Patent US3634656A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3634656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Credit control system
Assignee: Cantelesis Corp
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Filing: 1967-10-31
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1987-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A credit card system is described wherein credit cards are equipped for magnetic recording of credit balances and cooperate with a control unit reproducing the recorded data, updating the value and recording the updated value on the card. The system is designed for slow card motion operation and is tamper proofed. The control unit may control automatic vending operations and can be adapted to selectively add or subtract numbers to the reproduced credit balance.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Robert Krechmer
- 👤 Isidore William Salmon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q20/3437
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
A system for cooperation with a credit card having a magnetizable layer on which are recorded digital signals as spatially varying magnetizations and identifying a number representing a credit balance, comprising: transducer means including reproducing means responsive to static and quasistatic magnetic fields and providing electrical signals having sign and amplitude related to direction and strength of a magnetic field as affecting the transducer at any instant; first means for placing the credit card in relation to and moving the credit card past the transducer to energize magnetically the transducer in accordance with the spatially varying magnetization on the card so that the resulting varying magnetic field affecting the transducer causes the reproducing means to produce correspondingly varying first electrical signals; second means connected to the transducer means to be responsive to said first signals for storing representations of the first signals as digital representations of the number representing the credit balance as recorded on the card; third means for providing second electrical signals representing a digital number; fourth means responsive to the second electrical signals for processing the second electrical signals and the first stored signals in corresponding to an arithmetic process for the number represented by the second electrical signals and the number representing the credit balance, to obtain third electrical signals representing a resulting number identifying a new credit balance; fifth means included in the transducer means and being responsive to the third electrical signals for providing variably directed magnetic fields in representation thereof; and sixth means for operating the first means to obtain placement and passage of the card in relation to the transducer means upon operation of the fourth means to the exclusion of the recording means, so that the magnetization as provided by the fifth means are recorded on the card.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
297 words
A system for cooperation with a credit card having a magnetizable layer on which are recorded digital signals as spatially varying magnetizations and identifying a number representing a credit balance, comprising: transducer means including reproducing means responsive to static and quasistatic magnetic fields and providing electrical signals having sign and amplitude related to direction and strength of a magnetic field as affecting the transducer at any instant; first means for placing the credit card in relation to and moving the credit card past the transducer to energize magnetically the transducer in accordance with the spatially varying magnetization on the card so that the resulting varying magnetic field affecting the transducer causes the reproducing means to produce correspondingly varying first electrical signals; second means connected to the transducer means to be responsive to said first signals for storing representations of the first signals as digital representations of the number representing the credit balance as recorded on the card; third means for providing second electrical signals representing a digital number; fourth means responsive to the second electrical signals for processing the second electrical signals and the first stored signals in corresponding to an arithmetic process for the number represented by the second electrical signals and the number representing the credit balance, to obtain third electrical signals representing a resulting number identifying a new credit balance; fifth means included in the transducer means and being responsive to the third electrical signals for providing variably directed magnetic fields in representation thereof; and sixth means for operating the first means to obtain placement and passage of the card in relation to the transducer means upon operation of the fourth means to the exclusion of the recording means, so that the magnetization as provided by the fifth means are recorded on the card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system as set forth in claim 1, the reproducing means in the transducer means including at least one Hall generator and further including means for coupling the Hall generator to the card upon operation of the first means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as set for in claim 2, the second means comprising at least one electromechanical counter for counting output pulses as provided by the Hall generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as set forth in claim 2, the transducer means including a core having a first gap in which is inserted the Hall generator, and in having a second gap for passage of the card therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as set forth in claim 4, the transducer means including coil means connected for receiving the third signal to magnetize the core, the resulting magnetic field traversing the second gap as magnetizing the portion of the carrier in the second gap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, the second means comprising a plurality of counters for respectively counting the pulses of the trains of the first electrical signals and including means responsive to pauses in-between respective two of said trains of first signals for controlling the sequential distribution of the pulses into the counters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, the third and fourth means including means providing sequentially trains of magnetizing pulses in representation of the third signals, each train representing a decimal digit, the first electrical signal comprising accordingly trains of pulses, each train of the first pulses representing a decimal digit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, the second means including a display means for displaying the number representative of the first signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, the first means including motor-driven conveyor means for engaging a card and passing the card past the transducer means in one or the opposite direction; first control means operating the reproducing means of the transducer means for providing reproduction and controlling the conveyor means to move the card in the one direction; and second control means operating the fifth means in the transducer means for recording and including the sixth means for controlling the conveyor means to move the card in the opposite direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as set forth in claim 9 and including error detection means responsive to a particular format of the first signals for blocking operation of the second control means to inhibit the recording operation as provided by the fifth means in the absence of the particular format.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 including error detection means responsive to a particular relation between the numbers represented by the first and second signals to obtain blocking of the operation of the fifth means in the absence of the particular relation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 including means for selectively operating the fourth means to provide addition or subtraction of the numbers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and including means responsive to completion of the arithmetic process as provided by the third means to provide a control signal for use external to the system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, the third means comprising manually operable digit selector means which upon manual operation provide the second signals as a sequence of pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as set forth in claim 14 comprising means for coupling the manual selection means to a signal transmission facility.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, including means for providing a recording representative of the digital number as sequentially provided by the third means and as representative of cooperation of the system with different cards.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for storing information, comprising: a transducer having a gap and providing a magnetic field in one or the opposite direction across the gap; first means coupled to the transducer for providing electrical signals of alternating polarity to obtain magnetic fields of alternating direction across the gap; second means coupled to the first means for obtaining the providing of the electrical signals, one signal per bit of information, one additional bit per decimal decade of digital information, the electrical signals following each other in regular sequence pertaining to one decade; third means coupled to the second means and providing absence of at least one electrical signal in between two decades of digital information; and fourth means for moving a card having a magnetizable layer sandwiched in between two nonmagnetic layers through the gap so that the magnetic field of either direction transversely traverses the card.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for storing information, comprising: a transducer having a gap and providing a magnetic field in one or the opposite direction across the gap; first means coupled to the transducer for providing electrical signals of alternating polarity to obtain magnetic fields of alternating direction across the gap; second means coupled to the first means for obtaining the providing of the electrical signals, one signal per bit of information, one additional bit per decimal decade of digital information, the electrical signals following each other in regular sequence pertaining to one decade; third means coupled to the second means and providing absence of at least one electrical signal in between two decades of digital information; and fourth means for moving a card having a magnetizable layer sandwiched in between two nonmagnetic layers through the gap so that the magnetic field of either direction transversely traverses the card.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for cooperation with a card having a magnetizable layer, comprising: first means providing manifestations of digital signals; second means connected to the first means and including a source for providing a sequence of pulses representative of the digital signals; third means defining a magnetic flux path including a gap and being connected to the second means to provide magnetization across the gap alternating in one and the opposite direction in accordance with the pulses of the sequence; fourth means for moving the card through the gap so that a progressing portion of the magnetizable layer is magnetized in the normal of the card and in accordance with the magnetization in the gap; and fifth means sequentially responsive to different decimal digits as provided by the first means to couple the pulse source to the third means for periods in proportion to the different digits.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for cooperation with a card having a magnetizable layer, comprising: first means providing manifestations of digital signals; second means connected to the first means and including a source for providing a sequence of pulses representative of the digital signals; third means defining a magnetic flux path including a gap and being connected to the second means to provide magnetization across the gap alternating in one and the opposite direction in accordance with the pulses of the sequence; fourth means for moving the card through the gap so that a progressing portion of the magnetizable layer is magnetized in the normal of the card and in accordance with the magnetization in the gap; and fifth means sequentially responsive to different decimal digits as provided by the first means to couple the pulse source to the third means for periods in proportion to the different digits.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, the fifth means controlling the connection of the source to the third means for providing a particular number of pulses to the third means for each decimal digit and suppressing at least one pulse in between the pulse representing different decimal digits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as set forth in claim 19, the fifth means including means controlling the number of pulses representing a decimal digit to be one more than the value of the decimal digit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, the fifth means including means for suppressing for each decade a number of pulses corresponding to the tens complement of the digit represented by recoRded pulses.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 18, the second means providing the electrical signals at a format so that the magnetic field reverses twice per digital bit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
73 words
A system as set forth in claim 18, the first means being a plurality of decimal counters, the second means including a pulse source and further including fifth means for sequentially incrementing the counters to zero and further including sixth means for sequentially feeding groups of pulses from the source to the third means, the number of pulses in groups being respectively equal to the number of steps required to increment the counters.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
165 words
A system for cooperation with a credit card on which manifestations of a credit balance are recorded in several data fields of different numerical significance and arranged along a track, comprising: first means for reading the information stored on the card and providing groups of pulses representative of the data of the fields; second means connected to be responsive to the pulses of the groups for storing them; third means for providing manual selection of digital number representations as groups of pulses; fourth means connected to the third means for arithmetically processing the pulse groups as provided by the third means and the pulses as stored by the second means; fifth means connected to be responsive to manifestations representing the result of the processing as provided by the fourth means and providing groups of pulses representative thereof; and sixth means connected to the fifth means and coupled to the card for recording the groups of pulses as provided by the fifth means on the card.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
165 words
A system for cooperation with a credit card on which manifestations of a credit balance are recorded in several data fields of different numerical significance and arranged along a track, comprising: first means for reading the information stored on the card and providing groups of pulses representative of the data of the fields; second means connected to be responsive to the pulses of the groups for storing them; third means for providing manual selection of digital number representations as groups of pulses; fourth means connected to the third means for arithmetically processing the pulse groups as provided by the third means and the pulses as stored by the second means; fifth means connected to be responsive to manifestations representing the result of the processing as provided by the fourth means and providing groups of pulses representative thereof; and sixth means connected to the fifth means and coupled to the card for recording the groups of pulses as provided by the fifth means on the card.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for cooperation with a card having a magnetizable layer, comprising: first means providing manifestations of digital signals; second means connected to the first means and including a source for providing a sequence of pulses representative of the digital signals; third means defining a magnetic flux path including a gap and being connected to the second means to provide magnetization across the gap alternating in one and the opposite direction in accordance with the pulses of the sequence; fourth means for moving the card through the gap so that a progressing portion of the magnetizable layer is magnetized in the normal of the card and in accordance with the magnetization in the gap; fifth means for selectively providing manifestations of a first number; and sixth means for automatically processing the first number to obtain a second number constituting the digital signals.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for cooperation with a card having a magnetizable layer, comprising: first means providing manifestations of digital signals; second means connected to the first means and including a source for providing a sequence of pulses representative of the digital signals; third means defining a magnetic flux path including a gap and being connected to the second means to provide magnetization across the gap alternating in one and the opposite direction in accordance with the pulses of the sequence; fourth means for moving the card through the gap so that a progressing portion of the magnetizable layer is magnetized in the normal of the card and in accordance with the magnetization in the gap; fifth means for selectively providing manifestations of a first number; and sixth means for automatically processing the first number to obtain a second number constituting the digital signals.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for cooperation with a card, having a magnetizable layer, comprising: first means providing manifestations of digital signals; second means connected to the first means and including a source for providing a sequence of pulses representative of the digital signals; third means defining a magnetic flux path including a gap and being connected to the second means to provide magnetization across the gap alternating in one and the opposite direction in accordance with the pulses of the sequence; fourth means for moving the card through the gap so that a progressing portion of the magnetizable layer is magnetized in the normal of the card and in accordance with the magnetization in the gap; and fifth means for providing HF signals to the third means in the absence of pulses as provided by the second means.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for cooperation with a card, having a magnetizable layer, comprising: first means providing manifestations of digital signals; second means connected to the first means and including a source for providing a sequence of pulses representative of the digital signals; third means defining a magnetic flux path including a gap and being connected to the second means to provide magnetization across the gap alternating in one and the opposite direction in accordance with the pulses of the sequence; fourth means for moving the card through the gap so that a progressing portion of the magnetizable layer is magnetized in the normal of the card and in accordance with the magnetization in the gap; and fifth means for providing HF signals to the third means in the absence of pulses as provided by the second means.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for cooperation with a card, having a magnetizable layer, comprising: first means providing manifestations of digital signals; second means connected to the first means and including a source for providing a sequence of pulses representative of the digital signals; third means defining a magnetic flux path including a gap and being connected to the second means to provide magnetization across the gap alternating in one and the opposite direction in accordance with the pulses of the sequence; fourth means for moviNg the card through the gap so that a progressing portion of the magnetizable layer is magnetized in the normal of the card and in accordance with the magnetization in the gap; and fifth means in the flux path responsive to magnetization induced in gap; sixth means operating the fourth means for moving the card in the reverse direction; and control means for disabling the second means and enabling the fifth means upon operation of the sixth means.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for cooperation with a card, having a magnetizable layer, comprising: first means providing manifestations of digital signals; second means connected to the first means and including a source for providing a sequence of pulses representative of the digital signals; third means defining a magnetic flux path including a gap and being connected to the second means to provide magnetization across the gap alternating in one and the opposite direction in accordance with the pulses of the sequence; fourth means for moviNg the card through the gap so that a progressing portion of the magnetizable layer is magnetized in the normal of the card and in accordance with the magnetization in the gap; and fifth means in the flux path responsive to magnetization induced in gap; sixth means operating the fourth means for moving the card in the reverse direction; and control means for disabling the second means and enabling the fifth means upon operation of the sixth means.
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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) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |