Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
  • G07F7/10—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means together with a coded signal, e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
  • G07F7/1008—Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
  • G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
  • G06Q20/341—Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
  • G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
  • G06Q20/355—Personalisation of cards for use
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/42—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for ticket printing or like apparatus, e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Definitions

• This invention relates to an integrated circuit smart card dispensing system that issues and/or adds value to stored value smart chip cards used as debit cards for purchasing consumables such as food and drinks as well as for buying services such as telephone and laundry.
• This invention relates to the issuing or dispensing of stored value smart chip cards from stand alone terminals that may be located in airports, arcades, shops, shopping malls and m places where the public may purchase these cards using cash or a credit card.
• card dispensers on the market there are none that actually encode a smart chip card as it is being dispensed.
• the smart card was invented by the French company Innovatron m 1974 but was not widely used until the mid 1980' s. It is basically a credit card size plastic card with one or more microchips embedded in it. They come in two basic types; first the memory chip card which stores a number of units of value. As the card is used, the units are burned off the chip until they are all used up, then the card is thrown away. The second type is a reprogrammable microprocessor card, or "PC on a card” . The price of the card varies depending on the amount and type of memory it contains. Motorola, SGS Thomson and Siemens are the mam chip manufacturers .
• Pre-paid smart cards are widely accepted m banking and telephone applications in about every country m the world except the USA. However, that is rapidly changing.
• One of the catalysts was the 1996 Olympics, with Visa, M/C and ma]or banks rushing to place smart cards into service
• the telephone industry is also installing smart card phones across the USA.
• the US phone companies introduced tne "dial 800" pre-paid telephone card to test the acceptance of debit cards.
• the "800” card has the advantage of being useable from any existing telephone, but has the disadvantage that the user has to dial many digits, i.e. the 800 number, a pm number followed by the number you wanted to dial in the first place.
• the user's debit account is stored in a central computer owned by the phone company.
• the "smart chip card” contains the account on the card and is much easier to use and has proved to be very secure since the smart card uses a crytogram. With many powerful PC's now available, magnetic cards are easy to duplicate and w ll likely soon disappear from all applications requiring transaction security, such as credit cards.
• the present invention is not only a dispenser of cards, but also includes the capability to add value to a card already purchased. There is a read/write hea ⁇ in the reader that performs the encoding of each card so that the cards have no value while they are released from the dispenser. Since the apparatus accepts currency, the enclosure or case s made of high security double plated stainless steel with a triple locking mechanism that is drill proof .
• This invention relates to an apparatus for encoding and dispensing integrated circuit chip cards.
• the apparatus includes an enclosure having a card dispensing slot and means for accepting a selected mode and amount of monetary payment.
• An encoder mechanism is mounted withm the enclosure and located adjacent the first end of the stack of cards.
• Means are responsive to the means for accepting and the means for inputting for verifying that the selected monetary value corresponds to the accepted amount of monetary payment and for directing the encoder mechanism to encode the integrated circuit chip of a leading card positioned at the first end of the stack with the input data.
• the encoder mechanism includes a smart card read/write head that is incorporated in a specially designed card dispenser to encode cards as they reach the bottom of the stack. Smart cards are stacked m the dispenser with the chip side face down. The 8 contacts of the read head are accurately placed in a standard position on each smart cart. The design of the stack chute has a tolerance of 1 mm. The read/write head is then brought into contact with the 8 contacts of the chip during each card transaction so that information such as tne card value can be immediately "written" or stored on the card before its release.
• a comprehensive sequence of instructions are programmed into a microprocessor controller to control the operation and interaction between a bill acceptor, credit card reader, telephone transmission circuit board and the card dispensing unit.
• a user follows simple instructions on the display. First, the user is instructed to "insert a bill or card” then a) dispense a new card, or b) add value to a card. The remaining instructions on the display instruct the user how to complete or cancel the transaction.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the encoding and dispensing apparatus of this invention
• FIG. 2 is a side, cross sectional v ew of the apparatus
• FIG. 3 is an elevational side view of the card stacking, encoding and dispensing components
• FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus showing a stack for holding approximately 300 smart cards, the driving motor, pulleys, rollers and card transport;
• FIG. 5 shows the card encoding and transport mechanism m more detail including the read/write head, cantilever platform and the counter-rotating rollers that in combination with the cam wheel assist the card movement from the card stacker to the user
• FIG. 6 is a detailed bottom view of the card dispenser showing the "8 contact" read/write head illustrating the card holder or stack and card transport mechanism, and includes an inset showing the card ejection clutch, pulleys and photoeye;
• FIG. 7A is a flow diagram describing a preferred process for identifying a b ll and either dispensing a new card or adding value to an existing card by writing the value to the card before it is dispensed;
• FIG. 7B is an alternative preferred flow diagram for operating the microprocessor of the apparatus.
• the apparatus consists of a number of interrelated parts that together form a complete system for storing, encoding, adding value and dispensing integrated circuit smart cards.
• the component parts are a secure case or housing, bill acceptor, card encoder/dispenser, micro-controller/processor, smart card reader, display, keypad and power supply.
• the case or housing is rectangular shape and s of a highly secure design to deter theft and vandalism.
• the top 12 of the case is sloped forward so that no one can tie a chain or rope around it and pull it off its wall mounting. The degree of slope of the top surface also prevents anyone from placing a drink on top of the case.
• All openings the front of the case are of a size that prevent access by a human hand.
• the case has no opening covers m the front or on the side and s designed to mount flush against a wall to reduce risk of prying off covers.
• the complete front housing is one piece, and is hinged to a reinforced backplate which also has reinforced mounting studs
• the front of the case has three small openings. Opening 14 accommodates the entry of currency.
• Opening 16 accepts a smart card or credit card.
• Opening 18 allows for the exit of a coded smart card from the dispenser.
• the smart card encoder/dispenser is shown in FIGS. 2-6. It consists of a metal card holder or stack 24 having a card capacity of approximately 300 cards. Holder 24 is precision built to ensure the exact stacked alignment of smart cards 20 so that the bottom card is aligned, "chip side down", precisely over the eight contacts 28 of a standard smart card read head contact block B. The bottom of the card holder has a slot which s approximately 1.5 times the thickness of a standard 30 mm card. This slot is large enough to allow the card to pass through during dispensing. A spring loaded, non-metallic retainer is positioned such that the slot is covered during the loading of cards and durmg the read/write cycle.
• the contact block B is mounted on a cantilever platform P that is raised or lowered by a solenoid A, under the control of a microcontroller to enable reading and writing to a smart card.
• the base of the card holder has a square hole m it to allow the read head block B to protrude through the base and make precise contact with the eight contracts of the chip 30 (FIG. 5) on the bottom card 40.
• a physical stop limits the upward travel of platform P to provide the correct compression of the contact springs and to prohibit "lifting" of cards off the support structure. The stop also ensures that the cards do not move during the read/write cycle. To ensure firm contact and reliable reading and writing to the chip, a force of approximately 4 Newtons is required against the card.
• FIG. 7A illustrates another preferred flow diagram for operating the apparatus.
• a leading or lowermost card 40 is released from the card holder stack is as follows.
• the microprocessor first releases solenoid A, which drops the platform P away from the card stack.
• the microprocessor then commands a drive motor 42 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (See FIG. 4) which causes counter- rotation m both pulleys 2 and 3.
• Pulley 2 is integrally connected to a small toothed gear through the use of a spring loaded pin clutch C.
• the clutch is engaged by a solenoid D, through a non-metallic yoke E, guided and moving axially along a shaft F.
• a smaller gear G drives a larger gear H in the opposite direction.
• a bearing housing M contains the bearings to support a "roller cam” wheel shaft, which also has two spring loaded pins. These provide the friction necessary to a brake disk when signaled by the photoeye N that the "roller cam” has made one complete revolution. This signal also disengages the clutch which stops rotation on the "roller cam” while allowing for continued rotation of the motor and driven pulleys.
• the roller cam revolves through its arc of travel to make contact with the rear edge of the bottom- most card. This pushes the card forward where it is received by the two counter-rotating friction drive wheels 0.
• the drive wheels are operated by a pair of non-metallic spur gears Q, driven by pulley 3 and located opposite one another on the same shaft R. Located above these gears and friction rollers is a second set of gears and rollers S turning in the opposite clockwise direction. This assures positive card ejection since the upper set is spring loaded against the lower set with an interference fit when there is no card present.
• a second shaft U on the upper pivoting drive assembly has an idler wheel V which maintains the position of the card until it is removed by the user. Also mounted on this shaft is a gate flapper W which prevents the intrusion of any foreign objects such as a flat, sharp knife that may otherwise be used to vandalize the dispenser after the card has been removed.
• the card ejected switch S2 will sense the presence of a card 40 and signal the user via display 20 to "take card” . Once the user has removed the card, switch S2 opens and the microprocessor then resets the process to start another transaction.
• This off-line “setup smart card” is programmed on a PC using a smart card/PC interface and proprietary software. All programming instructions that control the operation of the Smart Card Transaction System are loaded onto the setup smart card. After the Smart Card Transaction System has been mounted or placed m its location and powered up, the setup card and a password are used to initialize and/or setup the machine for use. It is a simple two step process as follows: The first time the Card Transaction System is powered up the display will say “enter password” Upon receiving a valid password the display will then say “insert setup card” followed by "setup complete” if successful. If setup was unsuccessful a message will be displayed to "run diagnostics. The "setup smart card” contains diagnostic routines that guide a service engineer through a series of diagnostic routines to determine the fault status of the system which the engineer is trained to correct.
• the same setup card is also used to re-set a Card Transaction System that has been tampered with to the extent that the micro-processor memory went into "self destruct" or secure mode.
• a service engineer may restore the unit to service.
• Another smart card created in a similar manner to the setup card ust described is used for data collection. That is, the off-line collection of usage statistics, including but not limited to: the number and value of cards dispensed and the number and value of bills received.
• the smart card transaction system is not only a unique dispenser of smart cards it also uses smart cards for the various management functions described above.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=21734589

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (28)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1996
  • 1996-12-19 EP EP96945654A patent/EP1008032A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-12-19 WO PCT/US1996/020690 patent/WO1997022919A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-12-19 CA CA 2242450 patent/CA2242450A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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