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US4701601A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Transaction card with magnetic stripe emulator

Assignee: Visa International Service Association
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Filing: 1985-04-26
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Granted: 1987-10-20
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Expires: 2005-04-26
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Abstract

Abstract A transaction card is disclosed having a magnetic stripe emulator. The transaction card is adapted for use with presently available transaction terminals that include a sensor for reading a magnetic stripe. The subject card includes a transducer for generating a varying magnetic field corresponding to information typically encoded on a magnetic stripe. In operation, a microprocessor in the card extracts transaction data stored in a memory and supplies output signals to the transducer. The transducer generates a varying magnetic field corresponding to the transaction information which is read by the sensor in the transaction terminal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph P. Francini
  • 👤 Einar L. Asbo
  • 👤 Vincent Boston

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 08:50
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06187; G06K19/06206; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/0701; G06K19/0702; G06K19/0704; G06K19/0723; G06K19/077; G06K19/07701; G06K19/07703; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/3415; G07F7/0806; G07F7/0833; G07F7/084

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 243 words
A new transaction card having magnetic stripe emulator for use with a transaction terminal intended to interface with standard transaction cards, said standard transaction cards having a magnetic stripe formed thereon and with said terminal having a sensor means for reading transaction information encoded on the magnetic stripe on a standard card, said new card comprising: a carrier configured to be receivable in the transaction terminal; processor means within said carrier for generating electrical output signals; storage means within said carrier and connected to said processor means, said storage means for holding data representative of transaction information; and transducer means within said carrier and connected to said processor means, said transducer means for generating a varying magnetic field, extending beyond the surface of the carrier, in response to electrical output signals from said processor means, said transducer means being positioned on said carrier to be in alignment with the sensor means of the terminal when said carrier is received in the terminal, with said processor means functioning to extract said data from said storage means and generate and supply output signals to the transducer means, and with the transducer means functioning to generate a varying magnetic field readable by the sensor means in the terminal, said varying magnetic field emulating the varying magnetic field which would exist at the sensor means of the terminal if the magnetic stripe of a standard card having transaction information encoded thereon was scanned by the sensor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 243 words
A new transaction card having magnetic stripe emulator for use with a transaction terminal intended to interface with standard transaction cards, said standard transaction cards having a magnetic stripe formed thereon and with said terminal having a sensor means for reading transaction information encoded on the magnetic stripe on a standard card, said new card comprising: a carrier configured to be receivable in the transaction terminal; processor means within said carrier for generating electrical output signals; storage means within said carrier and connected to said processor means, said storage means for holding data representative of transaction information; and transducer means within said carrier and connected to said processor means, said transducer means for generating a varying magnetic field, extending beyond the surface of the carrier, in response to electrical output signals from said processor means, said transducer means being positioned on said carrier to be in alignment with the sensor means of the terminal when said carrier is received in the terminal, with said processor means functioning to extract said data from said storage means and generate and supply output signals to the transducer means, and with the transducer means functioning to generate a varying magnetic field readable by the sensor means in the terminal, said varying magnetic field emulating the varying magnetic field which would exist at the sensor means of the terminal if the magnetic stripe of a standard card having transaction information encoded thereon was scanned by the sensor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
a transaction card as recited in claim 1, further including a means for activating the emulation function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
a transaction card as recited in claim 2 wherein said activation means includes a key pad connected to said processor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 62 words
A transaction card as recited in claim 3 wherein said storage means further includes data, representative of a secret code associated with the user and wherein said processor means functions to compare data entered into said keypad with the data held in said storage means and if identical said processor means will generate and suppy said output signals to said transducer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 58 words
A transaction card as recited in claim 3 wherein said storage means includes a plurality of data sets representative of different accounts and wherein said individual data sets can be selected via said key pad causing said processor means to access said selected data set from the storage means and supply corresponding output signals to said transducer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
A transaction card as recited in claim 5 wherein said key pad includes individual keys associated with each said data set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
A transaction card as recited in claim 1 further including a battery means within said carrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
A transaction card as recited in claim 7 further including a solar cell means for charging the battery means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
A transaction card as recited in claim 1 wherein said transducer means comprises a thin film head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
A transaction card as recited in claim 1 wherein said transducer means is defined by an electromagnetic coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A transaction card as recited in claim 1 further including a plurality of electrical contacts connected to said processor means to define an electrical data interface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4007355A Cited
US3938090A Cited
US4498000A Cited
US4507550A Cited
US4650981A Cited
US4575621A Cited
US4614861A Cited
US4605844A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-10-19 1991-04-20 1991-10-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-10-19 1995-04-20 1995-10-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-10-19 1999-04-20 1999-10-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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