US5621200A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic verification machine for validating a medium having conductive material printed thereon
Assignee: Panda Eng Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1997-04-15
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract Determination of the authenticity and integrity of various types of documents such as lottery tickets is accomplished by using an electronic verification machine to compare data contained in electronic circuits printed on the document to document data printed on the document. The electronic circuits are printed on the document in conductive or semi-conductive ink using, for example the gravure printing process, and the presence of status of the circuits can be used to verify or authenticate the document. Data can be represented in the electronic circuits by the electrical signature of the circuit which is measured by the electronic verification machine. In the case of lottery tickets, a ticket can be validated by having the electronic verification machine determine which play spots have been removed from the ticket and comparing data on the ticket with the removed play spots to determine a play redemption value for the ticket. Document verification or lottery ticket validation can also be accomplished by transmitting signature data from the electronic circuits via the electronic verification machine to a central computer for comparison with document data.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
- 👤 Gary R. Streeter
- 👤 Steven J. Daigle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:15
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/12; G07F7/125; A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/06; A63F3/065; A63F3/0665; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/08; G06K7/00; G06K7/08; G06K7/081; G06K7/082; G06K7/083; G06K7/085; G06K7/087; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/347; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/004; G07D7/0043; G07D7/02; G07D7/026; G07F7/0806; G07F7/0813; G07F7/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 117
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An electronic verification machine, for use with a document having conductive material printed thereon, comprising; an array of sensor plates; signal application means for applying an excitation signal to the document wherein said excitation signal is an AC signal; document interface means for receiving the document and aligning the document with respect to said sensor plates and said signal application means; and detection means operatively connected to said sensor plates for detecting the presence of at least a portion of the conductive material in response to the application of said excitation signal wherein said detecting means detects an electrical signature representing a value of resistance of at least a portion of the conductive material on the document.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electronic verification machine, for use with a document having conductive material printed thereon, comprising; an array of sensor plates; signal application means for applying an excitation signal to the document wherein said excitation signal is an AC signal; document interface means for receiving the document and aligning the document with respect to said sensor plates and said signal application means; and detection means operatively connected to said sensor plates for detecting the presence of at least a portion of the conductive material in response to the application of said excitation signal wherein said detecting means detects an electrical signature representing a value of resistance of at least a portion of the conductive material on the document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said electrical signature is a measure of the value of a coupling capacitance to at least a portion of the document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said detection means detects a coupling capacitance between said sensor plates and said conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine of claim 3 wherein said signal application means includes an excitation plate and said coupling capacitance is a resulting series capacitance from a first capacitance between said excitation plate and the conductive material and a second capacitance between the conductive material and said sensor plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein said detection means includes circuit means for measuring a current on said sensor plates resulting from said excitation signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein said current represents an electrical signature of at least a portion of the document.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein said electrical signature is the value of resistance of at least a portion of the conductive material on the document.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein said electrical signature represents a coupling capacitance to at least a portion of the document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein said detection means includes conversion means for converting said sensor plate current to a voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The machine of claim 9 wherein said conversion means includes an operational amplifier having an inverting input connected to one of said sensor plates and wherein a output of said operational amplifier represents the current on said sensor plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein said excitation plate is larger than said sensor plates such that said second capacitance is substantially greater than said first capacitance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 11 wherein said sensor plates are at least 0.01 inches 2 in area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein said excitation plate and said sensor plates are coated with a dielectric material and wherein the document abuts said sensor plates and said excitation plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 13 wherein said dielectric material has a dielectric constant of approximately 8.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said excitation signal has a triangular wave form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said excitation signal has a frequency between 20 KHz and 150 KHz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said excitation signal has a sinusoidal wave form.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said all of sensor plates are aligned in a single linear array configured to extend transversely substantially across the document when it is in said predetermined position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 18 wherein there are at least 2 of said sensor plates in said linear array.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 18 wherein said signal application means includes a linear array of excitation plates.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 20 wherein said array of excitation plates is aligned parallel with and spaced apart from said array of sensor plates.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 21 wherein there are an equal number of said excitation plates and said sensor plates in said linear arrays of excitation and sensor plates.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 18 wherein said signal application means includes an excitation plate substantially rectangular in shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 23 wherein said excitation plate is aligned parallel with and spaced apart from said array of sensor plates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine of claim 24 wherein said excitation plate and said sensor plates are coated with a dielectric material and wherein said document abuts said sensor plates and said excitation plate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 25 wherein said dielectric material has a dielectric constant of approximately 8.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 24 said excitation plate is spaced apart from said array of sensor plates by 0.25 inches.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 24 wherein said sensor plates are substantially square in configuration with each side approximately 0.1 inches in length.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The machine of claim 24 wherein said sensor plates are substantially square in configuration with each side approximately 0.1 inches in length and wherein said excitation plate is approximately 0.1 inch in width.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 29 wherein said excitation plate is spaced apart from said array of sensor plates by approximately 0.25 inches.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 30 including multiplexer means connected between operational amplifier outputs and rectifiers circuit for selecting an output of said operational amplifiers for application to said rectifier.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
53 words
The machine of claim 31 wherein said multiplexer means includes a first multiplexer circuit connected between a first group of said operational amplifiers and a first one of said rectifier circuits and a second multiplexer circuit connected between a second group of said operational amplifiers and a second one of said rectifier circuits.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
The machine of claim 32 wherein said detection means includes A/D means connected to said rectifier for converting said output of said rectifier to a digital detection signal that indicates the presence of at least a portion of the conducting material aligned with said sensor plates.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
65 words
The machine of claim 33 additionally including comparing means, responsive to said digital detection signal and including a memory storing a digital representation of a predetermined shape, for comparing a shape of an area of the conductive material on the document to said predetermined shape and generating a comparison signal if the area of the conductive material on the document substantially matches said predetermined shape.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The machine of claim 34 wherein said digital detection means transmits a frame of said digital detection signals to said comparison means, wherein each of said digital detection signals in said frame corresponds to one of said sensor plates.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 26 wherein said document interface means maintains an air gap of less than 0.004 inches between the document and said array of sensor plates and said excitation plate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine of claim 24 wherein said excitation plate and said sensor plates are coated with a dielectric material and wherein the upper surface of the lottery ticket is in contact with said sensor plates when said transport means moves the upper surface pat said sensor plates.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 37 wherein said dielectric material has a dielectric constant of approximately 8.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 37 wherein said transport means includes a pressure roller for maintaining the upper surface of the lottery ticket in contact with said sensor plates.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
42 words
The machine of claim 18 wherein said detection means detects a coupling capacitance between said sensor plates and said conductive material and said conductive material and said excitation means in order to detect the presence of said portion of the conductive material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine of claim 40 wherein said signal application means includes an excitation plate and said coupling capacitance is a resulting series capacitance from a first capacitance between said excitation plate and the conductive material and a second capacitance between the conductive material and said sensor plates.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
The machine of claim 40 wherein said detection means includes circuit means having a buffer amplifier connected to of said sensor plates for measuring a current on said sensor plates resulting from said excitation signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 18 wherein said document interface means maintains an air gap of less than 0.004 inches between the document and said array of sensor plates and said excitation plates.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
