US6000607A — IC card reader/writer and method of operation the…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 108 words

An IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising: a body including at least one IC card insertion slot, said body including: an upper cover; a lower portion; least one step formed by displacement between said upper cover and said lower portion; and a recessed portion recessed from said step, said upper cover and said lower portion being separable from each other, said step being formed on a side of said body of the reader/writer formed with said IC card insertion slot.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 108 words

An IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising: a body including at least one IC card insertion slot, said body including: an upper cover; a lower portion; least one step formed by displacement between said upper cover and said lower portion; and a recessed portion recessed from said step, said upper cover and said lower portion being separable from each other, said step being formed on a side of said body of the reader/writer formed with said IC card insertion slot.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

An IC card reader/writer according to claim 1, wherein said IC card insertion slot is formed on at least one of an upper surface of said upper cover, a front surface of said body and side surfaces of said body.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 71 words

An IC card reader/writer according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said upper cover is curved upwardly in a direction away from said IC card insertion slot in such a manner as to increase a thickness of said IC card reader/writer progressively toward the portion thereof far from said IC card insertion slot, and said upper cover has a display section located on the slope of said curved portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

An IC card reader/writer according to claim 1, wherein said recessed portion guides said IC card into said insertion slot.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 116 words

An IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising: a keyboard having ten-keys and function keys arranged on an upper surface of said IC card reader/writer; a display section arranged on said upper surface of said IC card reader/writer; an IC card insertion slot arranged on said upper surface of said IC card reader/writer, said surface being closer to said keyboard section than said display section; and wherein said function keys include a key for checking whether or not said IC card containing electronic money is in a locked state.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 116 words

An IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising: a keyboard having ten-keys and function keys arranged on an upper surface of said IC card reader/writer; a display section arranged on said upper surface of said IC card reader/writer; an IC card insertion slot arranged on said upper surface of said IC card reader/writer, said surface being closer to said keyboard section than said display section; and wherein said function keys include a key for checking whether or not said IC card containing electronic money is in a locked state.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 165 words

An IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising: a body including at least one IC card insertion slot, an upper cover, a lower portion, at least one step formed by displacement between said upper cover and said lower portion, a recessed portion recessed from said step, a keyboard including ten-keys and functions arranged on an upper surface of said upper cover, and a display section arranged on said upper surface of said upper cover, said upper cover and said lower portion being separable from each other, said step being formed on a side of said IC body formed with said IC card insertion slot, said function keys including key for displaying balance of the electronic money contained in said IC card and a key for checking whether or not the IC card containing the electronic money is locked.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 165 words

An IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising: a body including at least one IC card insertion slot, an upper cover, a lower portion, at least one step formed by displacement between said upper cover and said lower portion, a recessed portion recessed from said step, a keyboard including ten-keys and functions arranged on an upper surface of said upper cover, and a display section arranged on said upper surface of said upper cover, said upper cover and said lower portion being separable from each other, said step being formed on a side of said IC body formed with said IC card insertion slot, said function keys including key for displaying balance of the electronic money contained in said IC card and a key for checking whether or not the IC card containing the electronic money is locked.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

An IC card reader/writer according to claim 6, wherein said ten-keys and function keys of said keyboard are soft keys displayed in a liquid crystal display area on said upper surface of said upper cover of said IC card reader/writer, and said display section is located in said liquid crystal display area and constitutes a touch panel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 52 words

An IC card reader/writer according to claim 6, wherein said keyboard having said ten-keys and said function keys is configured removably from said body, said keyboard being connected with said body by infrared light or radio wave in a case where said keyboard is used in a state removed from said body.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 94 words

A method of operating an IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, said method comprising the steps of: causing a user to insert an IC card into a card insertion slot of said IC card reader/writer; causing the user to instruct whether or not said IC card is in a locked state to be displayed; and displaying whether or not said IC card is in a locked state.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 94 words

A method of operating an IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, said method comprising the steps of: causing a user to insert an IC card into a card insertion slot of said IC card reader/writer; causing the user to instruct whether or not said IC card is in a locked state to be displayed; and displaying whether or not said IC card is in a locked state.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method of operating an IC card reader/writer according to claim 9, wherein whether or not said IC card is in A locked state is displayed using a specified one of the function keys arranged on an upper surface of said IC card reader/writer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method of operating an IC card reader/writer according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: instructing a password for unlocking said IC card to be entered in a case where said IC card is in a locked state; and causing the user to enter said password.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 137 words

An IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising: an IC card insertion slot formed at a side face of a body of said IC card reader/writer; a step formed at said side face where said insertion slot is formed; a recessed portion recessed from said step and formed on said step; a keyboard having ten-keys and function keys arranged on an upper surface of said body of said IC card reader/writer; and said function keys including a key for displaying a balance of electronic money contained in said IC card, and a key for checking whether or not said IC card containing the electronic money is in a locked state.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 137 words

An IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising: an IC card insertion slot formed at a side face of a body of said IC card reader/writer; a step formed at said side face where said insertion slot is formed; a recessed portion recessed from said step and formed on said step; a keyboard having ten-keys and function keys arranged on an upper surface of said body of said IC card reader/writer; and said function keys including a key for displaying a balance of electronic money contained in said IC card, and a key for checking whether or not said IC card containing the electronic money is in a locked state.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 131 words

A method of operating an IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising the steps of: inserting an IC card into an insertion slot of said IC card reader/writer by a user; instructing said IC card reader/writer to display a state as to whether or not said IC card is in a locked state by the user; reading out electronic money information stored in said IC card by said IC card reader/writer and transferring said electronic money information to said other information systems from said IC card reader/writer; and displaying said state as to whether or not said IC card is in a locked state.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 131 words

A method of operating an IC card reader/writer used for interfacing between an IC card and other information systems, said IC card containing at least an integrated circuit capable of writing and reading digital information and electronic money, comprising the steps of: inserting an IC card into an insertion slot of said IC card reader/writer by a user; instructing said IC card reader/writer to display a state as to whether or not said IC card is in a locked state by the user; reading out electronic money information stored in said IC card by said IC card reader/writer and transferring said electronic money information to said other information systems from said IC card reader/writer; and displaying said state as to whether or not said IC card is in a locked state.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of displaying said state as to whether or not said IC card is in a locked state by a display of said other information systems.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-12-13	2003-06-14	2003-12-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-12-13	2007-06-14	2007-12-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-12-13	2011-06-14	2011-12-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

IC card reader/writer and method of operation thereof

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