US4108366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for providing and sensing coded information
Assignee: UNIQEY LOCK Co
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Filing: 1976-11-08
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Granted: 1978-08-22
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Expires: 1996-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A card reader adapted to receive a coded card is provided which includes an alternating current source and sensing means connected to the alternating current source. The sensing means includes a plurality of tuned circuits, each having a sensing coil. Each coil has a pressed powder ferromagnetic core and an annular pressed powder ferromagnetic sleeve encircling the coil in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core. The coded card consists of a thin electrically conductive layer having holes selectively formed in the layer in data positions, which, when taken together with portions of the remainder of the electrically conductive layer, constitute binary coded information. The card reader contains a protrusion which prohibits access to a portion of the card reader. A notch is formed in one side of the card to receive the card reader protrusion so that the card may be fully inserted into the card reader in only one position, thereby aligning the coils and the data positions. The card reader positions the electrically conductive layer of a correctly inserted card adjacent the air gap between the core and the sleeve of the coils.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard J. Genest
- 👤 Frederick E. Feagin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/08; G06K7/082; G06K7/083; G06K7/085; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06187; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00658; G07C9/00722; G07C9/00896; G07C9/00904; G07C9/20; G07C9/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for sensing coded information carried by a card, said coded information being provided by the relative presence and absence of magnetically reactive material at adjacent limited areas of the card, comprising: means adapted to receive said card; an alternating current source; sensing means comprising a plurality of adjacent sensing coils adapted to be coupled to said alternating current source, each coil being disposed around a respective ferromagnetic core, a respective annular ferromagnetic sleeve encircling each said coil and a ferromagnetic member forming a magnetic path between each core and sleeve, each said sleeve having a cross-sectional configuration in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the card about the same as the configuration of respective limited areas, said each sleeve containing the magnetic field produced by the coil substantially within the projected wall of said sleeve; and, means for aligning said respective limited areas with and in close proximity to said sleeves, whereby the relative presence of relatively magnetically reactive material positioned in a respective limited area adjacent to and within the magnetic field of a sensing coil causes a first signal to be produced across said coil and the relative absence of magnetically reactive material positioned in a respective limited area adjacent to and within the magnetic field of a sensing coil causes a second signal to be produced.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for sensing coded information carried by a card, said coded information being provided by the relative presence and absence of magnetically reactive material at adjacent limited areas of the card, comprising: means adapted to receive said card; an alternating current source; sensing means comprising a plurality of adjacent sensing coils adapted to be coupled to said alternating current source, each coil being disposed around a respective ferromagnetic core, a respective annular ferromagnetic sleeve encircling each said coil and a ferromagnetic member forming a magnetic path between each core and sleeve, each said sleeve having a cross-sectional configuration in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the card about the same as the configuration of respective limited areas, said each sleeve containing the magnetic field produced by the coil substantially within the projected wall of said sleeve; and, means for aligning said respective limited areas with and in close proximity to said sleeves, whereby the relative presence of relatively magnetically reactive material positioned in a respective limited area adjacent to and within the magnetic field of a sensing coil causes a first signal to be produced across said coil and the relative absence of magnetically reactive material positioned in a respective limited area adjacent to and within the magnetic field of a sensing coil causes a second signal to be produced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
116 words
A system for sensing coded information as defined in claim 1, wherein each coil comprises the secondary coil of one of a plurality of sensor transformers, said alternating current source being connected across the primary coil of each transformer to produce said second signal across the secondary coil of each said transformer in the absence of said adjacent magnetically reactive material, and wherein said magnetically reactive material comprises a metal spot positioned adjacent to and within the magnetic field of at least one of the sensor transformers to produce said first signal across the secondary coil of said at least one transformer, the first and second signals across the transformer secondary coils providing a combination code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system for sensing coded information as defined in claim 1, wherein the central, longitudinal axes of said sleeve, coil and core are substantially coaxial.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
A system for sensing coded information as defined in claim 1, wherein: said alternating current source comprises an oscillator and an energy source connected to supply power to said oscillator; and, said sensing means further comprises a plurality of tuned circuits wherein each of said coils comprises a part of a respective one of the tuned circuits, the proximity of said magnetically reactive material to said magnetic field acting to alter the tuning of said respective circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system for sensing coded information as defined in claim 4, wherein said magnetically reactive material positioned adjacent to an air gap between the core and the sleeve of a coil and within the magnetic field of said coil acts to alter the efficiency of said coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
284 words
A card reader for receiving and sensing information carried by a coded card, said card comprising a thin layer of magnetically reactive material, the relative presence and absence of magnetically reactive material in a plurality of adjacent data positions constituting coded information, said card reader comprising: means adapted to receive said card; an alternating current source; sensing means comprising a plurality of adjacent sensing coils, each of said coils comprising a part of one of a respective one of a plurality of tuned circuits, each tuned circuit being adapted to be connected to said alternating current source, each coil being disposed around a respective ferromagnetic core, a respective annular ferromagnetic sleeve encircling each said coil and a ferromagnetic member forming a continuous magnetic path between each core and sleeve, each said sleeve having an inner diameter no larger than about the diameter of said data positions, each said sleeve having a cross-sectional configuration in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the card about the same as the configuration of the data positions, said each sleeve being adapted to contain the magnetic field produced by the coil substantially within the projected inner wall of said sleeve; and, means for aligning the data positions with said coils and positioning said card in close proximity to an air gap between the core and the sleeve of said coils, whereby the relative presence of said magnetically reactive material in one of said data positions alters the efficiency of the adjacent coil to produce a first signal and the relative absence of said magnetically reactive material in one of said data positions has substantially no effect on the adjacent coil so that a second signal is produced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
