FR2514174A1 - CONTROL APPARATUS FOR LIMITING ACCESS TO A MACHINE TO THE CARRIERS OF A SEMICONDUCTOR CARD CONTAINING MEMORIZED DATA - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A CONTROL APPARATUS THAT CAN BE ACTUATED BY A TRANSISTORIZED CARD. THE APPARATUS INCLUDES A CARD, A CARD READER ATTACHED TO A MACHINE AND A CARD PROGRAMMING UNIT. CARD 10 CONTAINS A COUNTER 14, A MULTIPLEXER 22, 24 AND A BATTERY. THE COUNTER IS INCREMENT BY THE PROGRAMMING UNIT AND DECREMENT BY THE READER EACH USE OF A PROTECTED ACCESS MACHINE. THE PROGRAMMING UNIT AND THE READER INCLUDE DISPLAY DEVICES. APPLICATION TO COPYING MACHINES IN PARTICULAR.

Description

The present invention relates to control devices and, more

  specially, a control apparatus for restricting access to a machine or other equipment or device to only authorized personnel having a card containing otherwise stored data for controlling the extent of access to the machine is authorized to bearer

from the menu.

  There are a number of cases in which it is desired to limit access to machines to only those persons duly authorized and, furthermore, to limit the extent of this access,

  For example, it is sometimes desirable to limit the use of

  Copy machines to selected staff The copying machine is often equipped with a more or less inviolable counter used to maintain the cumulative count of the number of reproductions

  which have been made at a given moment A common technique

  to allow the use of the copying machine

  give the staff selected an ordinary key designed to

  rust a mechanical lock associated, which can be designed to ensure, when opened, closing an electrical circuit ensuring the power of the machine Since keys of this type can be reproduced simply, easily and for a low price, it has been devised, according to the prior art, a means to avoid the simple reproduction of keys, which is described in US Patent No. 3,436,530, which consists of a control unit forming part of the copying machine and adapted to receive, removably,

  a portable plug-in unit containing an electronic meter

  mechanical and one or more electrical or electronic circuit elements which, when the portable unit has been plugged into the control unit, has the function of actuating a relay coupling the machine to a local electrical source The control unit is

  also, preferably, provided with an electromechanical counter.

  The machine or device whose access is to be controlled produces pulses representative of the use of the machine In the example of the copying machine, each pulse preferably represents the reproduction of a single copy. Each pulse is simultaneously applied. to the electromechanical meters of the portable plug-in unit and the control unit Ideally) the counter of the control unit shall contain a count value equal to the cumulative total of the particular count values of each of the portable plug-in units used. in connection with this copying machine. While the system mentioned above is revealed

  reasonably satisfactory when used for the

  costs, it is not appropriate, however, as a means of

  limiting the extent of access by any authorized carrier of a portable plug-in unit This limitation of the services rendered by the system mentioned above led to the development of the system described in the United States patent. United States Patent No. 3,921,875 The apparatus described in this patent also includes a control unit forming part of the machine and a portable plug-in unit. The portable unit contains an electromechanical counter which can be prepositioned on a machine.

  any desired count value, for example between 0 and 99999.

  The portable unit also has an electrical circuit that operates a relay to couple to a local power source

  the machine whose use is regulated Impulses produced -

  by the machine and representative of its use are applied to the electromechanical counter of the control unit and the meter

  electromechanical unit of the portable unit to increment

  the counter of the control unit and to decrement the counter of the portable unit When the counter value of the counter of the portable unit has been decremented to a predetermined value (preferably 0), a switch opens

  in order to de-energize the relay mentioned above and> consequently

  to disconnect the machine from the electrical power supply

cudgel.

  It is possible to reposition the electronic meter

  mechanics of the pluggable unit by opening the latter to -

  With another possibility to be envisaged, the counter can be reactivated by means of a pulse generating device which applies to the electromechanical counter a number of pulses which is equal to the count value that the we want to memorize In addition to its inertia of operation and appearance

  tedious of its use, resulting from its electro-

  the meter is also subject to wear after

  The continuous plug-in units

  tives and the control unit are therefore, unnecessarily, bulky and subject to wear and failures due to the large number of

  mobile mechanical parts that are used there.

  In addition to the disadvantages noted above, the shoemaker

  of the portable unit can break quite easily and one can-

  easily violate the mechanism of the electromechanical counter to create a non-zero count value, which cancels the effects

  The electromechanical nature of the device also leads to

  in itself, to allow easy evaluation of its content, which helps unauthorized personnel in its research to circumvent security measures and thus allows the unlawful use of

  machine or device which are protected against unauthorized use

  cites. The invention avoids all the disadvantages of the prior art systems and is distinguished in that it comprises

  three basic subsets, each using semiconductor circuits

  conductor which completely eliminate the disadvantages of space, weight and wear constituents normally housed in the devices of the prior art, such as those described for example in the above-mentioned United States of America patents,

  the invention furthermore provides advantageous advantageous features

  which will be more fully described below.

  The three basic units used in the semiconductor system according to the invention are a card, a card reader and a card programming unit. The card is formed by a miniaturized semiconductor circuit comprising an up-down counter, a multiplexer and a battery, all these elements being arranged inside a stacker whose overall dimensions

  are of the order of those of a regular credit card.

  The card-programming unit is substantially entirely composed of semiconductor components, forming an excitation and display circuit. When the card is inserted in the card programming unit, a control circuit sequentially transfers the value counting of the card counter, via the card multiplexer and the card programming unit demultiplexer, to an excitation circuit which

  displays the contents of the card counter.

  The count value that you want to add to

  the card is positioned in manually posi-

  The pressing of a program start button in

  the presence of a card sets the count value of the

  positionable in the counter of the card programming unit and validates a normally disabled clock in the counter of the card programming unit Local oscillator pulses increment the count value of the counter of the card and decrement simultaneously the count value of the counter of the card programming unit Doors

  logic, which continuously monitor the counter of the pro-

  card grammar, disable the local oscillator and simultaneously disable a previously validated gate to prevent erroneous pulses of the oscillator from reaching the card counter. The display device of the card programming unit displays the counter value of the card-counter so as to provide positive confirmation of the correction of the count value added to the card, while also displaying the count value of the card before and during the insertion of

the desired count value.

  A card reader, which is connected to the machine whose use and degree of use are regulated, is

  with semiconductor decoder excitation circuits

  so much to excite a visual display device.

  A control unit controls the multiplexer of the.

  card in synchronism with a semiconductor demultiplexer of the card reader so as to sequentially transfer to the decoding excitation circuit the count value of the counter of the card.

X 2514174

  The card reader further includes an oscillator

  local area which causes the control unit to operate the cir-

  multiplexing and demultiplexing bits in synchronism and

  provides time division pulses to the display device

  visual chage. The display drivers turn the data transferred from the card counter into signals designed to turn on the device.

  display, which is preferably of the crystal display type

  Seven-segment liquid rates Selected signals from each posi-

  the decimal digit of the display device is applied to a logic gate circuit whose function is to excite a relay for supplying a machine enable signal, and to de-energize a relay for disabling the machine when the value counting of the card counter has been decremented to zero by pulses from the machine, the value

  zero count is also displayed by the display device.

display of the card reader.

  Representative impulses of the use of

  the machine are applied to the card counter by means of

  card reader so as to decrement the contents of the card reader counter each time a pulse of

counting is produced.

  The use of semiconductors results in a simplified and miniaturized form that eliminates the need for a display device in the board and its drawbacks in cost and weight.

  reducing the weight of the card, which, for example, is not greater than

  28.35 g> that will be compared with the weight of the key meters, which, besides being relatively large and bulky, are

  five times heavier, or more, than the map.

  Semiconductor multiplexing and demultiplexing units significantly reduce the necessary electrical connections between the card programming unit and the card and between the card reader and the card. The small battery used in the card offers a useful life. significant because of the elimination of the card display device and the existence of a single visual display means in the card reader and the card programming unit, thereby causing a substantial reduction cost which is a function

  number of cards used in a given system.

  Alternatively, the card may use a rechargeable battery that is designed to be recharged while the card is programmed to receive a new count value or

  well when the card is inserted into a card reader.

  The system improves centralized control or

  offers pre-payment possibilities.

  The system uses semi-integrated circuits

  conductive by requiring extremely low electrical power as well as display devices that consume almost no electrical power since they operate using electrostatic elements with low conductivity, so that the power consumption is significantly lower than in

  the prior art devices currently used.

  The circuit connections that it is necessary

  to establish with the card reader act as means of security.

  because, in order to have a reasonable chance of establishing the desired connections,

  specific to the structure of the machine.

  It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a highly simplified new semiconductor control system 4 for controlling access to a machine and the degree of access by means of a preprogrammed card having a counter. semiconductor device which can be selectively connected to a card reader to display the count value counted in the card on the card reader, to decrement the count value according to the use of the machine and to block any additional use of the machine when the value of

  counting of the card has reached a predetermined value.

  Another object of the invention is to propose a system

  control unit of the type described, in which a semiconductor programming means enables a preprogrammed count value to be introduced simply, quickly and accurately into the semiconductor counter of a card, said programming means comprising

2514 1 7 4

  a display device for displaying the contents of the counter of the card to confirm the introduction of the value

preprogrammed counting.

  Another object of the invention is to propose a control system of the type described, in which the security of the system is achieved thanks to the existence of a card identity code of which

  the validity is examined by a code accepting device.

  The following description, designed as an illustration

  of the invention, aims to give a better understanding of its features and advantages; it is based on the accompanying drawings, among which Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of a map constituting an embodiment of the principles of the invention; Figure la shows a perspective view of the outside of a card; Fig. 2 is a simplified diagram showing the semiconductor card programming unit used to input a preprogrammed count value into a card of the type shown in Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of a card reader designed for the selective insertion of a card of the type presented in FIG. 1 in order to control the access and the degree of access to a machine to which it is couple; Figure 4a shows a front view of the reader of

cards; and -

  FIG. 4b shows a sectional view of the reader of

maps of Figure 4 a.

  A preferred embodiment of the card according to the invention is presented under reference 10 in FIGS. 1 and 1c, FIG. 1a showing the external material aspect of the card, where it can be seen that the card 10 comprises a thin body 12 of rectangular shape, preferably made of plastic, and containing semiconductor circuits (which will be described more fully hereinafter) The body 12 resembled in general shape to

  a conventional credit card, but has a slight thickness T

  The end 12a of reduced thickness is provided with an edge connector assembly 13 for insertion into

  a plug for edge connector which will be described more complete-

  below, the connector 13 having terminal terminals

separate 13 a.

  The card 10 comprises a semiconductor counter 14 of the binary coded decimal type, which, in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, furthermore consists of four stages or integrated CMOS circuits of type 4510, respectively designated by the 14-1 to 14-4, electrically connected to form a downward ascending counter 14, each stage being

  storing a decimal number A battery 16 supplies the counter 14.

  The battery 16 is shown in schematic form, but it may for example consist of a pair of watch batteries 1.5V type 393 BP, which are connected in series A diode 18 serves as a stop circuit preventing the Charging the Battery 16 Through External Connections Each of the counters 14-1 to 14-4 has its 14-14 clock input 14-4 connected in common to a count input terminal. -lb at 14-3 b stages 14-1 to 14-3 are electrically connected to the inputs

  report 14-2 c at 14-4 c stages 14-2 to 14-4 of the meter.

  The output terminals in binary coded decimal 14-ld at 14-lg and 14-4d at 144g are selectively connected to respective inputs 22a-22h and 24a-24h of multiplexing circuits.

  semiconductor 22 and 24 which are preferably integrated circuits.

  type 4052 multiplexing (ie transmission

  sequential acquisition) of the digital data stored in the counter 14 at the output terminals 22 i and 22 j of the circuit 22 and at the outputs 24 i and 24 j of the circuit 24 The multiplexed data output terminals are designated respectively by A, BC and D Entrance lines

  designated by B and F are intended to apply

  Binary type control obtained from an external source 30 or 90 at control terminals 22 k 'and 22 of circuit 22 and at terminals 24 k

  and 24 t of the circuit 24 to control the multiplexing-and-demultizing

  plexing as will be more fully described below.

  The control inputs 14-lh at 14-4 h of the stages constituting the counter 14 are connected in common to a terminal 26 intended to be electrically connected to the card reader or to the card programming unit and to receive from the of

  card reader a binary level signal causing decre-

  counter when count pulses are applied.

  terminal 20 and also adapted to receive an opposite level binary signal causing the counter 14 to increment when count pulses are applied to the input 20 by the card programming unit 30, these operations being

  described later more completely.

  The embodiment of the card 10 shown in FIG. 1 is therefore able to memorize any count value from 0000 to 9999. Obviously, the counting capacity can be increased by adding, if desired, a floor

additional counter or more.

  The card programming unit 30, which is

  shown in Figure 2, has the function of producing an exact number

  pulses equal to the count value we want to add to

  a card 10 inserted in the card programming unit 30.

  This is achieved by means of

  digital selection 32 to 38 each having coded outputs

  binaries that are electrically connected to associated inputs-

  counter 40, which consists of meter stages & semi-

  Conductor 40-1 to 40-4, which are preferably stage meters of the type 4510 designed to operate as a decrementation counter. The local power supply 42 placed in

  The card programming unit 30 transforms an alternate source

  native 115 Y, via a TI transformer and a double bridge

  alternation 44, in a DC signal A circuit 46 of the type 7805 provides a stabilized output signal of +5 C DC which is applied via a terminal 48 forming part of a socket of the programming unit of cards, at a terminal 50 forming part of the edge connector 13 of the card 10 (shown in Figure 1) A terminal 52 of the card 10 is itself coupled to a terminal 54 of the card programming unit 30, shown in FIG. 2 Thus, when a card 10 is inserted into the connector forming part of the card programming unit 30,

Z 514174

  an electrical circuit closes from terminal 48 to + 5-V up to

  the terminal 50 of the card 10 to return to the programming unit 30.

  5, the corresponding voltage being applied to the positioning input 56a of a flip-flop 56, having the effect of causing its output Q 56b to pass through. This voltage appears on the terminal 58a of a programming switch 58 and, when the switching button 58b has been depressed, applies, the electric circuit being closed, to a fixed terminal 58c in a manner A applying a high level signal to the positioning input 60a of a flip-flop 60, which causes the Q output 60b to

  this flip-flop at a high level and its output Q 60 c at a low level.

  The output signal Q-of the flip-flop 60 is simultaneously applied to each prepositioned input 40-la to 40-4a counter stages of the counter 40, which entered Tne that

  the binary values established by the positioning of the

  The preselected switches 32 to 38 are of a conventional type in which, by actuating a control button such as the button, the digital preselection switches 32 to 38 are prepositioned in a respective one of the counter stages 40-1 to 40-4. control button 32 e, any number ranging from decimal "zero" to "new" decimal within a window 32 f can be set to produce a four-bit binary output signal

  which is applied to the input of the associated counter stage.

  The Q output of the flip-flop 60 is furthermore simultaneously applied to the repositioning terminal 62a of a timer 555, which by appropriate choice of the values of the resistors R1 and R2 and the capacitances of the capacitors CI and C 2, operates as an oscillator so as to produce, in the present application, the pulses at a rate of the order of 2 k Hz at its output terminal 62 b The output of the oscillator 62 is coupled

  at the entrance 64a of a NAND gate 64, whose input 64b is also

  The output 4 of the flip-flop 60 removes the level of repositioning of the inputs from the output 60 of the flip-flop 60.

  4-lc to 40-4 c counter 40, thus allowing the preposition-

counter 40.

  The Q output of the flip-flop 60 also validates the NAND gate 64 to allow clock pulses from the clock pulse source 62 to be passed. These pulses are simultaneously admitted via NAND gates 66 and 68 which are wired to operate in inverters The output 66a of the NAND gate 66 is coupled in common with the clock inputs 40-lb to 40-4b of the counter stages of the counter 40, which counter operates as a decrement counter whose value

  count is decreased, based on the pre-determined value

  in the counter 40 by the preselection switches

  32 to 38, in the direction of a zero count value.

  The output 68a of the NAND gate 68 is coupled via a terminal 70 of the card programming unit 30 to the terminal 20 of the card 10 shown in FIG. 1, so that the count value contained in the counter 14 is incremented

  in synchronism with the decrementation of the counter 40.

  If it is assumed that the counter 40 of the card programming unit 30 has been prepositioned so as to introduce a decimal count value of 1000 into the counter 14 of the card, after the pulse source 62 of clock applied 1000 pulses to counter 14 of the card and counter 40 of the card programming unit, the four stages counters -1 to 40-4 were all decremented to zero Two pairs of doors NI 74 and 76 eight inputs are electrically connected

  their respective inputs to the respective binary coded outputs.

  The eight inputs of the gate 74 are respectively coupled to the four outputs of the stage 40-4 and the stage 40-3 X while the eight inputs of the gate 76 are respectively coupled to the four coded outputs

binaries of stages 40-2 and 40-1.

  The diodes D1 and D2 electrically connect the outputs of the doors 74 and 76 to the common terminal 78 disposed between

  the resistor R 3 and the capacitor C 3.

  When the sixteen outputs of the counter stages 40-1 to 40-4 are all low, which represents the decimal number 0000, the outputs of the two doors 74 and 76 go to

  high level by raising the common terminal 78 to the level + 5 V, -

  this level being simultaneously applied via the conductor 80 to the repositioning inputs 56c and 60d of the respective flip-flops 56 and 60 The output Q of the flip-flop 60 simultaneously performs the invalidation of the gate 60 and the shutdown of operation of the clock pulse source 62, preventing any noise from accidentally driving the counter 14 of the card and thus adding an erroneous count value to the card. The output 1 of the flip-flop 60 goes high by pocketing the prepositioning

  accidental meter 40 The repositioning of the rocker bi-

  Stable 60 places its output Q at the high level by stating that the opera-

  programming is repeated if the programming button 58 was accidentally pressed before the

  card 10, which has just received a pre-count value

  programmed, has not been removed from the card

  part of the card programming unit 30.

  The card programming unit 30 is furthermore

  equipped with a circuit 82 for demultiplexing and semi-control

  conductor, an excitation-display circuit 84 and a dis-

  four-digit display 86 which is substantially identical to the analogous circuitry disposed within the card reader 90 (which will be described more fully hereinafter). The inputs 82a to 82d of the demultiplexer 82 receive the signals of FIG.

  output A to D multipliers 22 and 24 belonging to the card 10.

  The demultiplexing and control circuit 82 transfers the binary coded count value, stored in the stages of the counter 14.

  from the card to the display excitation circuit 84 through

  of the multiplexing circuits 22 and 24 and the demultiplexer 82 so as to turn on the display 86, which is preferably equipped with

  four decimal display units, each of which is of the deci-

  Seven Segments A detailed description of the transfer of

  data between the counter 14 of the card and the visual display device 86 of the card reader will be presented in detail

  hereinafter, it being understood that the operation of this same circuit inside the card programming unit 30 is substantially identical to that existing in the reader of

cards 90.

  The card programming unit 30 therefore makes it possible to introduce an exact preprogrammed count value into the counter 14 of the card in a simple and fast manner, the entire operation taking at most a few seconds, including the setting up The display device 86 contained in the card programming unit 30 allows a direct visual confirmation of the correction of the preprogrammed number introduced into the card 10. The display 86 also serves as a means of ascertaining the count value existing in the card 10 before starting a programming operation and furthermore allows a pre-programmed count value to be added to a card counter 14. , which has a count value other than zero at the time o

  it is introduced in the card programming unit 30.

  The card reader 90, shown in detail in FIG. 3, performs the following functions: displaying the four-digit decimal number contained inside the memory of the card 10 inserted in the receptacle of the card reader, and validating the machine which is under control of the card reader 90 when the count value of the card 10 is other than zero However, when the count value of the card 10 reaches zero, the card reader 90 causes the machine

does not work.

  The card reader 90 extracts the counting value contained in the card 10 by demultiplexing the binary coded information present on the four lines designated by A to D which

  are respectively coupled to circuits 92 and 94 of demulti

  semiconductor plexers, which are preferably type 4052 integrated circuits Input terminals 96 and 98, which receive data bits A and B, are coupled to inputs 92a and 92b of the demultiplexing circuit 92, while the terminals 101, 102 apply the data bits C and D to the inputs 94a and 94b of the

demultiplexing circuit 94.

  The control signals for controlling the transfer of the count value between the card 10 and the card reader 90 are obtained from a semiconductor circuit 104, which is preferably a type 4029 circuit having clock input 104 coupled to the output of a 100 Hz oscillator 106 for creating control signals in binary coded decimal E

  and F respectively at the outputs 104b and 104c.

  The signals E and F are applied, via the terminals 108 and 110, to the control inputs 22 k, 221 and 24 k, 241 of the demultiplexing circuits 22 and 24 of the card 10 (shown in FIG. 1), and are simultaneously applied to the control inputs 92c, 92d and 94c and 94d of the demultiplexing circuits 92 and 94, as well as to the inputs 112a and 112b of a decimal decimal decimal decimal decoding circuit 112, which is preferably a type 4028 semiconductor circuit adapted to transform a two-bit binary coded input signal into a four-base output signal. Each of the multiplexers 22 and 24 of the card 10 has four pairs of input terminals for a total of eight input terminals 22a to 22h and 24a to 24h. The binary coded multiplexing control signals E and F are simultaneously apply to the aforementioned control inputs of the multiplexers 22 and 24 so that only one of the four pairs of input signals appears on the output terminals 22, 22 and 24 i, 24 j of the multiplexing units 22 and 24, depending on the binary code applied to the control inputs 22 k, 22 and 24 k. For example, when the control signals EF create a binary code, the binary levels of the outputs 22 i and 22 j are respectively applied to the inputs 22a and 22b, while the bit levels present on the outputs 24 i and 24 j are respectively applied to the inputs 24a and 24b, which brings the four bits representing the decimal position of less significance, who is mem in the counter stage 14-1, to appear on the respective data output terminals A to D.

  At the same time, the control signals E and F

  command the demultiplexing circuits 92 and 94 so that the input signals appearing on 92a, 92b are transferred to the outputs 92e and 92f and the signals present on the inputs 94a and 94b are transferred to the outputs 94 e and 94 f These output pairs 92 e-92 f and 94 e and 94 f are respectively coupled to the inputs 116 a to 116 d of a locked decoding excitation circuit 116 forming part of the excitation assembly 114 which further comprises locked decoding driver circuits 118 J 120 and 122 Semiconductor circuits 116 to 122 are preferably type 4056 circuits for transforming a binary coded decimal input signal into a signal group

  which selectively appears on output lines 116 f to 1161-

  so as to excite a seven-segment decimal display unit, such as, for example, the unit 124 coupled to the above-mentioned seven output lines of the driver circuit; for example the excitation circuit 122, in order to illuminate selectively two

  segments of display, or more, 124 a to 124 g that cooperate collectively

  to form the decimal numbers "0" d "9" -

  The four binary signals representing the less significant decimal digits are loaded into the driver circuit 116 by the decoder 112, which decodes the two bit two bit control signals E and F applied to the inputs 112a and 112b so as to cause one of its four output lines 112c to 112f to create a sampling signal, excluding the three remaining output lines In this case, the decoder 112 decodes the control signals E and F into causing its output line 112 to create a sampling pulse to latch the four bits representing the least significant decimal digit in the locked decoding excitation circuit 116. The circuit 116 decodes the four input binary signals. and creates signal levels at the outputs 116f through 1161 representing the decimal digit to be displayed, which signals are applied to the display unit, for example

  unit 124, in order to display the appropriate decimal digit.

  The output signals of the control signal generating circuit 104 vary at a rate controlled by the oscillator 106.

  so that the decimal number of order of immediate

  The next signal is transferred via the multiplexing circuits 22 and 24 of the card 10 to the demultiplexing circuits 92 and 94 of the card reader 90, so that the binary coded signals representing the immediately following decimal point of the order of significance appear on the cards. outputs 92 g and 92 h of the demultiplexer 92 and outputs 94 g and 94 h demultiplexer 94, which signals are applied to the respective inputs li Sa 118 d of the excitation circuit 118 The control signals E and F are also applied to the decoder 112 so that a sample signal is created on the output 112 d in order to transfer and lock the immediately following decimal point of the next order of meaning in the excitation circuit 118 for display by his

  associated display unit (not shown for simplicity

  cited) This operation continues until all four

  decimal digits have all been transferred to the excitatory circuits.

  associated displays 116 to 122 and have been displayed by their associated display units, which are preferably

  liquid crystal The data transfer operation is also

  repeated continuously at a rate of 100 Hz.

  The clock pulses from the source 106 are furthermore simultaneously applied to the control inputs 112 to 112 m of the excitaton circuits 116 to 122 and to the input 124 of the display unit 124 so as to produce the liquid crystal display square wave signal which causes the display unit 24 to operate intermittently as is conventional in such units, the pulsation of the display units of the set 130 by the source 106 clock pulse taking place

  at a rate fast enough to make the eye of the observer

  The observer perceives a decimal digit "illuminated stationary".

