Secure card for E-commerce and identification
US6079621A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K19/073
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A secure card such as a credit card having a magnetic strip thereon is disclosed. The magnetic strip is coated with a thin amorphous layer having electrical characteristics and a processor. In a first state, the amorphous layer acts to interfere with reading of information from the magnetic strip. Identification of a user of the card as an authorized user thereof results in a second state in which the information stored in the magnetic strip is accessible. For example, biometric identification or the use of a PIN entered either directly into the card or through an input terminal cause the processor to switch power from the amorphous strip thereby removing the interference and unmasking the information on the magnetic strip.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.