Registers – Records
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-01
2001-09-18
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
C902S025000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290137
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to financial transaction cards, including credit cards, debit cards, ATM (Automated Teller Machine) cards, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a financial transaction card which is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet can be detected by sensing devices in automated card processing equipment, such as embossing/encoding machines employed during card manufacturing, ATMs employed during card use, and other devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For some time, financial institutions have been interested in offering financial transaction cards having areas that are transparent or translucent to human viewing. Prior art efforts to achieve such design effects have produced the following examples:
Cards incorporating transparent or translucent magnifying lenses.
Cards incorporating transparent or translucent holograms,
Cards incorporating transparent or translucent lenticular patterns.
Cards incorporating other transparent or translucent optical effects.
Cards that are partially transparent or translucent, but also have a high level of opacity provided by the presence of coating(s) containing fillers or pigmentation.
The perceived advantage of a transparent or translucent financial transaction card is that the card will be relatively unique in the marketplace and impart status to the card user as compared to other users who have only opaque cards. A bank or other entity offering a transparent or translucent card can potentially attract users who will preferentially select such a card over competitive opaque cards, and thereby provide income to the institution as a result of card usage.
A significant problem with transparent or translucent cards is that the cards also need to function properly when processed during manufacture in card embossing/encoding equipment, when deployed by users in ATMs, or when used in other automated card processing equipment. These machines utilize light transmission-based sensing devices that are not able to detect the presence of transparent or translucent cards. This is due to the fact that the sensing devices are not able to see the cards as opaque (light blocking). The light emitted from the light sources associated with such sensing devices passes through the cards rather than being blocked from reaching the sensing devices. To the best of applicant's knowledge, none of the transparent or translucent cards produced to date can be processed through embossing/encoding equipment, deployed in ATMs, or used in other automated card processing equipment.
Accordingly, there is a need for a transparent or translucent financial transaction card that overcomes the forgoing problem. What is required is financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing in one or more areas of the card, yet which is detectable by automated card processing equipment, of any type.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A solution to the foregoing problem and an advance in the art is provided by the present invention in which a financial transaction card has one or more areas that are at least minimally transparent or translucent to human viewing, yet the card is detectable by sensing devices in automated card processing equipment.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the card includes a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge. The material sheet is formed to include the aforementioned one or more areas that are at least minimally transparent or translucent relative to human-visible light. A filter is associated with at least one of these areas and provides sufficient opacity to light detectable by the sensors in automated card processing equipment to render the card detectable by such equipment.
The automated card processing equipment may include ATMs having sensor/detector pairs operating in a light wavelength range of about 750-1200 nm. In that case, the filter should provide opacity relative to such wavelengths of not substantially less than about 1.3, as required by such equipment. The automated card processing equipment may also include a card embossing/encoding machine having sensor/detector pairs operating in a light wavelength range of about 900-1100 nm. In that case, the filter should provide opacity relative to such wavelengths of not substantially less than about 0.42, as required by such equipment. If the card is to be compatible with both ATMs and card embossing/encoding machines, the filter should comply with the worst-case ATM opacity and wavelength range requirements.
The filter referred to herein includes any suitable medium or device that can provide the opacity required for automated card detection. By way of example, the filter can be made from a variety of light filtering materials, including materials that are light absorbing, light reflecting, light deflecting, or the like, relative to the applicable wavelength range. The filter can also be made from various combinations of such materials. Light absorbing materials that can be used for the filter include colorless light absorbers, light absorbing dyes, and other materials. Light reflecting materials that can be used for the filter include silver compositions, silver-titanium oxide compositions, carbon compositions, and other materials. Light deflecting materials that can be used for the filter include light deflecting films.
In specific filter constructions, a light filtering material can be incorporated in a liquid coating and applied to the material sheet using screen printing or other application methods. Relatedly, the light filtering material can be similarly applied to a solid film that is then secured to the material sheet using lamination techniques, adhesive bonding, or other application methods. In alternative filter constructions, a light filtering material can be incorporated into the material sheet prior to or during extrusion or calendaring thereof (while it is a soft resin), or is sublimated therein by heat diffusion processing, such that the light filtering material is disbursed through all or a portion of the material sheet. Relatedly, the light filtering material can be similarly introduced into a solid film that is then secured to the material sheet. In alternative filter constructions, a light filtering material can be deposited on the material sheet using a suitable deposition technique. Relatedly, the light filtering material can be similarly deposited on a solid film that is then secured to the material sheet. Still other filter constructions will no doubt be apparent to persons skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein.
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Specimen of credit card offered for sale at least as early as Feb., 1974.
Duft Walter W.
Fureman Jared J.
Gastel Joseph P.
Lee Michael G.
Perfect Plastic Printing Corporation
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