U.S. patent number 3,829,661 [Application Number 05/272,739] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-13 for access control system.
Invention is credited to Everett A. Johnson, Daniel Silverman.
United States Patent |
3,829,661 |
Silverman , et al. |
August 13, 1974 |
ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM
Abstract
This invention describes a system for access control wherein a
control card is presented to a control means. If the control card
is authenticated, then access is gained. If it is not
authenticated, access is not gained, the control card is retained,
and an alarm may be sounded. The control card contains at least two
means; (1) machine readable indicia identifying the card, and (2) a
random pattern of micro spots, which pattern is derived (by direct
copying -- such as by focussed laser beam) from one of a plurality
of different patterns, retained in a bank of such micro patterns,
each such micro pattern identified by, and selectable in accordance
with, different unique indicia, identical with the machine readable
indicia on said cards. In use the control card is introduced into
the control means and the indicia are read. Master micro pattern
corresponding to the indicia is selected from the bank. The card
micro pattern and master micro pattern are compared. If the
comparison okay, the card is authenticated.
Inventors: |
Silverman; Daniel (Tulsa,
OK), Johnson; Everett A. (Park Ridge, IL) |
Family
ID: |
26755203 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/272,739 |
Filed: |
July 18, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
74066 |
Sep 21, 1970 |
3677465 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/382; 235/487;
283/73; 355/41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
19/14 (20130101); G07F 7/12 (20130101); G07F
7/08 (20130101); G07F 7/086 (20130101); G06Q
20/347 (20130101); G07C 9/20 (20200101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
7/12 (20060101); G06K 19/14 (20060101); G07F
7/08 (20060101); G07C 9/00 (20060101); G06k
001/16 (); G06k 019/02 (); G06b 007/04 (); G06k
007/10 (); G09f 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;235/61.7B,61.11E,61.11D,61.12R,61.11R ;355/41,42 ;331/494.5A
;194/4 ;40/2.2 ;250/219DC |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cook; Daryl W.
Assistant Examiner: Kilgore; Robert M.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation in part of our copending
application Ser. No. 74,066; filed Sept. 21, 1970; entitled: Method
and Apparatus for Authentication of Information Records now U.S.
Pat. No. 3,677,465. Related copending applications are Ser. No.
262,290, filed by one of us June 13, 1972, entitled Method and
Apparatus for Preparing Master and Facsimile Digital Spot Records,
and our joint application Ser. No. 272,686, filed July 17, 1972,
and entitled Method and Apparatus for Authentication of Information
Records.
Claims
We claim:
1. In an access control system for selectively controlling access
on presentation and authentication of a control card, said control
card comprising:
1. card means,
2. an unique coded micro pattern on said card means,
3. machine readable indicia carried by said card means, said
indicia corresponding to the unique coded micro pattern on said
card means, the improvement in apparatus for authentication of said
control card comprising:
1. means to read said indicia on said control card,
2. a bank of unique authenticating master coded micro patterns and
of indicia, each of said indicia being associated with one of said
coded micro patterns,
3. means responsive to said means to read said indicia to select
the authenticating master coded micro pattern from said bank
corresponding to said indicia and to the coded micro pattern on
said control card; and
4. means responsive to said means to select to compare said coded
micro pattern on said control card with the authenticating master
coded micro pattern selected from said bank.
2. The system as in claim 1 including operative means responsive to
said comparison means.
3. The system as in claim 2 in which said operative means comprises
means to authorize access when the compared patterns
correspond.
4. The system as in claim 1 in which the coded micropattern means
includes redundant coded patterns.
5. The system as in claim 1 in which the master micropattern is in
a first metal layer of first melting point and first thickness, and
said card micropattern is in a second metal layer of second melting
point and second thickness.
6. The system as in claim 1 in which said first melting point is
higher than said second melting point.
7. The system as in claim 5 in which said first thickness is
greater than said second thickness.
8. The system as in claim 1 in which said card micropattern is
transferred from said master micropattern by focussed laser means
of intensity level L2.
9. The system as in claim 1 including means responsive to said
means to read said indicia to compare said indicia with a
preselected list of indicia.
10. The system as in claim 8 including means to scan across said
card micropattern with a focussed laser beam of intensity level L3,
where L3 is less than L2.
11. The system as in claim 1 including means to compare the sizes
of the microperforations in said card micropattern with the sizes
of the microperforations in said master pattern.
12. The system as in claim 1 in which said microperforations are
burned in said master pattern in a metal layer of first melting
point and a first thickness by scanning with a focussed laser beam
of intensity level LO through microperforations in a supermaster
pattern in a third metal layer of third melting point and third
thickness, where LO is higher than L2.
13. In an access control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein
the unique coded micropatterns on said control card and in said
bank comprise microperforations produced by a focused laser beam,
and the patterns on a card and selected from the bank by
corresponding indicia are compared by means of a focused laser
beam.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the field of control cards for gaining access.
More particularly it is for gaining access to a restricted area, or
access to restricted material or papers, or access to money,
tickets, checks and the like.
In the prior art there have been many types of control cards
described. All of these attempt, in one way or another, to provide
some crucial test, which can be performed on the card so as to
determine whether it is authentic, or a copy or forgery. All of the
physical properties of the prior art cards were capable of being
copied, and therefore the tests of validity or authentication were
of little value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principle object of this invention to provide an access
control system which is selective and which is extremely difficult
or impossible to duplicate.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an access
control system which is self protective in that it has plural means
to detect forgeries.
These and other objects are realized and the limitations of the
prior art devices are overcome in this invention, in which the
authentication is obtained by precise comparison of a random spot
pattern with an identical one, from which the first one was
derived. The spots in the pattern are microspots, too small to be
seen with the naked eye, and recorded in a suitable sheet material
by copying through microperforations in a master micro pattern, by
means of a focussed laser beam.
Because of the extremely small size of the spots, the pattern can
not be copied by a stop-position-print system.
Furthermore the sheet material must have a thickness and melting
point such that it will withstand, without melting, the passage of
a focussed laser beam of a selected intensity.
The pattern can not be copied photographically, since the
photographic material will not withstand the laser beam.
The pattern can not be copied photographically and etched, since
the microperforations will not be of the correct size.
They can only be copied from the mater pattern by passage of a
focussed laser beam over the microperforations in the master
pattern card.
In the use of the control card, it is inserted into control
unit.
It is then advanced to a first station where the indicia are read.
At this point the indicia are compared to a prior list of indicia
which are indicated as unacceptable. If the indicia are okay it
then goes to the second station.
At the Second Station the card is scanned by a focussed laser beam
of a specified intensity level. This level is just below the level
which will burn the pattern sheet of the valid cards. If the
pattern sheet of the card is not burned, as evidenced by a
photoelectric system for detecting major perforations in the
pattern sheet, the card then goes to the third station.
At the Third Station the micro pattern on the card is compared to a
selected master pattern which corresponds to, and has been selected
from a bank of master patterns in accordance with the indicia read
from the card.
Two tests are made at this station. The first is to compare the
pattern on the card with the master pattern. If this checks, then
the second test is made.
In the second test, the sizes of the microperforations in the
pattern sheet are compared to the size of the microperforations in
the master card. This can be done by slowly shifting the position
of one pattern with respect to the other, at a selected constant
speed, and measuring the time that light passes through any
selected spot, as plurality of spots.
If the card passes this test, then it is considered authentic and
the appropriate operative mechanism is activated to provide the
access requested. Also the card is returned to the owner who first
inserted into the control apparatus.
Not all of these tests may be required. The principal test, is of
course, the comparison of the patterns in station 3 test (a), the
master pattern having been selected on the basis of indicia read in
the First Station. Also, other tests may be provided, including,
for example, comparing a photograph on the card with the person
presenting the card, or comparing finger prints, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects of this invention and a better
understanding of the principles and details of the invention will
be evident from the following description taken in conjunction with
the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a type of access card useful in this system.
FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the access system of
this invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates the test for perforation size.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, numeral 10 indicates generally the
card input station, numeral 12 indicates generally the First
Station, numeral 14 indicates computer apparatus to check the
indicia against a prepared list of indicia, numeral 16 indicates
the Second Station, numeral 18 the Third Station, 20 indicates the
pattern comparison means, 22 the operative means responsive to the
validation means, 24 the perforation size measurement means, 26 the
access control card, 28 the machine readable indicia on the control
card, and 30 the pattern of microperforations by means of which the
control card will be validated or authenticated.
This application is a continuation - in - part of our copending
application, Ser. No. 74,066, filed Sept. 21, 1970, entitled;
Method and Apparatus for Authentication of Information Records, now
U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,465, which is made part of this application, by
reference, and will be depended on for much of the detail of the
apparatus to be described.
Also, there will only be schematic diagrams given of the physical
apparatus, such as the case, the card handling means, and the
operative means which actually accomplishes the access. This
invention does not involve any specific means for housing the
electronic and photo apparatus, or the card handling apparatus, and
since there are a number of such devices discribed in the patent
literature, such as for example U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,571,957, issued
Mar. 23, 1971, No. 3,620,590 issued Nov. 16, 1971, No. 3,629,834,
issued Dec. 21, 1971, and others, it is not deemed necessary to
describe the details of construction or operation, since those are
well known to one skilled in the art.
FIG. 1 indicates a card, token, sheet, web or other medium for
carrying the specific information required in this invention. For
convience, we will call this means a "card," although, as is well
known it can be in any one of many different forms.
There are two principal areas of the access control card, or access
card, or control card, or simply card 40, that carry important
information. The first space 28 carries indicia which are machine
readable. These can be perforations, or embossed characters
representing specific information, such as account number or name
and address of the card owner, or other information. The group of
characters 100, and spaces 102 that make up the indicia represent
specific information. The words indicia, or characters, will
represent the physical markings on the card, or the specific
information they uniquely represent. The indicia on each card
issued are all different, and associated with each indicia there is
a different unique pattern, which is marked on the card in a second
area 30.
The pattern 30 is made up of a random distribution of a plurality
of spots, which are microperforations in a thin opaque metal layer.
As described in our copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,465 the material
98 which carries the pattern 30 can be a thin evaporated layer of
metal or a transparent base material such as clear plastic.
For each card carrying its unique pattern 94 there is an identical
master pattern of microperforations in a metal layer. This master
pattern can be a self supporting metal sheet or film, or a thin
metal coating on a transparent plastic base, etc. The
microperforations are preferably prepared in the master pattern by
means of a pulsed focussed beam of laser radiation of a selected
level L1 of intensity.
The patterns 94 in the sheets 98 are precise copies of the master
patterns made by superimposing the master pattern material on top
of the card material 98, and passing a continuous beam of focussed
laser energy through the microperforations in the master pattern,
to the underlying metal layer of the sheet 98, and burning
microperforations in the same pattern as in the master pattern.
As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,465, it is necessary that the
metal layer of the master pattern be of higher melting point,
and/or thicker, than the metal layer of the sheet 98 of the card.
Thus, when the intensity of the continuous focussed beam is set at
a value of intensity level L2 where L2 is less than L1, this beam
will not affect the metal of the master pattern, but will burn
holes in the sheet 98.
There is also a third intensity level L3, where L3 is less than L2,
which when scanned across the material 98 will not affect the metal
layer of the material 98.
On the record card 40 there may be other areas 95, 96, 97, etc.
Which may include the signature of the card owner, his picture, or
his fingerprint, or other identifying information, which can be
further used to authenticate the card and the bearer of the card.
Such additional information is well known in the art and forms no
part of this invention, and will not be described further.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the card of FIG. 1 is inserted into an
opening 32 in a casing 34 that houses a plurality of test or
measuring stations. As mentioned above, the particular housing, or
means of transport of the card, etc., form no part of this
invention and reference is made to the prior art for such
details.
The card entered at 32 is transported through passage 36 by means
38, well known in the art, to the First Station 12. Here the card
40 is presented with means 42, well known in the art, for reading
the markings 28, and determining the information corresponding to
the indicia. This information is sent to a computer means 46, which
when it receives the indicia read from the card compares the
indicia with a preselected list, bank or tape of indicia, to see if
that specific information is listed in the bank or on the tape.
