Filing Information

Inventor(s)	James S. Bianco · David J. Horan ·
Assignee(s)	Control Module Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	John H. Crozier ·
Primary Examiner	Cross; E. Rollins ·
Assistant Examiner	Erick Solis ·
Application Number	US7848242
Filing date	03/09/1992
Issue date	12/20/1994
Predicted expiration date	03/09/2012
U.S. Classifications	235/492  · 235/381  ·
International Classifications	G06F 708  ·
Kind Code	A
International Classifications	235380;381;382;492 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

In one preferred embodiment, a memory device for insertion and retention in a hole defined in a planar identification card having upper and lower surfaces, the memory device comprising: electronic circuitry disposed in a cylindrical housing having upper and lower surfaces; the housing being held substantially within the hole after being snapped thereinto; and the housing having a total height substantially the same as the thickness of the card. In a further aspect of the invention, electronic circuitry in the housing is accessible by temporary attachment to an electronic terminal, the electronic circuitry being powered by a charged capacitor, the capacitor being adapted to be charged by the terminal with a charge sufficient to power the electronic circuitry for only a selected period of time. The capacitor may be charged over a communication line to the memory device. The memory may be disabled if a use limitation stored therein is exceeded.

Independent Claims | See all claims (16)

1. 1. A memory device for insertion and retention in a hole defined in a planar identification card having upper and lower surfaces, said memory device comprising:(a) electronic circuitry disposed in a cylindrical housing having upper and lower surfaces, said housing having outwardly facing flanges formed around the outer peripheries of said upper and lower surfaces, forming therebetween an annular concave channel having a root portion, said flanges having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said hole and said root portion of said concave channel having diameter slightly less than said diameter of said hole;(b) said housing being held substantially within said hole after being snapped thereinto by the temporary elastic deformation of the periphery of said hole by said housing as said housing is inserted in said hole; and(c) said housing having a total height substantially the same as the thickness of said card.
2. 4. A memory device for attachment to identification means, said memory device comprising: electronic circuitry therein accessible by temporary attachment to an electronic terminal, said electronic circuitry being powered by a charged capacitor, said capacitor being adapted to be charged by said terminal with a charge sufficient to power said electronic circuitry for only a selected period of time, said capacitor being charged over a data communication line to said memory device when said memory device is temporarily attached to said terminal.
3. 9. A memory device for attachment to identification means, said memory device having stored therein data as to limitations of use of said identification means, electronic circuitry therein accessible by temporary attachment to an electronic terminal with a single connection over which data is communicated, said electronic circuitry including fusible means, and said electronic terminal being adapted to provide an electrical charge to said fusible means over said single connection to open said fusible means and disable said memory device when said electronic terminal determines that said limitations of use have been exceeded.
4. 13. A method of restricting use of identification means, comprising the steps of:(a) providing electronic readable memory means on said identification means;(b) storing in said memory means limitations as to the use of said identification means;(c) temporarily attaching said identification means to a terminal such that data communication can take place between said memory means and said terminal over a single connection; and(d) disabling said memory means if said limitations have been exceeded, by providing a signal to said memory means over said single connection.