US4837426A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Object verification apparatus and method
Assignee: DocuSystems Inc
•
Filing: 1987-01-16
•
Granted: 1989-06-06
•
Expires: 2007-01-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods of verifying objects utilize an inherent randomly varying and detectable characteristic of a recordable magnetic region affixed to the object. Detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic can be enhanced by recording a selected electrical signal thereon. Digital and analog signals may be used. Both saturation and nonsaturation forms of recording can be used. A verification apparatus senses the enhanced randomly varying magnetic characteristic and compares it to a prestored representative profile previously created. Correspondence between the prestored profile and the currently read characteristic indicates an authentic object. Other objects can be rejected.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin J. Pease
- 👤 Robert A. Copella
- 👤 Ann M. Flannery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:36
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/12; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/347; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/409
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 146
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of verifying the authenticity of an object which has a continuously extending, recordable, magnetic region thereon with the magnetic region including a randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object with detectability of the characteristic enhanced by an electrical signal pre-recorded on and carried by the magnetic region, the method comprising: detecting the enhanced randomly varying characteristic within the recordable magnetic region; retrieving a prestored representation of that characteristic; comparing the detected randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region to the retrieved prestored representation; and indicating the results of the comparison.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of verifying the authenticity of an object which has a continuously extending, recordable, magnetic region thereon with the magnetic region including a randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object with detectability of the characteristic enhanced by an electrical signal pre-recorded on and carried by the magnetic region, the method comprising: detecting the enhanced randomly varying characteristic within the recordable magnetic region; retrieving a prestored representation of that characteristic; comparing the detected randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region to the retrieved prestored representation; and indicating the results of the comparison.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1 with the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic enhanced by saturation recording at least portions of the electrical signal on the magnetic medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 2 with the detecting step including a detecting the randomly varying characteristics enhanced by a periodic saturation recorded variations of the magnetic medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 2 with the detecting step including detecting the randomly varying characteristic enhanced by a non-periodic saturation recorded variation of the magnetic medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 including retrieving the prestored representation from a selected locaton on the object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1 including retrieving the prestored representation from a selected locaton off of the object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1 including processing the detected randomly varying characteristic and forming a present representation thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 7 including comparing the present representation with the prestored representation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 8 including indicating that the object is authentic where the comparing step disclosed a correspondence between the two representations.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of verifying the authenticity of an object which has a continuously extending, recordable, magnetic region thereon with the magnetic region including a randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object with detectability of the characteristic enhanced by an electrical signal pre-recorded on and carried by the magnetic region, the method comprising: detecting the enhanced randomly varying characteristic within the recordable magnetic region; retrieving a prestored representation of that characteristic; comparing the detected randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region to the retrieved prestored representation; and indicating the results of the comparison with the detecting step including detecting a plurality of randomly varying peak values with each such value interposed between first and second substantially equal reference values.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of verifying the authenticity of an object which has a continuously extending, recordable, magnetic region thereon with the magnetic region including a randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object with detectability of the characteristic enhanced by an electrical signal pre-recorded on and carried by the magnetic region, the method comprising: detecting the enhanced randomly varying characteristic within the recordable magnetic region; retrieving a prestored representation of that characteristic; comparing the detected randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region to the retrieved prestored representation; and indicating the results of the comparison with the detecting step including detecting a plurality of randomly varying peak values with each such value interposed between first and second substantially equal reference values.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of verifying the authenticity of an object which has a continuously extending, recordable, magnetic region thereon with the magnetic region including a randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object with detectability o the characteristic enhanced by an electrical signal pre-recorded on and carried by the magnetic region, the method comprising: detecting the enhanced randomly varying characteristic within the recordable magnetic region; retrieving a prestored representation of that characteristic; comparing the detected randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region to the retrieved prestored representation; and indicating the results of the comparison with the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic enhanced by saturation recording at least portions of the electrical signal on the magnetic medium including detecting enhanced random variations at a plurality of spaced apart saturation pre-recorded locations of the magnetic region.