Reader device for coded identification card

Claim 2

A reader for identification cards and the like of the type having a series of translucent data zones, each of which is neither opaque nor transparent, and a related series of data acquisition zones for serially clocking said data zones during decoding, including in combination: first sensing means for reading said data acquisition row and producing therefrom an electrical signal varying in amplitude, clocking means actuated by said first sensing means, for converting said signal to a series of clocking pulses, one for each data acquisition zone, counting means for counting the number of clocking pulses set up by said clocking means and indicating when a predetermined number of them has been read, corresponding to the number of data acquisition zones found on a normal, authentic said card, second sensing means for reading the light transmissivity of each data zone in said row of data zones and producing therefore an electrical signal, error-determining means connected electrically to said second sensing means for determining, in synchronization with a corresponding said clock pulse, whether each and every data zone lies within a predetermined range of transmissivity, being neither too opaque or too transparent, differentiation means connected electrically to said second sensing means for differentiating between a plurality of transmissivities within said predetermined range and thereby providing a value for each said data zone, according to its transmissivity, comparison means for electrically comparing each said value with a predetermined authentication code and thereby determining whether said data-zone series corresponds to said authentication code, and authentication means connected to each of said counting means, said error-determining means, and said comparison means for indicating authenticity when the predetermined number of pulses has been counted without any errors having been found in any said data zone and when said comparison means indicates full correspondence of said data-zone series with the predetermined authentic code.

Claim 3

The reader of claim 1 having full-insertion means for determining when a card has been fully inserted into said reader, said full insertion means being connected electrically to said authentication means, a full insertion signal being required for actuation of said authentication means.

Claim 4

The reader of claim 2 having excess-pulse determining means for discovering whetHer, by the time of full insertion, any pulses in excess of said predetermined number are obtained from said data-acquisition series, said excess pulse determining means being connected to said error determining means for producing an error signal preventing authentication if there is any excess pulse.

Claim 5

The reader of claim 1 having error-indicating means connected to said error-determining means for indicating a determined error.

Claim 6

The reader of claim 1 having an addition: a keyboard having a plurality of keys for manual input of a series of digits, pulse generation means for creating electrical pulses from said input of digits, comparison means connected electrically to said pulse generation means for comparing each said digit with said data-zone values to determine whether they represent the same code, second error-determining means for indicating failure of the keyboard-emplaced digits to correspond to the data-zone values, said second error-determining means being connected to said authentication means and required thereby for authentication.

Claim 7

The reader of claim 5 having: means for counting the keyboard-induced pulses, means for indicating whether any error has been found by said second error-determining means only after the pulses have been counted up to at least the prescribed number.

Claim 8

A reader for identification cards and the like having a data-acquisition row of alternating dark and light zones, and at least one data information row each having a corresponding series of data zones having light transmissivities that lie within a predetermined range of transmissivities and within that range are differentiated into a plurality of different transmissivities, said reader comprising: a card-receiving housing for receiving cards of a predetermined size and having an insertion slot with a pair of facing plates between which the card is to go and a pair of edge-defining means for aligning each said card, one said plate having a plurality of light sources, one for each said row, located side by side and so as to correspond to the location of said rows in an authentic said card, and the opposite said plate having a corresponding plurality of reading means each opposite to and facing one said light source for reading the light transmissivity of material lying in the row intervening between it and its light source and for generating an electrical signal corresponding in amplitude to said light transmissivity, said reading means for said data information row including means for distinguishing among a plurality of light transmissivities and for distinguishing each such transmissivity from complete transparency and from complete opacity.

Claim 9

A reader for identification cards and the like having a data-acquisition row of alternating dark and light zones, and at least one data information row each having a corresponding series of data zones having light transmissivities that lie within a predetermined range of transmissivities and within that range are differentiated into a plurality of different transmissivities, said reader comprising: a card-receiving housing for receiving cards of a predetermined size and having an insertion slot with a pair of facing plates between which the card is to go and a pair of edge-defining means for aligning each said card, one said plate having a plurality of light sources, one for each said row, located side by side and so as to correspond to the location of said rows in an authentic said card, and the opposite said plate having a corresponding plurality of reading means each opposite to and facing one said light source for reading the light transmissivity of material lying in the row intervening between it and its light source and for generating an electrical signal corresponding in amplitude to said light transmissivity, said reading means for said data information row including means for distinguishing among a plurality of light transmissivities and for distinguishing each such transmissivity from complete transparency and from complete opacity.

Claim 10

The reader of claim 7 having microswitch means on one said plate set for actuation by an inserted said card only when said card is fully inserted in said slot.

Claim 11

The reader of claim 7 wherein each said reading means for reading the light transmissivity comprises a phototransistor.

