US4394654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Identification device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1981-04-17
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Granted: 1983-07-19
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Expires: 2001-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A novel identification device permits its holder to prove his authority as holder thereof so as to largely prevent its abusive use. The said identification device consists of a handy small housing (1) comprising permanent storage means (10) with an alphanumerical character string forming a code stored therein, further input means, a word register (9) for entering an alphanumerical character string by means of the input means, a comparator (11) having connected to its inputs the permanent storage means (10) and the word register (9), and display means connected to the comparator (11) for indicating the existing or missing conformity of the two character strings as determined by the comparator. A first time function element equipped with interlocking means which at the end of a predetermined first period of time supplies an interlocking signal preventing the conformity, if existing, to be displayed, may serve to limit a period of validity of the identification device. The word register (9) may be coupled also to a certain time function element which serves to erase the content of the word register at the end of a second predetermined, relatively short period of time so as to prevent any abuse which may otherwise result from the fact that the display of an existing conformity is retained for an unlimited period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Hellmut W. Hofmann-Cerfontaine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:44
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/02; G06F15/025; G06F15/0283; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/3415; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An identification device characterized in that permanent storage means in which an alphanumerical character string forming a code is stored, and a word register into which an alphanumerical character string can be entered by means of input means, are connected to a comparator which supplies to a display device a control signal indicating that conformity between the two character strings is either present or missing; and further characterized by a time function element with interlocking means which, at the end of a pre-determined expiration period of time, supplies an interlocking signal which prevents an existing conformity from being displayed, the expiration period defining the validation during which the device permits indication of the presence or absence of conformity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An identification device characterized in that permanent storage means in which an alphanumerical character string forming a code is stored, and a word register into which an alphanumerical character string can be entered by means of input means, are connected to a comparator which supplies to a display device a control signal indicating that conformity between the two character strings is either present or missing; and further characterized by a time function element with interlocking means which, at the end of a pre-determined expiration period of time, supplies an interlocking signal which prevents an existing conformity from being displayed, the expiration period defining the validation during which the device permits indication of the presence or absence of conformity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An identification device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the input means and the display means are formed by the keyboard (2) and the display (3), respectively, of a pocket computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An identification device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the identification device further comprises an acoustic signal generator means for indicating the presence of conformity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
An identification device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the time function element comprises an oscillator and a counter to which the oscillations of the oscillator are supplied, whose position varies in proportion to the cycles of the oscillation and which finally serves to actuate the interlocking means in response to its position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An identification device in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the oscillator and the counter are components of an electronic watch (12) with date display and that the interlocking means comprises a date storage (14) and a comparator (15) connected to the date storage and a register (13) of the date display, which comparator supplies the interlocking signal when the pre-determined conditions are fulfilled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An identification device in accordance with claim 1, chracterized in that the display means is coupled via a gate circuit (25) to a character generator (24) for a character string indicative of the existence of conformity and that the gate circuit (25) responds to the control signal and the interlocking signal, if any.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An identification device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the word register (9) is coupled to a time function element which erases the contents of the word register at the end of a pre-determined period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An identification device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it is preferably provided with a machine-readable code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An identification device in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a housing (1) designed for accommodation of a credit card (7).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
An identification device comprising: storage means for permanently storing a predefined string of alphanumerical characters therein, the predefined string representing an identification code; a word register and keyboard means for entering alphanumerical characters in sequence into the word register as an entered string; comparator means for supplying a control signal when the entered string in the word register conforms with the predefined string in the storage means; means for indicating the presence or absence of conformity between the entered string and the predetermined string; time function element means for providing an interlocking signal at the end of a pre-determined expiration period; and interlock gate means, connected to the conformity indications means and to the time function element means, for inhibiting the conformity indicating means in response to an interlocking signal from the time function element means; the expiration period defining the validation time during which the device permits indication of the presence or absence of conformity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
An identification device comprising: storage means for permanently storing a predefined string of alphanumerical characters therein, the predefined string representing an identification code; a word register and keyboard means for entering alphanumerical characters in sequence into the word register as an entered string; comparator means for supplying a control signal when the entered string in the word register conforms with the predefined string in the storage means; means for indicating the presence or absence of conformity between the entered string and the predetermined string; time function element means for providing an interlocking signal at the end of a pre-determined expiration period; and interlock gate means, connected to the conformity indications means and to the time function element means, for inhibiting the conformity indicating means in response to an interlocking signal from the time function element means; the expiration period defining the validation time during which the device permits indication of the presence or absence of conformity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
An identification device as in claim 10 further comprising: an actuatable TNR key on the keyboard means wherein the key, when actuated, provides an enable signal; and an AND gate, interposed between the comparator means and display means, the AND gate having the control signal from the comparator means as one input and the enable signal from the key as another input.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An identification device as in claim 11 further comprising: means, connected to receive the output of the AND gate, for clearing the word register at a predefined time after the AND date provides an output signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-18 | 1987-01-17 | 1987-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-18 | 1991-01-17 | 1991-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-18 | 1995-01-17 | 1995-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |