US5334836A — Imaging device having a passive compliant card sc…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 90 words

An imaging card device, comprising: a passive compliant card scanner having a card insertion alignment axis; receiving means in said scanner for receiving a card therein whether said card is aligned or misaligned with said alignment axis, said card having binary zones, said binary zones being selectively filled with infrared radiating ink; and code sensor means, mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, for reading said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of said infrared radiating ink when said card is aligned or misaligned with said alignment axis.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 90 words

An imaging card device, comprising: a passive compliant card scanner having a card insertion alignment axis; receiving means in said scanner for receiving a card therein whether said card is aligned or misaligned with said alignment axis, said card having binary zones, said binary zones being selectively filled with infrared radiating ink; and code sensor means, mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, for reading said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of said infrared radiating ink when said card is aligned or misaligned with said alignment axis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 1, where said code sensor means further comprises: at least one zone sensor positioned to read an individual one of said binary zones.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 2, further comprising: a card edge sensor configured to activate the zone sensors upon detecting a leading edge of the card.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 61 words

An imaging device defined in claim 2, wherein each binary zone is sized such that a complete detection range of said zone sensor is always within said binary zone regardless of factors likely to cause said misalignment and cause all or a portion of said detection range of said zone sensor to fall outside said binary zone and cause detection errors.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 4, wherein the size of said binary zone is generated by the following: Binary Zone=(Maximum Detection Range of Zone Sensor)+(Maximum Lateral Movement of Card and Shear about the binary Zone)+(Maximum Variance of Printed Position of Binary Zone) * 1.05.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 57 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 4, wherein said zone sensor comprises a means for emitting light and a means for detecting reflected light, said maximum detection range of said zone sensor determined by an overlapping area covered by a range of emission from the emitting means and a range of reception by the detecting means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 6, where said emitting means is at least one light emitting diode.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 6, wherein said detecting means is a phototransistor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 6, wherein said detecting means is a photoresistor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein said card further comprises: a substrate imprinted with a pattern of infrared radiating ink; and a thermal sensitive layer deposited over said substrate to visually conceal the ink prior to said card being inserted into said receiving means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 10, further comprising: a strobe light source mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said light source bieng adapted to shine visible light through said thermal sensitive layer and onto said pattern, whereby said ink converts visible light into infrared light to expose said pattern.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 11, further comprising: a validation sensor disposed below said card, said validation sensor adapted to detect heat generated by the infrared ink upon being exposed to said pulse of light.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

An imaging device defined in claim 12, further comprising: a voice unit connected to said validation sensor, said validation unit being adapted to actuate said voice unit upon sensing no heat.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 48 words

An imaging device defined in claim 1, further comprising: a voice unit connected to said code sensor, said code sensor being adapted to actuate said voice unti to announce a message depending upon the presence of absence of ink in the binary zones detected by the code sensor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

An imaging card device as defined in claim 1, wherein said passive compliant card scanner is configured to flatten a card substrate, said card substrate formed of an eight point cardboard.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 240 words

An imaging game card device, comprising: receiving means; a card for insertion into said receiving means, comprising: a substrate imprinted with a pattern of infrared radiating ink indicating a prize and binary zones denoting a code corresponding to said prize, said binary zones selectively filled with infrared ink; and a thermal sensitive layer deposited over said substrate to visually conceal said infrared ink prior to said card being inserted into said receiving means; a light source disposed proximate said receiving means, said light source being adapted to shine visible light through said thermal sensitive layer and onto said pattern, whereby said ink converts visible light into infrared light to expose said prize and said code; a code sensor disposed proximate said receiving means, said code sensor being adapted to read said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of ink; a voice unit connected to said code sensor, said code sensor being adapted to actuate said voice unit in correspondence with the presence of absence of ink detected by the sensor in the scanner zones; and a validation sensor disposed below said pattern of infrared radiating ink and coupled to said voice unit, said validation sensor adapted to detect heat when said ink converts visible light into infrared light, said validation sensor actuating said voice unit only to announce a message upon not sensing heat and not actuate said voice unit in correspondence with presence or absence of ink.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 240 words

An imaging game card device, comprising: receiving means; a card for insertion into said receiving means, comprising: a substrate imprinted with a pattern of infrared radiating ink indicating a prize and binary zones denoting a code corresponding to said prize, said binary zones selectively filled with infrared ink; and a thermal sensitive layer deposited over said substrate to visually conceal said infrared ink prior to said card being inserted into said receiving means; a light source disposed proximate said receiving means, said light source being adapted to shine visible light through said thermal sensitive layer and onto said pattern, whereby said ink converts visible light into infrared light to expose said prize and said code; a code sensor disposed proximate said receiving means, said code sensor being adapted to read said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of ink; a voice unit connected to said code sensor, said code sensor being adapted to actuate said voice unit in correspondence with the presence of absence of ink detected by the sensor in the scanner zones; and a validation sensor disposed below said pattern of infrared radiating ink and coupled to said voice unit, said validation sensor adapted to detect heat when said ink converts visible light into infrared light, said validation sensor actuating said voice unit only to announce a message upon not sensing heat and not actuate said voice unit in correspondence with presence or absence of ink.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 199 words

An imaging card device, comprising: a passive compliant card scanner having a wide acceptance angle configured for easy insertion of a card therein; a card having binary zones, said binary zones being selectively filled with infrared radiating ink; a substrate on the card imprinted with a pattern of said binary zones of infrared radiating ink; a thermal sensitive layer deposited over said substrate to visually conceal the ink prior to said card being inserted into said receiving means; a code sensor mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said code sensor being adapted to read said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of ink even when said binary zones are misaligned relative to said code sensor when the card is inserted within said passive compliant card scanner; a strobe light source mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said light source being adapted to shine visible light through said thermal sensitive layer and onto said pattern, whereby said ink converts visible light into infrared light to expose said pattern; and a validation sensor disposed below said card, said validation sensor adapted to detect heat generated by the infrared ink upon being exposed to said pulse of light.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 199 words

An imaging card device, comprising: a passive compliant card scanner having a wide acceptance angle configured for easy insertion of a card therein; a card having binary zones, said binary zones being selectively filled with infrared radiating ink; a substrate on the card imprinted with a pattern of said binary zones of infrared radiating ink; a thermal sensitive layer deposited over said substrate to visually conceal the ink prior to said card being inserted into said receiving means; a code sensor mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said code sensor being adapted to read said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of ink even when said binary zones are misaligned relative to said code sensor when the card is inserted within said passive compliant card scanner; a strobe light source mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said light source being adapted to shine visible light through said thermal sensitive layer and onto said pattern, whereby said ink converts visible light into infrared light to expose said pattern; and a validation sensor disposed below said card, said validation sensor adapted to detect heat generated by the infrared ink upon being exposed to said pulse of light.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 226 words

An imaging card device, comprising: a passive compliant card scanner having a wide acceptance angle configured for easy insertion of a card therein; a card having binary zones, said binary zones being selectively filled with infrared radiating ink, each such binary zone is sized such that a complete detection range of said zone sensor is always within said binary zone regardless of factors likely to cause said misalignment and cause all or a portion of said detection range of said zone sensor to fall outside said binary zone and cause detection errors; a substrate on the card imprinted with a pattern of said binary zones of infrared radiating ink; a thermal sensitive layer deposited over said substrate to visually conceal the ink prior to said card being inserted into said receiving means; a code sensor mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said code sensor being adapted to read said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of ink even when said binary zones are misaligned relative to said code sensor when the card is inserted within said passive compliant card scanner; and a strobe light source mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said light source being adapted to shine visible light through said thermal sensitive layer and onto said pattern, whereby said ink converts visible light into infrared light to expose said pattern.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 226 words

An imaging card device, comprising: a passive compliant card scanner having a wide acceptance angle configured for easy insertion of a card therein; a card having binary zones, said binary zones being selectively filled with infrared radiating ink, each such binary zone is sized such that a complete detection range of said zone sensor is always within said binary zone regardless of factors likely to cause said misalignment and cause all or a portion of said detection range of said zone sensor to fall outside said binary zone and cause detection errors; a substrate on the card imprinted with a pattern of said binary zones of infrared radiating ink; a thermal sensitive layer deposited over said substrate to visually conceal the ink prior to said card being inserted into said receiving means; a code sensor mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said code sensor being adapted to read said binary zones to detect the presence and absence of ink even when said binary zones are misaligned relative to said code sensor when the card is inserted within said passive compliant card scanner; and a strobe light source mounted to said passive compliant card scanner, said light source being adapted to shine visible light through said thermal sensitive layer and onto said pattern, whereby said ink converts visible light into infrared light to expose said pattern.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 46 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 18, wherein the size of said binary zone is generated by the following: Binary Zone=(Maximum Detection Range of Zone Sensor)+(Maximum Lateral Movement of Card and Shear about the Binary Zone)+(Maximum Variance of Printed Position of Binary Zone) * 1.05.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 57 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 18, wherein said zone sensor comprises a means for emitting light and a means for detecting reflected light, said maximum detection range of said zone sensor determined by an overlapping area covered by a range of emission from the emitting means and a range of reception by the detecting means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 20, where said emitting means is at least one light emitting diode.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 20, wherein said detecting means is a phototransistor.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

An imaging device as defined in claim 20, wherein said detecting means is a phototransistor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-08-01	1998-01-31	1998-08-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-08-01	2002-01-31	2002-08-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-08-01	2006-01-31	2006-08-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Imaging device having a passive compliant card scanner and a validation sensor

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag