`Dreifus
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Mar. 11, 1986
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,575,621
`
`[54] PORTABLE ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION
`DEVICE AND SYSTEM THEREFOR
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Henry N. Dreifus, Narberth, Pa.
`
`[73] Assignee: Corpra Research, Inc., Rosemont, Pa.
`
`[21] App]. No.: 586,938
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Mar. 7, 1984
`
`
`Int. Cl.4 ............................................... G06K 5/00
`[51]
`
`............... 235/380; 235/492
`[52]
`[58] Field of Search ........................ 235/473, 492, 380
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1/1972 Ellingboe ......................... 235/6l.12
`3,637,994
`...... 340/173
`3,702,464 11/1972 Castrucci
`
`6/1974 Ulicki ............... 235/473
`3,814,841
`..... 235/61.7
`3,868,057
`2/1975 Chavez
`
`4/1975 Bliss .........
`3,876,865
`235/61.12
`
`...... 235/492
`3,906,201
`9/1975 Housman
`9/1975 Halpern ......
`3,906,460
`340/ 172.5
`
`3,934,122
`1/1976 Riccitelli
`..... 235/61.7
`3,971,916
`7/1976 Moreno ..
`235/61.7
`4,001,550
`1/1977 Schatz .......... 235/61.7
`...... 235/419
`4,092,524
`5/1978 Moreno
`
`...... 235/419
`4,102,493
`7/1978 Moreno
`
`2/1979 Atalla ............ 235/473
`4,138,058
`
`7/1980 Ugon ............. 235/487
`4,211,919
`7/1981 Stuctiert ..
`...... 235/379
`4,277,837
`
`7/1982 Benton .............. 235/379
`4,341,951
`
`9/1983 Rivest et a1.
`. 178/221
`4,405,829
`
`4,423,319 12/1983 Jacobsen ................
`.. 235/472
`
`.. 235/380
`4,454,414
`6/1984 Benton
`7/1984 Trehn .................................. 235/379
`4,460,965
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`ing” by Mark Mills, Jan. 1984 issue of BYTE Magazine,
`pp. 154—168.
`“Smart Credit Cards: The Answer to Cashless Shop-
`ping” by Stephen B. Weinstein, Feb. 1984 issue of IEEE
`Spectrum Magazine, pp. 43—49.
`
`Primary Examiner——Harold I. Pitts
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein &
`Cohen, Ltd.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A portable electronic transaction device and a terminal
`therefor. The device comprises a central data processor,
`a fixed memory, an adaptable memory, optical means
`for transmitting and receiving information to and from
`the terminal and self-contained power source means,
`such as an on-board battery. The device is arranged to
`operate in either a stand—alone mode during which it
`monitors itself for abnormal conditions or in an operat-
`ing mode during which it communicates with said ter-
`minal for the transmission of information therebetween.
`The device also includes cryptographic means for en-
`crypting outgoing information and decrypting incom-
`ing information in accordance with cryptographic in-
`formation stored in its memory. The cryptographic
`information is modified as a function of time by clock
`means in the device and/or a function of information
`transmitted to the device by the terminal or stored in
`the device. During the standby mode of operation the
`device monitors itself, whereas in its operational mode
`it communicates with the terminal. Power for the
`standy mode is provided, via the on-board battery.
`Power for the operation of the device in the operational
`mode is provided via photocells in the device which are
`arranged to receive light from lamp means in the termi-
`nal.
