Metallic Coin with Matte Coating for Machine-Readable Stored Value
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Solution Overview
Problem
Metallic coins are less desirable as stored value tokens due to their low and fixed value, making them impractical for use in transactions, as they are difficult to distinguish from other items and cannot effectively incorporate machine-readable identifiers like barcodes or magnetic stripes due to their reflective surface.
Innovation Solution
A metallic stored value token is created with a matte, non-reflective finish on a portion of its surface, coated with a transparent layer, and inked with machine-readable indicia, allowing for easier scanning while maintaining the coin's distinctive reflective finish, and optionally includes an RFID tag or wireless transceiver for interoperability with point-of-sale devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a metallic coin is used as a stored value token, then the coin is easily distinguishable by touch and has a distinctive form factor, but the reflective surface prevents effective incorporation of machine-readable identifiers like barcodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a matte, non-reflective coating to specific localized areas of the coin surface where machine-readable identifiers (barcodes, magnetic stripes, RFID tags) need to be placed. This creates a contrast between the reflective metallic surface and the matte coated areas, allowing scanners to easily detect and read the identifiers without interference from metallic reflections, while preserving the coin's overall metallic appearance and tactile distinguishability.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If traditional gift cards are used as stored value tokens, then the cards can incorporate machine-readable identifiers, but the cards are difficult to distinguish from one another or from credit cards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines traditional metallic coin material with applied matte coatings in a composite structure. The base metallic coin provides tactile distinguishability through its weight, temperature, and texture, while the matte coating layers (such as polymer, paint, or anodized layers) provide non-reflective surfaces for machine-readable identifiers. This composite approach merges the advantages of both card-based identifiers and coin-based distinguishability.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a matte finish is applied to the entire coin surface, then machine-readable identifiers become easily readable, but the coin loses its distinctive reflective metal finish
Solution Approach 1:
The matte non-reflective coating is applied selectively only to the specific regions of the coin where machine-readable identifiers are located, such as the face or edge areas where barcodes or magnetic stripes are placed. The rest of the coin surface maintains its original reflective metallic finish, preserving the coin's aesthetic appeal and metallic character while providing sufficient matte areas for scanner detection and reading of identifiers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables metallic coins to be easily recognizable and functional in transactions, overcoming the challenges of distinguishing and reading machine-readable data on metallic surfaces, enhancing their usability in point-of-sale environments.
Implementation Method 1
the reflective nature of the metal body... interference from reflected and refracted light bouncing off of the metallic structure
Implementation Method 2
interference from reflected and refracted light bouncing off of the metallic structure
Implementation Method 3
applying an adhesion-improving primer to at least the roughened portion... improves the adhesion of the ink to the metal
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for a metallic coin that may be scanned and implemented for stored value account transactions using traditional point-of-sale devices. The coin has two sides, a first surface portion of the second side having a less reflective matte finish relative to the first side and a second surface portion of the second side. A substantially transparent coat layer is upon the first surface portion of the second side, with an ink layer comprising machine readable indicia further thereupon. The machine readable indicia include a unique identifier with respect to the metallic coin. A hosted server is functionally linked to the traditional point-of-sale device via a communications network and configured upon receiving the identifier as scanned from the point-of-sale device to extract stored value information corresponding to an account associated with the identifier, and transmit said information to the point-of-sale device.