FR2765461A1 - Detector sensing presence or absence of credit card within normal holding position - Google Patents

Abstract

The detector comprises a base (2) on which there is a detector (1) which is able to sense the presence of an object, such as a credit card. The detector comprises a small arm which extends from the support with a sensor producing a signal indicating the presence or absence of the card beneath it. The sensor is connected to an integrated circuit (6) with a sound generator (3) or light indicator. The circuit is supplied by a battery (4) inserted within the support, thus making the circuit autonomous. The device is sufficiently small to fit into a normal wallet, or credit card holder supplied by banks. The light indicator may be an LED producing a warning signal when the normally held card is not retained within the sensor.

Description

DESCRIPTION
This invention relates to an extra-flat detector for the presence or absence of object (s) of any kind, which uses electrical energy to inform the owner of the loss, forgetfulness, or presence of said object.

This invention covers for example the forgetting of bank card, identity card, health insurance card, electronic payment card, etc., but can also be applied to bank notes, driving license, etc. , which differentiates it from a good number of patents already filed, made only for cards.

This detector for the presence or absence of object (s), which, unlike the detector for forgetting the telephone card of public telephone boxes (to avoid being forgotten), is autonomous.

This presence or absence detector of object (s) also differs from other detectors already invented by the fact that it does not need a case, nor support, nor guide or special stops to operate. properly, and that it can be used alone, as is.

This detector for the presence or absence of object (s) also differs from other detectors already invented, by its much smaller size, which makes it a detector really practical to use for everyone because it does not take place in a store bag, wallet, or pouch.

This presence or absence detector of object (s), which unlike the card forgetting detectors existing on the market, is extra-flat about 3 mm thick, (see less in case of embedding of the battery in the printed circuit), bank card included in the case where the object to be detected is a bank card, (ie substantially 2 thicknesses of bank card), therefore very easily accommodatable. Also if you want more autonomy, it is possible to increase the capacity of the power supply, which can have the effect of slightly increasing the thickness.

This presence or absence detector of object (s) also differs from the other detectors already invented; ' by its practicality. It can be slipped like a bank card into the standard pocket receptacles distributed by banks, standard wallets, business card holders, clothes etc ... or anything else. This detector is very simple, light and very compact. It can be accommodated in a pocket (if there is a pocket).

It will be slightly thicker, but it will be substantially similar in length and width to a standard pocket without detector.

This detector is removable from the various possible places where one would like to house it unless it is enclosed in a specific insulating or metallic or metallized support, or even fixed on a support (bonding, welding, sewing, etc.) .

This presence or absence detector of object (s) will be rigid and will have substantially the size of the object to be detected to improve the mechanical protection of the object, (in torsion in general, which is very harmful to bank cards, against shocks, piercings, scratches, on one side of the object), but nothing prevents it from being made from a flexible material. It may also be of various dimensions, depending on the goals sought.

This presence or absence detector of object (s) can be provided, if necessary, with a reference stop so as to better position the object to be detected.

This detector for the presence or absence of object (s) can have a detection on the small or large side (if the object is rectangular like a bank card).

This presence or absence detector of object (s) is very easy to use because of its simplicity, its instructions for use can be limited to a few words.

This presence or absence detector of object (s) is very reliable due to its simplicity.

This detector for the presence or absence of object (s), also due to its simplicity, is very easily manufactured industrially.

This detector of presence or absence of object (s) is very cheap because it is very simple (it requires only 5 pieces of low cost, mainly from trade).

This presence or absence detector of object (s) can serve as an advertising medium for whoever wishes.

This presence or absence detector of object (s) can be equipped with a time delay to warn its owner of the lack of object after a certain period of time.

This presence or absence detector of object (s) can be equipped with a switch to temporarily stop the emission of sounds, light or vibrations.

The printed circuit may have rounded edges, in order to facilitate its introduction into the various housings, and to avoid injuries due to sharp angles.

The printed circuit can be used as a sound amplifier compared to the piezo-type noise generator or transducer placed on this circuit, thanks to the resonance of the noise generator applied to this circuit.

The tracks of the printed circuit (at the level of the friction of the object on the circuit) could be established diagonally with respect to the introduction of the object, in order to avoid the phenomenon of catching of the edge of the tracks by the object when the friction is made perpendicular to the tracks; also certain areas of runways more stressed by this snagging phenomenon may have larger dimensions in order to reinforce them.

The tracks of the printed circuit can be treated on the surface, in order to limit the phenomena of oxidation, problems of courti; accidental circuit, etc ...

The operating temperature ranges will generally be from 00C to 50 "C but may change in positive or negative depending on certain particular applications.

The printed circuit will as a general rule be made of a commercial metallized epoxy in order to reduce the cost, but may be made of other rigid or flexible materials.

The sensor may be mechanical (for example a metal blade with a spring effect), or magnetic (by a system sensitive to magnetic phenomena and preferably existing in trade) or optical (such as photoelectric cells or optocouplers on the market).

The supply support will be made of a conductive material and preferably commercially available.

The sensor, the supply support, and the stop may be part of the same part in order to limit the dimensions and the cost.

The power supply will consist of one or more batteries, or one or more rechargeable batteries, of variable capacity according to needs or possibly for certain specific cases by an external power supply connected to the public or private electricity distribution network.

The information generator, as a sound generator will be a "piezo" or "transducer" commercially in order to reduce the thicknesses and costs compared to the speakers.

The integrated circuit or commercial chip will be of the "chip and board" type in "CMS" assembly in order to reduce the thicknesses and the costs.

The programming of this component will enable, under voltage, to deliver a continuous or discontinuous electrical signal so as to obtain melodies, messages or simply a `` bipbip '' via the sound generator.
Composition of the detector:
This detector is composed of: an electrical sensor (1), "all or nothing" type "closing or opening switch", or magnetic, or optical, capable of detecting the presence or absence of the object for example a bank card or something. This sensor can be single or multiple in order to detect one or more objects. This sensor is connected to a small printed circuit (2) provided with a commercial integrated circuit (6). This integrated circuit (6), under the action of the sensor (1), generates a modulated or continuous electrical signal. This integrated circuit (6) is connected to an information generator (3), a sound system of the "speaker or piezo or transducer or other" type, or to a light indicator (3), of the lamp or LED type or other or still a vibration generator (3). The printed circuit (2) can be equipped with an optional stop (5) which can be used to better position the object to be detected.

The printed circuit (2) is also equipped with an electrical supply support (7) (for example a battery or battery support) and with a battery or accumulator (4) or with another supply. This support can also act as a reference stop for the insertion of the object into the sensor. This support (7) can be linked to the sensor (1). This printed circuit (2) can be cut to allow passage of the battery (4) and the sound generator (3) in order to embed them and reduce the thickness of the assembly.

Principle operation
The electric generator (4) supplies electricity to the electronic circuit, the integrated circuit (6) waits for information from the object presence sensor (1), in order to be able to send an electric signal to the information generator (3), which will be transformed into sounds by the sound generator or into light signals by the light generator, or even into vibrations by the vibration generator. The signal delivered by the information generator will stop when the sensor (1) detects the presence of the object, or vice versa.

For the example, the detector works in this case with a bank card and by lack of card. It is equipped with a simple "all or nothing" sensor (i) with spring leaf closing contact, a battery holder (7), a battery (4), an integrated circuit (6) , a piezo sound transmitter (3) and a printed circuit (2).

To use the detector, simply place the card on the printed circuit (2) on the side of the face provided with the sensor (i) and slide the card (insulating element) into the sensor (1). The card will lift the metallic and elastic strip and break the contact between the strip and the track (8) of the printed circuit (2), the sensor (1) is out of service and the detector does not report anything. To ring the detector, remove the sensor card (1), the metal strip of the sensor (1) will come back to make contact with the conductive track (8) of the printed circuit (2) by letting the current flow and therefore the sensor ( 1) gives the information to the integrated circuit (6) mounted on the printed circuit (2). The integrated circuit (6) mounted on the printed circuit (2) delivers a modulated or continuous electrical signal which activates the sound emitter (3), piezo, by transforming the electric current into continuous or discontinuous sounds (depending on the programming of the circuit integrated). The user of the bank card is thus informed that the bank card is no longer in the detector, and as long as the sensor contacts (1) are not opened by the card, or the battery (4) is not worn, the detector will sound.

Electrical operation
a) Detection loop
The generator (4) delivers a direct current of a voltage compatible with the integrated circuit
(6) and the information generator (3). The mass ((-) in general) of the power supply (4) is connected to a ground circuit produced by the conductive tracks (8) of the printed circuit (2).

An integrated circuit ground terminal (6) is connected to it. The other terminal of the power supply (4), therefore the (+), is connected to the spring leaf of the sensor (1). This spring strip is in contact with another track (8) of the printed circuit (2) which is connected to another terminal of the integrated circuit (6). So the integrated circuit (6) will only be supplied with current (+) if the sensor strip (1) touches the conductive track (8) linked to the integrated circuit. On the other hand, when the sensor strip is isolated from the conductive track (8) of the printed circuit (2), by the object to be detected (non-conductive), the current no longer flows and there is no more current (+ ) sent to the integrated circuit (6).

b) Information loop
The integrated circuit (6) is also connected directly to the information generator (3).

When the integrated circuit (6) receives a voltage (+) on its corresponding terminal, the integrated circuit (6) "activates" and sends a current (+) in a continuous or discontinuous signal via the printed circuit (2), to the information generator (3). The information generator (3) is also connected to the ground circuit of the printed circuit (2).

Note: It is possible to reverse the polarities if the integrated circuit (6) and the information generator (3) are compatible with this inversion.

Possible use of the forgetting detector.

The detector can be placed in a bag, a wallet, a pocket, without special precautions, or it can be swiped in place of a bank card (because it is very thin), in the standard slots provided for in the usual wallets or pouches distributed by banks or sold commercially. It is put in place, in the same way as a bank card, in its housing and it is also easily removed by pulling it. It is therefore completely removable.

It can also be permanently placed in, or on a support and this by very slightly increasing the thickness of the original support.