284 words
A card reader for receiving and sensing information carried by a coded card, said card comprising a thin layer of magnetically reactive material, the relative presence and absence of magnetically reactive material in a plurality of adjacent data positions constituting coded information, said card reader comprising: means adapted to receive said card; an alternating current source; sensing means comprising a plurality of adjacent sensing coils, each of said coils comprising a part of one of a respective one of a plurality of tuned circuits, each tuned circuit being adapted to be connected to said alternating current source, each coil being disposed around a respective ferromagnetic core, a respective annular ferromagnetic sleeve encircling each said coil and a ferromagnetic member forming a continuous magnetic path between each core and sleeve, each said sleeve having an inner diameter no larger than about the diameter of said data positions, each said sleeve having a cross-sectional configuration in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the card about the same as the configuration of the data positions, said each sleeve being adapted to contain the magnetic field produced by the coil substantially within the projected inner wall of said sleeve; and, means for aligning the data positions with said coils and positioning said card in close proximity to an air gap between the core and the sleeve of said coils, whereby the relative presence of said magnetically reactive material in one of said data positions alters the efficiency of the adjacent coil to produce a first signal and the relative absence of said magnetically reactive material in one of said data positions has substantially no effect on the adjacent coil so that a second signal is produced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
A card reader for receiving and sensing coded information as defined in claim 6, further comprising: means for activating said sensing means to read a first instantaneous output of the sensing means when a first group of data positions is located in the card reader in alignment with said coils; means for activating said sensing means to read a second instantaneous output of sensing means when a second group of data positions is located in the card reader in alignment with said coils; means for storing indications of at least said first instantaneous outputs; and, means for generating an activation signal when a predetermined combination of the relative presence and absence of magnetically reactive material in said data positions is sensed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
312 words
A system for receiving and sensing information, said system comprising a card reader and a coded card, said card comprising: a thin layer of magnetically reactive material having at least one area of reduced magnetically reactive mass formed in at least one of a plurality of adjacent data positions, said at least one area and the magnetically reactive material in the remainder of the data positions constituting coded information; said card reader being adapted to receive said card and further comprising: an alternating current source; sensing means comprising a plurality of adjacent sensing coils, each of said coils comprising a part of one of a respective one of a plurality of tuned circuits, each tuned circuit being adapted to be connected to said alternating current source, each coil being disposed around a respective ferromagnetic core, a respective annular ferromagnetic sleeve encircling each said coil and a ferromagnetic member forming a continuous magnetic path between each core and sleeve, each said sleeve having an inner diameter no larger than about the diameter of said data positions, each said sleeve having a cross-sectional configuration in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the card about the same as the configuration of the areas, said each sleeve being adapted to contain the magnetic field produced by the coil substantially within the projected inner wall of said sleeve; and means for aligning the data positions with said coils and positioning said card in close proximity to an air gap between the core and the sleeve of said coils, whereby the absence of said at least one area in one of said data positions alters the efficiency of the adjacent coil to produce a first signal and the presence of said at least one area in one of said data positions has substantially no effect on the adjacent coil so that a second signal is produced.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
312 words
A system for receiving and sensing information, said system comprising a card reader and a coded card, said card comprising: a thin layer of magnetically reactive material having at least one area of reduced magnetically reactive mass formed in at least one of a plurality of adjacent data positions, said at least one area and the magnetically reactive material in the remainder of the data positions constituting coded information; said card reader being adapted to receive said card and further comprising: an alternating current source; sensing means comprising a plurality of adjacent sensing coils, each of said coils comprising a part of one of a respective one of a plurality of tuned circuits, each tuned circuit being adapted to be connected to said alternating current source, each coil being disposed around a respective ferromagnetic core, a respective annular ferromagnetic sleeve encircling each said coil and a ferromagnetic member forming a continuous magnetic path between each core and sleeve, each said sleeve having an inner diameter no larger than about the diameter of said data positions, each said sleeve having a cross-sectional configuration in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the card about the same as the configuration of the areas, said each sleeve being adapted to contain the magnetic field produced by the coil substantially within the projected inner wall of said sleeve; and means for aligning the data positions with said coils and positioning said card in close proximity to an air gap between the core and the sleeve of said coils, whereby the absence of said at least one area in one of said data positions alters the efficiency of the adjacent coil to produce a first signal and the presence of said at least one area in one of said data positions has substantially no effect on the adjacent coil so that a second signal is produced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system for receiving and sensing coded information as defined in claim 8, wherein: said magnetically reactive layer is a thin layer of electrically conductive metal positioned in the card reader by said aligning means about 0.014 inches from said coils; and, said at least one area is a hole formed in the thin metal layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system for receiving and sensing information as defined in claim 8, further comprising: means for activating said sensing means to read a first instantaneous output of the sensing means when a first group of data positions is located in the card reader in alignment with said coils; means for activating said sensing means to read a second instantaneous output of the sensing means when a second group of data positions is located in the card reader in alignment with said coils; means for storing an indication of at least the first of said instantaneous outputs; and, means for generating an activation signal when predetermined coded information is sensed.
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) | 1981-08-21 | 1982-02-20 | 1982-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-08-21 | 1986-02-20 | 1986-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-08-21 | 1990-02-20 | 1990-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |