U.S. patent application number 15/014403 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-03 for magnetic card reader.
This patent application is currently assigned to VERIFONE, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is VERIFONE, INC.. Invention is credited to Bolling CHEN, Steve HSU.
Application Number | 20170220826 15/014403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57965719 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170220826 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; Bolling ; et
al. |
August 3, 2017 |
MAGNETIC CARD READER
Abstract
A magnetic stripe reader including a base element defining a
first spring seat, a magnetic module support element arranged for
limited pivotable motion relative to the base element and defining
a second spring seat, a generally truncated conical spring having a
first, relatively large diameter end seated in the first spring
seat and a second, relatively small diameter end seated in the
second spring seat and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto the
magnetic module support element.
Inventors: |
CHEN; Bolling; (New Taipei
City, TW) ; HSU; Steve; (Taoyuan City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
VERIFONE, INC. |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
VERIFONE, INC.
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
57965719 |
Appl. No.: |
15/014403 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/083 20130101;
G06K 7/084 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/08 20060101
G06K007/08 |
Claims
1. A magnetic stripe reader comprising: a base element defining a
first spring seat; a magnetic module support element arranged for
limited pivotable motion relative to said base element and defining
a second spring seat, the magnetic module support element
comprising: a generally planar portion; and a pair of legs disposed
generally perpendicularly to said generally planar portion, each of
said pair of legs defining an elongate slot; and a truncated
conical spring having a first, relatively large diameter end seated
in said first spring seat and a second, relatively small diameter
end seated in said second spring seat, said truncated conical
spring enabling said limited pivotable motion of said magnetic
module support element relative to said base element; and a
magnetic module fixedly mounted onto said magnetic module support
element.
2. (canceled)
3. A magnetic stripe reader comprising: a base clement defining a
first spring seat; a magnetic module support element arranged for
limited pivotable motion relative to said base element and defining
a second spring seat; a truncated conical spring having a first,
relatively large diameter end seated in said first spring seat and
a second, relatively small diameter end seated in said second
spring seat; and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto said
magnetic module support element, said magnetic module support
element comprising: a generally planar portion; and a pair of legs
disposed generally perpendicularly to said generally planar
portion, each of said pair of legs defining an elongate slot, and
said base element comprising: a pair of cylindrical protrusions;
and a pair of corresponding protrusions, each of said pair of
cylindrical protrusions and each of said pair of corresponding
protrusions being located in sliding engagement with a
corresponding one of said elongate slots associated with one of
said pair of legs.
4. The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 3 and wherein said
sliding engagement guides and limits mutual spring loaded
displacement between said base element and said magnetic module
support element.
5. A magnetic stripe reader comprising: a base element defining a
first spring seat; a magnetic module support element arranged for
limited pivotable motion relative to said base element and defining
a second spring seat; a truncated conical spring having a first,
relatively large diameter end seated in said first spring seat and
a second, relatively small diameter end seated in said second
spring seat; and a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto said
magnetic module support element, said magnetic module support
element comprising: a generally planar portion; a pair of legs
disposed generally perpendicularly to said generally planar
portion, each of said pair of legs defining an elongate slot; and a
retaining tab extending in a plane parallel to the plane of said
generally planar portion; and said base element comprising a tab
engagement surface portion engaging said retaining tab.
6. The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 1 and wherein said
truncated conical spring provides skewed displacement of said
magnetic module support element relative to said base element when
said magnetic stripe reader is engaged by a leading edge of a
payment card.
7. The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 3 and wherein said
truncated conical spring provides skewed displacement of said
magnetic module support element relative to said base element when
said magnetic stripe reader is engaged by a leading edge of a
payment card.
8. The magnetic stripe reader according to claim 5 and wherein said
truncated conical spring provides skewed displacement of said
magnetic module support element relative to said base element when
said magnetic stripe reader is engaged by a leading edge of a
payment card.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Reference is hereby made to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/580,995, filed Dec. 23, 2014 and entitled Magnetic Stripe Card
Reader, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to magnetic stripe card
readers generally.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various types of magnetic stripe card readers are known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention seeks to provide an improved magnetic
stripe card reader.
[0005] There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention a magnetic stripe reader
including a base element defining a first spring seat, a magnetic
module support element arranged for limited pivotable motion
relative to the base element and defining a second spring seat, a
generally truncated conical spring having a first, relatively large
diameter end seated in the first spring seat and a second,
relatively small diameter end seated in the second spring seat and
a magnetic module fixedly mounted onto the magnetic module support
element.
[0006] Preferably, the magnetic module support element includes a
generally planar portion and a pair of legs disposed generally
perpendicularly to generally planar portion, each of the pair of
legs defining an elongate slot. Additionally, the base element
includes a pair of cylindrical protrusions and a pair of
corresponding protrusions and each of the pair of cylindrical
protrusions and each of the pair of corresponding protrusions is
located in sliding engagement with a corresponding one of the
elongate slots associated with one of the pair of legs.
[0007] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention the sliding engagement guides and limits mutual spring
loaded displacement between the base element and the magnetic
module support element.
[0008] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention the magnetic module support element includes a retaining
tab extending in a plane parallel to the plane of generally planar
portion and the base element includes a tab engagement surface
portion engaging the retaining tab.
[0009] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention the generally truncated conical spring provides
displacement of the magnetic module support element relative to the
base element when the magnetic stripe reader is engaged by a
leading edge of a payment card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be understood and appreciated
more fully from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a card reader
constructed and operative in accordance with one preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIGS. 2A and 2B are respective downward-facing and
upward-facing pictorial illustrations of a magnetic stripe reader
module forming part of the card reader of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIGS. 2C and 2D are sectional illustration taken along
respective lines IIC-IIC and IID-IID in FIG. 2A;
[0014] FIGS. 3A and 3B are respective downward-facing and
upward-facing exploded view illustrations of a magnetic stripe
reader module forming part of the card reader of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified pictorial illustrations of a
base portion of the magnetic stripe reader module of FIGS. 2A-3B,
shown in two different orientations;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a simplified illustration of a stage in the
assembly of the magnetic stripe reader module of FIGS. 2A-4B;
[0017] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are simplified illustrations of the card
reader of FIG. 1 in three operative orientations, when a card is
not engaged with the card reader, when a card initially engages the
magnetic stripe reader module and when a card is engaged in
magnetic stripe card reader engagement with the card reader;
and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a simplified illustration of a card reader
constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified
illustration of a card reader 100 constructed and operative in
accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.
As seen in FIG. 1, the card reader 100 comprises a housing,
preferably including a top portion 102 and a bottom portion 104.
Disposed within the housing, inter alia, is a main board 106 and a
magnetic stripe reader module support base 108 having an aperture
110 communicating with a card swipe slot 112. A magnetic stripe
reader module 114 extends partially through aperture 110 into slot
112. It is appreciated that throughout the description, the terms
"top", "bottom", "upper", "lower" and similar terms refer to the
orientations of the various elements as shown in FIG. 1, with the
understanding that the orientation of the card reader 100 and of
the magnetic stripe reader module can be any suitable
orientation.
[0020] Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2A-3B, it is seen that
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
magnetic stripe reader module 114 preferably comprises a magnetic
reader head portion 116, typically including three parallel
mutually spaced magnetic track reading sensors 118. Magnetic reader
head portion 116 is coupled to a flexible flat cable 120, which
operatively connects it to circuitry (not shown) preferably mounted
on main board 106.
[0021] Magnetic reader head portion 116 and flexible flat cable 120
are fixedly mounted onto a magnetic head mounting bracket 122. It
is a particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention,
that magnetic head mounting bracket 122 is spring mounted onto a
base element 124 via a truncated cone spring 126. A pair of
mounting screws 128 serve to attach the magnetic stripe reader
module 114 onto the magnetic stripe reader module support base 108
at aperture 110.
[0022] Magnetic head mounting bracket 122 preferably comprises a
generally planar portion 130 and a pair of upstanding end portions
131 and 132 integrally formed with planar portion 130 at opposite
ends thereof. A pair of legs 134 and 136 are disposed generally
perpendicularly to generally planar portion 130 and extend
therefrom in a direction opposite to that of upstanding end
portions 132. Legs 134 and 136 are preferably formed with elongate
slots respectively designated by reference numerals 138 and 140 and
foot portions respectively designated by reference numerals 142 and
144 which lie in a plane parallel to that of planar portion 130 and
span respective slots 138 and 140.
[0023] A retaining tab 146 extends in a plane parallel to that of
planar portion 130 from a depending portion 148 located at one
corner of generally planar portion 130. A central depending
protrusion 150 is preferably formed at a center of an underside
surface 152 of generally planar portion 130. A corresponding recess
154 is preferably formed at the center of an upper surface 156 of
generally planar portion 130. A slot 158 is preferably formed at a
junction of planar portion 130 and upstanding end portion 131 and
preferably accommodates flexible flat cable 120, which extends
therethrough.
[0024] A pair of spot welding locations 160 are preferably located
on each of upstanding end portions 131 and 132 and define locations
onto which magnetic reader head portion 116 is spot welded
thereto.
[0025] Reference is now made additionally to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which
are simplified pictorial illustrations of base element 124. As seen
in FIGS. 1-4B, base element 124 includes a central portion 170
having a pair of upstanding side portions 172 and 174, terminating
in corresponding mounting flanges 176 and 178. Mounting flange 176
includes three apertures, here designated by reference numerals
180, 182 and 184, while mounting flange 178 includes two apertures,
here designated by reference numerals 190 and 191. Mounting flange
178 extends beyond corresponding side portion 174 and defines a tab
engagement surface portion 192.
[0026] Formed on an upper surface 193 of central portion 170 are a
pair of partially circular spring seat defining portions, here
designated by reference numerals 194 and 196. Formed in mutually
facing orientations on inner facing surfaces of upstanding side
portions 172 and 174 are respective generally cylindrical
protrusions 198 and 200 and a pair of corresponding protrusions 202
and 204, each having a partially circular cross-section and
extending from corresponding cylindrical protrusions 198 and 200 to
upper surface 193.
[0027] Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2C and 2D, it is
appreciated that when assembled, the truncated cone spring 126 is
seated at its narrow end about protrusion 150 extending downwardly
from underside surface 152 of generally planar portion 130 of
magnetic head mounting bracket 122 and is seated at its wide end
between circular spring seat defining portions 194 and 196 which
extend from upper surface 193 of central portion 170 of base
element 124.
[0028] Generally cylindrical protrusions 198 & 200 and
corresponding protrusions 202 & 204 of base element 124 are
preferably located in slidable engagement with respective elongate
slots 138 and 140 of respective legs 134 and 136 of magnetic head
mounting bracket 122 for guiding and limiting mutual spring loaded
displacement therebetween as described hereinbelow with respect to
FIGS. 6A-6C.
[0029] Reference is now made additionally to FIG. 5, which is a
simplified illustration of a stage in the assembly of the magnetic
stripe reader module of FIGS. 2A-4B. It is seen that tab 146 is
preferably brought into engagement with tab engagement surface
portion 192 of base element 124 just prior to arrangement of slots
138 and 140 of magnetic head mounting bracket 122 into slidable
operative engagement with protrusions 198 & 202 and 200 &
204 of base element 124.
[0030] Reference is now made to FIGS. 6A, 6B & 6C, which are
simplified illustrations of the card reader of FIGS. 1-5 in three
operative orientations, when a card is not engaged with the card
reader 100, when a card initially engages the magnetic stripe
reader module 114 and when a card is engaged in magnetic stripe
card reader engagement with the card reader 100, respectively. As
seen by comparing FIGS. 6A and 6B, initial insertion of a payment
card into slot 112 and engagement of a leading edge of the payment
card with the magnetic stripe reader module 114 causes initial
skewed displacement of the magnetic stripe reader module 114
against the urging of truncated cone spring 126, as seen in FIG.
6B.
[0031] The displacement of the magnetic stripe reader module 114
and compression of truncated cone spring 126 caused by the
engagement of a leading edge of the payment card with the magnetic
stripe reader module 114 is seen by a comparison of the distance
between a lower surface of central portion 170 of base element 124
and a lower surface of foot portions 144 of leg 136, as indicated
by H0 in FIG. 6A, and the distance between the lower surface of
central portion 170 of base element 124 and the lower surface of
foot portions 144 and 142 of legs 136 and 134, as indicated by H1
and H2 on left and right sides in FIG. 6B, respectively. As seen in
FIGS. 6A-6B, H0 and H1 are equal, since the left side of the
reader, as seen in FIG. 6B, has not been displaced downwardly,
while H2 is less than H0, since the right side of the reader, as
seen in FIG. 6B, has been displaced downwardly by the engagement of
a leading edge of the payment card with the magnetic stripe reader
module 114.
[0032] Once the leading edge of the payment card passes the highest
portion of the magnetic stripe reader module 114, as seen in FIG.
6C, the magnetic stripe reader module 114 is further displaced
against the urging of truncated cone spring 126 and is no longer
skewed but is displaced downward with respect to slot 112, as
compared with its orientation in the absence of card engagement, as
seen in FIG. 6A.
[0033] The displacement of the magnetic stripe reader module 114
and compression of truncated cone spring 126 caused by the leading
edge of the payment card passing the highest portion of the
magnetic stripe reader module 114 is seen by a comparison of the
distance between a lower surface of central portion 170 of base
element 124 and a lower surface of foot portions 144 of leg 136, as
indicated by H1 in FIG. 6B, and the distance between the lower
surface of central portion 170 of base element 124 and the lower
surface of foot portion 144 of leg 136, as indicated by H3 in FIG.
6C. As seen in FIGS. 6B-6C, H1 is greater than H3 and H2 equals H3,
since the left side of the reader, as seen in FIG. 6C, has been
displaced downwardly by the engagement of the payment card with the
magnetic stripe reader module 114 to the same extent as the right
side of the reader was previously displaced.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, spring
126 exerts a force of approximately 1.0 Newtons in the absence of a
card in slot 112. During card swipe, when a magnetic stripe card is
in operative engagement with the magnetic stripe reader module 114,
the force exerted by spring 126 increases to about 1.6 Newtons, due
to compression of springs 126.
[0035] Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a simplified
illustration of a card reader 300 constructed and operative in
accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present
invention. As distinguished from card reader 100 described
hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 1-6C, card reader 300 is
characterized in that it contains a sideways mounted magnetic
stripe reader module 314, which may in all relevant respects be
identical to magnetic stripe reader module 114 of FIGS. 1-6C.
[0036] 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.
* * * * *