Signature capturing printer and data card terminal

A signature capturing transaction terminal for acquiring transaction data associated with a transaction involving a data card, comprising:

• means for automatically obtaining at least a portion of said transaction data directly from said data card;
• a stylus;
• a signature capturing window in which the card holder enters a signature with said stylus;
• digitizer means for providing coordinate position signals of said stylus with respect to said signature capturing window;
• contact signal means for providing a contact signal indicative of said stylus being in operative contact with said signature capturing window;
• stroke detecting means responsive to said contact signal for providing a stroke signal indicative of the starting coordinate and the final coordinate of each stroke of a signature, said stroke detecting means including means for providing a stroke started signal and means for providing a stroke completed signal;
• stroke counting means for providing a stroke count signal corresponding to the number of strokes in a signature, said stroke counting means includes means for determining a number N of strokes in a signature, a stroke being determined by an initial starting coordinate provided in response to said stroke started signal and a final coordinate provided in response to said stroke completed signal;
• signature signal output means for providing signature signals as an output, said signature signals comprising said stroke count signal and for each stroke of the N strokes in a signature, compressed output signals indicating the difference between consecutive first and second coordinate position signals, said first coordinate position signal provided at a first sample time from said digitizer means and a second coordinate position signal provided at a second sample time from said digitizer means;
• and
• means for storing said signature signals and said transaction data in association.

A signature capturing device for capturing a signature applied to a receipt, comprising:

• a stylus;
• a signature capturing window positioned to capture a signature applied with said stylus to said receipt;
• a digitizer for providing coordinate position signals of said stylus with respect to said signature capturing window;
• a contact signal circuit for providing a contact signal indicative of said stylus being in operative contact with said signature capturing window;
• a stroke detector responsive to said contact signal for providing a stroke signal indicative of the starting coordinate and the final coordinate of each stroke of a signature, said stroke detector including a stroke started signal indicator and a stroke completed signal indicator;
• a stroke counter for providing a stroke count signal corresponding to the number of strokes in a signature, said stroke counter being operative for determining a number N of strokes in a signature, a stroke being determined by an initial starting coordinate provided in response to said stroke started signal and a final coordinate provided in response to said stroke completed signal;
• and
• an output port for providing signature signals as an output from said signature capturing device, said signature signals comprising said stroke count signal and for each stroke of the N strokes in a signature, compressed output signals indicating the difference between consecutive first and second coordinate position signals, said first coordinate position signal provided at a first sample time from said digitizer and a second coordinate position signal provided at a second sample time from said digitizer.

A signature capturing transaction terminal for acquiring transaction data associated with a transaction that involves a data card, comprising:

• a card reader for automatically obtaining at least a portion of said transaction data from said data card;
• a stylus;
• a signature capturing window operative for defining an area in which a card holder enters a signature with said stylus;
• a digitizer for providing coordinate position signals corresponding to the position of said stylus with respect to said signature capturing window;
• a contact signal circuit for providing a contact signal indicative of said stylus being in operative contact with said signature capturing window;
• a stroke detector responsive to said contact signal for providing a stroke started signal, a stroke signal indicative of the starting coordinate and the final coordinate of each stroke of a signature, and a stroke completed signal;
• a stroke counter for providing a stroke count signal corresponding to the number of strokes in a signature, said stroke counter being operative for determining a number N of strokes in a signature, a stroke being determined by an initial starting coordinate provided in response to said stroke started signal and a final coordinate provided in response to said stroke completed signal;
• a signature signal output port for providing signature signals as an output, said signature signals comprising said stroke count signal and for each stroke of the N strokes in a signature, compressed output signals indicating the difference between consecutive first and second coordinate position signals, said first coordinate position signal provided at a first sample time from said digitizer and a second coordinate position signal provided at a second sample time from said digitizer;
• and
• a memory for storing said signature signals and said transaction data in association.

A method for capturing a signature at a signature capturing device including a stylus and a signature capturing window, comprising the steps of:

• providing a printed receipt in connection with said transaction, said printed receipt comprising characters corresponding to transaction data;
• placing the printed receipt over the signature capturing window;
• providing coordinate position signals corresponding to the movement of the stylus with respect to the signature capturing window;
• providing a stroke started signal, stroke signal indicative of the starting coordinate and the final coordinate of each stroke of a signature, and a stroke completed signal;
• determining a number N of strokes in a signature, a stroke being determined by an initial starting coordinate provided in response to said stroke started signal and a final coordinate provided in response to said stroke completed signal;
• providing a stroke count signal corresponding to the number of strokes in a signature;
• and
• providing signature signals as an output from the signature capturing device, the signature signals comprising the stroke count signal and for each stroke of the N strokes in the signature, compressed output signals indicating the difference between consecutive first and second coordinate position signals, said first coordinate position signal provided at a first sample time and a second coordinate position signal provided at a second sample time.

A method for acquiring transaction data associated with a transaction that involves a data card, comprising the steps of:

• automatically obtaining at least a portion of said transaction data from said data card;
• entering a signature with a stylus in an area defined by a signature capture window;
• as the signature is applied to the signature capture window with the stylus, providing coordinate position signals corresponding to the movement of the stylus with respect to the signature capturing window;
• providing a stroke started signal, a stroke signal indicative of the starting coordinate and the final coordinate of each stroke of a signature, and a stroke completed signal;
• determining a number N of strokes in a signature, a stroke being determined by an initial starting coordinate provided in response to said stroke started signal and a final coordinate provided in response to said stroke completed signal;
• and
• providing a stroke count signal corresponding to the number of strokes in a signature;
• providing signature signals as an output, the signature signals comprising the stroke count signal and for each stroke of the N strokes in the signature compressed output signals indicating the difference between consecutive first and second coordinate position signals, said first coordinate position signal provided at a first sample time and a second coordinate position signal provided at a second sample time;
• and
• storing said signature signals and said transaction data in association.