Smart card reader

A device for reading information from a smart card of the type having at least a plurality of peripheral edges, a contact chip and/or a magnetic stripe, the device comprising:

• an enclosure having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge disposed opposite the first peripheral edge, a fourth peripheral edge disposed opposite the second peripheral edge, an overall length extending in a longitudinal direction, an overall width extending in a lateral direction, and an overall thickness extending in a vertical direction, the top surface, the bottom surface, the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, the third peripheral edge, and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure defining an enclosure internal volume therewithin;
• a control circuit disposed at least partially within the enclosure internal volume and including at least a processor, a memory, a power source, a magnetic stripe reader, a contact chip reader, and an interface connector projecting away from the first peripheral edge of the enclosure;
• the enclosure further including a first slot traversing the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, and the third peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, the first slot for receiving the smart card, the first slot sized to receive no more than two of the plurality of peripheral edges of the smart card simultaneously when the smart card is swiped in the longitudinal direction through the first slot, the magnetic stripe reader disposed to read the magnetic stripe of the smart card when the smart card is swiped in the longitudinal direction through the first slot;
• and
• the enclosure further including a second slot traversing the third peripheral edge and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge of the enclosure, the second slot for receiving the smart card, the second slot sized to receive no more than two of the plurality of peripheral edges of the smart card simultaneously when the smart card is inserted in the longitudinal direction into the second slot, the contact chip reader disposed to read the contact chip of the smart card when the smart card is inserted in the longitudinal direction into the second slot;
• the first slot and the second slot together traversing at least a majority of the overall width of the enclosure at the third peripheral edge of the enclosure;
• whereby information from the smart card is stored by the processor into the memory when the smart card is either swiped through the first slot or inserted into the second slot, and whereby information in the memory is read by an electronic device connected with the interface connector.

A device for reading information from a smart card of the type having a contact chip and/or a magnetic stripe, the device comprising:

• an enclosure having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge disposed opposite the first peripheral edge, a fourth peripheral edge disposed opposite the second peripheral edge, an overall length extending in a longitudinal direction, an overall width extending in a lateral direction, and an overall thickness extending in a vertical direction, the top surface, the bottom surface, the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, the third peripheral edge, and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure defining an enclosure internal volume therewithin;
• a control circuit disposed at least partially within the enclosure internal volume and including at least a processor, a memory, a power source, a magnetic stripe reader, a contact chip reader, and an interface connector projecting away from the first peripheral edge of the enclosure;
• the enclosure further including a first slot traversing the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, and the third peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, the first slot for receiving the smart card, the magnetic stripe reader disposed to read the magnetic stripe of the smart card when the smart card is swiped in the longitudinal direction through the first slot;
• and
• the enclosure further including a second slot traversing the third peripheral edge and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge of the enclosure, the second slot for receiving the smart card, the contact chip reader disposed to read the contact chip of the smart card when the smart card is inserted in the longitudinal direction into the second slot;
• the first slot and the second slot together traversing at least a majority of the overall width of the enclosure at the third peripheral edge of the enclosure;
• the first slot and the second slot are spaced apart at the third peripheral edge of the enclosure by a distance that is less than the overall thickness of the enclosure;
• whereby information from the smart card is stored by the processor into the memory when the smart card is either swiped through the first slot or inserted into the second slot, and whereby information in the memory is read by an electronic device connected with the interface connector.