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of verifying the authenticity of an object which has a continuously extending, recordable, magnetic region thereon with the magnetic region including a randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object with detectability o the characteristic enhanced by an electrical signal pre-recorded on and carried by the magnetic region, the method comprising: detecting the enhanced randomly varying characteristic within the recordable magnetic region; retrieving a prestored representation of that characteristic; comparing the detected randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region to the retrieved prestored representation; and indicating the results of the comparison with the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic enhanced by saturation recording at least portions of the electrical signal on the magnetic medium including detecting enhanced random variations at a plurality of spaced apart saturation pre-recorded locations of the magnetic region.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for verifying the authenticity of an object which carries a continuously extending, recordable, magnetic region thereon with the magnetic region containing a randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object, the apparatus comprising: means for detecting the randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region including means for sensing peak values of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic between first and second substantially equal reference values; means for retrieving a pre-stored representation of that characteristic; and means for comparing the detected randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region to said retrieved pre-stored representation and for indicating the results of the comparison.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for verifying the authenticity of an object which carries a continuously extending, recordable, magnetic region thereon with the magnetic region containing a randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object, the apparatus comprising: means for detecting the randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region including means for sensing peak values of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic between first and second substantially equal reference values; means for retrieving a pre-stored representation of that characteristic; and means for comparing the detected randomly varying characteristic of the recordable magnetic region to said retrieved pre-stored representation and for indicating the results of the comparison.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 with said detecting means including means for sensing the randomly varying characteristic in combination with a pre-recorded variation of the magentic medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said retrieving means includes means for sensing said prestored representation from a selected locaton on the object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said retrieving means includes means for sensing said prestored representation from a selected location remote from the object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 including means for processing said detected randomly varying characteristic and for forming a present representation thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 16 with said processing means including means for accumulating a plurality of digital values corresponding to peak values of said randomly varying characteristic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 with said comparing means including means for testing for a correspondence between said detected characteristic and said prestored representation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 18 including means for generating a selected indicia in response to said testing means finding said correspondence between the two representations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the magnetic region carries a pre-recorded electrical signal for enhancing the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic, said detecting means including means for converting the enhanced randomly varying magnetic characteristic to an electrical signal in response to relative motion between the magnetic region and said detecting means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 including means for collecting a sequence of peak values of said electrical signal as well as means for forming an identifying profile for the object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 with the pre-recorded electrical signal including at least some portions which saturate respective portions of the magnetic region and including means for collecting a sequence of saturation recorded peak values of said electrical signal as well as means for forming an identifying profile for the object.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claim 22 including means for comparing said profile to said pre-stored representation and means for indicating a correspondence therebetween.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 where the pre-recorded enhancing signal was erased from the magnetic region after said representation was formed and stored, the apparatus including means for restoring said enhancing electrical signal to the magnetic region prior to detecting the randomly varying characteristic.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 24 including: means for erasing said enhancing electrical signal from the magnetic region subsequent to detecting the randomly varying characteristic.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 with the pre-recorded electrical signal saturation recorded on the magnetic region.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a verifiable object comprising: providing a base portion; providing a recordable region of magnetic material on the base portion; recording a selected electrical signal on at least a portion of the recordable region so as to enhance the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic detecting a continuous, unique, permanent, randomly varying magnetic characteristic within said portion of the region; forming a unique representation of the detected characteristic; and storing the unique representation for later reference.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a verifiable object comprising: providing a base portion; providing a recordable region of magnetic material on the base portion; recording a selected electrical signal on at least a portion of the recordable region so as to enhance the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic detecting a continuous, unique, permanent, randomly varying magnetic characteristic within said portion of the region; forming a unique representation of the detected characteristic; and storing the unique representation for later reference.