Card reader/writer devices and methods

A multi-track magnetic head device comprising:

• a. a magnetic head having a plurality of tracks;
• b. an A/D converter receiving input from each of said plurality of tracks;
• c. a gated buffer module receiving input from said A/D converter;
• and
• d. an F2F decoder receiving input from said gated buffer module, said F2F decoder selectively decoding each of said plurality of tracks.

A method for multiple card input acceptance comprising:

• a. accepting input from at least one magnetic track and at least one of a PICC and a smart card;
• b. processing said input from each of said at least one magnetic track and said at least one of said PICC and said smart card;
• and
• c. selectively decoding said input from each of said at least one magnetic track;
• and
• d. combining A/D conversion of analog data from a magnetic track and analog data from an analog RF antenna circuit communicating with a PICC.

A card reader/writer device comprising:

• a. a magnetic head having at least one track for receiving input from a magnetic card;
• b. an internal RF analog antenna circuit for receiving input from a PICC;
• c. an A/D converter receiving input from at least said at least one track and said internal RF analog antenna circuit;
• d. a gated buffer module receiving input from said A/D converter, said input corresponding to data from both said magnetic card and said PICC;
• e. a PICC data processor receiving input from said gated buffer module, said PICC data processor and said RF analog antenna circuit functioning as an internal PCD and PCD antenna;
• and
• f. an F2F decoder receiving input from said gated buffer module, said input corresponding to data from said magnetic card.