Claim 12

The reader of claim 7 having: pulse-generating means connected electrically to the reading means for said data-acquisition row, for generating a pulse each light-dark alternation, differentiation means connected electrically to each said reading means for a said data-information row and to said pulse-generating means for acting at each said pulse to differentiate between a plurality of transmissivities within said predetermined range, said range excluding complete transparency and complete opacity, and thereby providing a value for each said data zone that depends on its transmissivity, and error determination means for determining serially whether each and every data zone lies within the predetermined range of transmissivities.

Claim 13

The reader of claim 10 having: counting means for counting the said pulses and indicating when a predetermined number of said pulses has been counted, the number being the number of pulses that should be present on an authEntic card.

Claim 14

The reader of claim 11 having: comparison means for comparing each said data-zone value with a predetermined authentication code and for indicating whether said data-zone row contains an authentic code, and authentication means connected to each of said counting means, said error-determining means, and said comparison means for indicating authenticity when the predetermined number of pulses has been counted without any errors having been found on said data zone row and when said comparison means indicates that said data zone row contains an authentic code.

Claim 15

The reader of claim 10 for use with a card whose last data zone of one row is followed by a zone lying outside the predetermined transmissivity range and having no corresponding data-acquisition light-dark zone, so that no corresponding pulse is generated, said error-determining means then sending a signal indicating full insertion of said card.

Claim 16

A reader for identification cards and the like having a data-acquisition row provided with a predetermined number of zones, each serving when read in said reader for generating a clock pulse, and at least one data-information row, each having the same number of data zones, all of which lie within a predetermined range of light transmissivity and which are differentiated into a plurality of different transmissivities within that range, including in combination: card-receiving means having a card-insertion slot, a specifically located light source for each said data-information row of an authentic card, and transmissivity-reading means opposite each said light source for generating an electrical signal whose amplitude corresponds to the light transmissivity of the zone of said card then interposed between it and said light source, and means for generating a signal for each zone in said data-acquisition row, amplifier means for each said signal, a clock pulse generator for generating from the amplified signals from said data-acquisition row a pulse for each zone thereof, to serve as clocking pulses, counting means connected to said generator for counting said clocking pulses and for generating a signal indicating that said predetermined number of pulses has been counted, a shift register and comparator means connected to said generator and to said amplifier for each said data-zone row, reading the transmissivity signal for each data zone upon receiving the corresponding clock pulse, classifying this transmissivity signal into one of the predetermined transmissivities within the predetermined range, and thereby decoding the data from that data zone and comparing it with an encoded bank of data to determine card authenticity or identity, signal amplitude limit detector means receiving the amplified signals from the amplifier means for said data zones and actuated to produce an error signal if any data zone lies outside the prescribed range of transmissivities, an error-determining means connected to said signal amplitude limit detector means through logic circuitry and actuated to an error position when an error signal is given along with a clocked pulse, an error indicator actuated by actuation of said error flip-flop means, means for indicating full insertion of a said card, and authentication means for indicating card authenticity in the absence of an error indication and connected to said error-determining means so that the authentication means cannot be actuated when said error-determining means has been actuated, said authentication means being connected to said counting means for actuation only upon completion of a said pulse count and to said means for indicating full insertion for actuation only if said card has been fully inserted.

Claim 17

A reader for identification cards and the like having a data-acquisition row provided with a predetermined number of zones, each serving when read in said reader for generating a clock pulse, and at least one data-information row, each having the same number of data zones, all of which lie within a predetermined range of light transmissivity and which are differentiated into a plurality of different transmissivities within that range, including in combination: card-receiving means having a card-insertion slot, a specifically located light source for each said data-information row of an authentic card, and transmissivity-reading means opposite each said light source for generating an electrical signal whose amplitude corresponds to the light transmissivity of the zone of said card then interposed between it and said light source, and means for generating a signal for each zone in said data-acquisition row, amplifier means for each said signal, a clock pulse generator for generating from the amplified signals from said data-acquisition row a pulse for each zone thereof, to serve as clocking pulses, counting means connected to said generator for counting said clocking pulses and for generating a signal indicating that said predetermined number of pulses has been counted, a shift register and comparator means connected to said generator and to said amplifier for each said data-zone row, reading the transmissivity signal for each data zone upon receiving the corresponding clock pulse, classifying this transmissivity signal into one of the predetermined transmissivities within the predetermined range, and thereby decoding the data from that data zone and comparing it with an encoded bank of data to determine card authenticity or identity, signal amplitude limit detector means receiving the amplified signals from the amplifier means for said data zones and actuated to produce an error signal if any data zone lies outside the prescribed range of transmissivities, an error-determining means connected to said signal amplitude limit detector means through logic circuitry and actuated to an error position when an error signal is given along with a clocked pulse, an error indicator actuated by actuation of said error flip-flop means, means for indicating full insertion of a said card, and authentication means for indicating card authenticity in the absence of an error indication and connected to said error-determining means so that the authentication means cannot be actuated when said error-determining means has been actuated, said authentication means being connected to said counting means for actuation only upon completion of a said pulse count and to said means for indicating full insertion for actuation only if said card has been fully inserted.

Claim 18

The reader of claim 14 having means connected to said error-determining means for actuating it if any pulses are generated after completion of the prescribed count.

Claim 19

The reader of claim 15 wherein said means for indicating full insertion comprises a miCroswitch at the card insertion slot actuated by a card only after full insertion thereof.

Claim 20

The reader of claim 14 wherein said means for indicating full insertion is used with a card whose last data zone is followed by a zone lying outside the predetermined transmissivity range and having no corresponding data-acquisition zone and hence no corresponding pulse generated, said signal amplitude limit detector means then sending a signal which does not actuate said error-determining means since it has no corresponding clock pulse, said reader having an AND gate with two inputs, one connected to the said output signal from said signal amplitude limit detector means, the other connected to the output from said counting means indication completion of the count of the predetermined number of pulses, the output from said AND gate being connected to said authentication means.

Claim 21

The reader of claim 14 having a keyboard for manual input of digits, means for generating an electrical signal from each digit input in via said keyboard, a comparator connected to said shift register means and receiving the signals from said keyboard, for comparing these signals with the information from a said data-information row and for producing an error signal if any lack of correspondence is found. means for counting the keyboard input signals and for determining completion of the correct number of digit inputs, and means for sending the error signal from said comparator to prevent actuation of said authentication means only after the conclusion of said completion of counting of said keyboard input signals, said authentication means being rendered unactuable by an error signal from said comparator.

Claim 22

In a reader for identification cards and the like of the type having translucent data zones, each of which is neither opaque nor transparent having the combination of: sensing means for reading the light transmissivity of each data zone; error-determining means for determining whether each and every data zone lies within a predetermined range of transmissivity, being neither too opaque or too transparent, and differentiation means for differentiating between a plurality of transmissivities within said predetermined range and thereby providing a decode signal for each said data zone according to its transmissivity.

Claim 23

In a reader for identification cards and the like of the type having translucent data zones, each of which is neither opaque nor transparent having the combination of: sensing means for reading the light transmissivity of each data zone; error-determining means for determining whether each and every data zone lies within a predetermined range of transmissivity, being neither too opaque or too transparent, and differentiation means for differentiating between a plurality of transmissivities within said predetermined range and thereby providing a decode signal for each said data zone according to its transmissivity.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 19 having: comparison means for comparing each said decode signal with a predetermined authentication code and thereby determining whether said data-zone row contains an authentic code, and authentication means connected to each of said error-determining means and said comparison means for indicating authenticity when the data zones have been processed without any errors having been found and when said comparison means indicates full correspondence of said data-zone with the predetermined authentic code.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 20 having means for so altering the card during reading that reentry without a realteration of the card will not produce authentication again.

Claim 26

A reader for identification cards and the like having at least one data-information row each having a series of data zones having light transmissivities that lie within a predetermined range of transmissivities and within that range are differentiated into a plurality of different transmissivities, said reader comprising: a card-receiving housing for receiving cards of a predetermined size and having an insertion slot with a pair of facing plates between which the card is to go and a pair of edge-defining means for aligning said cards, one said plate having a light source for each said row in a position corresponding to the location of that said row in an authentic said card, and the opposite said plate having a light-sensitive means opposite to and facing each said light source for reading the light transmissivity of material lying between it and its light source and for generating an electrical signal Corresponding to said light transmissivity, said reading means for said data information row including means for distinguishing among a plurality of light transmissivities and for distinguishing each such transmissivity from complete transparency and from complete opacity.

Claim 27

A reader for identification cards and the like having at least one data-information row each having a series of data zones having light transmissivities that lie within a predetermined range of transmissivities and within that range are differentiated into a plurality of different transmissivities, said reader comprising: a card-receiving housing for receiving cards of a predetermined size and having an insertion slot with a pair of facing plates between which the card is to go and a pair of edge-defining means for aligning said cards, one said plate having a light source for each said row in a position corresponding to the location of that said row in an authentic said card, and the opposite said plate having a light-sensitive means opposite to and facing each said light source for reading the light transmissivity of material lying between it and its light source and for generating an electrical signal Corresponding to said light transmissivity, said reading means for said data information row including means for distinguishing among a plurality of light transmissivities and for distinguishing each such transmissivity from complete transparency and from complete opacity.