International Business Machines Corporation

Paul E Stuckert

Francis P Carrubba

Willard G Bouricius

Air jets are used to entrain ambient air for forced air cooling of electronic components. In the preferred embodiment, individual air jets are associated with each circuit card to entrain and induce flow of a much greater volume of ambient air over each card, thereby cooling it. Modularization and 'hot' servicing are facilitated because each circuit card may have its own cooling system, all of which may be powered by a central source of compressed air. The compressed air source may be remotely located resulting in lower noise and more compactness.

Air jet powered cooling system for electronic assemblies

An electronic funds transfer system wherein it is required that a bank be reasonably guaranteed that the two parties to a retail transaction (i.e., a person and a retailer) agree on the transaction before the funds transfer takes place. The message including the transaction information is encrypted by the person using a unique encryption key (K.sub.P) stored in a highly secure storage location in his own personal portable transaction device (XATR) and his data storage and transfer card (DSTC) and this first encrypted message is sent to the retailer who doubly encrypts the initially received encrypted message from P under his own unique encryption key (K.sub.R) and this doubly encrypted message is sent to the bank. The person also sends the transaction message to the retailer in clear, and the retailer first verifies the message and then, utilizing his own encryption key (K.sub.R), encrypts same and similarly sends it to the bank. The bank utilizing unique retailer and customer identification data sent with the message, accesses a 'key' file and first extracts the retailer's key (K.sub.R) and decrypts a first portion of the message, extracts the person's key (K.sub.P) and decrypts a second portion of the received message. The bank then compares a predetermined portion of the transaction message originating with the person with a similar portion received from the retailer and if identical, the appropriate funds transfer is made. If the messages do not agree, a predetermined default procedure is initiated.

Method and apparatus for secure message transmission for use in

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 K.sub.A) is handled in a highly secure manner. The holder of the CARD causes same to be placed in a data coupling mode with the U/I Terminal. At this point, the person enters asserted key (K.sub.A) via a keyboard associated with said system. A random word is generated by at least one random word generator located in said CARD and this random word is encrypted utilizing the asserted key K.sub.A entered by the holder at the keyboard and also encrypted under a true key K.sub.T stored in said CARD. The random word encrypted under the asserted key K.sub.A is stored in said U/I Terminal and the random word encrypted under the true key K.sub.T is stored in the CARD. The U/I Terminal then causes the encrypted word stored in the CARD to be transferred to the U/I Terminal and the two encrypted words are compared for identity. If the comparison is true, the holder of the card has entered the correct asserted key K.sub.A into the system, and his identity is presumed to be true. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the keyboard is actually located in the U/I Terminal, sacrificing some security for the person's asserted key K.sub.A. According to a further embodiment of the system, the CARD is inserted into a personal portable transaction terminal (XATR) which is then inserted into the U/I terminal. Said XATR in the possession of the holder of the CARD contains a keyboard for entering the individual's asserted key K.sub.A. Additional means are provided when the two encrypted random words are to be transferred between the U/I Terminal and the CARD for comparison so that the transfer occurs simulataneously in bit serial mode and in the opposite order of bit significance, and whereby any attempt to subvert the data flow path within the XATR will be impossible.

Method and apparatus for achieving secure password verification

A personal portable terminal for financial transactions adapted for use with one or more data storage and transfer cards (DSTCs) and other external devices, such as point of sale terminals, is disclosed. The transaction device includes keyboard means for entering transaction data and control information, means for temporarily storing transaction data, and logic means for performing arithmetic, logical, and control operations. Said logic means further includes means for storing predetermined programs which are activated by instructions entered via said keyboard. Also included are display means for selectively displaying transaction data and means for transferring selected data from the transaction device into suitable storage means located in said other external device and into at least one DSTC. Further means are disclosed whereby account balance data in one DSTC may be credited while account balance data in another DSTC is debited as a result of the transaction.

Personal portable terminal for financial transactions

A Minimum Delay Module Assembly, having unrestricted accessibility for servicing, that provides substantially constant electrical and thermal environments for all portions of the assembly regardless of configuration. The assembly comprises a plurality of vertical page modules in which each page module is vertically hinged to the adjacent page module. Electrical interconnections are provided between the page modules by means of cable assemblies which enter each page module in the edge thereof adjacent said hinges. Individual self contained cooling means are provided for each page module so that the flow of air is up through the bottom of each page module and out through the top thereof. Resilient conduit means may be utilized to supply a pressurized coolant to each page module regardless of the configuration of the module assembly. The complete vertically hinged module assembly is supported on a base assembly, including a foraminous base member sufficiently large to support said hinged module assembly when in the closed position and further including at least one foraminous foldable shelf which folds out of the way when the assembly is in the closed position and folds to a position coplanar with said base member when in the 'open for service' position. The base assembly further includes a chamber or space under the base member which provides for an unrestricted flow of air up through said base member.

Minimum delay module assembly

Exposure images may be synthesized on a radiation responsive surface by causing effective relative motion between a mask and the surface. The mask contains at least two distinct exposure areas, each having a plurality of apertures arranged in different patterns from which at least two different images can be simultaneously synthesized. Radiation is directed through the plurality of apertures in a mask during a given period to expose a plurality of similarly shaped areas on a surface. During a second period electrons are similarly directed through the same mask which has been effectively displaced and a second plurality of contiguous areas are exposed. During third and fourth succeeding periods, third and fourth pluralities of contiguous areas are exposed. Thus, the image in each exposure area is synthesized from a plurality of contiguous four step exposure images which makes it possible to eliminate the 'stencil problem' and permit exposure of areas whose length is very much greater than their width.

Mask-exposure scheme

A linear mercury-wetted switch is housed within a hollow, elongated, sealed, cylindrical tube having a pair of mercury-wetted, spaced contacts which can be bridged by a conforming but spaced electromagnetically driven contact element in the form of a slider or armature which slides longitudinally inside the tube on the mercury on the surfaces of the contacts. The slider has a conductive surface for closing the electrical circuit through mercury films carried on and between the surfaces of the slider and the contacts. The slider does not go to the end of the cylinder to contact the end wall. The contacts and the armature are of conforming contour of appropriate dimensions in cross-section so that they slide one within the other. The usual armature slips over the exterior of the contacts. The envelope can also be an electrode connected to the armature by a layer of mercury and the armature can ride upon the support provided by the mercury riding on the interior of the sealed tube. Fluid damping and magnetic positioning prevent end wall contact.

Cylindrical, linear, stopless mercury switch and relay

The broad band directional signal generator disclosed generates signals on a transmission line, which, controllably propagate in one direction on the line to the exclusion of the other direction, or in both directions. Such signal generation may occur at one or a multiplicity of points located at arbitrary positions along the line. The signal generator includes a conventional .pi., 0, T, or H attenuator network and operates in conjunction with other circuitry. In the disclosed embodiments, symmetrical attenuators are used with either single ended or push-pull amplifiers connected to the attenuator nodes. The invention, however, is equally applicable to .pi., 0, T, or H attenuator networks which are not symmetrical. The specific embodiments shown employing active devices and direct coupling have wide frequency responses which are flat and flat to DC. Where operation down to DC is not required, AC or transformer coupling may be used. The circuits disclosed have applications in analog and digital communication paths where two-way information flow exists and where a multiplicity of ports may share the same path.

Broad band directional signal generator

A broad band directional coupler including a conventional attenuator is disclosed. The coupler permits detection of signals propagating simultaneously in opposite directions on a single-signal path or transmission line. Detection may occur at one or a multiplicity of ports located at arbitrary positions along the line. In the specific embodiments disclosed, the attenuators employed are symmetrical, .pi., O, T, and H attenuator networks. The invention, however, is equally applicable to .pi., O, T or H attenuator networks which are not symmetrical. The specific embodiments shown employing active devices have wide frequency responses which are flat and flat to DC. Where operation down to DC is not required and where a broad band directional coupler comprised entirely of passive elements is desired, a version of the coupler circuit employing transformers is disclosed. The circuits described have application in analog and digital communication paths where two-way information flow exists and where a multiplicity of ports may share the same path.

Growing community of inventors

Katonah, NY, United States of America

Paul E Stuckert