Abstract:
A data carrier for noncontacting control of persons with nontransferable entitlement to utilize a service is integrated into a bracelet ( 1 ) so as to be useless after the bracelet ( 1 ) is opened.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a data carrier for noncontacting control of persons with nontransferable entitlement to utilize a service. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Compared to data carriers which must be inserted into a control device, noncontacting data carriers interacting with a write-read unit in the radio wave range over a relatively large data transmission distance. Noncontacting data carriers have the advantage of being used hands-free while being fastened to the clothing in the form of a card for example or integrated into a wrist watch. They are therefore preferably used for example with the admission control devices of ski lifts and cable cars generally having a person singling device such as a turnstile which is actuated by the write-read unit or unblocked for a person when the write-read unit receives corresponding data from the data carrier. 
     In order to prevent nontransferable data carriers from being passed on to other persons, one can provide them with a photo of the user. However, elaborate photos economically only tend to be worthwhile for expensive data carriers with a longer period of validity, for example weekly ski passes in a winter sport area. 
     Data carriers for lower-value services, e.g. day ski passes, are thus still improperly passed on to other persons. This results in considerable damage for lift and cable car operators. 
     DE 84 28 610 U1 discloses a bracelet for persons under supervision, such as patients in mental institutions, which can only be opened with a special tool. That is, the data carrier is not destroyed when the bracelet is removed. The bracelet has an integrated magnetic stripe which triggers a signal when the patient passes an electronic barrier at the exit of the institution. 
     WO 88/09541 A discloses a bracelet with a memory chip and an antenna connected therewith to be used for example for persons who have been sentenced to house arrest. Connected to the memory chip is a photodetector which is driven by a light source via an optical fiber in the bracelet. When the bracelet is opened by pulling one end out of the housing, the light supply to the photodetector is interrupted and the chip thereby deprogrammed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a relatively simply constructed noncontacting data carrier with nontransferable personal entitlement, for example for a short duration, for utilizing one or more services, e.g. the passenger transportation facilities of a ski area, which cannot be improperly passed on to other persons. 
     The above advantage is obtained according to the invention by integrating the noncontacting data carrier into a bracelet such that said data carrier is permanently useless, i.e. destroyed, when the bracelet is opened. The data carrier, which interacts with the write-read unit of the admission control device in the RF range (10 4 -3.10 9  Hz), becomes inoperative so that the person singling device remains unactuated or blocked. This reliably prevents the nontransferable data carrier from being improperly passed on to other persons. 
     The data carrier can be rendered useless in different ways. For example, the antenna and/or the microchip can be rendered useless, or the circuit board if there is one connecting the antenna with the microchip. The microchip must be rendered useless in particular if a microchip with an integrated antenna is used. 
     The antenna must be adjusted exactly to a certain operating frequency. Accordingly, the antenna geometry must not vary. According to the invention, the antenna is therefore preferably disposed in a rigid part of the bracelet, in particular in a part of the bracelet closure. 
     For the same reasons, the antenna is connected with the chip by a line as short as possible, for example via a circuit board. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be explained in more detail below by way of example with reference to the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the two parts of the closure of a bracelet with a broken-away upper side of a closing part according to a first embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 shows a section along line II—II in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the two parts of a closure of a bracelet according to another embodiment, likewise with a broken-away upper side of one closing part; and 
     FIG. 4 shows a section through yet another embodiment of the closure. 
     FIG. 5 is a diagramatic and schematic depiction of how a backup feature of the data carrier of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a partly shown bracelet  1  has two closing parts  2 ,  3 . One part  2  of the closure is formed by flat housing  4 , and other part  3  by a tongue. 
     While bracelet  1  extends away from one end of housing  4 , the housing has at its other end slot  5  into which tongue  3  is inserted when bracelet  1  is closed. 
     Housing  4  has a cavity  11  for receiving inserted tongue  3 , and a microchip  6  bonded to circuit board  7  to which antenna coil  8  is connected at the same time. Chip  6  is disposed in recess  21  of circuit board  7 . Antenna coil  8  can extend along the periphery of circuit board  7 . Collectively, microchip  6  and antenna coil  8  are constructed to broadcast signals. 
     Circuit board  7  has depressions  9  which are engaged by barblike projections  10  formed on tongue  3  when tongue  3  has been inserted into housing  4 . Instead, projections can be provided on circuit board  7  and depressions in tongue  3 , or depressions in circuit board  7  and tongue  3  which are engaged by accordingly disposed projections in a direction opposite the inserting direction of tongue  3 . 
     When tongue  3  is pulled out of housing  4  to open bracelet  1 , this physically damages the circuit board  7 , the antenna  8  and/or the chip  6 , to render the data carrier permanently inoperative. In other words, microchip  6  and antenna  8  are no longer able to broadcast signals. 
     The embodiment according to FIG. 3 differs from that according to FIGS. 1 and 2 substantially only in that a conductor loop  12  (shown by dashed lines) is integrated into bracelet  1  and extends along the bracelet  1  from one part  2  to the other part of the closure, being connected to chip  6  via circuit board  7 . 
     Conductor loop  12  is connected e.g. via an output of chip  6  with the processor thereof. When conductor loop  12  is severed, chip  6  and thus the data carrier become inoperative. 
     In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the data carrier is thus also protected from bracelet  1  being improperly severed outside closure  2 ,  3  and passed on to another person, and bracelet  1  possibly joined together at the severed place, e.g. with adhesive tape. 
     In order to fit bracelet  1  to the circumference of the particular person&#39;s wrist so that it cannot be slipped off the hand, it can further have a bracelet circumference fitting device which cannot be opened or only by force, for example an expansion mandrel, a rivet or in the manner of a cable tie. 
     Preferably, said bracelet circumference fitting device is designed so as to be opened only by rendering the data carrier permanently useless, i.e. destroying it. 
     For example, housing  4  and circuit board  7  can be provided with bore  14 , and tongue  3  and/or the corresponding end of bracelet  1  with openings  15  disposed one behind the other, as shown by dashed lines in FIG.  1 . By inserting tongue  3  or the end of bracelet  1  through slot  5  and optionally inserting it through a corresponding slot at the other end of the housing one makes opening  15 , which corresponds to the particular wrist circumference, congruent with bore  14  in board  7  or housing  4 , and by introducing a rivet  25  (FIG. 5) one undetachably connects housing  4  and board  7  with tongue  3  or the end of bracelet  1 . 
     The rivet  25  can be designed to be electroconductive, thereby closing a contact  26  (FIG. 5) necessary for the functioning of the data carrier, for example forming an interruption of antenna  8  or for example a contact between conductor loop  12  and an output  27  of chip  6 , as explained in connection with FIG.  3 . 
     Instead one can e.g. use a rivet comprising two undetachably interconnectable parts which are inserted into housing  4  from one and the other side, thereby mutually locking undetachably. Also, it is possible for example to provide housing  4  with a corresponding bore only on one side into which a button is introduced to lock undetachably with receiving means connected with board  7 . 
     According to the variant of the bracelet circumference fitting device shown in FIG. 4, one end of bracelet  1  is provided like a cable tie with sawtooth profile  16  which cooperates with at least one projection locking into sawtooth profile  16 , for example expansion mandrel  17 . Mandrel  17  is disposed on the side of circuit board  7  facing sawtooth profile  16  and spring-loaded toward sawtooth profile  16 . Expansion mandrel  17  can be provided for example on board  18  which is connected e.g. by shape mating with circuit board  7 . Instead of with circuit board  7 , mandrel  17  or other projection can be connected with antenna  8 , chip  6  and/or conductive path  12 . Should tongue  3  be pulled out of housing  4 , extension mandrel  17  is pivoted so as to cause the mandrel to damage the antenna  8 , chip  6  and/or conductive path  12 . 
     In order to render the data carrier permanently useless upon forcible opening of the bracelet, the bracelet can also have for example a rated breaking point in the area of conductive path  12 . 
     Bracelet  1  with the inventive data carrier can thus be opened and removed by the person wearing bracelet  1 , for example a skier, himself. However, upon removal of bracelet  1  the inventive data carrier becomes permanently useless.