# US 2022/0036016 A1 · Systems and Methods of Card Reader Protection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0036016 A1 - Document ID: US20220036016A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/944,278 - Filed: 2020-07-31 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31 - Assignees: International Technologies & Systems Corp. - Applicants: International Technologies & Systems, Corporation - Inventors: Yi-fing Chen; Yu-ting Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220036016A1 ## CPC - G06K 7/0004: {Hybrid readers} - G07F 7/0873: {Details of the card reader} - G06K 7/0091: {the circuit comprising an arrangement for avoiding intrusions and unwanted access to data inside of the connector} - G06Q 20/34: using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Example embodiments of the systems and methods of card reader protection disclosed herein combine motorization technology with payment card industry (PCI) protection technology. In an example embodiment, access to the card is protected by a mesh grid inside a printed circuit board (PCB). In one embodiment, there are five mesh grid walls in total. A secure signal is used to transmit data. The data is transmitted along traces embedded within the circuit boards. When a signal trace extends from one layer of the PCB to a second layer, the traces on the separate layers are connected with a via hole that extends between the layers and electrically connects traces on different layers. In an example embodiment, one or more of the boards fit together with slot joints. The vias are positioned in the board such that they are hidden due to the slot joint configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a motorized card reader, the card reader configured to read information saved in at least one of a magnetic strip and an integrated circuit (IC) chip of a card inserted into the card reader; and a protection system comprised of a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs), at least two of the plurality of PCBs mechanically connected with slot joints, the at least two of the plurality of PCBs comprising multiple layers with maze-shaped serpentine circuit traces that comprise via-holes at the slot joint portion of the at least two of the plurality of PCBs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the protection system is compliant with payment card industry (PCI) protection standards. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the protection system PCBs enclose a main PCB of the motorized card reader such that an inserted card cannot be physically accessed while the card is in the reader. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the protection system PCBs comprises an open switch in the serpentine traces is closed with a conductive rubber device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the via-holes of at least one of the plurality of protection system PCBs are configured to be hidden in an overlapped area formed in the slot joint with a second of the plurality of protection system PCBs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising sensors positioned within the card reader, the sensors positioned in the path of the magnetic strip of the card such that the magnetic strip passes through the sensing area of the sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader is configured to operate in a two stage configuration comprising a first insertion stage of the card and a second adjustment stage of the card, the first insertion stage comprising reading only data saved in the magnetic strip of the card, the second adjustment stage comprising reading only data saved in the IC chip of the card. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the second adjustment stage begins a partial ejection of the card, in which the card remains unexposed to a card owner and a repositioning to read the IC chip on the card. ### Claim 9 A method, comprising: providing a motorized card reader, the card reader configured to read information saved in at least one of a magnetic strip and an integrated circuit (IC) chip of a card inserted into the card reader; and providing a protection system comprised of a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs), at least two of the plurality of PCBs mechanically connected with slot joints, the at least two of the plurality of PCBs comprising multiple layers with maze-shaped serpentine circuit traces that comprise via-holes at the slot joint portion of the at least two of the plurality of PCBs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising closing an open switch in the serpentine traces with a conductive rubber device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein providing the protection system comprises enclosing the card reader such that the card may not be physically accessed while the card is inside the reader. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein providing the protection system comprises providing the protection system in compliance with payment card industry (PCI) protection standards. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the via-holes of at least one of the plurality of protection PCBs are configured to be hidden in an overlapped area formed in the slot joint with a second of the plurality of PCBs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving a payment card with a motorized card reader in a first stage, the payment card comprising at least one of a magnetic strip and an integrated circuit (IC) chip, the strip and the chip configured to save data; reading data from the magnetic strip; receiving the payment card at an IC chip card reader with the motorized card reader in a second stage; and reading data saved in the IC chip during the second stage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: executing a payment process; sending payment data to a terminal device; ejecting the payment card. ### Claim 16 A system comprising: a protection system for a motorized card reader comprised of a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs), at least two of the plurality of PCBs mechanically connected with slot joints, the at least two of the plurality of PCBs comprising multiple layers with maze-shaped serpentine circuit traces that comprise via-holes at the slot joint portion of the at least two of the plurality of PCBs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the protection system is compliant with payment card industry (PCI) protection standards. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the via-holes of at least one of the plurality of protection system PCBs are configured to be hidden in an overlapped area formed in the slot joint with a second of the plurality of protection system PCBs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising sensors positioned within the card reader, the sensors positioned in the path of the magnetic strip of the card such that the magnetic strip passes through the sensing area of the sensors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the sensors comprise at least one of optical, infrared, proximity, ultrasonic, and magnetic sensors.