US6186404B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security document voiding system
Assignee: Oberthur Gaming Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-02
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Granted: 2001-02-13
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Expires: 2018-06-02
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a system for voiding a security document. The system voids a security document by supplying heat to a localized area of a specially configured security document. According to the invention, conductive material is formed on a document so that at least one relatively higher resistance section is formed on the document. When a voltage is supplied to the document, a relatively high amount of heat is supplied to the document about the area of the relatively higher resistance section. Heat-sensitive material may be formed about the location of the relatively higher resistance section such that the heat sensitive material becomes visible or changes color when a voltage is supplied to the document.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Ehrhart
- 👤 Robert M. Hussey
- 👤 Todd A. Dueker
- 👤 Cayetano Sanchez, III
- 👤 Walter Szrek
- 👤 John C. Abraitis
- 👤 Claude Lambert
- 👤 Francois Gougeon
- 👤 Robert Boulay
- 👤 Denis Mondou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/073; A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/06; A63F3/065; G06K17/00; G06K17/0032; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2411; A63F2009/2419; A63F2009/242; A63F2009/2436; A63F2009/2442; A63F2009/2444; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/28; A63F2250/287; A63F3/0665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A voidable document comprising: a substrate; a conductive material supported on said substrate according to a predetermined pattern defining a relatively higher resistance section of said conductive material; and brandable material supported on said substrate at a specific location of said substrate, wherein said relatively higher resistance section is formed at or about said specific location of said brandable material, so that, when voltage is applied across said conductive material, a relatively higher amount of heat in said conductive material is generated at or about said specific location of said brandable material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A voidable document comprising: a substrate; a conductive material supported on said substrate according to a predetermined pattern defining a relatively higher resistance section of said conductive material; and brandable material supported on said substrate at a specific location of said substrate, wherein said relatively higher resistance section is formed at or about said specific location of said brandable material, so that, when voltage is applied across said conductive material, a relatively higher amount of heat in said conductive material is generated at or about said specific location of said brandable material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The voidable document of claim 1 , wherein said conductive material is printable conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The voidable document of claim 1 , wherein said brandable material is printable thermochromatic ink.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The voidable document of claim 1 , wherein said conductive material is defined by a plurality of conductive sections and wherein said relatively higher resistance conductive section includes a relatively smaller average cross-sectional area than said remaining conductive sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The voidable document of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of contact pads formed in electrical contact with said conductive material.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for branding a specific predetermined location of a document, said method comprising the steps of: forming brandable material at said specific predetermined location of said document; applying conductive material to said document according to a predetermined pattern so that a relatively higher resistance section of said conductive material is defined on said document at or about said specific predetermined location; and supplying a voltage across said conductive material so that said relatively higher resistance section emits heat about said predetermined area sufficient to effect an observable change in said brandable material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for branding a specific predetermined location of a document, said method comprising the steps of: forming brandable material at said specific predetermined location of said document; applying conductive material to said document according to a predetermined pattern so that a relatively higher resistance section of said conductive material is defined on said document at or about said specific predetermined location; and supplying a voltage across said conductive material so that said relatively higher resistance section emits heat about said predetermined area sufficient to effect an observable change in said brandable material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said applying step included the step of printing said conductive material on said document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said forming step includes the step of printing thermochromatic ink on said document.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said applying step includes the step of forming a plurality of conductive sections on said document, wherein said relatively higher resistance section includes a smaller cross sectional area than said remaining conductive sections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
A document voiding system comprising: a document comprising brandable material formed at a specific predetermined location thereon, and conductive material applied thereon according to a predetermined pattern wherein a relatively higher resistance section of said conductive material is formed at or about said predetermined location; an apparatus for processing said document, said apparatus comprising a voltage source, wherein said apparatus is configured so that said voltage source supplies voltage to said conductive material when said document is received in said apparatus, said voltage being of such a level that heat generated about said predetermined area resulting from current flowing through said relatively higher resistance section of said conductive material is sufficient to cause an observable change in said brandable material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A document voiding system comprising: a document comprising brandable material formed at a specific predetermined location thereon, and conductive material applied thereon according to a predetermined pattern wherein a relatively higher resistance section of said conductive material is formed at or about said predetermined location; an apparatus for processing said document, said apparatus comprising a voltage source, wherein said apparatus is configured so that said voltage source supplies voltage to said conductive material when said document is received in said apparatus, said voltage being of such a level that heat generated about said predetermined area resulting from current flowing through said relatively higher resistance section of said conductive material is sufficient to cause an observable change in said brandable material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said conductive material formed on said document comprises conductive ink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said brandable material formed on said document comprises printable thermochromatic ink.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said apparatus includes a feed path, and wherein said apparatus is adapted to supply voltage to said document when said document is manually inserted into said feed path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The document of claim 1 , wherein said brandable material is formed on said document in a specific brand pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said brandable material is formed on said document in a specific brand pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said brandable material is formed on said document in a specific brand pattern.
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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) | 2004-02-13 | 2004-08-14 | 2005-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-13 | 2008-08-14 | 2009-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-13 | 2012-08-14 | 2013-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |