Systems and methods for electrostatic discharge protection

A system for prevention of electrostatic discharge from edges of a payment card to a point of sale (POS) device comprising an integrated circuit card (ICC) socket, the system comprising:

• a first contact element disposed at an end of the ICC socket opposite an opening of the ICC socket, the first contact element comprising a first end electrically coupled to a second end, wherein:
• the first end of the first contact element is electrically coupled to an electrical ground, and the second end of the first contact element is positioned for contact with a top edge of the payment card, the top edge being a leading edge of the payment card when inserted into the ICC socket;
• a second contact element disposed at side of the ICC socket perpendicular to an opening of the ICC socket, the second contact element comprising a first end electrically coupled to a second end, wherein:
• the first end of the second contact element is electrically coupled to an electrical ground, and the second end of the second contact element is positioned for contact with a side edge of the payment card;
• and
• the system is configured such that when the payment card is inserted into the ICC socket:
• (i) the top edge comes into contact with the second end of the first contact element, the first end and the second end of the first contact element form a first electrical path for electrostatic discharge between the payment card and the electrical ground, and (ii) the side edge comes into contact with the second end of the second contact element, the first end and the second end of the second contact element form a second electrical path for electrostatic discharge between the payment card and the electrical ground, and the second end of the first contact element remains in contact with the top edge and the second end of the second contact element remains in contact with the side edge of the payment card while the payment card is inserted in the ICC socket.

A method for prevention of electrostatic discharge from a payment card to a point of sale (POS) device, wherein the POS device comprises an integrated circuit card (ICC) socket, a first spring member, and a second spring member, the first disposed at an end of the ICC socket opposite an opening of the ICC socket, the first spring member including a first end electrically coupled to a second end, wherein the first end of the first spring member is electrically coupled to a first electrical ground and the first end of the first spring member is mechanically coupled to the POS device, and the second spring member disposed at side of the ICC socket perpendicular to an opening of the ICC socket, the second spring member including a first end electrically coupled to a second end, wherein the first end of the second spring member is mechanically coupled to the POS device and the first end of the second spring member is electrically coupled to a second electrical ground, the method comprising:

• positioning the second end of the first spring member for contact with a top edge of the payment card, the top edge being a leading edge of the payment card when inserted into the ICC socket;
• and
• positioning the second end of the second spring member for contact with a side edge of the payment card,
• wherein when the payment card is inserted into the ICC socket:
• (i) the top edge comes into contact with the second end of the first spring member, the first end and the second end of the first spring member form a first electrical path for electrostatic discharge between the payment card and the first electrical ground, and (ii) the side edge comes into contact with the second end of the second spring member, the first end and the second end of the second spring member form a second electrical path for electrostatic discharge between the payment card and the second electrical ground, and the second end of the first spring member remains in contact with the top edge and the second end of the second spring member remains in contact with the side edge of the payment card while the payment card is inserted in the ICC socket.