GB2185440A - Magnetic card - Google Patents

Magnetic card Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2185440A
GB2185440A GB08601171A GB8601171A GB2185440A GB 2185440 A GB2185440 A GB 2185440A GB 08601171 A GB08601171 A GB 08601171A GB 8601171 A GB8601171 A GB 8601171A GB 2185440 A GB2185440 A GB 2185440A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
card
detecting means
magnetic
electrically conductive
reader
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08601171A
Other versions
GB8601171D0 (en
Inventor
H Kobayashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SATO KENNETH DOUGLAS
Original Assignee
SATO KENNETH DOUGLAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SATO KENNETH DOUGLAS filed Critical SATO KENNETH DOUGLAS
Priority to GB08601171A priority Critical patent/GB2185440A/en
Publication of GB8601171D0 publication Critical patent/GB8601171D0/en
Publication of GB2185440A publication Critical patent/GB2185440A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
    • B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
    • B42D25/369—Magnetised or magnetisable materials
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G06K7/10544—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
    • G06K7/10821—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
    • G06K7/10881—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices constructional details of hand-held scanners
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/08—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
    • G06K19/10—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B11/00—Apparatus for validating or cancelling issued tickets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B15/00—Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points
    • G07B15/02—Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems
    • 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
    • G07F7/086—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 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer
    • B42D2033/10—
    • B42D2033/16—
    • B42D2033/20—
    • B42D2033/28—
    • B42D2033/32—
    • B42D2033/46—

Abstract

Magnetic card carry a magnetic stripe can be easily forged, particularly if they are relatively cheap, e.g. of paper or thin card, and designed for short term use such as opening hotel room doors or controlling access to public tranport. To increase the difficulty of forgery. a magnetic card has embedded within the body of the card, at least one electrically conductive region which is not visible from the outside. The associated card reader has detecting means, e.g. for detecting the capacitance of that region, and those detecting means override the output from the reader so that, even if the correct magnetically encoded information is noted from the card, no output to allow some function to occur is allowed unless the detecting means locate the electrically conductive region.

Description

SPECIFICATION Magnetic card This invention relates to a magnetic card, that is to say, a card of the type which can be used for various purposes and which carries a magnetic stripe on which information can be encoded magnetically to be written and/or read by some form of magnetic read/write head. The invention also extends to a method of checking the authenticity of such a card.
Typical of such simple magnetic cards are those made of paper or thin cardboard and which are used for controlling entry and exit from a car park or a public transport system or for controlling the opening of a door such as a door lock in, say, a hotel room. Other cards can be made of synthetic plastics material.
All such cards have on one or both surfaces a stripe of magnetic material which can be in the form of a printed stripe or an adhered length of magnetic tape. The magnetic material in this stripe can then be encoded with appropriate information to be read by a card reader or to have further magnetic information written or changed by the read/write head of the reader.
These magnetic cards and particularly those of the simple paper or card type can very easily be copied or forged. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple magnetic card which is not so easy to forge.
According to the invention, a magnetic card comprises a sheet having on one or both surfaces at least one stripe of magnetic material on which information can be encoded and which further comprises, embedded within the body of the card, at least one electrically conductive region, the card being of a non-conductive material and visibly opaque whereby that region of electrically conductive material is not visible but can be detected electrically.
There may be more than one such region of electrically conductive material embedded in the card.
With such a card, it is not easy to forge or copy the blank cards since they are rather more than just a simple piece of paper or card printed with a magnetic stripe, and since the user cannot see the conductive region he will have no immediate indication of why a forged card will not operate. Also cards suitable for one type of card reader will not be suitable for another type of card reader where conductive region or regions are positioned differently.
By providing the card reader with some form of detector for the electrically conductive regions, the output function of the card reader can be inactivated unless the detector locates the conductive region. Thus, even if the magnetically encoded information is acceptable, a card without the conductive region will not function, e.g. to open a hotel room door.
Also according to a further feature of the invention, there is provided a method of using a magnetic card to control some function, in which the card is inserted into a card reader capable of reading magnetically encoded information on a magnetic stripe on the card, and the encoded information is read and decoded such that the correct encoded information will enable the said function, and in which a correct card has embedded within it an electrically conductive region and the card reader has detecting means for locating the said electrically conductive region, those detecting means normally disabling the said function and overriding the enable of correct magnetic encoded information until the detecting means locate the presence of the electrically conductive region embedded in the card.
The detecting means can operate by noting the capacitance of an electrically conductive region embedded within the card. Thus a pair of spaced, insulated electrodes can be provided in the card reader and positioned closely over the surface of the card when correctly inserted in the reader. Then, an input pulse to one will be transmitted by the capacitance of the conductive region to the other electrode if a conductive region is present but will not be to a significant extent if there is no conductive region or if it is incorrectly positioned.
According to a further feature of the invention a card reader for detecting a card as defined above is provided in which the reader has a head capable of reading magnetically encoded information from the magnetic stripe on the card and which has detecting means for locating the said electrically conductive region, those detecting means normally disabling the said function and overriding the enable of correct magnetic encoded information until the detecting means locate the presence of the electrically conductive region embedded in the card.
The invention has particular utility with reference to simple cards made, for example, of a light paper or card material and which are used for short term purposes such as obtaining a ride on public transport, gaining access to a hotel room, gaining access to a car park and so on. According to one simple embodiment of the invention, the card is composed of two superimposed sheets of light paper or card stuck face to face and sandwiched between these two sheets, and not extending to any edge of the card, is at least one electrically conductive region. This is can be provided, for example, by means of a metallic foil such as a thin sheet of aluminium or could be provided by printing a metallic ink such as a carbon containing ink, on one of the inwardlydirected faces of the two sheets.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic card in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a diagram showing the card of Figure 1 associated with a card reader modified to detect the conductive region embedded in the card.
The card 10 according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. This consists of two thin sheets of paper or light card 12. These, for example, can be of a thickness of a few tenths of one millimeter, e.g. 0.2 to 0.6 mm.
The two sheets are adhered to one another in face-to-face contact as shown but sandwiched between them is a thin foil 14 of aluminium, i.e. an electrical conductor. The sheets 12 are opaque and the foil 14 can be so thin that it cannot be visibly detected from the outside of the card. The foil 14 stops short of the outside edges of the sheets 12 so that the users' hands cannot contact the foil 14 and it remains electrically insulated.
The card 10 also carries a magnetic stripe 16. This can be provided entirely conventionally by, for example, printing the stripe 16 with magnetic ink onto one or more of the outer-facing surfaces of the sheets 12 or more normally can be an adhered length of magnetic tape. Such magnetic stripes and their uses are very well known and entirely conventional and no further description is believed necessary.
As an alternative the foil 14 can be replaced by a corresponding region of an electrically conductive ink, such as a carbon containing ink, printed onto one of the surfaces of the sheets 12 before they are adhered together.
To assist in masking the dark colour of the ink, the whole surface of one or other sheet 12 can be coloured black before the sheets are adhered.
Figure 2 is a diagram showing how the card 10 is used in conjunction with a card reader 20. The card reader has a magnetic read head 22 which reads magnetically encoded information from the stripe 16. Optionally the head 22 can also write magnetically encoded information there. It is controlled entirely conventionally by card reader electronics 24 including a central processing unit and again no fuller descriptions of these is believed necessary.
Associated with the card reader however are a pair of electrodes 26 and 28. These electrodes are controlled by circuitry to be described capable of detecting the presence of the electrically conductive foil 14 or region by its capacitance.
The two electrodes 26 and 28 are positioned in the card reader so that they closely overlay the region 14 containing the conductive foil or conductive region in the card 10 when the card is correctly inserted into the card reader. Between the two electrodes is an isolating shield 30 to prevent direct transmission of electrical signals from the electrode 26 to electrode 28.
The electronics 24, once the card is fully inserted, provide a short square pulse shown as "a" to the electrode 26. In addition, the pulse is supplied to a flip-flop circuit 32 causing the circuit 32 to change its state. In the presence of a correctly positioned foil 14, the capacitance of that conductive region causes the pulse signal to be transmitted to the electrode 28. In the absence, the signal is not transmitted to the electrode 28. The resulting pulse "b" received in the electrode 28 when the foil 14 is correctly positioned is received by the circuit 34 which is a rectifying, shaping and amplifying square circuit and this converts the pulse "b" to a simple square pulse "c".
The latter passes via the line 36 to the flipflop circuit 32 and causes the circuit 32 again to change its state. This change of state is detected via the line 38 by the electronics 24.
Thus, provided the magnetic head 22 determines the correct magnetically encoded information on the card 10 and this is determined by electronics 24, and also provided the signal is received via the line 38 after pulse is supplied to the electrode 26, then the electronics 24 will enable some function such as opening of a door in a hotel room to operate.
Even if the correct magnetically encoded information is determined, however, the electronics 24 will not function if no signal is received along the line 38 in response to the pulse supplied to the electrode 26 such as arises if for example the foil 14 is not present or is incorrectly positioned.
There may be more than one set of electrodes 26 and 28 positioned to detect the correct location of the foil or region 14 or to detect the correct positioning of more than one piece of foil or region.
There are other ways besides a capacitance change in which the electrically conductive foil or region can be detected, e.g. by inductance change, and such other methods will be clear to those skilled in the art.
As will also be appreciated, the use of the card 10 provides a very simple extra precaution over and above the encoding of the correct magnetic information on the stripe 16 to reduce the possibility of forgery and use of an incorrect or unauthorised card.

Claims (11)

1. A magnetic card having on one or both of its outer surfaces at least one magnetic stripe capable of carrying magnetically encoded information accessible by a card reader and embedded within and not visible therein at least one region of electrically conductive material.
2. A magnetic card as claimed in Claim 1 in which the card has been formed by adhering in face to face relationship two sheets of paper or light card with a metal foil or a region of electrically conductive ink sandwiched between them.
3. A magnetic card substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.
4. A method of using a magnetic card to control some function, in which the card is inserted into a card reader capable of reading magnetically encoded information on a magnetic stripe on the card, and the encoded information is read and decoded such that the correct encoded information will enable the said function, and in which a correct card has embedded within it an electrically conductive region and the card reader has detecting means for locating the said electrically conductive region, those detecting means normally disabling the said function and overriding the enable of correct magnetic encoded information until the detecting means locate the presence of the electrically conductive region embedded in the card.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 4 in which the detecting means detect the capacitance of an electrically conductive region embedded within the card.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 5 in which the detecting means include a pair of spaced, insulated electrodes positioned closely over the surface of the card when correctly inserted in the reader, means for applying an electrical pulse to one electrode and means for determining whether that pulse is transmitted to the other electrode which will depend upon the presence or absense of a conductive layer in the card in the region where the electrodes overlaying.
7. A method of using a magnetic card substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
8. A card reader for detecting a card as claimed in Claim 1 in which the reader has a head capable of reading magnetically encoded information from the magnetic stripe on the card and which has detecting means for locating the said electrically conductive region, those detecting means normally disabling the said function and overriding the enable of correct magnetic encoded information until the detecting means locate the presence of the electrically conductive region embedded in the card.
9. A card reader as claimed in Claim 8 in which the detecting means detect the capacitance of an electrically conductive region embedded within the card.
10. A card reader as claimed in Claim 9 in which the detecting means include a pair of spaced, insulated electrodes positioned closely over the surface of the card when correctly inserted in the reader, means for applying an electrical pulse to one electrode and means for determining whether that pulse is transmitted to the other electrode which will depend upon the presence or absense of a conductive layer in the card in the region where the electrodes overlaying.
11. A card reader as substantially described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
GB08601171A 1986-01-17 1986-01-17 Magnetic card Withdrawn GB2185440A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08601171A GB2185440A (en) 1986-01-17 1986-01-17 Magnetic card

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08601171A GB2185440A (en) 1986-01-17 1986-01-17 Magnetic card

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8601171D0 GB8601171D0 (en) 1986-02-19
GB2185440A true GB2185440A (en) 1987-07-22

Family

ID=10591564

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08601171A Withdrawn GB2185440A (en) 1986-01-17 1986-01-17 Magnetic card

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2185440A (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1317959A (en) * 1968-11-27 1973-05-23 Securadyne Ltd Credit card or ticket for use with capacitance sensors
GB1319928A (en) * 1971-03-23 1973-06-13 Landis & Gyr Ag Documents including means carrying information to prove the genuineness of the document
GB1323266A (en) * 1971-03-26 1973-07-11 Int Computers Ltd Information storage devices
GB1375087A (en) * 1972-09-29 1974-11-27

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1317959A (en) * 1968-11-27 1973-05-23 Securadyne Ltd Credit card or ticket for use with capacitance sensors
GB1319928A (en) * 1971-03-23 1973-06-13 Landis & Gyr Ag Documents including means carrying information to prove the genuineness of the document
GB1323266A (en) * 1971-03-26 1973-07-11 Int Computers Ltd Information storage devices
GB1375087A (en) * 1972-09-29 1974-11-27

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8601171D0 (en) 1986-02-19

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)