US4798941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
IC card
Assignee: Toppan Edge Inc
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Filing: 1986-03-13
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Granted: 1989-01-17
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Expires: 2006-03-13
Abstract
Abstract There is provided an IC card having control means (1) and storage means (4), wherein storage means (4) comprises a storage area for storing information thereon, a secret identification number area for storing a predetermined secret identification number thereon, and an error count area for storing the number of times of improper input of the secret identification number, and wherein the control means (1) comprises comparison means (107, 112) for comparing a supplied secret identification number with the predetermined secret identification number stored on the secret identification number area, means (108, 113) for accessing to the storage area when the comparison means indicates coincidence as a result of comparison, error count means (120 to 126) for storing the number of times of discrepancy into the error count area when the comparison means indicates discrepancy as a result of comparison, storage area lock means (102, 104) for inhibiting access to the storage area when the error count means has counted a predetermined number of times, and reset means (151, 152, FIGS. 9A and 15) for invalidating the count of the error count area on the basis of the specific input signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:14
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G07F7/1025; G07F7/1083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An IC card having at least control means and storage means, wherein said storage means comprises: a storage area for storing information thereon; a secret identification number area for storing at least one predetermined secret identification number thereon; and an error count area for storing the number of times of improper input of the secret identification number thereon, and wherein said control means comprises: comparison means for comparing a supplied secret identification number with said predetermined secret identification number stored on said secret identification number area; means for accessing said storage area when said comparison means indicates coincident as a result of comparison; error count means for storing the number of times of discrepancy into said error count area when said comparison means indicates discrepancy as a result of comparison; storage area lock means for inhibiting access to said storage area when said error count means has counted a predetermined number of time; and unlock means for invalidating the count of said error count area to release said storage area lock means, on the basis of at least one specific input signal after the count of said error count area has counted said predetermined number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An IC card having at least control means and storage means, wherein said storage means comprises: a storage area for storing information thereon; a secret identification number area for storing at least one predetermined secret identification number thereon; and an error count area for storing the number of times of improper input of the secret identification number thereon, and wherein said control means comprises: comparison means for comparing a supplied secret identification number with said predetermined secret identification number stored on said secret identification number area; means for accessing said storage area when said comparison means indicates coincident as a result of comparison; error count means for storing the number of times of discrepancy into said error count area when said comparison means indicates discrepancy as a result of comparison; storage area lock means for inhibiting access to said storage area when said error count means has counted a predetermined number of time; and unlock means for invalidating the count of said error count area to release said storage area lock means, on the basis of at least one specific input signal after the count of said error count area has counted said predetermined number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An IC card according to claim 1, wherein the count of said error count area is invalidated after said storage area access means has been executed on the basis of the input signal of said predetermined secret identification number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An IC card according to claim 1, further comprising means for allowing access to said storage area after the count of said error count area has been invalidated on the basis of said specific input signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
An IC card according to claim 1, wherein said error count area includes a plurality of segments capable of counting the improper inputs up to said predetermined number, wherein said unlock means includes means for invalidating a segment currently used for counting, and wherein said error count means includes means for making one predetermined segment among said plurality of segments which is not yet invalidated count improper inputs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An IC card according to claim 4, wherein each of said segments includes error bits for counting improper inputs in conjunction with said error count means and a reset bit for invalidating said segment by said reset means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An IC card according to claim 5, wherein said error bits comprise a plurality of bits and said error count means includes means for successively inverting said error bits bit by bit each time an improper input is supplied.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An IC card according to claim 5, wherein said unlock means includes means for invalidating said segment by inverting said reset bit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An IC card according to claim 1, wherein said error count area is disposed in a rewritable memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An IC card according to claim 8, wherein said unlock means includes means for returning said error count area to its initial state having no count of improper input.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An IC card according to claim 9, wherein said error count means includes means for successively inverting said error count area bit by bit each time an improper input is supplied.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An IC card according to claim 9, wherein said error means includes means for effecting binary count using said error count area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
An IC card according to claim 1, further comprising means for invalidating the count of said error count area, on the basis of the input signal of said predetermined secret identification number, when the count of said error count area is less than said predetermined number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An IC card according to claim 1, wherein said unlock means releases said storage area lock means on the basis of said specific input signal and the input signal of said secret identification number.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1992-01-17 | 1992-07-18 | 1993-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-17 | 1996-07-18 | 1997-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-17 | 2000-07-18 | 2001-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |