Patent ID: 7988036

Claim:
A portable encoded memory card and card writer/reader system comprising: a portable encoded memory card including: a substrate defining a slot-like hollow area in the card having an opening; and a storage member having at least one layer of magnetic recording material for storing information, wherein said storage member and the slot-like hollow area are cooperatively formed such that the storage member is transportable relative to the substrate through said opening between a first position in which the storage member is fully enclosed within the slot-like hollow area, and a second position in which at least a portion of said storage member is removed from the hollow area and fully exposed outside of said slot-like hollow area to facilitate processing of stored information by a data processing station when the member is exposed; and said data processing station including a writer/reader having a transducer for at least one of writing encoding signals in said storage member and reading encoded signals from said storage member during relative movement of said storage member relative to said data processing station to enable data flow between said storage member and said transducer, wherein the data processing station further comprises a removal and reinsertion mechanism adapted to cooperate with said substrate to at least partially remove said storage member from said hollow area to facilitate processing of stored information by said data processing station, and to reinsert said storage member into said hollow area for embedment of said storage member within said substrate.