`
`“Memory Cards: A New Concept in Personal Comput-
`
`34 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures
`
`
`
`Page 1 of 18
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`PNC-JP MORGAN EXHIBIT 1007
`
`PNC-JP MORGAN EXHIBIT 1007
`
`Page 1 of 18
`
`
`
`US. Patent Manll, 1986
`
`Sheetlof6
`
`4,575,621
`
`
`
`Page 2 of 18
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`Page 2 of 18
`
`
`
`US. Patent Mar.ll,l986
`
`Shéet20f6
`
`4,575,621
`
`
`
`
`K
`| _—I
`
`
`l’l’IA'AVAYAYlmVl’l
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`
`I'
`
`4886/246/4
`
`
`
`/4
`
`48
`
`Page 3 0f 18
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`Page 3 of 18
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`
`
`US. Patent Mar.11, 1986
`
`Sheet3of6
`
`4,575,621
`
`CENTRAL
`
`PROCESS/N6
`
`UNIT
`
`EM/TT/NG
`DIODE (LED)
`
`L/0U/D
`CRYSTAL
`
`ID/SPLAY/LCD
`
`
`
`EM/TT/NG
`DIODE (LED) 34
`
`CENTRA L
`PROCESS/N6
`
`78 82
`
`DISPLAY
`
`KEYBOARD
`
`CONTROLS MODEM
`80
`COMMUN/CA now
`1. //vEs
`
`72
`
`74
`
`Page 4 of 18
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`Page 4 of 18
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`
`
`1
`
`59.WNW439E9i
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`
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`4NNN13RimVVN.iEmmNmm,QVNOK
`
`6ziqfibtm\m,29:tmkamm:38WNWN\
`
`QEEMoSE%7QVN
`NQN.NVN
`
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`
`
`1mQKNpom.mmN328%CNMN0mm.WNWmMN$3.3SQNkm<thM.\<Q\km\Qn\
`
`
`
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`
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`
`.ESEmg\KSE28koSmEES
`
`Page 5 0f 18
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`Page 5 of 18
`
`
`
`
`US. Patent Mar.11, 1986
`
`Sheet50f6
`
`4,575,621
`
`CENTRAL PROCESS/N6 UNIT
`
`AR/THMET/C
`
`ENCRYPT/ON/
`
`ADDRESS/N6
`
`
`LOG/C
`DECRYPT/ON
`LOG/C
`
`UNIT
`
`_UN/7'
`
`
`
`
`
`COMMUN/CA T/ONS
`
`BUFFER
`
`64
`
`
`
`Page 6 0f 18
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`Page 6 of 18
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`
`
`US. Patent Mar. 11,1986
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`4,575,621
`
`
`
`Ly
`/\\
`
`.|\
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`
`
`Page 7 0f 18
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`Page 7 of 18
`
`
`
`
`1
`
`4,575,621
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`PORTABLE ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION
`DEVICE AND SYSTEM THEREFOR
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to electronic transac-
`tion systems and, more particularly, to portable elec-
`tronic transaction devices and associated terminals
`therefor.
`
`Recent years have seen the rapid growth in the num-
`ber and types of devices carried by the user and em-
`ployed for credit card, location access, facility access,
`bank tellering or guard routing purposes. Such devices
`will hereinafter be referred to by the generic term
`“transaction devices” to signify the use of these devices
`as a means for effecting a transaction, such as a credit
`card sale, a bank deposit, access authorization, etc.
`Prior art transaction devices have recently made use
`of a card or other compact structure for carrying infor-
`mation thereon and which is arranged to be inserted
`into a terminal to transfer information thereto. With the
`advent of micro-chip technology, some transaction
`devices have now incorporated electronic circuitry to
`store, transmit and receive various information such as
`identifier information, transaction and status informa-
`tion. Thus, the transaction device itself only forms one
`portion of what can be called a transaction system. That
`system can include various independent
`terminals,
`which may include their own intelligence (via the use of
`microcomputers therein) or may be interconnected to a
`remote or host computer (e.g., a main frame computer)
`via telephone lines or other data transmission equip-
`ment.
`
`the availability and proliferation of
`As is known,
`low-cost, powerful microcomputers has resulted in
`increasing numbers of unauthorized intrusions into
`computer-based systems by criminals as well as prank-
`sters. Thus, the newly developing transaction devices
`are susceptible to attacks on the security in the systems
`using them. For example, existing transaction devices
`frequently make use of mechanical, e. g., metal, contacts
`for connection to the terminal or system. While such
`means are simple in construction and relatively low in
`cost, they offer a readily accessible means for connec-
`tion with an intruder’s microcomputer to read the infor-
`mation in the transaction device or otherwise use it.
`Such action can be readily effected by cycling the mi-
`crocomputer through various possible identifier codes
`to gain access to the system and its data. A further
`problem with transaction devices employing metal elec-
`trical contacts as the means for connection into the
`system is the tendency of such contacts to oxidize or be
`susceptible to physical damage. Either of these occur-
`rences can reduce the reliability of electrical continuity
`and hence, data transfer.