This list could be, for example, all indicia on cards lost, stolen,
or otherwise declared invalid. If the specific indicia 93 is found
on that list, the card is rejected and falls into a receptacle
inside the housing (not shown). If desired, an appropriate notice
is given to the person who inserted the card, that it is invalid
and is being confiscated. At the same time the indicia read by 42
also goes by line 48 to the Third Station, for a purpose to be
described later.
If the indicia read by 42 is not on the list at 46, then the card
40 progresses to the Second Station 16. Here two tests are
performed. The first test is to check the nature of the material of
the sheet 98. A laser 52 passes light through an intensity control
means 54, via beam 56 to a mirror 58 and through an optical means
60 to focus the beam 62 onto the top surface of the material 98.
The intensity level is adjusted to the level L3, which is just
below the level L2, where it will burn the metal layer. With
thelevel at L3, the beam is scanned across the pattern 30, in
accordance with arrows 61.
If the material of the sheet 98 is not the proper material, for
example, if it is a photographic emulsion, then it will not support
the beam of intensity level L3, and parts or all of the opaque
material 98 will be burned away. When this happens, as the beam is
scanned in accordance with the arrows 61, openings in the opaque
layer will be formed.
The second test is then applied. This involves passing light from a
source 64 through lens 66, through the pattern area 30 and to a
photoelectric sensor 70. If no light passes, it indicates that the
material 98 is satisfactory. If light passes, it indicates that the
material 98 is a substitute material, and therefore the card is
invalid, and it is confiscated.
If the card 40 passes the tests at Station 2, it then goes to
Station 3. Here there is a bank of master patterns. These may be on
separate cards or sheets, or may conveniently be on a reel or strip
of material 76, with separate frames or areas, each having its
unique pattern of microperforations in the metal layer of the
strip. Corresponding to each frame, is an index, which corresponds
to the indicia of that pattern. Thus, when the First Station reads
the indicia, this information goes to control means 74. This
control means operates motors 77, 82, which drive reels 78, 81
respectively to position the proper frame, and pattern in an
aperture between the rollers 83, 84. Thus the correct master
pattern corresponding to the indicia on the card 40 is now
displayed in the aperture 87. The control means 74 can be
conventional, similar to the many examples of strip films or tapes
carrying micropatterns and digital indicia, with means to transport
the strip until a desired index is reached, etc.
The card 40 is now sent to the Third Station and positioned so that
the pattern 94 is precisely lined up in the aperture 87 so that the
two patterns, that is, the master pattern and the card pattern 30,
are aligned. Optical means 86, cooperating with sensor means 88
determine if the patterns are identical. If they are not identical,
the card 40 is discarded.
The materials of the master pattern and the card pattern are
specialized, in that the master material (metal) is of high melting
temperature and/or thicker, while the card material (metal) is
lower melting temperature and/or thinner. The patterns of
microperforations are copied and burned into the card metal by
focussed laser beam from the master material. The microperforations
in both materials are of exceedingly small size, so that the
patterns must be precisely positioned with respect to each other.
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. 3,677,465 for details on the systems
for comparing the two micropatterns. Normal digital reading systems
are not practicable since the spots are too small, and the spacings
are random. Misalignment of one microperforation by a distance of
the order of the diameter, (which may be as small as 0.0005 in.)
will cause the comparison means 74 to reject the card.
The purpose of the use of thin metal layers and microperforations,
and the transfer of patterns described, is to prevent forged copies
from being used. For example, the simplest way to copy the pattern
on a card is to make a photographic copy, and that copy (except for
changes in dimension) might be used in the comparator 74. However,
such a photographic copy will not stand the test of the laser of
intensity L3. The only material that wil satisfy that test is a
metal of the same melting point and thickness as the material 98
used in the card. And the pattern cannot be transferred from the
card to the new material by photography. Nor can it be transferred
by laser, since the laser of intensity level L2 which would burn
microperforations in the new material would also destroy the card
material.
However, the pattern could be etched in a suitable metal by
photoetching. However, the size of the perforations would not
duplicate those of the master card, and this is the reason for the
next test.
In FIG. 2 the card 40 is shown connected to motor 104 by means 106.
When the motor 104 is started the card will pass at a constant
velocity past the master pattern on the strip. In FIG. 3 we have
shown (enlarged) the relationship between a microperforation 110 on
the master pattern as the corresponding microperforation 112 in the
card passes to the right, in the direction of arrow 120. When the
two are tangent at 114, light is just beginning to pass through the
two microperforations. Consider for simplicity, that the opening
110 is moving to the left. When the leading edge of 110 gets to
position 115, the two microperforations are completely
superimposed. Then when it gets to 116, there is no more light
passing. Thus the two patterns must be relatively traversed by a
distance from 114 to 116, equal to the sum of their diameters.
Now, consider that the card pattern has at least one perforation
122 that is oversize. Then the traverse must be over a distance
from 114 to 118, (again the sum of their diameters) which will be
larger than the distance 114 to 116. There are well known
techniques for measuring small distances, such as measuring time of
tranverse, etc., this would be done in means 92. Thus it will not
be necessary to provide more details since the specific means forms
no part of this invention.
If the pattern comparison is okay and the test of size is okay,
then the card will have passed all tests, and the card is validated
and the operative means 22 is energized to provide the requested
access. No detail is provided for the mechanism 22, which can be as
simple as a relay to open a locked gate, or as complicated as a
device for dispensing currency, providing access to a computer or
to a cable TV circuit, credit purchase, etc., since these specific
means form no part of this invention and are well know in the
art.
While we have indicated means to check the validation of the
pattern, and have indicated other means to test the authenticity of
the card itself, it will be clear that the apparatus can be
operated without carrying out all of the tests.
It will be clear also, that while we call the patterns or the strip
76 the "master patterns," these can be copies of other master
patterns in materials of still greater thickness and/or higher
melting point.
In the drawing, FIG. 2 illustrates the system as a plurality of
successive stations or operations on the control card. The area of
the card devoted to indicia is separate from the area devoted to
micropattern, and it is clear that the means to read and the means
to compare may be situated within the outer boundary of the card.
Thus the card need only be positioned in a single location.
Our disclosed invention includes an access control system for
selectively controlling access on presentation and authentication
of a control card. This card comprises card means, machine readable
indicia carried thereby, and unique coded micropattern means
thereon. The card authentication means comprises means to read the
indicia, and a bank of authenticating master coded micropatterns.
Selecting means, responsive to the means to read the indicia,
selects the master coded micropattern from the bank corresponding
to the coded micropattern on the card means; and means to compare
the coded micropatterns on said card means with the master
authentication micropattern selected from the bank in response to
the read indicia.
The system may further include operative means responsive to said
comparison means, said operative means including means to authorize
access when the compared patterns correspond. A preferred form
includes coded micropattern means comprising an array of
microperforations; and the coded micropattern means may include
redundant coded patterns.
The system as described above in which said card micropattern is
transferred from said master micropattern by focussed laser means
of intensity level L2; and including means to scan across said card
micropattern with a focussed laser beam of intensity level L3,
where L3 is less than L2.
The microperforations may be burned in said master pattern in a
metal layer of first melting point and first thickness by scanning
with a focussed laser beam of intensity level LO through
microperforations in a supermaster pattern in a third metal layer
of third melting point and third thickness, where LO is higher than
L2.
Also the system includes means, responsive to said means to read
said indicia, to compare said indicia with a preselected list of
indicia; and the master micropattern is in a first metal layer of
first melting point and first thickness, and said card micropattern
is in a second metal layer of second melting point and second
thickness, and said first melting point may be higher than said
second melting point and said first thickness may be greater than
said second thickness.
The system includes means to compare the sizes of the
microperforations in said card micropattern with the sizes of the
microperforations in the master pattern.
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of
particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the
details of construction of the arrangement of components. It is
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific
embodiments set forth herein by way of exemplifying the invention,
but the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the
attached claim or claims, including the full range and equivalency
to which each element or step thereof is entitled.
* * * * *