Automatic vending equipment and credit purchase systems
William E. Cuttill
The credit card is precoded in binary code representing several digits and has a locator indicator to insure that the card is correctly positioned when inserted in the console or read-out station. The card coding includes the method of arranging high dielectric constant spots or discs and low dielectric constant spots or discs in several groupings related to a plurality of identification digits. The circuitry for reading the encoded data on the credit card includes a capacitive voltage divider to reduce the effect of parasitic capacitance. Additionally, a relatively high voltage level sensing circuit is used to reduce the possibility of error due to oxide film, dirt, high resistance film or the like on the encoded spots.
1ClaimsFirst of 6
- 1
A circuit for sensing the time constant of separate indicia of relatively high and relatively low dielectric constant mounted in a card in a predetermined pattern and providing an output signal, said sensing circuit comprising: a pulse source; a diode placed in series with said indicia and said pulse source during reading; a capacitor of substantially greater capacitance value than said low dielectric constant but of substantially smaller capacitance than said high dielectric constant indicia…
2Description
A number of automatic vending equipment systems are known to the prior art which are enabled in their operation through coins and bills. A great number of systems, mechanical, optical and electrical, have been developed for identifying the currency, verifying its authenticity, and then permitting operation of the vending equipment. Further, a few additional systems have taken the further step…