`Other prior art transaction devices have utilized ca—
`pacitance means encapsulated in a card for the storage
`of information therein. Such capacitance-based devices
`are also susceptible to unauthorized access through the
`use of various means, such as capacitance bridges. Still
`other electronic transaction systems have made use of
`magnetic strips, such as on conventional plastic credit
`cards, for carrying information. Needless to say, the
`latter type of transaction device offers a very low de—
`gree of security inasmuch as the magnetically stored
`data can be readily read and duplicated with existing
`equipment.
`
`5
`
`10
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`15
`
`20
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`25
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`50
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`6O
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`65
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`Page 8 0f 18
`
`2
`A further security problem with prior art transaction
`devices is that they transmit information between the
`components of the entire system in an unencrypted or
`“clear” form, e.g., standard ASCII symbols, etc. The
`transmitted data, e.g., the bit stream, can therefore be
`easily read to determine identifier codes and other inter-
`nal security information necessary for access to the
`system. Thus, once identifier codes, communication
`formats, and other system protocols are determined, the
`portable transaction device can be duplicated or forged,
`or the system can be entered at the terminal without a
`valid device.
`
`Needless to say, the unauthorized or improper use of
`transaction systems can result in the losses of millions, if
`not billions, of dollars and serious breaches in high
`security systems.
`An additional drawback of existing portable transac-
`tion devices is the fact that such devices do not have
`stand—alone capability. That is, they are constructed to
`be inactive (inoperative) when they are not connected
`in the system, e. g., not inserted in the terminal. There-
`fore, attempts at physical intrusion into the devices such
`as by delamination of the material encasing the device
`(e.g., “credit card” type), or inoperative conditions in
`the device as a result of an internal failure cannot be
`detected during the “off” or inactive period.
`Examples of prior art transaction devices are shown
`in the following US. Pat. Nos. 3,637,994 (Ellingboe),
`3,934,122 (Riccitelli), 3,702,464 (Castrucci), 3,868,057
`(Chavez), 3,876,865 (Bliss), and 4,001,550 (Schatz) and
`4,211,919 (Ugon). The aforegoing devices exhibit one
`or more of the characteristics as described heretofore,
`e.g., the employment of metallic electrical contacts, the
`use of clear (non-encrypted) communication and the
`failure to incorporate any stand-alone capability. US.
`Pat. No. 3,906,460 (Halper) discloses a transaction de-
`vice using inductive coupling for communication, yet
`has no stand-alone, encryption or data processing capa-
`bilities. The devices disclosed in US. Pat. Nos.
`3,971,916 (Moreno), 4,092,526 (Moreno), and 4,102,493
`(Moreno), employ either mechanical or optical cou-
`pling for communications, thereby eliminating the prob-
`lems inherent
`in the use of mechanical electrical
`contact. However, such devices have no stand-alone or
`encryption capability and are hence susceptible to intru-
`SlOn.
`
`Articles about credit card type transaction devices
`have recently appeared in the following publications:
`Byte magazine, January 1984, pages 154—168, and IEEE
`Spectrum, February 1984, pages 43—49.
`OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is the general object of the instant
`invention to provide a transaction device which over-
`comes the disadvantages of the prior art.
`.
`It is a further object of the instant invention to pro-
`vide a portable electronic transaction device suitable for
`a wide range of applications.
`It is a further object of the instant invention to pro-
`vide a portable electronic transaction device which is
`physically and electrically insulated from the environ—
`ment.
`
`It is a further object of this invention to provide a
`portable electronic transaction device including an en-
`cryption/decryption system for communicating with an
`associated system.
`It is still a further object of the instant invention to
`provide a portable electronic transaction device with
`
`Page 8 of 18
`
`
`
`3
`standfalone monitoring and intrusion detection capabil—
`ity.
`It is still a further object of this invention to provide
`a portable electronic transaction device having a capa-
`bility to continually or periodically vary encryption and
`encoding formats for enhanced security.
`It is still a further object of the instant invention to
`provide a terminal which operates in conjunction with
`and provides a point of entry for an electronic portable
`transaction device.
`
`It is still a further object of this invention to provide
`a terminal with entry access for two portable electronic
`transaction devices to allow the devices to transmit and
`receive information to and from each other.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A portable electronic transaction device for use in a
`transaction system having at least one terminal. The
`device is sealed in a container and comprises means for
`storing information therein, means for transmitting and
`receiving information to and from said terminal, inter-
`nal, self-contained power source means, means for de-
`tecting abnormal conditions in the device and means for
`incapacitating the device in response thereto. The de-
`tecting means is powered by the internal power source
`means, whereupon the detecting means is operative at
`all times. When the device is incapacitated it cannot be
`used with the terminal. In accordance with one aspect
`. of the invention, the device includes optical means for
`,. effecting the transmission and receipt of information to
`Land from the terminal and cryptographic means for
`Linsuring that information transmitted between the de-
`'
`.vice and the terminal is secure. To that end, the encryp-
`tion of information is a function of clock information
`and/or information received from the terminal.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1' is a perspective view of a portable electronic
`wtransaction device constructed in accordance with the
`
`instant invention and in the form of an encapsulated flat
`card similar in size and shape to a conventional credit
`card;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal used in
`conjunction with the card of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded perspective View of a
`portion of the terminal’s slot and a portion of the card
`shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line
`4—4 of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the portable electronic
`transaction device and associated terminal of the instant
`invention;
`,
`FIG. 6 is a logic diagram of the interrupt control
`portion of the portable electronic transaction device
`shown in FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the central processing
`unit of the portable electronic transaction device;
`FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an alternative termi-
`nal and two portable electronic transaction devices of 60
`the instant invention for effecting the transfer of infor-
`mation from one such device to the other and vice
`versa;
`FIG. 8B is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken
`through the terminal of FIG. 8A and showing the dis-
`position of the two portable electronic transaction de-
`vices therein for the transfer of information therebe-
`tween; and
`
`55
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`4,575,621
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`10
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`15
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`25
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`3O
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`35
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`45
`
`50
`
`4
`FIG. 8C is an enlarged sectional view taken along
`line 8C—8C of FIG. 8B.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now in greater detail to the various figures
`of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer
`to like parts, there is shown a portable electronic trans-
`action device 2 and an associated terminal 20 forming an
`electronic transaction system of the subject invention.
`The details of the portable transaction device and the
`terminal will be described in detail later. Suffice for
`now to state that in the preferred embodiment the porta-
`ble transaction device is an electronic device whose
`components are encapsulated in a plastic body in the
`form of a flat card, like a conventional plastic credit
`card. Thus, when referring to the device 2 hereinafter,
`the term “card” will be used. It must be pointed out
`however, that the device can take other physical forms
`than a card.
`
`The card 2 includes a programmable data processor,
`a fixed memory to store various information such as,
`part of the operating system program, security informa-
`tion in the form of “keys” for a cryptographic system
`and identifier information, etc. The card also includes
`an adaptable memory for the storage of transaction
`data, (e.g., financial information, purchase information,
`etc.).
`The card 2 is arranged to operate in either an operat-
`ing mode (during which is coacts with a terminal, such
`as terminal 20) or in a stand-alone or standby mode. The
`latter type of operation is that which occurs when the
`card is not connected in the transaction system. It is
`during this mode that the card monitors itself to guard
`against intrusion or component failure. Thus, the card 2
`includes a real-time clock and an interrupt control unit
`for effecting various “watchdog” functions when the
`card is in its standby mode.
`The transfer of information between the card and the
`terminal is effected optically. In particular, information
`is transferred from the terminal to the card through the
`use of a light emitting diode(s) in the terminal and
`phototransistor(s) in the card, while the transfer of in-
`formation from the card to the terminal is similarly
`effected, via the use of a light-emitting diode(s) in the
`card and a phototransistor(s) in the terminal. Thus, the
`card is arranged to be inserted into a slot in the terminal
`so that the phototransistor(s) of the card is aligned with
`the light-emitting diode(s) in the terminal and with the
`light-emitting diode(s) of the card aligned with the
`phototransistor(s) in the terminal so that bi-directional
`communication between the device and the terminal
`can occur.
`
`As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the
`use of the optical means to effect communication be-
`tween the card and terminal has the effect of obviating
`the problems inherent in prior art portable electronic
`transaction devices utilizing electrical contacts. More—
`over, the encapsulation of the components in the card
`renders them physically, as well as electrically, insu-
`lated from the terminal as well as the environment,
`thereby increasing the card’s resistance to impairment
`or degradation.
`As stated earlier, the card 2 is arranged to operate in
`a stand—alone or standby mode. The power for the card
`when it is in its standby mode is supplied by an on-board
`battery. When in the standby mode, the card monitors
`itself, via its “watchdog” functions, provided by an
`
`Page 9 of 18
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`
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`4,575,621
`
`5
`interrupt control circuit therein. The interrupt control
`serves to monitor the card and disable it upon either the
`detection of physical intrusion into the card or the sens-
`ing of an inoperative or marginally operative condition
`in the circuitry of the card. Moreover, the interrupt
`control is arranged to switch the card from its standby
`or watchdog function to its active state. In its active
`state power is provided to the card, via the use of photo-
`cells in the card. Thus, when the card is inserted in a
`terminal and ready for use, e.g., when a signal is re-
`ceived by the card’s phototransistor from the terminal
`and light produced by the terminal is received by the
`card’s photocells,
`the interrupt control switches the
`card into the operational mode.
`The card’s microprocessor in conjunction with other
`components in the card, e.g., an encryption unit (to be
`described later), serves to encrypt and decrypt informa-
`tion which is transmitted to and received from the ter-
`minal. The “keys” for effecting the encryption-decryp-
`tion process are stored in the card’s fixed memory. In
`the interests of increased security the “keys” are ar-
`ranged to be modified by the processor as a function of
`the real-time clock data and transaction data stored in
`the adaptable memory. Similarly, user identifier infor-
`mation is stored in the fixed memory and may be modi-
`fied by the processor as a function of the clock data and
`transaction information stored in the adaptable mem-
`ory. External information from the terminal may also be
`placed into the adaptable memory to change the operat-
`ing system program, as desired.
`Based on the program(s) within the card’s memories,
`the data processor is arranged to calculate and maintain
`user profiles, based upon history of user transactions
`with the card. In such cases, aberrant user conduct can
`be detected by the transaction system and the system
`alerted to an unauthorized user in the case of loss or
`theft of the card.
`
`*
`
`Moreover, when the transaction system is in a secu-
`rity system, such as for providing access to secure facili-
`ties, unique individual characteristics such as retinal
`patterns, hand geometry or fingerprints, can be stored
`in the card for comparison to information obtained at
`the point of the transaction, e. g., the terminal or entry
`point of the card.
`The data processing and storage capabilities of the
`card can be used for sales and marketing purposes as
`well as security. For example, discounts can be given to
`certain types of purchasers based upon the profile and
`data stored in the card. Moreover, credit limits can be
`altered as a function of the past transactions.
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`transaction system the terminal includes a keyboard for
`use by the terminal operator. The keyboard enables the
`terminal operation to insert various information onto
`the system, e.g., insert user identification codes etc.
`When a card is inserted into the terminal, the card
`transmits encrypted identifier or authentication codes
`and other information to the terminal. The terminal is
`arranged to decrypt the message and identifier informa-
`tion. The terminal then checks for correct corrolation
`between the user identifier code and the device’s identi-
`fier information. The transaction information is dis-
`played on a display at the terminal to insure that correct
`keyboard entry is made. Other information, such as
`credit balances, etc., may also be displayed, if desired.
`As noted earlier and as will be appreciated by those
`skilled in the art, the transaction system can be config-
`ured for the use intended. Thus, the system can include
`
`Page 10 0f 18
`
`6
`a single terminal or a plurality of terminals which can
`communicate with each other or with a remote central
`computer. In the latter case, a modem is included in the
`terminal for effecting communication to the remote
`computer. The information flow between the terminal
`and the computer is asynchronous, with the terminal
`providing a temporary buffer storage for outgoing and
`incoming messages. Moreover, if desired, the terminal
`can be constructed to provide a “store and forward”
`capability to store messages from cards for a period of
`time and thereafter transmit them to the remote com-
`puter at some later time. As is the case with communica—
`tions between the card and the terminal, all communica-
`tions between the terminal and the remote computer is
`in encrypted form.
`Other transaction systems of the subject invention
`may include terminals having sufficient built-in intelli-
`gence to operate directly with the card without the
`need for the use of a remote computer. In such a case
`the terminal itself is a standalone or “smart” terminal.
`With the foregoing summary of the system in mind,
`the details of the card 2 and the terminal 20 will now be
`considered with reference to FIG. 1.
`inte-
`The card basically comprises an electronic,
`grated circuit means 6, light emitting diode means 8,
`phototransistor means 10, battery means 12, photocells
`l4, and a liquid crystal display 16.
`The circuit means 6 includes all of the components of
`the card necessary for the functioning of the card and
`will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5. In
`accordance with a preferred embodiment of the inven-
`tion circuit means 6 comprises a single VLSI (very large
`scale integrated) circuit chip in the interest of compact
`SlZC.
`
`The light emitting diode (LED) means 8 can be a
`single light emitting diode or an array of diodes, either
`connected in series,
`in parallel or in a series-parallel
`arrangement, for producing optical signals to carry
`information from the card to the terminal. The photo-
`transistor means 10 can similarly be a single phototran-
`sistor or an array of either serial, parallel, or serial—par-
`allel connected phototransistors for receiving optical
`signals from the terminal and for converting them to
`electrical signals for use by the card.
`The liquid crystal display 16 serves to display infor-
`mation to the user of the card and the operation of the
`terminal.
`As can be seen in FIG. 1, the card itself is of conven-
`tional credit card size and shape, that is approximately
`85.5 X 54x08 mm and thus its body is formed of a plas-
`tic or other suitable material, with the components mak-
`ing up the operating portions of the device encapsulated
`therein. The plastic material making up the body of the
`card itself or portions of the card’s body over the
`LED(s) 8, phototransistor(s) 10, photocells 14 and dis-
`play 16 is preferably either translucent or transparent.
`Such a material is preferred so that the information may
`be transmitted and received by the light emitting diodes
`and phototransistors, power may be received by the
`photocells and the display 16 be readily visible, all with-
`out optical impediment.
`The remainder of the body of the card may contain
`‘the features normally found on conventional credit or
`user access cards, such as embossed numbers and letters,
`an encapsulated photograph of the user, etc.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, the details of an exemplary
`terminal 20 is shown. As can be seen, terminal 20 basi-
`cally comprises a display 22, a set of controls 24 and a
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`keyboard 26. The controls 24 provide for power and
`housekeeping functions, such as power on-off switches
`and indicator lamps. The keyboard can be any type,
`alpha/numeric, or numeric, and is used by the terminal
`operator to insert transaction information and an identi-
`fier code into the system.
`Terminal 20 includes a slot 28 into which the card is
`inserted to perform a transaction and effect the transfer
`of information between the terminal and card and vice
`versa. Thus, in the embodiment shown herein the card
`will be described as a retail purchase credit card, and
`the terminal as a point—of-sale terminal. One “transac-
`tion” in such an application entails the sale of one or
`several items. As each item is “rung up” by the terminal
`operator, that is entered into the keyboard, the display
`22 shows the identity of each item purchased and its
`price. This serves as a check of keyboard entry accu-
`racy. The credit balance available to the user of the card
`2 will be transmitted to the terminal during data transfer
`therebetween and may be displayed on the terminal
`display. Such information is based on information re-
`ceived by the terminal either from a remote computer,
`if the terminal is connected thereto, or from the infor—
`mation provided by the card itself.
`If the card is used in another application than the
`retail point-of—sale application just described, the trans—
`action would obviously have a different format. For
`example, when the card 2 is used as a guard route
`, checking device, the “transaction” entails the detection
`3* and recording of the use of the card at a prescribed
`location along the guards route. The data and time of
`use of the card is also detected and recorded.
`Referring now to FIG. 3 the details of the card re-
`ceiving slot 28 of the terminal will now be described.
`Thus, as can be seen the upper wall 30 of the slot 28
`includes a source of light 32, electronic integrated cir-
`‘I-cuit means 38, phototransistor means 36 and light emit—
`‘iiting diode means 34 all mounted therein. Those compo—
`-‘-'-nents are so located so that when the card is fully in-
`'irserted in the slot 28 and its leading edge 40 makes
`contact with the slot’s rear wall 42, the card’s photo-
`transistor(s) 10 is located directly beneath the LED(s)
`of the terminal 20 so that the optical signals transmitted
`from the LED(s) are received by the phototransistor(s)
`for conversion into electrical signals for use by the
`card’s circuitry. Similarly, LED(s) 8 of the card 2 is
`located directly beneath the phototransistor(s) of the
`terminal 20 so that the optical signal transmitted by the
`LED(s) are received by the phototransistor(s) for con-
`version into electrical signals for use by the terminal’s
`circuitry.
`Any commercially available light emitting diodes and
`phototransistors operating in either the infrared spec-
`trum or visible light spectrum are suitable for use in the
`subject system. The light source 32 for powering the
`card in its operational mode can be any conventional
`lamp and is located in the slot position directly over the
`card’s photocells. The photocells convert the light re-
`ceived into electrical power for the card.
`As can be seen the card’s display means 16 is located
`on the card at a slightly inboard portion adjacent the
`end of the card so that it is fully visible when the card
`is inserted into the slot. This feature enables the user or
`terminal operator to read the card when it is in the
`terminal.
`As can also be seen in FIG. 3 each side of the slot 28
`includes a ledge 44. The ledges serve to properly posi-
`tion the card within the slot. In this connection the
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`depth of each ledge is selected to insure proper distance
`between the light emitting diode(s) and phototransis—
`tor(s) of the card and terminal for proper signal trans-
`mission and reception and for proper distance between
`the light source 32 and the photocells for efficient»
`power transmission. In particular, spacing of approxi-
`mately 1 cm between the top surface 46 of the card 4
`and the top wall 30 of the slot is desirable.
`The circuitry of the terminal 20 will be described in
`detail later. Suffice for now to say that it includes the
`integrated circuit means 38 mentioned heretofore. This
`circuit means effects data processing by the terminal
`and in addition includes logic and interfacing circuitry
`(to be described later), to allow for the operation of the
`display 22, controls 24 and keyboard 26.
`In FIG. 5 the block diagram of the components mak-
`ing up the card 2 and the terminal 20 are shown. In that
`diagram the flow of signal information is depicted by
`solid lines, while the flow of power is denoted by bro-
`ken lines. As can be seen the integrated circuit 6 basi-
`cally comprises central processing unit (CPU) 52, a high
`speed crystal oscillator or clock 54, a read only memory
`(ROM) 56, a random access memory (RAM) 58, direct
`memory access (DMA) circuitry 60, an interrupt con-
`trol unit circuit 62, a communications buffer 64, and a
`time/date clock 66.
`The CPU 52 is connected to clock 54, ROM ‘56,
`RAM 58, and interrupt control 62, via lines 53, 55, 57
`and 63, respectively. Lines 63 also serve to connect the
`CPU to the time/date clock 66 and the communications
`buffer 64. The DMA 60 is connected to RAM 58 and
`the interrupt control 62, via lines 59 and 61, respec-
`tively. The communications buffer is connected to the
`liquid crystal display 16, via lines 65.
`As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the
`photocells 14, when powered by the light source 32
`from the terminal, provide electrical power, denoted by
`the dotted lines 68, to the CPU 52, the clock 54, the
`ROM 56, the display 16, the LED(s) 8 and the photo-
`transistor(s) 10. Moreover, charging current is provided
`to battery 12 via means (not shown).
`When the card 2 is in its “stand alone” mode, that is
`when it is not inserted into terminal 20, the photocells
`are not activated and the battery 12 provides power to
`the RAM 58, direct memory access circuit 60, clock 54,
`interrupt control unit 62, communications buffer 84 and
`the time/date clock 66, via the lines depicted by the
`dotted lines 70.
`
`In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
`invention the battery 12 is a conventional 5-volt lithium
`battery having several hundred ampere-hours capacity.
`Such a battery is not only compact in size and light in
`weight but, utilized in a system like that disclosed
`herein, has an operating life of from 35 to 4 years.
`-The central processing unit 52 provides all the logic,
`control and encryption functions for the system as will
`be described later. The clock 54 is a high speed clock
`which serves to provide timing and sequencing signals
`for the card. The ROM 56 is a fixed, that is unchange-
`able, read only memory which contains user identifica-
`tion information, encryption “keys” and a portion of the
`operating system program for the CPU 52. The RAM
`58 is a random access memory which is arranged to
`accept and read out data during operations. In addition
`to storing intermediate data for the CPU’S logical oper-
`ations, the RAM 58 also stores transaction data, time/-
`date clock data and a portion of the operating program.
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`9
`As described earlier and as shown in FIG. 5 the cen—
`tral processing unit CPU is connected to the clock 54,
`the ROM 56, the RAM 58, the time/date clock 66, the
`communications buffer 64 and the interrupt control
`circuit 62. Thus RAM 58 receives information from the
`CPU 52 and provides information to t