Patents Examined by April Taylor
  • Patent number: 9619746
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic module (2) for a contactless smart card or dual contact and contactless smart card comprising at least a first antenna (3a), a second antenna (3b), a third antenna (3c) and a microelectronic chip (1), characterized in that: said microelectronic chip comprises a microprocessor, at least a first contact (P1), a second contact (P2), a third contact (P3), a fourth contact (P4), a first tuning capacitor (C1) connected between the first contact (P1) and the third contact (P3), a second capacitor (C2) connected between the second contact (P2) and the fourth contact (P4), said first and third contacts (P1, P3) being connected to the inputs/outputs of the microprocessor and being configured to transmit to said microprocessor a radio-frequency communication signal exchanged through the antennas, said first antenna (3a) is connected between the first contact (P1) and the third contact (P3) and is configured to be brought into resonance by said first capacitor (C1), said second ant
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: STARCHIP
    Inventor: Romain Pierre Palmade
  • Patent number: 9619687
    Abstract: An article identifier or code including at least one photo-responsive dye and a method of encoding or embedding information in same. A reader device for decoding or extracting information in an article identifier or code and verifying or authenticating that information and the associated extraction and authentication methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Adams, Richard Allen Vaughn, Joe M. Wright
  • Patent number: 9607258
    Abstract: An antenna module includes an antenna element including coil patterns and via conductors coupling together two adjacent two coil patterns. At least one of the coil patterns has a spiral shape, is wound three or more turns parallel or substantially parallel to an outer edge of a principal surface of a multilayer body, includes a first partial pattern including an outer end portion, a second partial pattern extending parallel or substantially parallel with the first partial pattern and being adjacent to the first partial pattern with a first gap provided therebetween, and a third partial pattern extending parallel or substantially parallel with the second partial pattern and being adjacent to the second partial pattern with a second gap provided therebetween, the second gap being smaller than the first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Murayama, Yuya Dokai, Tsuyoshi Mukai, Kazuaki Higashibata, Masato Nomura, Noboru Kato
  • Patent number: 9595033
    Abstract: A method is provided of transmitting information with a communication protocol to a mobile device. A card reader is provided with a read head that has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card, an output jack and device electronics that includes a microcontroller. The read head is used to read data on a magnetic stripe of a card. A raw magnetic signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. A synchronous Manchester encoded stream is produced that makes a greater number of 0 crossings. A Manchester encoded stream output jack signal is delivered to the mobile device through the output jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Kartik Lamba, Amish Babu, Michael Shyh-yen Ho, Adam David Peter Rothschild, Gerald Thomas Ryle, Jack Dorsey, James M. McKelvey
  • Patent number: 9582697
    Abstract: A reader operable to read a mark on a substrate, the reader comprising a power source, operable to deliver a variable drive current or voltage, a light source operable to illuminate said mark with a sequence of illumination light pulses of different wavelength spectra, an intensity of said illumination light pulses varying according to the delivered drive current or voltage, a light sensor operable to measure an intensity of light received from said mark and to deliver a corresponding light intensity signal, and a control unit operable to control said power source and light sensor to control timings of said illumination light pulses according to a switching pattern and timings to acquire said light intensity signal for synchronizing acquisition of said light intensity signal with said sequence of illumination light pulses, said control unit being further operable to adjust a duty cycle of said switching pattern so as to maintain heat generation associated to each illumination light pulse below a given thresho
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Aldric Molina, Nicola Duca
  • Patent number: 9582795
    Abstract: A method of transmitting encrypted information to a mobile device and a payment service uses a card reader. The card reader has device electronics that include a microcontroller with logic resources with code and an output jack. A raw magnetic head signal is received from a reading of the card in the slot. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. The logic resources and the code create both an encryption and signed signal. An encrypted and signed output jack message is delivered to the mobile device through the output jack based on the contents of the signal, with at least a portion of the output jack signal being encrypted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Dorsey, Nathan P. McCauley, Justin Phillip Cummins, Diego Monica, Oliver Samuel Curran Quigley, James M. McKelvey
  • Patent number: 9576159
    Abstract: Approaches provide for a mobile point-of-sale system configured to facilitate the transfer of funds between entities (e.g., customers and merchants). A card reader can include two different types of slots configured for conducting a financial transaction between entities. A first slot can allow for a magnetic stripe element of a card to be swiped. A second slot can include contact elements which allow the card to be “dipped in”. In this way, the device can receive a swipe and/or a “dipping” of a card into a respective slot for conducting a financial transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Templeton, Michael C. Lamfalusi, Jeremy Wade, James McKelvey, Jesse Dorogusker
  • Patent number: 9569652
    Abstract: A digital-imaging based system reads graphical indicia, including code symbols, on objects such as, but not limited to, code symbol menus by the user pointing his or her finger at the particular code symbol on the code symbol menu to be read, while digital images of the code symbol menu and the pointing finger are automatically captured, buffered and processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Philip Kearney
  • Patent number: 9519814
    Abstract: A portable data terminal that includes a housing and an environmentally responsive device for collecting data about the environment surrounding the housing. The portable data terminal also includes an encoded information reader unit with one or more data collection hardware devices, which can capture data encoded in decodable indicia, e.g., bar codes. In one embodiment, the portable data terminal is configured to operate in a mode that processes the decodable indicia, and the environmental data so as to correlate the information decoded in the decodable indicia with the environmental data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Henry Cudzilo
  • Patent number: 9507971
    Abstract: Methods and systems for barcode integration in packaging design and printing are described. The method includes receiving a request for a For Position Only (FPO) image file which is a placeholder for a final barcode. The method includes accessing barcode data, wherein the barcode data contains information usable to produce the final barcode, generating the FPO image file including an FPO image and including metadata containing the barcode data, and sending the FPO image file including the metadata to a second computer device. A final barcode can be generated from the metadata and by accessing at least one printing parameter of a prepress system, and the final barcode can be used to replace the FPO image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Barcode Graphics Inc.
    Inventor: John Herzig
  • Patent number: 9507989
    Abstract: A method of decoding a barcode includes determining number of barcode candidates in the image captured and processing the image captured in accordance with the number of barcode candidates found. If the number of barcode candidates is one, the image captured is processed to decode the only one barcode candidate in the image captured. If the number of barcode candidates is larger than one, the image captured is processed to find a barcode candidate that overlays with an aiming location between a first location and a second location on a scan line and to decode the barcode candidate that is found that overlays with the aiming location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dayou Wang, Daniel F Brown
  • Patent number: 9495675
    Abstract: A small card reader has a read head with a slot and positioned in a housing. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe from a card that is slid in the slot and produces an output jack signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver the output jack signal to the mobile device. The read head positioned to accommodate rocking of a card while being swept in the slot while producing a successful read of the magnetic stripe of the card. The rocking is in an amount of 1 to 10 degrees of rotation of a bottom surface of the card away from a bottom surface of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Elliot John Patrick Sather, Amish Babu, Gregory Staples, Jack Dorsey, James M. McKelvey
  • Patent number: 9495676
    Abstract: A method of transmitting information to a mobile device includes providing a read head with a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card, a power supply coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. The wake-up electronics are powered by a microphone bias of a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Kartik Lamba, Amish Babu, Adam David Peter Rothschild, Michael Shyh-yen Ho, Gerald Thomas Ryle, Jack Dorsey, James M. McKelvey
  • Patent number: 9489655
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for verifying that items have been correctly retrieved to fulfill orders or shipments. A plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags may be energized with an electromagnetic field emitted from an RFID reader, wherein individual ones of the plurality of RFID tags comprise a unique identifier. A signal strength reader may detect a change in a signal strength corresponding to the RFID tag. The RFID reader may then identify the unique identifier of the RFID tag in response to detecting the change in the signal strength corresponding to the RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ned Lecky
  • Patent number: 9483677
    Abstract: A variety of forms of machine-readable symbols are disclosed, as well as methods and systems of constructing machine-readable symbols, methods and systems of acquiring machine-readable symbols, and methods and systems of decoding machine-readable symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: HID GLOBAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe
  • Patent number: 9477852
    Abstract: A method implemented on an augmented reality (AR) electronic device includes receiving a request to activate a transaction card account on a transaction card. The transaction card account is activated on the transaction card. A virtual representation of account information corresponding to the transaction card account is displayed on the AR electronic device. The exterior of the transaction card is free of account identifying information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: John Ross Neale, William R. Breed, Jasvir K. Singh, Geraldine M. Carolan, Kristine Collings, Kourtney Eidam
  • Patent number: 9454866
    Abstract: A method of conducting a financial transaction includes a first party's financial account information being entered once, e.g, with a single initial entry to the payment service. For future uses of the first party's financial account to transfer funds using the payment service to a second party, the first party's financial account information need not be entered again with the payment service. The second party's personal identifying information is entered. Funds are transferred from the first party's financial account to an account of the second party with the use of the payment service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Dorsey, William Henderson, Brian Grassadonia, Jim McKelvey
  • Patent number: 9443399
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a document holding cassettes that can be used in an automated banking machine that includes circuitry that is wirelessly powered through inductive coupling. The cassette can wirelessly communicate with the automated banking machine through induction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth Turocy, William Beskitt, Mike Ryan, Eric Klein, David A. Peters, H. Thomas Graef
  • Patent number: 9443237
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a transaction engine running on a mobile device. In response to a financial transaction between a buyer and a seller, the transaction uses the mobile device to accept information selected including but not limited to information from financial transaction or information pertaining to financial transaction card used by the buyer in the transaction. At least a portion of this information is communicated with a third party financial institution or payment network to authorize the transaction. Encrypted information is sent to the third party payment system authorizing a financial transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. McKelvey, Xuancong Wen, Jack Dorsey
  • Patent number: 9436964
    Abstract: A method and system for verifying cardholder compliance or non-compliance with a mandated services requirement by a third party using a payment card payment card network coupled to a database are provided. The method includes receiving sets of predetermined parameters that each define a transaction for one or more mandated services, receiving, by the computer device, transaction data for a plurality of transactions, determining, by the computer device, transactions for one or more mandated services from the plurality of received transactions using the received sets of parameters, summarizing the transaction data from the determined transactions, and transmitting the summarized transaction data to the third party, the summarized transaction data demonstrating cardholder compliance or noncompliance with the mandated services requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenny Unser, Jean-Pierre Gerard, Kent Olof Niklas Berntsson