  The remaining display units operate in an identical manner.

  The transfer of the count value from the card reader 10 to the set 114 of excitation circuits is updated continuously since the count value of the card 10

  is decremented at a rate determined by the use of the machine.

  If it is assumed that the machine controlled by the card reader 90 is a copying machine, the copying machine is validated by the

following way.

  The card 10 is inserted into the card reader receptacle 90, which automatically triggers the transfer of the count value from the card 10 to the set of excitation circuits 114 in addition to the display of the value. counting by

  the display assembly 130, the logic gate circuit 132 con-

  continuously controls the excitation assembly 114 to detect the existence of a zero count value There is a single condition for the zero digit since the display segment whose lighting is controlled by the output 116 k will carry a voltage and the segment whose illumination is controlled by the output 1162 will carry no voltage The outputs 116 k, 118 k, 120 k and 122 k are directly connected to the respective diodes D 2, D 4, D 6 and D 8 while the outputs 116 X, 1181, 120 L and 122 L are connected to the respective diodes D 3, D 5, D 7 and D 9 by respective inverter circuits II to I 4 Thus, when all the numbers displayed are zero decimal a forward-on excitation is applied to the base electrode of the transistor TRI causing its collector to go to ground potential and eliminating the base excitation of the base electrode of transistor TR 2, this having the effect of effect of de-energizing relay Sl Relay contact s Sla then opens to create an open circuit between terminals 134 and 136, which can for example be used to decouple

  the machine to its local power source or to provoke

  any other desired disable function to prevent further use of the machine when the count value of the card inserted in the card reader has been decremented to zero The fact that the card reader contains a count value zero is confirmed by the set

  130, 124, 124 ', 124 "and 124"'.

  The copying machine, as is conventional, creates

  pulses that are applied to pulse inputs 138-

  and 140 connected, via a bridge of full wave diodes 142, to a signal stabilization circuit 144 consisting of resistors R 6 to R 8, a Zener diode ZD 1 and capacitors C 4 and C 5, the output of the circuit signal stabilization being coupled to the

  counting pulse output terminal 146 via an inverter 15.

  The terminal 146 is coupled to the terminal 20 of the card 10 when the latter is inserted into the receptacle of the card reader 90 The terminal 150 applies a ground potential level to the terminal 26 of the card 1 O which brings the counter 14 to operate downward counter, so that pulses representative of the use of the machine are applied to the card 10 to ensure that the count value contained in the counter 14

be decremented.

  While the application shown above describes

the system of the invention applied to a copying machine,

  It will be appreciated that the system can easily be adapted for use with other machines and / or devices. For example, the system of the invention can be used for dispensing articles and materials, such as, for example, fuel. a fuel tank dispenser is enabled and signals are created to represent the amount of fluid delivered to reduce the count value of the counter 14 of the card The dispenser may also be a vending machine of the automatic type, sale is provided with a means of processing making it possible to compare the cost of the choice with the contents of the card> the article being delivered only when the contents of the card equal or exceed the cost of the chosen item The system may also be used * at a point of sale, where the operator of a cash register introduces the cost of the item chosen, the cashier being validated only if the count value of the card is at least equal the cost of the selected item, in which case the credit union creates a registration and receipt of

  sale, while at the same time there is a reduction in the value of -

  counting in the counter of an amount equal to that of the sale An automatic sales machine may also be designed to sell an item when it receives a card containing

a sufficient count value.

  As far as the invention is concerned, it is sufficient to

  take that the control unit serves as an interface to connect the

  value-counting of the card 10 by means of display and, possibly,

  other means, for example, to determine the

  presence of a valid card and provide a validation signal -

  when the card reader 90 receives a card 10 having the confidence

  desired electrical gating and containing a non-zero count value, these capacities being designed in a sufficiently universal manner to allow their use with a wide variety of

  machines and / or * different devices.

  The internal wiring of the -10 board relative to its edge connector may be designed so that accurate knowledge of the circuit content of the board is required to validate a board programming unit 30 or a card reader 90, which further increases the safety of the system, in addition to controlling access to the machine and the degree of access depending on the count value within the machine.

the map.

  The front face of the acceptance unit 250 is

  4b, while FIG. 4b shows a sectional view of its internal arrangement. The acceptance unit 250 has an opening 272 for receiving the card 10, the material arrangement of which is shown in FIG. The posterior end of the opening 272 is provided with a receptacle 274 in the form of a multi-terminal electrical plug assembly of which

  the terminals 274a are arranged so as to come into electrical contact with each other.

  with the respective terminals 13 a which are jointly and severally

  formed on the edge connector assembly 13 of the card 10.

  When inserting the card 10 das the slot 272 of

  way that its edge connector assembly 13 fits

  within the multi-terminal socket 274, it is

  an electrical circuit between terminals 150 of the acceptance unit

  (see Figure 3) and a terminal 26 of the card (Figure 1) serving

to activate the card 10.

  In the same way, the outputs of the multiplexers 24 and 26 of lacartel O (FIG. 1) are eachelectrically connected to a respective input of the demultiplexers 92 and 94 connected to

  the terminal 274 socket disposed on the rear of the slot 272.

  While the embodiment described above is designed to increment the count value of a card 10 when a count value is to be added and to decrement the value

  when the count value is to be removed, the

  reverse cement is also possible. For example, the value of

251 4 17 4

  count contained in the counter 14 of the card may arrive A-

  when the account reaches the equivalent of the number

  wrong 9999, a count value less than the decimal number 9999 representing a card 10 not exhausted In such an example, the card 10 must be decremented from 9999 to a smaller number under control of the card programming unit and must be incremented from the lower decimal to

  the 9999 decimal counting measurement, after which the machine used

  Under control of the circuitry of the circuitry 114, the signals can be decoded so that a decimal count value of 9999 is displayed instead of 0000. which further increases the safety of the system and makes it more difficult for the system to be breached by unauthorized users who

  in addition to knowledge of the structure of the system.

  Of course, those skilled in the art will be able to

  from the devices and processes described in the description

  has just been given for illustrative and not limiting purposes, various variations and modifications not outside the scope of the invention 514174

Claims (24)

  1 Control device intended to prevent the use   unauthorized device and control the degree of this authorized use, characterized in that it comprises means (SI) operable between a first state that invalidates the device and a second state that validates the device; a pocket sized thin card (10) having a miniaturized semiconductor counter (14); a card reader (90) having means (250) for receiving the card; an electronic display means (130) having   multiple display portions (124-124 '' ') for displaying -   a count value in decimal form; transfer means (92, 94) which transfers the count value of the card to said display means; the device comprising means (15) for producing use signals representative of a predetermined quality of use;   the card further comprising means (146)   both of applying said usage signals to the card counter in order to modify the count value contained; means (11-I 4, D 2 -D 10, TR 1, TR 2) which responds to the count value displayed by the display means by placing the validation means $ 1) in its first state when the value displayed count is different from a predetermined count value and by placing the validation means in its second state when the count value displayed is said   predetermined count value.   Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that   the counter (14) of the card is an upward counter-   downstream of the semiconductor type, having several stages counters each intended to represent a decimal number under binary coded form.   Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the card reader comprises means (92) enabling Z 514174   to produce several binary coded control signals appear-   in a predetermined sequence; said card transfer means further comprising means (112) responsive to said control signals for transferring the binary coded counting signals to said card reader sequentially, said card transfer means   card reader comprising a semiconductor multiplexer means   tor. 4 Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the transfer means (92, 94) of the card reader has the function of transferring each binary coded group representing a   decimal digit of said count value into a display position   associated decimal range of said display means (124-124 "') in response to said control signals, the transfer means of   card reader comprising a semiconductor demultiplexer means driver -   Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that each display position of the display means (t 24-124 '') comprises a semiconductor decimal means of the type   segmented and locked decoding excitation means (116-   122) for storing a binary coded decimal digit which has been transferred thereto, each of decoding excitation means   latches transforming the coded binary coded decimal   sensing signals for activating the respective segments of the segmented type display to create a visually observable decimal number representative of the binary coded decimal number   stored in said locked decoding excitation means.   Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that a logic gate means (11-I 4, D 2 -D 9) couples selected ones of said segment type decimal display units to pass the validation means. (51) in said   second state when the displayed decimal quantity is zero.   Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for transferring the card reader further comprises   means (112) responsive to said control signals for sampling   lonnant that the locked decoding excitation means (116-122) 2514 174   whose binary coded decimal signal has been transferred by means of   transfer of the card reader, said sampling means comprises   taking means (112) for decoding the decimal form encoded twice   to the semiconductor decimal form.   Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized by comprising a miniaturized stack (16) placed in the card and coupled to the meter to allow the contents   the counter is stored for an indefinite period.   Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that   the battery is a rechargeable battery to be recharged   by the card reader while the card is coupled to the card reader.   Apparatus for introducing a preprogrammed count value into a card, said card (10) comprising a semiconductor counter (14); the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises: a card programming unit having positionable switching means (32-38);   a receptacle for receiving a card (10);   counting means (40) and means (56, 68) which   responds to the insertion of a card into said receptacle in trans-   the count value represented by the said counting means   switchable positions in said counting means and in   simultaneously checking the count values contained in the counting means of the programming unit and in the counter   of the card in opposite directions under the control of a means (62) gen-   clock pulse generator; and means (74-76) for de-energizing the clock pulse generation means when the counting means of the card programming unit reaches a predetermined count value. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the card programming unit further comprises display means (86) and displaying the count value of the   counter of the card soou decimal form.   Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the card programming unit further comprises a power supply terminal (48) and an electrical return terminal (54); the card comprising a jumper (SI) which couples the power supply terminal to the electrical return terminal when the card is inserted into said receptacle; - Normally repositioned bistable means (56) which is placed in the position state upon insertion of a card into said receptacle; a second normally repositioned bistable means (60) which is positioned when the first bistable means is positioned and a switch disposed between them is closed to allow transfer to said counting means (40) of the programming unit   the decimal number set in said selective switching means mechanical tif.   Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that   further comprising gates (64, 66, 68) responsive to the transfer of the desired count value to be input into said   counter of the card while simultaneously allowing impulses   clock from said means for generating clock impulses to the card counter and the counting means of the programming unit.   Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that   in addition to including a means placed in the program unit   mation of cards to cause the counter of the card, which is an ascending-descending counter, to count in a predetermined direction   when the card is inserted into the receptacle of the printer unit. Grarunation of cards.   Apparatus according to claim 14, further characterized in that it comprises logic gate means (74, 76) responsive to the counting means of the card programming unit reaching a predetermined count value. by pocketing that said logic gate means does not pass other pulses to the counter of the card and the counting means of   the card programming unit.   An apparatus according to claim 15, further characterized in that it comprises means (Dle D 2, 80) which couples the output of the logic gate means to the first and second bistable means so as to simultaneously reposition said first and second means bistable when the counting means of the programming unit reaches a predetermined count value so as to erase the counting means of the card programming unit, to disable said source of clock pulses and to prevent the card is re-programmed as a result of a   accidental actuation of said programming switch.   17 Method for controlling access and degree of access to a machine The method using a card (10), a card programming unit (30) and a card reader (90), the card   comprising a semiconductor counter (14), the program unit   of cards comprising means (32-38) for introducing   deriving a preprogrammed count value from said card, and the card reader including means (124-124 "'') for displaying said count value, means (146) - which decrement   said count value under the effect of the use of the.   machine and means (51) which controls the operating state of the machine according to the count value stored in the card, said method being characterized as it comprises the following operations: -   insert a card into the programming unit; incrementing the count value of the counter of the card according to a preselected quantity and displaying (86) the count value contained in the card so as to confirm the transfer of the desired count value; insert the preprogrammed card into the card reader; validate the machine coupled to the card reader in   the only case where said count value is different from a quantity   predetermined state; producing a visual display (124-124 "') of said count value; modifying the count value of the counter of the card as the use of the machine is made, the count value being decremented by a quantity proportional to the use of the machine, invalidating the machine when said count value reaches said predetermined quantity, and updating the visual display to render   counts changes in the count value.   The method of claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of transferring each decimal digit of the count value between said card and said card reader in a predetermined sequence and   repeating said sequence continuously.   19 Control system for preventing unauthorized use of a device, characterized in that it comprises   a card (10) having a counter (14) at half   driver; a control unit (90) having means for receiving the card; security means (14) placed in the card to produce a validation condition; detecting means (132) placed in the control unit and responding to said validation condition by producing a device enable signal; means (146) for validating the responding device   using the device by applying decoding pulses. counter audit;   means (D1-D9) placed in said communication unit   mande (90) and responsive to a predetermined count value of said counter by permanently disabling said validation condition generating means; and   said means for validating the device being deactivated   in the absence of said validation condition, control system according to claim 19, characterized in that said logic means is constituted by means   zero count value detector.   21 Miniaturized portable card (10) for use with a control unit (90), adapted to validate a device to which it is coupled when a valid card is inserted into the control unit, the card being characterized in that it comprises: a semiconductor counter (14) which stores a preprogrammed count value; means (146) decrementing said preprogrammed count value in response to device usage signals received from the control means when said device is operated; means (132) for detecting zero;   identification means which produces an identification code   when the card is coupled to the control unit;   coupling means having a first condition   tion, which normally couples said identification means to the control unit, and a second condition, which decouples said identification means from said control unit; and count value detecting means which   responds to a predetermined count value of said counter by   passing said coupling means into said second condition.   Card according to claim 21, characterized in that said identification means comprises means for   produce a multi-bit binary identification code.   23 Card according to claim 22, characterized in that the coupling means is not accessible from the outside from the menu.   24 Card according to claim 22, characterized in that it comprises a casing (12) which completely surrounds all the electronic components of the card;   connector means (13) having electrical terminals   (13 a) arranged outside the casing to   electrically connect the electronic components of the cabinet with the control unit.   Card according to claim 24, characterized in that said coupling means comprises a repositioning terminal   intended to receive a repositioning signal in order to   bringing said coupling means into said first condition; and said repositioning terminal is not accessible from the outside of the case.   26 A method of using a card having a counter and adapted for use with a device that is   controlled by a control unit intended to validate the dis-   positive only upon receipt of a valid card, said method being characterized in that it comprises the following operations:   detect the presence of an electrical supply signal   when the card is inserted into the control unit; examining said predetermined count value; producing an identity signal and applying the identity signal to the control unit when said count value is not zero;   reduce the count value of said counter by   presence of a device usage signal from said control unit; stop the production of the said identity   said count value reaches zero.   The method of claim 26, characterized in   in addition to the fact that the operation of producing an identification signal   includes the operation of producing an identity binary coded.   Method according to claim 26, characterized in that it comprises the step of increasing the count value of said counter in the presence of positioning signals   count value applied to the card from an external source.   higher; and pocket any further increase in said count value upon receipt of the value positioning signal count.