US6076731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic stripe reader with signature scanner
Assignee: Intermec IP Corp
•
Filing: 1998-04-06
•
Granted: 2000-06-20
•
Expires: 2018-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic stripe reader having an integrated signature scanner and electronic transaction system employing the same provide for simultaneous reading of magnetically encoded data and scanning of an authorized signature typically located above the magnetic stripe located on credit cards or other data cards, thus allowing a merchant or other operator to quickly and discretely compare a tendered signature with the authorized signature. In this manner, the signature may be verified without the need for physical retention of the card until a visual comparison of the signature can be made with the authorized signature on the card.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Terrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/0004; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/347; G07F7/12; G07F7/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing having a swipe channel formed therein, said channel comprising two opposing walls located a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; (b) a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and (c) an optical scanning unit positioned in said housing; wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing having a swipe channel formed therein, said channel comprising two opposing walls located a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; (b) a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and (c) an optical scanning unit positioned in said housing; wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 1 wherein said optical scanning unit comprises light source and a CCD array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 2 wherein said light source comprises a laser light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 2 wherein said light source comprises one or more LEDs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 2 wherein said CCD array comprises a linear array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 2 wherein said CCD array comprises a two-dimensional array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 2 wherein said optical scanning unit comprises a lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 7 wherein said lens comprises a focusing and/or filtering lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 1 further comprising a means for making an imprint of embossed characters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
A transaction terminal comprising a data terminal and an apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said data terminal comprising a microprocessor and a display screen, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card comprising: (a) a swipe channel comprising two opposing walls of a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; (b) a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and (c) an optical scanning unit; wherein wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed within said channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
189 words
A transaction terminal comprising a data terminal and an apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said data terminal comprising a microprocessor and a display screen, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card comprising: (a) a swipe channel comprising two opposing walls of a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; (b) a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and (c) an optical scanning unit; wherein wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed within said channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 10 wherein said optical scanning unit comprises a light source and a CCD array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 11 wherein said light source comprises a laser light source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 11 wherein said light source comprises one or more LEDs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 11 wherein said CCD array comprises a linear array.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 11 wherein said CCD array comprises a two-dimensional array.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 11 wherein said optical scanning unit comprises a lens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 16 wherein said lens comprises a focusing and/or filtering lens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 10 further comprising a means for making an imprint of embossed characters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 10 comprising a signature input device selected from a digitizing tablet and a touch screen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 10 comprising means for displaying an image of a scanned signature on said display screen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 20 further comprising means for rotating an image of a scanned signature displayed on said display screen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 19 comprising processing means for displaying an image of a signature input via said signature input device and a scanned signature on said display screen simultaneously.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 22 further comprising processing means for comparing a scanned signature image and a signature input via said signature input device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 20 further comprising means for rotating an image of a scanned signature displayed on said display screen.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
226 words
A method for conducting a transaction, said transaction employing a magnetic stripe card, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe, said magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a swipe channel formed therein, said channel comprising two opposing walls located a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and an optical scanning unit positioned in said housing; wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed within said channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel; electronically reading said magnetically encoded data; optically scanning said signature; outputting the scanned signature to a display; obtaining said cardholder's signature; and visually comparing the cardholder's signature with the scanned signature.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
226 words
A method for conducting a transaction, said transaction employing a magnetic stripe card, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe, said magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a swipe channel formed therein, said channel comprising two opposing walls located a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and an optical scanning unit positioned in said housing; wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed within said channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel; electronically reading said magnetically encoded data; optically scanning said signature; outputting the scanned signature to a display; obtaining said cardholder's signature; and visually comparing the cardholder's signature with the scanned signature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein said step of obtaining said cardholder's signature comprises obtaining said cardholder's signature on paper.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein said step of obtaining said cardholder's signature comprises obtaining a digitized copy entered via a touch responsive input device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4707747A
Cited
GB2173933A
Cited
US4864108A
Cited
US4874934A
Cited
US4868900A
Cited
US4782217A
Cited
US4912309A
Cited
US5216233A
Cited
US4972476A
Cited
US5313053A
Cited
US5367596A
Cited
US5586196A
Cited
US5235651A
Cited
US5392447A
Cited
US5479530A
Cited
US5555105A
Cited
US5484994A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-20 | 2003-12-20 | 2004-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-20 | 2007-12-20 | 2008-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-20 | 2011-12-20 | 2012-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |