FR2470413A1 - Personal programmed memory for validation of credit limit - is enclosed by cover attached to breakable security contact - Google Patents

Abstract

A pen shaped body (1) contains an inner support (2) for an integrated circuit (3) comprising a memory which contains information for a particular amount of initial credit. This memory can be recharged when the credit is fully used. The support has contacts for the integrated circuit which are connected to a jack plug (11) which mates with a socket in a debiting machine reader. A cover (5) is firmly attached to a security contact assembly to allow access for replacement or recharging of the credit value. This contact is broken to prevent power reaching the integrated circuit when entry is unauthorised.

Description

Payment title
The present invention relates to a payment document. It has already been proposed to use as a payment card a card comprising an integrated circuit constituting a memory, said memory being programmed during manufacture so as to represent a certain amount of money.

The bank distributes to these customers cards credited with such or such value against delivery of the corresponding sum, and, for use at a merchant, the user inserts his card into a debit reader which executes the debit operation corresponding to purchase.

The operation can be renewed until the credit stored in the integrated circuit has been used up. It then becomes necessary to change the card. However, the production of such cards poses delicate problems because it is not immediate to incorporate an integrated circuit into a card such as the currently known banking service cards and on the other hand, there are also difficulties as regards concerns the output contacts which must cooperate with the reader devices. So we also thought of placing such integrated circuits in objects such as ring or ystlo where we could replace the integrated circuit by another when the memory of the circuit would have been completely debited from its credit. However such a system is dangerous because it allows a fraudster who could have obtained copies of the integrated circuit to recharge the ring or the pen.

 The invention aims to overcome this drawback and relates to a payment document comprising a hollow body in which is housed an integrated circuit constituting a memory, characterized in that said hollow body comprises an end carrying contacts intended to cooperate with a debit reader device, said contacts being connected inside the hollow body to female contacts in which the integrated circuit is plugged in, and in that access from the outside of the integrated circuit is achieved by a cover linked to an internal security device prohibiting the normal use of the payment voucher in the event of the opening of said cover.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said safety device comprises an interchangeable wire mounted between two terminals and which is broken by the opening of the cover, the breaking of the wire cutting off the supply to the integrated circuit.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, said security device comprises two studs connected to the armatures of a capacitor at least partially charged when the payment order is in working condition and whose state of total discharge prohibits operation, the opening of said cover short-circuiting the two said pads.

The invention will be clearly understood in the light of the description of two exemplary embodiments of the invention given below with reference to the appended drawing in which
Figure 1 shows schematically in enlarged view a payment order according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a detail of Figure 1 showing the internal safety device.

 FIG. 3 represents a detail of FIG. 1 showing the internal security device according to an embodiment different from that of FIG. 2.

 The payment document comprises a hollow body 1 having the general shape of a pen. It includes in its interior a support 2 of an integrated circuit 3 constituting a memory which one can according to the type of memory chosen, assign a certain credit at the start and that it is necessary to change when the credit is fully debit or that can be re-credited when the credit allocated at the start is exhausted. The support 2 comprises contacts in which the contacts in the form of "lugs" of the integrated circuit 3 are inserted.

he contacts of support 2 are connected to a contact plug 11 of the "jack" type intended to cooperate with complementary contacts of a debit reader machine located for example at a merchant.

The body 1 comprises a bar 4 for fixing the object in a jacket pocket for example. The body 1 also has a cover or plug 5 for accessing the integrated circuit 3 in order to replace or recharge it. However, the cover 5 is integral with an internal security device so that if a non-specialist opens this cover, the payment order becomes unusable without recourse to the specialist.

 Figure 2 shows a possible safety device. This figure shows the hollow body 1, the support 2 of the integrated circuit 3, the cover or access plug 5. This plug 5 has a hook 6 which, when the plug is removed, breaks a conductive wire 7 easily replaceable. This wire can for example be constituted by a screw-in fuse as is found commercially.

Breaking the wire prevents normal operation of the circuit, for example by cutting off its power supply.

FIG. 3 shows another variant of the safety device in which the hook 6 is replaced by a conductive spring 8 coming into contact between two studs 9 and 10, When the payment document is normally credited by a bank, a capacitor not shown, the frames are connected to the two pads 9 and 10, receives an electric charge which can also be renewed each time the title is used normally. On the other hand, when the plug 5 is removed, the capacitor and completely discharged by short-circuit of the pads 9 and 10, which can, by means of an appropriate connection, prevent the operation of the device.

Claims (3)

1 / Payment voucher comprising a hollow body in which an integrated circuit constituting a memory is housed, characterized in that said hollow body comprises an end carrying contacts intended to cooperate with a debit reader device, said contacts being connected inside from the hollow body to female contacts in which the integrated circuit is plugged in, and in that the access, from the outside, of the integrated circuit is achieved by a cover linked to an internal safety device prohibiting the use normal payment order in case of opening of said cover. 2 / Payment voucher according to claim 1, characterized in that said security device comprises an interchangeable wire mounted between two terminals and which is broken by the opening of the cover, the breaking of the wire cutting the supply of the integrated circuit . 3 / Payment document according to claim 1, characterized in that said security device comprises two studs connected to the armatures of a capacitor at least partially charged when the payment document is in working condition and whose state of total discharge prohibits operation, the opening of said cover short-circuiting the two said pads.