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 27 including providing a rigid base portion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 27 including providing a flexible base portion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 27 including providing a base portion transmissive of radiant energy.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 27 including providing a base portion opaque to radiant energy.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 27 including: depositing the region of magnetic material on the base portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 32 including: forming a slurry carrying the magnetic material; and applying the slurry to a selected region of the base portion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 33 including drying the slurry and forming a layer of magnetic material on the base portion.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 34 including directing radiant energy at the applied slurry so as to promote drying.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 34 including embossing a part of the applied slurry so as to enhance the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 34 including applying selected magnetic indicia to the base portion, prior to applying the slurry, thereby to emphasize the randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 27 including providing a magnetically recordable magnetic member and permanently affixing said member to said base portion.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 27 including recording a time varying digital signal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 41 with the digital signal being saturation recorded on the portion of the magnetic region.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 27 including recording a time varying analog signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 41 with the analog signal being, at least in part, saturation recorded on the magnetic region.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 27 with the recordable region having a substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for making a verifiable object comprising: means for applying a recordable region of magnetic material to the object; means for recording a selected electrical signal onto a portion of the recordable region so as to enhance the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic; means for sensing a continuous, unique permanent, randomly varying magnetic characteristic of said portion of the region; means for forming a unique representation of the sensed characteristic; and means for storing the unique representation for later reference.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for making a verifiable object comprising: means for applying a recordable region of magnetic material to the object; means for recording a selected electrical signal onto a portion of the recordable region so as to enhance the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic; means for sensing a continuous, unique permanent, randomly varying magnetic characteristic of said portion of the region; means for forming a unique representation of the sensed characteristic; and means for storing the unique representation for later reference.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 44 wherein said applying means includes means for depositing said region of magnetic material on the object.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 45 wherein said depositing means includes means for forming a slurry carrying the magnetic material; and means for spreading said slurry along a selected region of the object.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 46 including means for drying said slurry thereby forming a layer of magnetic material permanently attached to the object.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 47 including means for directing radiant energy at said slurry so as to promote drying.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 46 including embossing a part of said applied slurry so as to enhance the detectability of the randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 46 including means for randomly varying a thickness parameter of said region of magnetic material so as to enhance sensing of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as in claim 46 including means for randomly spraying magnetic material onto the object so as to enhance sensing of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 46 in said means for storing includes means for affixing said unique representation to the object in machine readable form.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as in claim 45 including means for physically displacing portions of said magnetic material so as to enhance sensing of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 45 means for affixing a preformed, recordable magnetic tape to the object.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 44 wherein said applying means includes means for forming a recordable region having a substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 44 including means for generating a time-varying detection enhancing electrical signal to be recorded onto the recordable region.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as in claim 56 with said recording means including means for saturation recording at least selected portions of the recordable region in response to said time-varying detection enhancing electrical signal.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 56 with said means generating a time-varying, discontinuous, enhancing electrical signal.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as in claim 56 with said means generating a time-varying signal with a continuously varying amplitude.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 56 with said means generating a digital signal having st and second amplitude levels.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 60 with said digital signal being saturation recorded onto the recordable region.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as in claim 44 including means for recording a selected sequence of data bits onto the recordable region with said sensing means including means for detecting a continuous, unique permanent randomly varying magnetic characteristic enhanced by said recorded sequence of data bits.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as in claim 44 including means for identifying a start location of said recorded electrical signal on the object and for encoding said start location on the object for later reference as well as means for erasing said enhancing signal subsequent to storing the unique representation.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
58 words
A verifiable object comprising: base portion; and a recordable region of magnetic material on said base portion, said region continuously extending for a selected distance with a detectable, continuous, permanent, randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object and with a verification electrical signal recorded thereon so as to enhance the detectability of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
58 words
A verifiable object comprising: base portion; and a recordable region of magnetic material on said base portion, said region continuously extending for a selected distance with a detectable, continuous, permanent, randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object and with a verification electrical signal recorded thereon so as to enhance the detectability of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
14 words
An object as in claim 64 with said recorded verification electrical signal being periodic.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
17 words
An object as in claim 65 with said periodic electrical signal being symmetrical about a reference value.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
20 words
An object as in claim 65 with said enhanced randomly varying magnetic characteristic located adjacent an edge of said region.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
20 words
An object as in claim 65 with said enhanced randomly varying magnetic characteristic extending along an edge of said region.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
24 words
An object as in claim 65 with said non-uniform continuously varying magnetic characteristic extending into a portion of said region having a non-uniform thickness.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
18 words
An object as in claim 65 with said recorded verification electrical signal a discontinuously varying two-level electrical signal.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
23 words
An object as in claim 70 with said signal being at least in part saturation recorded onto a portion of said magnetic region.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
17 words
An object as in claim 70 with said two-level signal recorded along an edge of said region.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
15 words
An object as in claim 72 with said two-level signal recorded in a self-clocking format.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
22 words
An object as in claim 64 with a representation of said continuous, randomly varying magnetic characteristic pre-recorded thereon, displaced from said characteristic.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
14 words
An object as in claim 74 with said representation affixed to said base portion.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
14 words
An object as in claim 74 with said representation visibly pre-recorded on the object.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 76 with said visible representation including a corresponding machine readable indicia.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
17 words
An object as in claim 77 with said machine readable indicia corresponding to a selected bar code.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
14 words
An object as in claim 74 with said representation pre-recorded on said recordable region.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 64 with said recorded verification signal a continuously varying electrical signal.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
35 words
An object as in claim 64 including selected discontinuous magnetic indicia positioned on said base underlying at least in part, said recordable region so as to enhance said detectability of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 81 with said indicia including a plurality of elongated magnetic members.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
29 words
An object as in claim 81, with said indicia including a member detectable for definition of a start of said verification signal recorded on said region of magnetic material.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
96 words
A verifiable object comprising: a base portion; and a recordable region of magnetic material on said base portion, said region continuously extending for a selected distance with a detectable, continuous, permanent, randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object and with a verification electrical signal recorded thereon so as to enhance the detectability of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic with a representation of said continuous, randomly varying magnetic characteristic pre-recorded thereon, displaced from said characteristic and with said representation encoded using a technique from a group including; absolute encoding, parametric encoding, relative maxima encoding phonetic encoding.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
96 words
A verifiable object comprising: a base portion; and a recordable region of magnetic material on said base portion, said region continuously extending for a selected distance with a detectable, continuous, permanent, randomly varying magnetic characteristic unique to the object and with a verification electrical signal recorded thereon so as to enhance the detectability of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic with a representation of said continuous, randomly varying magnetic characteristic pre-recorded thereon, displaced from said characteristic and with said representation encoded using a technique from a group including; absolute encoding, parametric encoding, relative maxima encoding phonetic encoding.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
83 words
An object having a unique verifiable characteristic comprising: a substrate; and a recordable region of substantially uniform, magnetic material formed on said substrate, said region continuously extending for a selected distance and including a detectable permanent, non-uniform, magnetic characteristic unique to the object with a digital representation of said non-uniform magnetic characteristic carried by said substrate in a location displaced from said characteristic with said representation encoded using a technique from a group including; absolute encoding, parametric encoding, relative maxima encoding, phonetic encoding.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
83 words
An object having a unique verifiable characteristic comprising: a substrate; and a recordable region of substantially uniform, magnetic material formed on said substrate, said region continuously extending for a selected distance and including a detectable permanent, non-uniform, magnetic characteristic unique to the object with a digital representation of said non-uniform magnetic characteristic carried by said substrate in a location displaced from said characteristic with said representation encoded using a technique from a group including; absolute encoding, parametric encoding, relative maxima encoding, phonetic encoding.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
15 words
An object as in claim 85 with a selected characteristic enhancing electrical signal recorded thereon.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
19 words
An object in claim 86 with said digital representation of said non-uniform magnetic characteristic pre-recorded on said recordable medium.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
18 words
An object as in claim 86 with said non-uniform magnetic characteristic located adjacent an edge of said region.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
18 words
An object as in claim 86 with said non-uniform magnetic characteristic extending along an edge of said region.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 86 with said non-uniform magnetic characteristic extending into said recordable region.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 86 with said electrical signal a discontinuously varying multi-level electrical signal.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
17 words
An object as in claim 91 with said multi-level signal recorded along an edge of said region.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
15 words
An object as in claim 91 with said multi-level signal recorded in a self-clocking format.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
22 words
An object as in claim 91 wherein said multi-level electrical signal is recorded so as to saturate selected portions of said region.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
15 words
An object as in claim 86 with said electrical signal a continuously varying electrical signal.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
31 words
An object as in claim 85 including selected discontinuous magnetic indicia positioned on said substrate underlying at least in part, said recordable region so as to enhance said non-uniform magnetic characteristic.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 96 with said indicia including a plurality of elongated magnetic members.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
33 words
An object as in claim 96 with indicia including a member detectable for definition of a beginning of a portion of said magnetic region at which said electrical signal is to be recorded.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
90 words
An object having a unique verifiable characteristic comprising: a substrate; and a recordable region of magnetic material on said substate, said region having a first portion for recording selected transaction information and a second non-transaction portion, displaced from said first portion, said second portion continuously extending for a selected distance and including a permanent, continuous, detectable randomly varying magnetic verification characteristic unique to the object and having a selected electrical signal recorded on a section of said second portion so as to enhance the detectability of said randomly varying characteristic.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
90 words
An object having a unique verifiable characteristic comprising: a substrate; and a recordable region of magnetic material on said substate, said region having a first portion for recording selected transaction information and a second non-transaction portion, displaced from said first portion, said second portion continuously extending for a selected distance and including a permanent, continuous, detectable randomly varying magnetic verification characteristic unique to the object and having a selected electrical signal recorded on a section of said second portion so as to enhance the detectability of said randomly varying characteristic.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
21 words
An object as in claim 99 with a representation of said continuous, randomly varying magnetic characteristic pre-recorded on said first portion.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
25 words
An object as in claim 99 with a representation of said continuous, randomly varying magnetic characteristic pre-recorded on said second portion, displaced from said characteristic.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
21 words
An object as in claim 99 with said electrical signal recorded so as to saturate selected parts of said second portion.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 102 with said electrical signal a multi-level, time varying digital signal.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
19 words
An object as in claim 99 with said randomly varying magnetic characteristic located adjacent an edge of said region.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
20 words
An object as in claim 99 with a digitized representation of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic recorded on said region.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 105 with said electrical signal a discontinuously varying digital electrical signal.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
17 words
An object as in claim 106 with said digital signal recorded along an ed of said region.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
15 words
An object as in claim 107 with said digital signal recorded in a self-clocking format.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
15 words
An object as in claim 111 with said electrical signal a continuously varying electrical signal.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
35 words
An object as in claim 105 including selected discontinuous magnetic indicia positioned on said substrate underlying, at least in part, said recordable region so as to enhance said detectability of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
16 words
An object as in claim 110 with said indicia including a plurality of elongated magnetic members.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
24 words
An object as in claim 110 with said indicia including a member detectable for definition of a beginning of said randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
22 words
An object as in claim 99 with said randomly varying magnetic characteristic extending into a variable thickness region of said second portion.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
104 words
An object having a unique verifiable characteristic comprising: a substrate; and a recordable region of magnetic material on said substrate, said region having a first portion for recording selected transaction information and a second non-transaction portion, displaced form said first portion, said second portion continuously extending for a selected distance and including a permanent, continuous, detactable randomly varying magnetic verification characteristic unique to the object and having a selected electrical signal recorded on a section of said second portion so as to enhance the detectability of said randomly varying characteristic with a representation of said continuous, randomly varying magnetic characteristic pre-recorded on said substrate.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
104 words
An object having a unique verifiable characteristic comprising: a substrate; and a recordable region of magnetic material on said substrate, said region having a first portion for recording selected transaction information and a second non-transaction portion, displaced form said first portion, said second portion continuously extending for a selected distance and including a permanent, continuous, detactable randomly varying magnetic verification characteristic unique to the object and having a selected electrical signal recorded on a section of said second portion so as to enhance the detectability of said randomly varying characteristic with a representation of said continuous, randomly varying magnetic characteristic pre-recorded on said substrate.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
15 words
An object as in claim 114 with said representation pre-recorded in a machine readable format.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
14 words
An object as in claim 115 with said machine readable format including a code.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
85 words
A verifiable item comprising: a substrate; a recordable magnetic stripe deposited on a region of said substrate and a coating, said stripe having at east one region with a detactable, permanent randomly varying magnetic characteristic; a preselected, varying electrical signal pre-recorded on said region so as to enhance detactability of said varying magnetic characteristic; and a representation of said varying magnetic characteristic carried by said substrate with said representation encoded using technique from a group including; absolute encoding, parametric encoding, relative maxima encoding, phonetic encoding.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
85 words
A verifiable item comprising: a substrate; a recordable magnetic stripe deposited on a region of said substrate and a coating, said stripe having at east one region with a detactable, permanent randomly varying magnetic characteristic; a preselected, varying electrical signal pre-recorded on said region so as to enhance detactability of said varying magnetic characteristic; and a representation of said varying magnetic characteristic carried by said substrate with said representation encoded using technique from a group including; absolute encoding, parametric encoding, relative maxima encoding, phonetic encoding.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
21 words
An item as in claim 117 wherein said varying electrical signal is, at least in part, saturation recorded on said region.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
24 words
An item as in claim 118 wherein said electrical signal is recorded starting at a location specified by an indicium carried on said item.
Claim 132
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of forming a representative profile of an object carrying a recordable magnetic region onto which an electrical signal can be recorded, the electrical signal enhances the detectability of a randomly varying characteristic of the magnetic region, the method comprising: providing the magnetic region; recording the detectability enhancing signal onto the magnetic region; detecting the randomly varying characteristic of the magnetic region at least once; and collecting at least a first plurality of spaced apart peak values of the detected randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 133
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of forming a representative profile of an object carrying a recordable magnetic region onto which an electrical signal can be recorded, the electrical signal enhances the detectability of a randomly varying characteristic of the magnetic region, the method comprising: providing the magnetic region; recording the detectability enhancing signal onto the magnetic region; detecting the randomly varying characteristic of the magnetic region at least once; and collecting at least a first plurality of spaced apart peak values of the detected randomly varying magnetic characteristic.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 120 including collecting a second plurality of spaced apart peak values.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 121 wherein the members of the first plurality all have a first polarity.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 122 wherein the members of the second plurality all have a second polarity.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 123 wherein the first polarity is opposite the second polarity.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as in claim 121 wherein the first polarity of peak values is encoded by forming a first sequence, the members of which define the relative displacement between adjacent peak values of the first plurality, and wherein the second polarity of peak values is encoded by forming a second sequence, the members of which define the relative displacement between adjacent peak values of the second plurality.
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 120 wherein the first plurality of peak values is encoded by forming a sequence the members of which define the relative displacement between adjacent peak values of the first plurality.
Claim 140
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 126 including digitizing the members of the first plurality.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 127 with the encoding sequence formed as a plurality of digitized representations of the relative displacements.
Claim 142
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 120 including: detecting the randomly varying characteristic a plurality of times; and forming a family of corresponding pluralities of peak values, one plurality for each detected characteristic.
Claim 143
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 129 including comparing corresponding peak values of different pluralities and forming a representative profile having a plurality of peak values selected from among those common to a pre-determined number of the pluralities in the family.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 130 including encoding the representative profile by forming a sequence the members of which define the relative displacement between adjacent peak values of the representative profile.
Claim 145
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 131 including storing the encoded profile for later retrieval
Claim 146
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as in claim 132 including: re-detecting the randomly varying magnetic characteristic; collecting a plurality of spaced apart peak values of the re-detected randomly varying characteristic; encoding the plurality of peak values; retrieving the encoded representative profile; comparing the encoded representative profile to the encoded plurality of peak values; and indicating the presence or absence of a correspondence therebetween.
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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) | 1992-06-05 | 1992-12-05 | 1993-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-05 | 1996-12-05 | 1997-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-05 | 2000-12-05 | 2001-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |