Automated token system

Abstract

An automated token system (particularly for toll roads) utilizing a token which may be permanently magnetized and demagnetized. The token is made of permanent magnetic materials such as barium ferrite and a plastic material, is circular and has a uniform thickness. The system includes a mechanism for magnetically and visually writing on the token at an entrance to a controlled area or road and a reader for reading information at the exit. The mechanism for writing includes an electromagnetic conditioner which erases old information and an electromagnetic head or heads which place data bits of information on the token. An input from a computer and/or shift register and/or switches and appropriate amplifiers signal the electromagnetic heads. The reader for reading includes a scanning head which takes the information from the token and transmits it to a shift register or computer. The reader for reading also includes gating to determine which side of the token is being read and governs which side of the shift register the information is fed into. A computer or binary-to-decimal converters are utilized in conjunction with a display means to give readable information. The process involved in this invention includes erasing any magnetic information on a token, putting a uniform magnetic field through this token, impressing information in the form of magnetic data bits on the token through its entire thickness so that it may be read from either side and handling the token. The process further includes retrieving the information which includes a magnetic-sensitive token scanner, deciding which side of the token has been read, feeding the information into a shift register or computer so that the information is in the desired order, retrieving the information, converting it to a decimal form and displaying it in a readable manner.