Manufacture of the detector in its simplest version
The printed circuit (2) will be made from a thin metallized epoxy, etched by traditional methods (immersion in perchloride) in order to produce the tracks (8). The battery (4) is a commercially available button cell, of a voltage compatible with the integrated circuit (6) and the piezo buzzer (3) as well as with the desired autonomy. The pre-programmed integrated circuit (6) will come from commerce. It will be fixed on the printed circuit (2) and connected by traditional bonding means. The piezo buzzer (3), also commercially available, will be connected by soldering to the tracks (8) of the printed circuit (2) and applied to this same circuit (2). The battery holder (7) which will act as a stop, will integrate the tab of the sensor (1). n will be made of thin sheet steel "spring steel", clipped and snapped onto the printed circuit (2). To clip and snap on the support (7) it will be necessary to drill and groove the printed circuit (2). The battery (4) will be slid into the battery holder (7). A commercial and self-adhesive stopper (5) can be stuck on the printed circuit (2) in order to improve * if necessary the position of the object to be detected. This stop (5) may be metallic and either welded or glued to the printed circuit (2).

This invention may be made more explicit from the plans in the appendix.

* Figure 1/3 is an overview of the detector.

We recognize in this figure, the 8 elements forming the detector, namely:
The electronic assembly composed of a mechanical sensor (1) in the form of a strip detecting the presence or absence of the object. This strip can make contact with a track (8) of the printed circuit (2) provided with an integrated circuit or chip (6), powered by the generator (4), maintained by its support (7). An information generator (3) capable of emitting sounds or light signals or vibrations, is connected to the printed circuit (2). It thus informs of the loss, absence or return of the object. A stop (5) can be added to the detector in order to better position the object to be detected.

* Figure 2/3 is a view of the detector with the object to be detected (for example a bank card).

We see in this figure the object placed on the printed circuit (2). The object is against the supply support (7) acting as a stop, and the electrically conductive spring strip of the sensor (1) is separated by the object (electrically insulating), from the contact point of the track (8) going to the integrated circuit (6). So the detector doesn't show up.

* Figure 3/3 is a block diagram used by the detector (detection / information).

We recognize on this diagram, the power supply (4) (for example a battery), delivering energy () via a track (8) to the integrated circuit (6), and in (+) via another track (8) towards the sensor contact (l). This sensor (1) via another track (8) is connected to the integrated circuit (6). This integrated circuit (6) is connected to 2 other tracks (8) linked to the information generator (3) which will warn the user of the loss or forgetting of the object by sounds, light or vibrations, when the sensor contact (1) closes.

Claims (3)

Claims -1) Detector of presence or absence of object, characterized in that it is formed by an electronic assembly which is intended for bank cards, identity cards, health insurance cards, electronic money cards, or other, but also to all other things such as driving licenses, banknotes or other things, and which is composed of a printed circuit (2), protecting the object and provided with: one or more sensors (l) ensuring detection one or more objects in an "all or nothing" mechanical fashion, such as a "switch" or else magnetic or optical, in logical or analog reading; one or more electrical supplies (4): battery, cell, solar collector making it autonomous, or a connection allowing it to be connected to the conventional electrical network; an information generator (3), of the “buzzer” or luminous type such as a lamp or LED or a vibrator to inform of the loss or forgetfulness or even of the presence of the object; and a circuit integrated (6) composing the signal to be transmitted. -2) Object detector according to claim 1, characterized in that, its small thickness is approximately 3 mm including object, for the detection of object of thickness less than or equal to 2 mm, and in that its printed circuit (2) has rounded corners, which makes it removable from the place where you want to store it. -3) Object detector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the printed circuit (2) comprises a cutout for inserting the power supply (4).  1) Object detector according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (s) (1) is equipped with a very thin elastic metal tab electrically conductive, said tab being in contact with the corresponding track ( 8) of the printed circuit (2) in the absence of the object, thus activating the integrated circuit (6), and in that the object is inserted between the tongue and the corresponding track (8) of the circuit printed (2), deactivating the integrated circuit (6). -5) Object detector according to claim 4, characterized in that the sensor tab (1) pinches the object and holds it sufficiently so that it does not fall.  6) Object detector according to claim 1, characterized in that the detector is equipped with a reference stop (5) in order to better position the object on the detector. -7) Object detector according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that the supply support (7) integrates the reference stop (5) and the metal tab of the sensor (l). -8) Object detector according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductive tracks of the printed circuit (2) are located diagonally relative to the introduction of the object, are reinforced in certain critical parts in order to limit the effects due to wear or deterioration, and are covered with certain protections to prevent oxidation or even in certain cases short-circuit problems, in that this printed circuit (2) serves as a sound amplifier, by resonance of the sound generator applied thereto, and in that the printed circuit (2) serves as an advertising medium. -9) Object detector according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic assembly is equipped with a switch or a timer for stopping or delaying the information of presence or non-presence of the object. -10) Object detector according to claim 1, characterized in that the detector comprises, a support or an envelope which can protect the detector and the object against mechanical or magnetic attacks.