41 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said signal application means includes at least one excitation plate aligned with said array of sensor plates and located such that the document is interposed between said array of sensor plates and said excitation plate.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 44 wherein said signal application means includes an array of said excitation plates vertically aligned with said sensor plates.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 45 wherein said excitation plates are paired with said sensor plates in a linear array.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 46 wherein said array includes at least 2 of said pairs of sensor and excitation plates.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said document interface means includes transport means for moving the document in a direction perpendicular with respect to said array of sensor plates.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 48 wherein said transport means moves the document in discrete steps.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 49 wherein said discrete steps are between 0.02 inches and 0.03 inches.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 48 wherein said interface means maintains the document aligned within 2.0 degrees of said perpendicular direction.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said document interface means maintains an air gap of less than 0.004 inches between the document and said array of sensor plates.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said excitation signal has a constant frequency.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 53 wherein said constant frequency is between 20 KHz and 150 KHz.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 53 wherein said excitation signal has a triangular wave form.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
65 words
The machine of claim 1 additionally including comparing means, operatively connected to said detection means, including a memory storing a digital representation of a predetermined criteria, for comparing the shape of the location of the detected conductive material on the document to said predetermined criteria and generating a comparison signal if the location of the conductive material on the document substantially matches said predetermined criteria.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
59 words
The machine of claim 56 wherein said predetermined criteria includes a digital representation of a predetermined area and said comparing means additionally includes verification means for comparing said predetermined area to a defined portion of the conductive material on the document and generating a verification signal if said defined portion substantially matches said defined portion of the conductive material.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
54 words
The machine of claim 56 wherein said detection means generates a detection signal for each one of said sensor plates and said comparison means compares said detection signals to said digital representation of said predetermined criteria and generates said comparison signal if said detection signals correspond to a predetermined percentage of said digital representation.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 58 wherein said predetermined percentage is 30 percent.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
25 words
The machine of claim 58 wherein said predetermined criteria is a predetermined shape and said digital representation is a bit map of said predetermined shape.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 60 wherein said memory includes a vector representing the beginning address and the ending address of bits in said bit map of said predetermined shape.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 61 wherein said vector additionally includes said predetermined percentage of digital representations.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
76 words
The machine of claim 60 wherein document interface means includes step means for moving the document in discrete steps in a direction perpendicular with respect to said array of sensor plates, said signal application means applies said excitation signal for each said step corresponding to said bit map and said detection means generates a detection signal for each said sensor plate if at least a portion of the conductive material is aligned with that sensor plate.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
113 words
The machine of claim 56 wherein said detection means generates a detection signal for each one of said sensor plates and said comparison means compares said detection signals to said digital representation of said predetermined criteria and generates said comparison signal if said detection signals correspond to a predetermined percentage of said digital representation and wherein said memory additionally stores a representation of a defined portion of the conductive material on the document and wherein said comparison means additionally compares said detection signals to said representation of said defined portion and generates a verification signal if at least a portion of said detection signals correspond to a predetermined percentage of said defined portion.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said detection means includes a buffer amplifier connected to each of said sensor plates.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
37 words
The machine of claim 65 wherein each of said buffer amplifiers includes an operational amplifier having its inverting input connected to its associated sensor plate and a feedback resistor connected between its output and said inverting input.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 66 wherein the noninverting input of said operational amplifiers is connected to ground.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 66 wherein said excitation signal has a triangular wave form.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 66 wherein said detection means includes at least one rectifier circuit connected to the output of said operational amplifiers.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 65 wherein said detection means includes an inductor connected between said sensor plates and said buffer amplifiers.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 70 wherein each of said buffer amplifiers includes an operational amplifier having its noninverting input connected to its associated inductor and its inverting input connect to its output.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 71 wherein said excitation means includes frequency means for varying the frequency of said excitation signal.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 72 wherein said excitation signal has a triangular wave form.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 72 wherein said excitation signal has a sinusoidal wave form.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
30 words
The machine of claim 72 wherein said detection means includes comparison means for comparing the voltage output of each of said buffer amplifiers to the frequency of said excitation signal.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 70 wherein said excitation signal has a constant frequency.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 76 wherein said excitation signal has a triangular wave form.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 76 wherein said excitation signal has a sinusoidal wave form.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
38 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said signal application means includes a plurality of excitation plates and wherein each of said excitation plates is located adjacent to a corresponding one of said sensor plates in a linear array.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 79 wherein said sensor plates and said excitation plates are substantially square in configuration with each side approximately 0.20 inches in length.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
30 words
The machine of claim 79 wherein said document interface means includes step means for moving the document in discrete steps in a direction perpendicular with respect to said linear array.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 79 wherein said document interface means maintains the document within 0.004 inches of said linear array.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
182 words
A lottery ticket validation machine, for use with lottery tickets manufactured with a scratch-off coating that includes a conductive material covering a predetermined area of the upper surface of the lottery ticket, comprising: document interface means for receiving the lottery ticket; excitation means for applying an excitation signal to at least a portion of the predetermined area of the lottery ticket; validation means, responsive to said excitation signal, for determining the location of the scratch-off coating in said predetermined area and wherein said validation means includes at least one sensor aligned in a predetermined position with respect to the ticket by said document interface means and detection means operatively connected to said sensor for generating a detection signal, in response to said excitation signal indicating the presence or the scratch-off coating associated with said sensor; and wherein said validation means also includes memory means for storing a representation of the predetermined area and comparing means for comparing said representation to said detection signal to generate a validation signal if said detection signals correspond to less than a predetermined portion of said representation.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
182 words
A lottery ticket validation machine, for use with lottery tickets manufactured with a scratch-off coating that includes a conductive material covering a predetermined area of the upper surface of the lottery ticket, comprising: document interface means for receiving the lottery ticket; excitation means for applying an excitation signal to at least a portion of the predetermined area of the lottery ticket; validation means, responsive to said excitation signal, for determining the location of the scratch-off coating in said predetermined area and wherein said validation means includes at least one sensor aligned in a predetermined position with respect to the ticket by said document interface means and detection means operatively connected to said sensor for generating a detection signal, in response to said excitation signal indicating the presence or the scratch-off coating associated with said sensor; and wherein said validation means also includes memory means for storing a representation of the predetermined area and comparing means for comparing said representation to said detection signal to generate a validation signal if said detection signals correspond to less than a predetermined portion of said representation.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
35 words
The machine of claim 83 wherein said validation means additionally generates a validation signal indicating that at least a predetermined portion of the scratch-off coating has been removed from said predetermined area of the ticket.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine of claim 83 wherein said validation means additionally includes verification means for determining if the lottery ticket contains conductive material other than the conductive material in the scratch-off coating.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine of claim 85 wherein said verification means generates a verification signal if the lottery ticket contains more than a predetermined amount of the conductive material other than the conductive material in the scratch-off coating.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine of claim 86 wherein said predetermined amount of the conductive material other than the conductive material in the scratch-off coating is located on a predetermined area of the upper surface of the lottery ticket.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 83 wherein said validation signal represents at least a predetermined percentage of the scratch-off coating has been removed from the ticket in the predetermined area.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 83 wherein said representation is a digital map of the predetermined area stored in said memory means.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine of claim 89 wherein said validation means additionally includes verification means responsive to said detection signal for determining if the lottery ticket contains conductive material other than the conductive material in the scratch-off coating.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine of claim 90 wherein said verification means generates a verification signal if the lottery ticket contains more than a predetermined amount of the conductive material other than the conductive material in the scratch-off coating.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
36 words
The machine of claim 91 wherein said predetermined amount of the conductive material other than the conductive material in the scratch-off coating is located on a predetermined area of the upper surface of the lottery ticket.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
38 words
The machine of claim 83 wherein said memory includes a plurality of said representation of predetermined areas and additionally including ticket identification means for identifying which of said representations of predetermined areas corresponds to a particular lottery ticket.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 93 wherein said identification means includes a bar code reader for reading a ticket identifying code bar code on the lottery ticket.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 83 wherein said sensor includes an array of sensor plates.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 83 wherein document interface means includes transport means for moving the upper surface of the lottery ticket past said array of sensor plates.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
