in engagement with the lower end of said actuator spring so as to move said contact downwardly to a switch-closing position by camming action of said actuator spring thereagainst.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A viewer as defined in claim 1; said casing having a longitudinal axis, said light source being disposed on one side of said axis and said mirror, lens and beam-splitter being located on the other side of said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A viewer as defined in claim 7, including a light shield extending from said partition adjacent to said axis from the margin of said lens to said light source, to cut off direct rays from the light source to said lens.
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) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |