Credit card and indentity verification system

Claim 2

An improved identity verification system, comprising: a card, a plurality of contact points situated upon said card, first and second circuit means embedded within said card, three or more of said contact points being coupled to said first circuit means and providing a unique set of contact points, the remainder of said contact points being coupled to said second circuit means; card reader means comprising contact means for establishing electrical contact with each of the contact points of said card, third circuit means in said reader means, a plurality of selector means electrically coupled between said contact means and said third circuit means for selectively coupling individual ones of said contact means to said third circuit means; and indicator means coupled to said first and third circuit means, said indicator means providing an output signal when said first and third circuit means are coupled together.

Claim 3

The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said indicator means includes first and second output means, said first output means providing a first output signal when all of said contact points are coupled to said first circuit means, and said second output means providing a second output signal when any of said contact points are coupled to said second circuit means.

Claim 4

The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said first circuit means comprises a three terminal semiconductor device.

Claim 5

The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said first circuit means comprises a unijunction transistor.

Claim 6

The system described in claim 1 wherein said first cirCuit means comprises a NAND gate.

Claim 7

The system described in claim 3 wherein said second circuit means comprises a plurality of diodes coupled in randomly-oriented fashion between various of said contact points.

Claim 8

The system described in claim 1 wherein: said first circuit means comprises a unijunction transistor, the three terminals of which are connected to three individual ones of said contact points; and said second circuit means comprises a plurality of diodes coupled in randomly-oriented fashion between all the remaining ones of said contact points.

Claim 9

The system described in claim 1 wherein: said first circuit means comprises a NAND gate having two input terminals, one output terminal and two bias terminals, each of said terminals being connected to individual ones of said contact points; and said second circuit means comprises a plurality of diodes coupled in randomly-oriented fashion between all the remaining ones of said contact points.

Claim 10

The system described in claim 1 wherein: said first circuit means comprises a first plurality of silicon-controlled-rectifiers coupled in series circuit relationship, each of said rectifiers having a gate electrode coupled to one of said contact points which define said unique set of points, the last in said series of rectifiers having an output conductor coupled to said indicator means; said second circuit means comprises a second plurality of silicon-controlled-rectifiers coupled in parallel circuit relationship, each of said rectifiers having a gate electrode coupled to one of the remainder of said contact points, said second plurality of rectifiers having an output conductor coupled to said indicator means.

Claim 11

The system set forth in claim 9 werein said indicator means comprises a light-emitting diode coupled to the output conductor of said first rectifiers, a silicon-controlled-rectifier coupled in parallel with said diode, said silicon-controlled-rectifier having a gate electrode coupled to the output conductor of said second plurality of rectifiers.

Claim 12

The system described in claim 1 wherein said card reader includes means for selectively sensing said contact points, said means comprising means for receiving a card in the reader, contact means in said receiving means for contacting each of said contact points, a plurality of switching means coupled to said contact means for selecting certain ones of said contact means according to the aforesaid system of index numbers assigned to the contact points on a card, said switching means having indexing means for selecting contact points according to said series of code numbers.

Claim 13

The system described in claim 11 wherein said indicating means in said card reading means comprises a fourth circuit means, said fourth circuit means having first and second output indicating devices, a source of electrical power, means for coupling said source of power to said switching means, current responsive means coupled to said switching means and said indicating devices, said current responsive means being operative to energize said first output device when said switching means is coupled only to said first circuit means in a card, said current responsive means operative to energize said second output device when said switching means is not coupled only to said first circuit means.

Claim 14

An improved identity verification system, the combination comprising: a card, first and second circuit means embedded in aid card, a plurality of contact points upon said card, said contact points disposed in a matrix pattern, said first circuit means being coupled to more than two but substantially less than all of said contact points, said second circuit means being coupled to all of the remaining contact points; a card reader having means for receiving a card therein, contact means situated in said receiving means, said contact means disposed in a matrix pattern adapted to register with the contact points of a card, third circuit means situAted in said card reader, selector means coupling said third circuit means to said contact means whereby any one of said contact points of a card may be coupled into said third circuit, said third circuit means including indicator means, said third circuit means being operative to provide an output at said indicator means when said selector means has been actuated to couple only said first circuit means to said third circuit means.

Claim 15

An improved identity verification system, the combination comprising: a card, first and second circuit means embedded in aid card, a plurality of contact points upon said card, said contact points disposed in a matrix pattern, said first circuit means being coupled to more than two but substantially less than all of said contact points, said second circuit means being coupled to all of the remaining contact points; a card reader having means for receiving a card therein, contact means situated in said receiving means, said contact means disposed in a matrix pattern adapted to register with the contact points of a card, third circuit means situAted in said card reader, selector means coupling said third circuit means to said contact means whereby any one of said contact points of a card may be coupled into said third circuit, said third circuit means including indicator means, said third circuit means being operative to provide an output at said indicator means when said selector means has been actuated to couple only said first circuit means to said third circuit means.

Claim 16

An improved identification card and a system for verification thereof comprising, in combination: a card comprising at least two lamina adhered together, said card having a matrix of electrical contact points disposed upon a surface of one of said laminae, access means formed upon one or more surfaces of said card for permitting access to said contact points, a first plurality of semiconductor means disposed within said matrix and interconnecting substantially all of said contact points in random fashion, one or more second semiconductor devices having three or more terminals, said terminals being connected to individual remaining ones of said contact points thereby defining a unique combination of points within said matrix; a card reading apparatus for verifying ownership of said card, said apparatus having means for receiving a card therein, a plurality of contact means situated within said receiving means for making electrical contact with the aforesaid contact points of said card, selector means coupled to said contact means for selecting individual ones of said contact points, circuit means coupled to said selector means, said circuit means including means responsive to the aforesaid second semiconductor devices to produce a unique output signal when said selector means has been actuated to couple said second semiconductor devices to said circuit means.

Claim 17

An improved identification card and a system for verification thereof comprising, in combination: a card comprising at least two lamina adhered together, said card having a matrix of electrical contact points disposed upon a surface of one of said laminae, access means formed upon one or more surfaces of said card for permitting access to said contact points, a first plurality of semiconductor means disposed within said matrix and interconnecting substantially all of said contact points in random fashion, one or more second semiconductor devices having three or more terminals, said terminals being connected to individual remaining ones of said contact points thereby defining a unique combination of points within said matrix; a card reading apparatus for verifying ownership of said card, said apparatus having means for receiving a card therein, a plurality of contact means situated within said receiving means for making electrical contact with the aforesaid contact points of said card, selector means coupled to said contact means for selecting individual ones of said contact points, circuit means coupled to said selector means, said circuit means including means responsive to the aforesaid second semiconductor devices to produce a unique output signal when said selector means has been actuated to couple said second semiconductor devices to said circuit means.

Claim 18

The system described in claim 12 wherein said current responsive means comprises a relaxation oscillator.

Claim 19

The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second circuit means of said card have portions thereof coupled together therein whereby external electrical measurements taken at said contact points will not indicate which contact points are unique to said first circuit means.

Claim 20

The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first and second circuit means of said card have portions thereof coupled together therein whereby external electrical measurements taken at said contact points will not indicate which contact points are unique to said first circuit means.

Claim 21

An improved identification card verification system comprising: a card having a plurality of contact points situated thereon defining a matrix, first and second circuit means embedded within said card, said first circuit means comprising one or more first circuit components coupled to selected ones of said contact points, said selected contact points thereby defining a unique code number within said matrix, said second circuit means comprising a plurality of second circuit components coupled to the remainder of said contact points of said matrix, said second circuit components having individual electrical characteristics substantially similar to said first circuit components, said remainder of contact points coupled to said second components thereby defining false code numbers within said matrix; card reading means comprising contact means for simultaneously establishing electrical contact with all of the contact points of said card, third circuit means, coded selector means coupled between said contact means and said third circuit means, and indicator means coupled to said third circuit means for indicating whether or not said coded selector means has coupled the contact points of said first circuit means with said third circuit means according to said unique code number.

Claim 22

An improved identification card verification system comprising: a card having a plurality of contact points situated thereon defining a matrix, first and second circuit means embedded within said card, said first circuit means comprising one or more first circuit components coupled to selected ones of said contact points, said selected contact points thereby defining a unique code number within said matrix, said second circuit means comprising a plurality of second circuit components coupled to the remainder of said contact points of said matrix, said second circuit components having individual electrical characteristics substantially similar to said first circuit components, said remainder of contact points coupled to said second components thereby defining false code numbers within said matrix; card reading means comprising contact means for simultaneously establishing electrical contact with all of the contact points of said card, third circuit means, coded selector means coupled between said contact means and said third circuit means, and indicator means coupled to said third circuit means for indicating whether or not said coded selector means has coupled the contact points of said first circuit means with said third circuit means according to said unique code number.

Claim 23

An improved identification card verification system comprising: a card having a plurality of contact points situated thereon defining a matrix, first and second circuit means embedded wIthin said card, said first circuit means comprising one or more first circuit components coupled to selected ones of aid contact points, said selected contact points thereby defining a unique code number within said matrix, said second circuit means comprising a plurality of second circuit components coupled to the remainder of said contact points of said matrix, said second circuit components having individual electrical characteristics substantially similar said first circuit components, said remainder of contact points coupled to said second components thereby defining false code numbers within said matrix; card reading means comprising contact means for simultaneously establishing electrical contact with all of the contact points of said card, third circuit means, coded selector means coupled between said contact means and said third circuit means; and indicator means coupled to said first and second circuit means, said indicator means including means providing a visual indicator when said first circuit means has been coupled to said third circuit means according to said unique code number, said visual indication means providing no visual indication whenever any portion of said second circuit means is coupled to said third circuit means.

Claim 24

An improved identification card verification system comprising: a card having a plurality of contact points situated thereon defining a matrix, first and second circuit means embedded wIthin said card, said first circuit means comprising one or more first circuit components coupled to selected ones of aid contact points, said selected contact points thereby defining a unique code number within said matrix, said second circuit means comprising a plurality of second circuit components coupled to the remainder of said contact points of said matrix, said second circuit components having individual electrical characteristics substantially similar said first circuit components, said remainder of contact points coupled to said second components thereby defining false code numbers within said matrix; card reading means comprising contact means for simultaneously establishing electrical contact with all of the contact points of said card, third circuit means, coded selector means coupled between said contact means and said third circuit means; and indicator means coupled to said first and second circuit means, said indicator means including means providing a visual indicator when said first circuit means has been coupled to said third circuit means according to said unique code number, said visual indication means providing no visual indication whenever any portion of said second circuit means is coupled to said third circuit means.