Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the authenticity and/or for identifying the respective spatial structure of a test specimen. The test specimen is placed on a surface and is exposed to ultrasonic waves traversing a body contiguous with the surface and the waves reflected and/or backscattered by the test specimen reproduce a different structure for different test specimens which are evaluated.

Abstract: Method of producing a data processing care by thermo-moulding a mixture of pulverulent polycarbonate with lamp-black at a proportion of 8 ppm of lamp-black with respect to the basic thermo-hardenable material. The inner face of the wall of the mould which gives rise to the front face of the card has a checkered pattern, the distance between the recesses, respectively the protrusions, of the checkered pattern being a multiple of the wave length of the laser ray used for applying on the card the contrasted signs. A laser tube piloted by a piloting unit including a program containing the indications which are to appear on the card, is used for directing a laser radiation onto the card. The infrared rays are absorbed by the lamp-black contained in the mass of the material of the card which is heated, thereby producing a change of color resulting in appearance of signs such as a signature and a photograph on the front face of the card.

Abstract: The method of characterizing and identifying data supports such as value or identity cards in view of protection against falsification, imitation or duplication, comprises measurement of physical characterizing features of the data support and the measured characterizing values are converted into characterizing data recorded on the data support. The data supports are provided, at least in a zone of a reading track, with a surface pattern the lines, areas or dots of which differ from one data support to another by their widths and/or densities and/or respective associations. The surface pattern is read at selected positions of the reading track over limited paths or in punctual manner, and at least some selected reading results are used as said characterizing values.

Abstract: The present invention specifies a method for the verification of authenticity in a data carrier (1) by measuring permeability to an electromagnetic radiation in at least one region of the data carrier (1). Permeability is scanned over a regional area of the data carrier by means of a radiation detector (7). The output signal of the detector (7) is coded and co-inscribed as additional information in a store of the data carrier with the information data during the initial inscribing of these data. In the reading and authenticity check scanning operation this information is compared with a corresponding additional information stored during the original data inscription.

Abstract: A method of securing data recorded on a data support and a device for performing the method are disclosed. In addition to the basic information contained in the data recorded on the data support, for generating an additional security code, selected individual properties of the recorded data are used which differ from each other as regards their physical and/or chemical properties. In one embodiment, individual characters imprinted on the data support are used which differ from each other with respect to contrast or half-tone density in a manner unperceivable to human sight, but easily detectable by a detector or an automatic reading apparatus. Authenticity of the data support or data is determined by a security code contained in the specific physical or chemical properties of the selected individual characters. The method prevents from duplication or falsifying of data supports.

Abstract: The method of identifying data supports such as credit cards, check cards, identity cards, etc. includes detecting inherent individual features of the cards to derive a random information therefrom. The random information is stored for later comparison with detected information to determine authenticity of the data support. In order to derive the random information in perfectly reproducible manner irrespective of changes of the dimensions of the data support, the individual characterizing features of the data supports are detected within a linear detection zone lying centrally between two opposed lateral edges of the data support. The invention provides an apparatus for perfectly aligning the data supports so that their central lines will always be coincident with the reading path of a detection system in which the data supports are processed.

Abstract: The present invention specifies a method for the verification of authenticity in a data carrier (1) by measuring permeability to an electromagnetic radiation in at least one region of the data carrier (1). Permeability is scanned over a regional area of the data carrier by means of a radiation detector (7) first in a calibration operation, in which the radiation intensity is adjusted, then in a reading operation at another position of the data carrier. The output signal of the detector (7) is coded and co-inscribed as additional information in a store of the data carrier with the information data during the initial inscribing of these data. In the reading and authenticity check scanning operation this information is compared with a corresponding additional information stored during the original data inscription.

Abstract: A method of safeguarding against the re-transfer of uniquely recorded information on a data carrier (1) includes the recording of the information data and in addition thereto a simultaneously recording of an additional information on the data carrier (1) which reflects co-ordination characteristics relative to the data carrier. In order to carry out the method an apparatus is provided for recording and/or reading a re-transfer protected information on a data carrier (1) with a recording and/or reading device (4). The apparatus comprises a device (13) for detecting measurable properties (3) which are present at singular points of the data carrier (1) and for producing an additional information characterizing such properties.

Abstract: For producing and evaluating secret identification code marks on data carriers of the kind adapted to be scanned by machines specific parameters are recorded in encoded form. In order to reach a high degree of security in respect of fraud or counterfeit without requiring a complicated and expensive production process the identifying parameter is processed in accordance with an unequivocally reversible mathematical rule. The individual parameter may contain an encoded calculation rule. The processing of an identification number contained in the said parameter takes place in accordance with that rule.