38 words
The machine of claim 96 wherein said transport means moves said ticket in discrete steps past said array of sensor plates and said detection signals are generated for each of said sensor plates for each of said steps.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 97 wherein said transport means includes a pressure roller for maintaining the upper surface of the lottery ticket in contact with said sensor plates.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 96 wherein said transport means maintains said scratch-off coating within a predetermined distance of said sensor plates.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 99 wherein said predetermined distance is 0.004 inches.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 96 wherein said excitation means includes an excitation plate for applying said excitation signal to the predetermined area on the lottery ticket.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 101 wherein said excitation plate is aligned in parallel with and spaced apart from said sensor plates.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
49 words
The machine of claim 101 wherein said excitation is an AC signal and wherein said validation means includes A/D means connected to said sensor plate for converting the current of said detection signal generated on said sensor plates in response to said excitation signal to a digital detection signal.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
54 words
The machine of claim 103 wherein said representation is a digital map of the predetermined area stored in said memory means and wherein said comparing means compares said digital detection signal from each of said sensor plates to a corresponding position in said digital map for each of said step of said transport means.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
88 words
A pull-tab lottery ticket validation machine, for use with a lottery ticket having a substrate with play indicia printed thereon and a pull tab member having conductive ink printed thereon secured to the substrate with perforated pull-tabs located over the play indicia, comprising: document interface means for receiving the pull-tab ticket; excitation means for applying an excitation signal to selected portions of the pull-tab ticket; validation means, responsive to said excitation signal, for determining if one or more of the pull-tabs has been removed from the pull-tab ticket.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
88 words
A pull-tab lottery ticket validation machine, for use with a lottery ticket having a substrate with play indicia printed thereon and a pull tab member having conductive ink printed thereon secured to the substrate with perforated pull-tabs located over the play indicia, comprising: document interface means for receiving the pull-tab ticket; excitation means for applying an excitation signal to selected portions of the pull-tab ticket; validation means, responsive to said excitation signal, for determining if one or more of the pull-tabs has been removed from the pull-tab ticket.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
63 words
The machine of claim 105 wherein said validation means includes at least one sensor plate aligned with the location of the pull-tabs on the ticket and signature means operatively connected to said sensor plate for detecting, in response to the application of said excitation signal, a pull-tab signature resulting from the presence of the conductive ink thereby indicating the presence of the pull-tab.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine of claim 106 wherein said signature means additionally includes verification means for detecting a verification signature indicating the presence of the conductive ink in an area of the ticket other than the pull-tabs in order to verify that the ticket is a legitimate pull-tab ticket.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 106 wherein said excitation means includes at least one excitation plate for applying said excitation signal to the ticket.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
51 words
The machine of claim 108 wherein said document interface means includes transport means for moving each of the locations on the ticket where the pull-tabs would be located past said sensor plate and wherein said signature means generates said pull-tab signature if a pull-tab is present at each of the locations.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine of claim 109 wherein said signature means additionally includes verification means for detecting a verification signature indicating the presence of the conductive ink in locations of the ticket other than the pull-tab locations in order to verify that the ticket is a legitimate pull-tab ticket.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
89 words
The machine of claim 110 wherein said transport means steps the pull-tab ticket such that each of the pull-tab locations is aligned with said sensor plate and said excitation signal is applied to generate said pull-tab signature for each of the pull-tab locations and wherein said transport means steps the pull-tab ticket such that said sensor plate is aligned with at least one predetermined location on the pull-tab ticket other than the pull-tab locations and said excitation signal is applied to generate said verification signal for the predetermined locations.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 111 wherein at least some of the predetermined locations are locations on the pull-tab ticket between the pull-tabs.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 112 wherein said sensor plate is located such that said transport means will move the centerline of the pull-tab ticket past said sensor plate.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 113 wherein said excitation means includes two of said excitation plates aligned with and spaced apart on either side of said sensor plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-14 | 2000-10-14 | 2001-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-14 | 2004-10-14 | 2005-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-14 | 2009-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |