GB2403182A

GB2403182A - Tactile card

Info

Publication number: GB2403182A
Application number: GB0314034A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mervyn Randall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-17
Filing date: 2003-06-17
Publication date: 2004-12-29
Also published as: GB0314034D0

Abstract

A tactile transaction card having at least one readable medium, or indice or one writable medium or indice for storing information (magnetic strip 15) and having associated therewith at least two distinct tactile orientation means such as sets of notches 19,119, the arrangement of said orientation means being such that tactile detection by a user provides non-visual information of said card and readable medium or indice orientation relative to said user. Without visual aid it can be difficult to align a device or card correctly in relation to a card reader or writer to enable the readable or writable medium or indice to be written or read. Inclusion of at least two distinct tactile orientation means on a card allows a user who cannot perceive the orientation of the card to align the readable or writable indice correctly in relation to a machine reader or writer, by touch or feel. Other tactile orientation means are a raised projection (26, figure 2), a raised circular projection (34, figure 5) and a depressed circular indent (37, figure 6).

Description

2403 1 82

TACTILE CARD

The invention relates to machine readable or machine writable devices; in particular machine readable cards bearing a magnetic strip, optical bar code, chip or other readable media or indicia and which require orientation near to or within a card reader. Such devices or cards are often used for controlling or monitoring access, where speed, convenience and security are required for example car parks, libraries, hotel rooms, executive toilets; these cards are also employed by banks to be used as payment or credit cards, necessitating reading of information contained thereon.

The readable medium or indice must be oriented correctly in relation to or within the reader of a suitable machine reader. This involves hand-eye coordination, and often uses both hands to facilitate orientation of the device or card. This can be problematic for blind or partially sighted people or for those with standard vision, in the absence of adequate lighting. Without visual aid it can be difficult to align a device or card with a reader, so that the readable medium or indice is in a position to enable it to be read.

Attempts to address this problem have been disclosed in GB 2243113A, which discloses a machine-readable card with a distinctive shaping at one corner, which enables such corner to be identified by touch. This is achieved by having one corner cut at an angle, giving the card five edges of different lengths, enabling the user to find the shortest edge by touch, thereby allowing partial determination of the correct card orientation by the user.

A drawback of this arrangement is that it is difficult for the user to detect the correct orientation while the card is in use and, particularly, when the card is being held by a user so as to allow it to be swiped through or fed into a reader.

Another problem of this arrangement is that a single point system does not discriminate between sufficient card orientation variables.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine readable card which allows a non-visual determination of its orientation and which alleviates the aforementioned problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a card having at least one readable medium or indice or one writable medium or indice for storing information and having associated therewith at least two distinct tactile orientation means, the arrangement of said orientation means being such that tactile detection of said orientation means by a user provides non visual information of said card and readable medium or indice orientation relative to said user. Usually the tactile orientation means are formed on the card itself.

The tactile orientation means are detectable by touch or feel as soon as the card is taken in the hand, allowing it to be adjusted, if necessary, quickly and easily by the user to the correct orientation for predetermined alignment with an appropriate card reader for cooperative reading of the card. The current invention relies on the concept of providing at least two distinct tactile orientation means for allowing determination of at least two distinct reference points on the card, to permit the user understanding of the orientation of the card.

Each of the tactile orientation means may contain a single marker or multiple markers, each formed on or associated with a separate edge or face of the card, and which markers are distinguishable by feel. For example edge markers may be formed of notches or nibs on the card edge, roughened card edge, shaped card edge for example saw-tooth.

Any of the following orientation means may be used as combined edge and direction notches or nibs on the card edge, the shape of which provides information in which direction the card should be moved relative to the machine; roughened card edge, the directional roughness of which provides information, in which direction the card should be moved relative the reader machine; shaped card edge (for example saw tooth), the shape of which provides information in which direction the card should be swiped, or inserted in a reader machine. It is possible to provide two distinct tactile orientation means in the same physical position. For example one raised portion of a card can provide positional information, with directional roughness situated thereon, providing directional information.

Any of the following orientation means may be used as edge and face markers may be formed of; shaped holes through the card; raised or depressed areas on faces of the card; which recognisable surface texture for example rough, smooth, directional friction, cloth, greasy on portions or faces of the card.

Any of the following orientation means may be used as markers; card shape including curved card edge or curved card face. Any of the following orientation means may be used as attached markers; attached fob to define a specific face, edge or corner of the card; weighted edge or corner of the card.

Tactile orientation means or markers in the form of a weighted portion of the card can be used to produce a tactile response. For example a weighted edge or a weighted corner of a card allows a user to recognise the correct predetermined orientation of the card in relation to a reader, due to the moment detected by the user when the card is taken in the fingers.

Preferably, each tactile orientation means will comprise at least one notch formed in a separate edge of said card. It is usual that each orientation means comprises a unique design.

The marker or multiple markers making up each separate tactile orientation means are preferably different from one another to provide at least two readily distinguishable reference points or zones for the user.

Usually the at least two tactile orientation means will be arranged asymmetrically on said card, often on or associated with adjacent edges of such card.

The cards have an optimum number of two or more tactile orientation means.

Too many tactile orientation means positioned on the card can increase the complexity and therefore the time taken to orient the card correctly in relation to the reader machine. However, too few tactile orientation means result in one-handed manipulation becoming slower and more difficult.

The invention is not limited to any specific form of readable media or indicia or to the card itself since cards intended for magnetic reading are often enclosed in a rigid plastic sleeve, whereby it is not necessary to remove the card from the sleeve to allow it to be read. Cards bearing a readable medium or indice such as a chip are increasingly being inserted into a plastic wallet or protective sleeve and here the tactile orientation means may be formed on such sleeve so as to allow the correct orientation of the sleeve with the card contained therein relative to a card reader.

The tactile orientation means may further provide a second function in permitting identification of the card itself. This is particularly important for blind or partially sighted people, whereby cards' tactile orientation means of different designs not only allow correct orientation for cashpoint machines, swipe machines etc but can also identify different types and makes of card. For example one particular type of card from a specific bank may use a characteristic design or logo to indicate to the user, not only the orientation of the card, but also which particular card is being handled.

A further advantageous function of cards having tactile orientation means is that the tactile markers may also be used as a security feature whereby such markers can also be used to effect physical engagement and alignment with appropriate physical reference readers within the card reader for ascertaining use of a correct card therein.

The aforementioned problems relating to cards can equally apply to conventional keys where the readable medium or indice is the jagged teeth and tactile orientation means can be incorporated on the head of the key.

Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following illustrative drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of one face of a card bearing a magnetic strip according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of one face of a card bearing a magnetic strip according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the opposing face of the card of figure 2; and Figure 4 is an end view of the top edge of the card of figures 2 and 3; and Figure 5 is a plan view of one face of a card according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a plan view of the opposite face of the card of figure S. having an electronic chip mounted thereon.

In the context of this invention, 'card' is defined as a substantially flat thin material which is capable of carrying information, but does not exclude conventional keys or other devices, such as sleeves into which cards may be inserted. As information carrying and storage devices are developed it is becoming possible to store large amounts of information on a single media which may be referred to as a cassette. These cassettes are also taken to be included in the definition of 'card' for the purposes of this invention. Although the most common shape of such cards are rectangular, a 'card' for the purposes of this invention can have any number of edges. All references throughout the specification to machine readable cards are intended to include writable cards and both readable and writable cards.

The normal machine readable card with magnetic strip or optical barcode is generally of rectilinear shape with the magnetic strip, barcode or chip situated proximate to one edge or face of the card. This standard configuration of card is presumed in the following descriptions without admitting that the invention is in any way restricted to this normal type of card.

The terms 'machine reader' or 'information reader' are synonymous and intended to mean any machine or device arranged to read or write information which may be encoded and stored on a storage medium, which storage medium may include a magnetic strip, optical bar code, chip or other readable media or indicia. The definitions are also intended to include any machine capable of imparting information onto another medium such as a card.

There are several types of readable media or indicia and therefore the present invention is not limited to any particular readable medium or indice. For example, magnetic strips are commonly used to carry and store information on cards such as bank cards and security cards, among others. Cards bearing magnetic strips are often required to be swiped through or fed into a reader machine. Bar codes are used to encode machine readable data and may be used on identity cards. Bar codes often comprise a series of substantially parallel marks of predetermined spatial extent, such as width or shape and can be read using light from a sensitive detector. Electronic chips are frequently used for store cards or travel cards and are generally becoming more popular due to the increased amount of information that can be stored on such an electronic chip.

Cards bearing an electronic chip either on a face or embedded within a card, often require partial or full insertion into a card reader for information to be extracted from the electronic chip.

According to one embodiment of the present invention shown in figure 1 there is provided a swipe card 10 which is substantially flat and rectangular, and has two opposing faces, a rear face 18 and a front face (not shown). The perimeter of each face is defined by a pair of substantially parallel long edges 11 and a pair of substantially parallel short edges 12. The short edges 12 are substantially perpendicular to the long edges 11 and at the point of intersection where the long and short edges join, there are formed four gently rounded corner portions 13. The above described card is standard within the field of bank, credit and cash cards and would be known and readily understood by a person skilled in the art.

The rear face 18 which is shown in figure 1 comprises a magnetic storage medium IS, used to store data relevant to the card and user. The magnetic storage medium 15 is in the form of an elongate strip situated proximate and substantially parallel to one long edge 11 of the rear face 18 which long edge is defined as the leading edge.

First tactile orientation means, in the form of a set of notches 19, are disposed on the non-leading long edge of the card substantially opposite the magnetic storage medium IS and positioned slightly off-centre, in the typical position that a portion of a user's finger might rest when the card is taken in the hand.

The set of notches 19 along the long edge of the card consist of three equispaced triangular punched notches. Each individual notch is in the shape of an isosceles triangle. A second set of notches 119 (forming a second set of tactile orientation means) are located on an adjacent short edge 12 of the card, so as to be slightly off-centre and towards the corner 13 where the non-leading long face incorporating the notches 19 meets the short edge. The second set of notches 119 consist of two triangular punched notches, which individual notches are similar to the first set and would be immediately recognizable to the user when the card is taken in the hand. The two sets of notches 19, 119 provide two distinct tactile indicia for recognition by the fingers and or thumb of the user. These indicia are punched into the card, although any form of indicia as hereinbefore described are permissible. The notches are not limited to the triangular shapes and different sizes, shapes and arrangements of the markers may be used. Alternatively, the notches may be associated with other edges of the card, however the markers are preferably associated with adjacent edges. l

The card is intended to be swiped through a machine reader with the magnetic stripe aligned such that the machine reader (not shown) may detect any encoded information thereon. The reader comprises a channel (not shown) through which the card must be swiped.

Alternatively, if the card 10 is an access card and the machine reader is designed to accept the card in its entirety, it is necessary that the card be fed into a receiving slot in a known orientation. Again, accurate positioning of the card into such slotted reader is necessary to correctly align magnetic strip IS with the internal reader of such card reader (not shown).

Use of two separate and distinct tactile orientation means permits easy and rapid identification of specific and distinct edges of the card by the user, providing immediate information about the orientation of the card and more particularly the relative position and orientation of the readable media or indicia on the card.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in figures 2, 3 and 4.

Here card 20, again has two long edges 21 and two short edges 22 joined at gently rounded corner portions 23 and is substantially similar to the card 10 shown in figure 1.

The rear face 28 of card 20 is shown in figure 2 and again bears a magnetic storage medium 25 in the form of an elongate strip, proximate and substantially parallel to one long edge 21 on the rear face 28. First tactile orientation means 26 is provided on the rear face 28 in the form of a hemispherical raised extended projection. This projection 26 is arranged such that the thumb of a right-handed user can rest within or upon the raised projection. The projection 26 is located centrally and symmetrically in relation to the short edges 22 of the card and slightly off-centre, towards the non-leading edge of the card 20.

The open end of the extended semi circular raised projection points towards the non-leading edge.

The front face 29 of such a standard transaction card as shown in figure 3 carries information representing account number, card holder name, cardtype and bank logo amongst other things. Here a second tactile orientation means is formed as a raised elongate projection 27 situated towards and substantially parallel to the non-leading long edge and provides an appropriate tactile reference indice detectable by touch. Detection of the projections, 26 and 27 by the fingers and thumb of a user will readily provide a tactile indication of the orientation of the card, and particularly the readable strip 25. The invention is not limited to projections and other orientation means as hereinbefore described may be used.

Figure 4 is a representation looking down onto the leading edge of swipe card 20. The parallel opposing front face 29 and rear face 28 accommodate the raised elongate projection 27 and the raised extended semicircular projection 26 respectively. s

The tactile orientation means, 26 and 27 are distinct, asymmetrical and arranged on opposing faces of the swipe-card 20 providing dual tactile reference points for a right-handed user.

Figures 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention. Card 30 shown in figures 5 and 6 has two long edges 31, two short edges 32 and gently rounded corner portions 33 whose interrelation is hereinbefore described. In figure 5, the front face 39 carries a raised circular projection 34 located substantially centrally on the face of the card 30, and which forms a first tactile orientation means.

Figure 6 shows the rear face 38 of card 30. A substantially rectilinear electronic chip 35 carries machine readable data and is positioned centrally in relation to the long edges 31 and proximate to a short edge 32, which can be defined as the leading short edge. The rear face 38 is provided with second tactile orientation means in the form of a depressed circular indent 37 which . indent is situated centrally in relation to the short edges, but proximate to a long edge 31.

The circular projection 34 and circular indent 37 on opposing faces of the card S are known to the user, such that when the card 30 is taken in the hand, the user can identify these distinct tactile indicia quickly and easily by touch such that the correct alignment of the card in relation to a machine reader is facilitated.

Claims

Claims 1. A card having at least one readable or writable, medium or

indice for storing information and having associated therewith at least two distinct tactile orientation means, the arrangement of said tactile orientation means being such that tactile detection of said tactile orientation means by a user provides non visual information of the card and the at least one readable or writable, medium or indice orientation relative to said user.
2. A card as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the distinct tactile orientation means further provides information regarding the direction, relative to the user, in which the card should be moved to enable said card to be written or read.
3. A card as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shape of at least one of the tactile orientation means provides the directional information.
4. A card as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the tactile orientation means comprise directional roughness, the direction of which provides the information regarding the direction relative to the user, in which the card should be moved to allow said card to be written or read.
5. A card as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each distinct tactile orientation means comprises a unique design, one compared to another.
6. A card as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the at least two distinct tactile orientation means are arranged asymmetrically.
7. A card as claimed in claim 6 wherein there are two distinct tactile orientation means, positioned on adjacent edges of the card.
8. A card as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of the two distinct tactile orientation means comprise at least one notch.
9. A card as claimed in any of claims 1-S, wherein at least two of the distinct tactile orientation means are in the same physical location.
10. A card as claimed in any proceeding claim, wherein at least one of the distinct tactile orientation means further permit identification of the card itself.
11. A card as claimed in any of claims 1 - 9 wherein at least two of the distinct tactile orientation means when taken together permit identification of the card itself.
12. A card as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the card is intended to be at least partially positioned within a machine card reader or writer and I whereby at least one of the tactile orientation means can be used to effect physical engagement with the machine card reader or writer.
13. A card as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least two distinct tactile orientation means are formed on the card.
14. A card substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.