A method and device for electric reading an information tra eger

摘要

Apparatus and method for reading an information carrying member, such as an embossed credit card or the like, wherein information is defined on one side of the member by surface level transitions from a reference level. An electric potential is established on the one side, as by an electric surface charge. An electrically conductive probe scans a path over the one side such that a characteristic current is caused to flow in the probe as it traverses past a surface level transition. The characteristic current is binary in that it exhibits first and second binary levels as the probe respectively traverses past surface level transitions in a first direction and a second direction relative to the probe. The binary levels of the characteristic current are utilized for providing an output as to the information represented by the surface level transitions.