Abstract: A credit card (1) with a storage medium such as, for example, a magnetic strip (4) is provided. The credit card (1) is made multi-part and consists of a card body (2) and a strip (3) which can be applied thereto. The strip (3) can be replaced, as required, by new strips, making it possible to use the actual card body (2) several times. As a result, the costs of using the credit card are reduced substantially.

Abstract: In a data transmission system comprising at least one data bank, data may be accessed through a subscriber station. First data should only be accessed by a first authorized range of subscribers, while other data may only be accessed by a second authorized range of subscribers. To this end, the subscriber station includes a reading device enabling data access only if data read from an authorization card to be supplied fulfill predetermined test conditions.

Abstract: In a copying apparatus the original and an information characterizing the user is recorded in addition to the copy to be generated for registering the use of the copying apparatus. In order to prevent the original copy to be replaced by a non-recorded other original after recording the original copy comparator means are provided for comparing the recorded original with the original at the respective copying process and interrupting the copying process in case of differences.

Abstract: For the characteristic marking of a data-carrier, for example a cheque- or personal authorization card, its specific physical properties, e.g. optical properties, are scanned in a first data-carrier region, converted into characterizing data and recorded as an authenticity record on the data-carrier itself or in a processing station.For subsequent authentication or authenticity identification of the data-carrier, its physical properties are scanned in a region thereof which comprises the region scanned for the characteristic marking process but is larger than this. The two sets of data derived from the said two scanned data-carrier regions are then mutually compared to trace points of coincidence by application of correlation-and signature-analysis-methods.

Abstract: A method of safeguarding against the re-transfer of uniquely recorded information on a data carrier (1) which includes the recording of the information data and in addition thereto simultaneously recording of additional information on the data carrier (1) which reflects co-ordination characteristics relative to the data carrier. In order to carry out the method an apparatus is provided for recording and/or reading a re-transfer protected information on a data carrier (1) with recording and/or reading device (4). The apparatus comprises a device (13) for detecting measurable properties (3) which are present at singular points of the data carrier (1) and for producing additional information characterizing such properties.

Abstract: A method of producing a controlled number of authorization members used for providing access to limited access machines or restricted areas, the method including generating a hierarchy of members having different levels of authorization prior to producing the authorization member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in which the action of a data processing device can be initiated by entering information which has been recorded on a data carrier. In order to be able to prevent misuse of such data carriers, particularly in the case of the latter being lost, by third parties, the data processing facility can be set in such a way that the initiation by the data carrier is blocked. A data processing device (1) comprises a blocking circuit (14) by means of which the initiation by a predetermined data carrier is prevented. In particular, the data carrier transport can be controlled in such a way that a predetermined data carrier is not output again after having been input into a read-write device.

Abstract: For registering the use of copying machines, the copying operation is initially enabled by introduction of user representative data. To provide evidence with respect to the identity of a person who made one or more copies of an original a separate record of the original is generated, and an information identifying the user is included on the record. The original may only be withdrawn from the copying machine after this record has been generated.

Abstract: A method is created in which parameters such as, for example, the prices can be set by the operator. So that the parameter is changed accurately in a predetermined manner, the command for setting the parameter is input into a computer of the device by means of a data carrier which cannot be altered by the operator with respect to the command. The operator has no further personal influence on the parameter setting and this makes intentional or unintentional errors impossible. The device comprises a computer (2) and a read-write device (3) for reading data written on a data carrier (4) into the computer (2). The command for parameter setting is applied to a magnetic track (5) of the data carrier and is read out by means of a read device and fed to the computer where a parameter setting takes place.

Abstract: The device for feeding card-type data supports in a processing equipment includes a guiding path having at least one lateral abutment edge for aligning the data support during travelling from an introduction slot towards a processing position within the equipment. The data support being correctly aligned during its travel along the guiding path, it may be processed during such travel by reading and/or writing data thereon. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the automatic feeding and alignment of the data support is achieved by a frictional guiding wheel secured on a driving shaft which in turn may be pivoted about an axis normal to the plane of the data support card.

Abstract: The method of aligning generally flat data supports of flexible sheet material such as credit cards, identity cards, check cards and similar documents includes the steps of engaging at least one edge of the data support and exerting an alignment force thereon; prior to exerting the alignment force on the data support edge, an arching force is exerted substantially normally on at least one main surface of the data support to deform the latter into a generally arched state. Preferably, the data support is deformed into a shape having a generally waved cross-section in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the arching force. At the end of the alignment operation, the data support is restored into its flat shape by a pressure plate urging the data support against a flat supporting face of a receiving member.