Patent Application
20170140179
The present invention relates to magnetic card readers generally.
Various types of magnetic card readers are known.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved magnetic card reader which is suitable for use with conductive cards bearing magnetic stripes.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a slidable magnetic card reader particularly suitable for magnetic payment cards having at least one longitudinal edge surface, the card reader including a magnetic card reading head operative to provide a data output in response to sliding thereby of a magnetic card bearing readable magnetically encoded data and a sliding track defining assembly including an elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface arranged for sliding engagement with a longitudinal edge surface of a magnetic card, the elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface extending at least to a location generally underlying the magnetic card reading head, at least a portion of the elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface being electrically conductive and being coupled to electrical ground.
Preferably, the elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface extends to two opposite sides of the location underlying the magnetic card reading head and at least a portion of the elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface on each of the two opposite sides of the location underlying the magnetic card reading head is electrically conductive and is coupled to electrical ground.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface is electrically conductive substantially along its entire length. Preferably, the sliding track defining assembly is electrically conductive.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface includes an electrically conductive strip. Additionally, the electrically conductive strip is die cut from a metal sheet. Alternatively, the electrically conductive strip is die cast.
Preferably, the elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface includes an electrically non-conductive strip including at least two cutouts and an electrically conductive strip including at least two protrusions which resiliently extend through the at least two cutouts.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Top housing portion 102 and bottom housing portion 112 together enclose a magnetic card reader assembly 120 and typically two PCBs 122, onto which are mounted electrical circuitry for operating the point of sale device 100.
Turning now to
A bottom facing edge 149 of magnetic stripe reader head support portion 136 defines a mounting surface for an elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface defining electrically conductive strip 150, preferably die cut from a metal sheet, which extends transversely outwardly towards bottom housing portion 112 and thus preferably defines a floor of magnetic card swipe slot 114 with which floor the edge of a magnetic card (not shown) is in engagement as it is swiped through slot 114.
Strip 150 is operative to provide electrostatic discharge from a magnetic card, such as a metal card, a metal coated card or a card having an electrically conductive bottom edge, swiped therealong in either direction and in engagement therewith to ground, preferably via a ground connection portion 152 thereof, which is connected, at an end 153 thereof, to a grounded terminal 154 formed on one of PCBs 122. The electrical discharge of the card occurs at least prior to engagement of the card with the magnetic strip reader head 140. Grounded terminal 154 is preferably coupled to ground via electrical circuitry on PCB 122.
Strip 150 is preferably secured to bottom facing edge 149 of magnetic stripe reader head support portion 136 by means of a pair of screws 156 and 157, which threadably engage respective suitably apertured bosses 158 and 159. Precise positioning of strip 150 onto bottom facing edge 149 is preferably enhanced by the provision of locator protrusions 160 on bottom facing edge 149, which engage corresponding apertures 161 on strip 150.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Top housing portion 402 and bottom housing portion 412 together enclose a magnetic card reader assembly 420 and typically two PCBs 422, onto which are mounted electrical circuitry for operating the point of sale device 400.
Turning now to
A bottom facing edge 449 of magnetic stripe reader head support portion 436 extends outwardly towards bottom housing portion 412 and defines a mounting surface for an elongate magnetic card edge engagement protrusion defining electrically conductive strip 450, preferably die cut from a metal sheet, which extends transversely outwardly towards bottom housing portion 412.
An upward facing surface 451 of bottom facing edge 449 preferably defines a floor of magnetic card swipe slot 414 with which floor the edge of a magnetic card (not shown) is in engagement as it is swiped through slot 414. Bottom facing edge 449 is formed with at least two cut outs 452 through which resiliently extend corresponding protrusions 454 preferably formed by folding of strip 450. Protrusions 454 are preferably positioned on both sides of the magnetic stripe reader head 440 along magnetic card swipe slot 414 in order to resiliently and yieldingly engage an edge of a card swiped along slot 414 in either direction prior to engagement of the card with magnetic stripe reader head 440. The electrical discharge of the card occurs at least prior to engagement of the card with the magnetic strip reader head 440.
Strip 450 is operative to provide electrostatic discharge from a magnetic card, such as a metal card, a metal coated card or a card having an electrically conductive bottom edge, swiped therealong in either direction and in engagement therewith to ground, preferably via a ground connection portion 455 thereof, which is connected, at an end 456 thereof, to a grounded terminal 458 formed on one of PCBs 422. Grounded terminal 458 is preferably coupled to ground via electrical circuitry on PCB 422.
Strip 450 is preferably resiliently secured to bottom facing edge 449 of magnetic stripe reader head support portion 436 by means of a pair of screws (not shown), which threadably engage respective suitably apertured bosses (not shown). Alternatively, strip 450 may be resiliently secured to bottom facing edge 449 by any suitable attachment method, such as by use of an adhesive.
Precise positioning of strip 450 onto bottom facing edge 449 may be enhanced by the provision of locator protrusions (not shown) on bottom facing edge 449, which engage corresponding apertures (not shown) on strip 450.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Top housing portion 702 and bottom housing portion 712 together enclose a magnetic card reader assembly 720 and typically two PCBs 722, onto which are mounted electrical circuitry for operating the point of sale device 700.
Turning now to
A bottom facing edge 749 of magnetic stripe reader head support portion 736 defines a mounting surface for an elongate magnetic card edge engagement surface defining electrically conductive strip 750, preferably die cast of a zinc alloy, which extends transversely outwardly towards bottom housing portion 712 and thus preferably defines a floor of magnetic card swipe slot 714 with which floor the edge of a magnetic card (not shown) is in engagement as it is swiped through slot 714.
Strip 750 is operative to provide electrostatic discharge from a magnetic card, such as a metal card, a metal coated card or a card having an electrically conductive bottom edge, swiped therealong in either direction and in engagement therewith to ground, preferably via a ground connection portion 752 thereof, which is connected to a grounded terminal 754 formed on one of PCBs 722, typically via an electrical connector, such as a wire 755. The electrical discharge of the card occurs at least prior to engagement of the card with the magnetic strip reader head 740.
Grounded terminal 754 is preferably coupled to ground via electrical circuitry on PCB 722. Strip 750 is preferably secured to bottom facing edge 749 of magnetic stripe reader head support portion 736 by means of a pair of screws 756 and 757, which threadably engage respective suitably apertured bosses 758 and 759. Precise positioning of strip 750 onto bottom facing edge 749 is preferably enhanced by the provision of locator protrusions 760 on bottom facing edge 749, which engage corresponding apertures 761 on strip 750.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly claimed and includes both combinations and subcombinations of features described and shown hereinabove as well as modifications thereof which are not in the prior art.
