Wireless Device with Invisible Indicia for Concealed Value
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cash and credit cards are vulnerable to theft, especially for homeless individuals and those in shared housing, as they must carry all valuables on their person, creating a safety risk due to their apparent value.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication device capable of contactless transactions, designed to resemble common household items, with a concealed near field communications transmitter system and invisible indicia, providing discreet and secure storage of funds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cash and credit cards are carried on person for convenience, then accessibility to funds is improved, but vulnerability to theft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes its visual appearance by displaying different colors or patterns on its surface. When not in use, it displays a neutral or non-valuable appearance. When active or being accessed, it displays indicators showing it contains value, thereby preventing theft while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary indicator system between the user and the value stored in the device. This indicator system communicates the presence or absence of value to potential thieves without requiring them to physically access or know about the device's contents, thus protecting the value while maintaining user accessibility.
2Loss of information
If visible indicators show device value, then user awareness of balance is improved, but theft risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device displays value information locally and selectively - showing balance information to the authorized user through specific interactions (such as tapping on a smartphone or using a designated interface) while maintaining a neutral external appearance that does not reveal value to bystanders or potential thieves.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicia on the device dynamically changes based on user interaction and device state. The value indicators are transient and only appear under specific conditions (such as when the device is being actively used or queried by authorized software), rather than being permanently displayed, thus preventing theft while informing users.
3Ease of operation
If device resembles valuable items, then ease of identification is improved, but attractiveness to thieves increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the device look valuable to attract users, the patent inverts the approach by making the device look ordinary or non-valuable externally, while providing authorized users with specific methods (such as mobile app integration or unique interaction patterns) to identify and access the device's true value, thus reducing theft risk while maintaining usability.
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 device reduces theft by concealing its value, allowing users to carry accessible funds securely and discreetly, while enabling contactless transactions and providing a means to locate the device if lost.
Implementation Method 1
The device has an outer chassis including an interior cavity that is sized and dimensioned to retain the near field communications transmitter system
Implementation Method 2
the indicia reflects a wavelength of light in the infrared spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device has a near field communications transmitter system. The device has an outer chassis that can be sized, dimensioned and decorated to resemble common household items that lack any apparent value. The wireless communication device can also include an indicia that is invisible to an unaided human eye.