Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 4471216 | System and process for identification of persons requesting access to particular facilities The user has a credit card incorporating electronic devices and/or circuits. The facility which is to be protected has an electronic device and/or circuit analogous to that of the credit card. The devices of the credit card and of the facility contain in ... | 09/11/1984 |
| 4463971 | Identification card having an IC module An identification card or similar data carrier having an IC module for the processing of electrical signals, whereby the IC module along with its leads and contacts is arranged on a separate carrier element which is embedded in the card. An anchoring elem... | 08/07/1984 |
| 4460825 | Carrier element for an IC module A carrier element for an IC module (integrated circuit) comprising leads which are connected at one end with the corresponding terminals of the module and at the other end have a contact surface. The ends of the leads running into the contact surfaces ext... | 07/17/1984 |
| 4451903 | Method and device for encoding product and programming information in semiconductors A method and system for encoding key product information in semiconductors is disclosed. The invention is particularly useful in connection with byte-wide memories, but also finds application in a wide range of semiconductor devices. A plurality of read o... | 05/29/1984 |
| 4447716 | Information card Disclosed herein is an information card, which includes a metallic casing and at least one semiconductor chip seated in the metallic casing. A conductor strip, which extends from each of contacts of the semiconductor chip, is disposed in such a way that i... | 05/08/1984 |
| 4446475 | Means and method for disabling access to a memory An integrated circuit chip having a digital memory is provided wherein direct access to at least a portion of the memory is prevented. Contact pads having coupling lines to couple the contact pads to the memory bus are provided. A security code can be pro... | 05/01/1984 |
| 4443027 | Multiple company credit card system One or more miniaturized credit indicators are affixed to a wallet-size primary plate bearing the name, signature, picture and account number of an authorized user. Each of the indicators represent a different credit account. The indicators are locked int... | 04/17/1984 |
| 4436993 | Electronic key An improved electronic key for use in combination with an electrical receptacle adapted to receive the key wherein switch contacts on the key are designed for making electrical contact with corresponding receptacle contacts when the key is turned in the r... | 03/13/1984 |
| 4434361 | Transistor integrated circuit protected against the analysis, and a card comprising such a circuit A transistor integrated circuit particularly for use in transaction cards such as credit cards or payment cards comprises conductive film zones on the surface of the circuit having a shape and layout which makes it difficult or impossible to determine the... | 02/28/1984 |
| 4419747 | Method and device for providing process and test information in semiconductors A method and system for encoding key process and test information in semiconductors is disclosed. The invention is particularly useful in connection with byte-wide memories, but also finds application in a wide range of semiconductor devices. A plurality ... | 12/06/1983 |
| 4417138 | Credit card, process and marking appliance for manufacturing said credit card, and marking appliance for marking said credit card in order to effect deductions from a credit represented by the card This invention relates to metal-coated credit cards and to appliances for marking said credit cards in order to make deductions from the credit represented by the card. It is an object of the invention to provide such a card and marking appliance which ca... | 11/22/1983 |
| 4409471 | Information card Each semiconductor chip included in an information card according to this invention is enclosed in a metallic casing and roofed by a cover film. A conductor strip, extending from each of contacts of the semiconductor chip, is attached to the metallic casi... | 10/11/1983 |
| 4403138 | Heat-destructible magnetic memory element Magnetic memory element for transport ticket or credit card, comprising a support and at least one ferromagnetic layer containing at least one piece of information recorded therein and a layer of a non-magnetic diffuser in contact with the ferromagnetic l... | 09/06/1983 |
| 4380699 | Portable, identifying element constructed as a lamination of sheets A portable identifying element has the general shape of a laminated credit card, and comprises a front sheet (6), a central sheet (1) and a rear sheet (6'), all of plastic material. An active electronic circuit (3) is positioned within a cavity (2) of the... | 04/19/1983 |
| 4376936 | Search system for randomly classified objects The present invention concerns a system for the search for randomly classified objects such as documents which are provided with a classification code, and comprises a control device 1 which is to emit a signal corresponding to the code of the object bein... | 03/15/1983 |
| 4373158 | Device for altering encoded data A record card having a plurality of bits arranged in a predetermined pattern, where at least one of these bits is adapted to be permanently "debited" by a corresponding apparatus. Each "debit bit" has a constricted neck which is adapted to be burned out b... | 02/08/1983 |
| 4367402 | System for keeping account of predetermined homogeneous units Each card of a set of credit cards includes a memory having plural memory fields. The memory of each card in a set includes a first unalterable multi-bit field indicative of an identification of an external means with which the card can be used, as well a... | 01/04/1983 |
| 4361756 | Personal card comprising a safety switch A personal card having a carrier on which an integral solid-state memory is provided in which a bit combination which is intended for identification is stored. The memory is connected in series with a safety switch which can be switched on by a control de... | 11/30/1982 |
| 4360727 | Payment voucher The invention comes within the field of bank transactions, a payment voucher which includes a hollow body in which an integrated circuit is housed, said integrated circuit constituting a memory, wherein said hollow body includes an end which bears contact... | 11/23/1982 |
| 4352011 | Subscription card for a videotex receiver A subscription card for videotex receivers, comprising: (a) a support, (b) means for processing the information, comprising in particular a control unit governing an arithmetical and logical unit and a live memory, (c) an interface permitting exchanges between the ... | 09/28/1982 |
| 4350883 | Method of marking and of identifying objects marked by electrically conducting elements A method of marking and of identifying objects (1) which are non-conductors of electricity by inclusion of conducting masses and detection by passage through a high-frequency electromagnetic field and detection of the variation in the corresponding respon... | 09/21/1982 |
| 4303854 | Dietary aid for accumulating machine readable information This invention is directed to apparatus used in accumulating, in machine readable form, oral consumption information concerning an individual patient. The invention is preferably embodied in a book comprising a plurality of record members which are bound ... | 12/01/1981 |
| 4298793 | Portable element for receiving, storing, displaying and outputting digital data, and a reservation device for use in a reservation system A portable element shaped as a card, for receiving, storing, displaying and outputting data in numerical or alphanumerical characters, for temporarily communicating with a locally present reservation system and to exchange data therewith. The reservation ... | 11/03/1981 |
| 4295039 | Method and apparatus for achieving secure password verification A method and apparatus for identifying an individual holder (person) of an unalterable charge card-like device (CARD) at a utilization terminal (U/I Terminal) wherein a unique user entered key (asserted key KA) is handled in a highly secure man... | 10/13/1981 |
| 4256955 | System for keeping account of predetermined homogeneous units A credit card system includes a credit card containing a memory for storing coded information indicative of: an identification of the use for which the article is intended, an identification of units used to keep account of operations which are performed ... | 03/17/1981 |
| 4255652 | High speed electrically responsive indicia detecting apparatus and method Apparatus for detecting and providing a signal from detection indicia that is applied to a substrate such as a controlled document for the purpose of determining the character of the document, the substrate comprising individual substrate members or an el... | 03/10/1981 |
| 4230938 | Computer input/output device A combination electrosensitive reader-printer able to perform both functions by sensing the condition of a recording medium in the read mode and by altering the condition of the recording medium in the printing mode. The change of mode is accomplished man... | 10/28/1980 |
| 4222516 | Standardized information card A standardized access card is formed of a single or a pair of bonded sheets f material including a cavity within which is disposed an integrated circuit assembly for processing electrical signals arranged within the card. The thickness of the assembly is r... | 09/16/1980 |
| 4146781 | Data carrier, method and apparatus for placing data on the carrier, and device for reading data from the carrier A nonconductive data carrier has arrays of ring-shaped metallic lamina in each data location, on one surface thereof, for providing information to be inductively read. The information or data is placed on the carrier by removing a portion of predetermined... | 03/27/1979 |
| 4105156 | Identification system safeguarded against misuse An identification card with interior circuits, including memory means, for use in a credit or identification system, into which the user enters a "secret" number and then the input gate to that part of the memory means is destroyed for security purposes.... | 08/08/1978 |
| 4104515 | Consumable credit card A consumable credit card is provided which comprises a recording device that is adapted to receive progressively advancing recording up to a limit at which time the card is consumed and thereafter is discarded. The card is adapted to be inserted into a re... | 08/01/1978 |
| 4079237 | Card controlled beta backscatter thickness measuring instrument An improved beta backscatter instrument for the non-destructive measurement of the thickness of thin coatings on a substrate. Included therein is the utilization of a bank of memory stored data representative of isotope, substrate, coating material and th... | 03/14/1978 |
| 4046994 | Control card receiving and sensing assembly Control card receiving and sensing assembly including a fixed base plate, a generally U-shaped cover member mounted thereon and card entry defining means of a character such as to permit card insertion therebetween and removal therefrom only under conditi... | 09/06/1977 |
| 4044229 | Device for electroconductive connection and reading A device for electrical connection of marks produced by means of an electroconductive writing substance to a readout device, by applying said marks in electroconductive relationship with pairs of mutually isolated conductive paths on at least one isolatin... | 08/23/1977 |
| 4029945 | Card and card reader apparatus therefor A card comprises a plurality of code storing mediums arranged between two opaque, non-magnetic sheets and each having a constricting portion. The code storing mediums are looped and open-loop metallic pieces of conductive material. Such a card is inserted... | 06/14/1977 |
| 4020536 | Method of constructing credit cards for automatic vending equipment and credit purchase systems A special method of credit card construction is provided with the credit card precoded in binary code representing several digits and with a locator indicator to insure that the card is correctly positioned when inserted in the console or read-out station... | 05/03/1977 |
| 4020278 | Data carrier for optical read-out The present invention relates to data carriers intended for optical read out. The data carrier in accordance with the invention comprises: a first transparent material at the surface of which the information is recorded in the form of an embossed pattern;... | 04/26/1977 |
| 4017834 | Credit card construction for automatic vending equipment and credit purchase systems A special credit card arrangement and construction is employed with the credit card precoded in binary code representing several digits and with a locator indicator to insure that the card is correctly positioned when inserted in the console or readout st... | 04/12/1977 |
| 4007355 | Data-transfer system A system for transferring data between persons, for example in lieu of cash transactions, requires that each person to or from whom data is to be transferred carries a portable electronic device including a memory. Data transfer means in the form of data ... | 02/08/1977 |
| 4004133 | Credit card containing electronic circuit An article such as a plastic credit card contains concealed identifying information. The information is in the form of a series of binary information bits and it is stored in an electronic serial memory. The memory is on an integrated circuit chip imbedde... | 01/18/1977 |
