Patent · US Active

Magnetic data recording device

US7641124B2 · kind B2 · utility

245Cited by
16References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 2006
Grant dateJan 5, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B5/00808
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A Q-Chip MEMS magnetic device comprises a thin-film electronic circuit for implantation in the Track-2 area of a magnetic stripe on the back of a credit card. The Q-Chip MEMS magnetic device periodically self-generates new sub-sets of magnetic data that are to be read in combination with other magnetic data that is permanently recorded in the surrounding surface of the magnetic stripe. A collocated battery and microcontroller provide operating power and new data for magnetic bit updates. A swipe sensor triggers such updates by sensing electrical contact with a legacy card reader. Several thin-film coils of wire are wound end-to-end around a common, flat, ferrous core. These are driven by the microcontroller. In one instance, such core comprises “hard” magnetic material with a coercivity of 200-300 Oersteds. Magnetic data written from the corresponding adjacent coils will persist for later readings by a legacy card reader. In another instance, the core comprises “soft” magnetic material with a coercivity of about one Oersted. A media stripe of “hard” magnetic film material overlays respective coils to receive magnetic data transfers. Magnetic data written from the corresponding adja…

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