Patent ID: 6290137
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A financial transaction card that is transparent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detectorpairs each having a source and a detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted from said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;said material sheet being transparent to human viewing; anda near Infrared light filter covering one of said upper or lower surfaces of said material sheet, said filter comprising filtering means for producing sufficient card opacity relative to one or more near Infrared light wavelengths to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs by blocking near Infrared light emitted by said source from reaching said detector, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to remain transparent to visible light such that definable images can be viewed through said card.