GB1308331A - Encoded card-like device - Google Patents

Abstract

1308331 Credit card systems; delivering money; credit card reader DE LA RUE INSTRUMENTS Ltd 13 Jan 1971 [15 Jan 1970] 2016/70 Heading G4M and G4X A credit or the like card, comprises magnetizable material 2 encoded by patterning 6, such patterning being a plurality of straight lines of discontinuity of said material, some of which lines make the same oblique angle to the direction of relative movement between the card and a magnetic tranducing head during a reading operation, as the polar gap of the head, see Fig. 2. As shown, material 2 is localized and the card also comprises printed information 3, 4 and preferably at least one area of magnetizable material to provide conventional "read" and "write" facilities; embossed information may be provided at areas not occupied by magnetic material. Pattern 6 may be formed by removing material 2 mechanically, e.g. using a computer controlled stylus, chemically, or by initially applying material 2 by spraying through a mask, silk screen printing or by selective pressure applied to a release sheet. Material 2 may be protected by an opaque or otherwise P.V.C. overlay, which is, for example 0À001 inch thick. The described reader comprises two sets of four heads, the first set having erase heads for tracks T1, T2 and read/write heads for tracks T3, T4 and the second set "apply constant signal and read" heads for tracks T1, T2 and erase heads for tracks T3, T4. The heads of the second set are angled at an angle # and the polar gaps of the heads associated with tracks T1, T2 generate transient pulses when scanning elements of pattern 6 also at # to the reading direction, see Figs. 3 and 4 (not reproduced). As a further security precaution, authentication of the card may require the entry of a "secret" number by means of a dial or keyboard. A read/write/comparision sequence is described in a money delivering operation.