Patent · US Expired

Secure card and sensing system

US4656473A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
4References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 4, 1984
Grant dateApr 7, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 4, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F7/12
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An identification card is disclosed as for supporting commercial or other significant transactions involving a designated subject. The card incorporates a machine-readable record and is produced with an individual birefringent characteristic to modulate a light beam for card identification. In one embodiment, the card incorporates apparent stress waves to modulate an orientation-frequency characteristic (e.g. polarization angle) of a light beam. The machine-readable record on the card indicates the characteristic birefringence for confirming the card to be authentic. Methods are disclosed for producing and testing the cards. A system is disclosed for sensing card characteristics by modulated light including polarized light techniques to record and verify the cards with allowance for changes, as by card aging.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.