Magnetic-type information card and method and apparatus for encoding and

Abstract

A flexible resilient magnetic particle type information card capable of correctly reading information thereon after such card has been bent double on itself and creased, said card comprising a flexible base, a layer of uniformly distributed magnetic particles thereon, and a flexible overlayer of nonmagnetic material, said over layer having a thickness of at least 2 mils, said layer of magnetic particles being magnetically encoded, the magnetic flux transitions of such encoding being at least 0.02 inch apart and said magnetic particle layer being enclosed between the base layer and over layer and spaced from the edges of the card. A method of storing information in binary data form comprising magnetically recording information on a magnetic strip that has an over layer of at least 2 mils by inducing transitions in the magnetization of the strip at a minimum spacing of 0.02 - 0.1 inch. A magnetic information card and card reader system comprising the magnetic information card described above in combination with a card reader having a slot accommodating the card in a tight but not binding fit and a structural portion of the reader having a hole forming a relief opposite the reading head of the reader.