US 8,505,820 B2Granted

Card reading device for transaction system

AssigneeUniform Industrial Corp.

InventorJason Hsieh

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A non-magnetic card reader, a magnetic card reader and a card transaction method are provided to selectively read a magnetic card and a non-magnetic card for identification of payment transaction at a transaction terminal. The non-magnetic card reader includes an integrator module electrically connecting to the magnetic card reader and the transaction terminal. Each of the non-magnetic card reader, the magnetic card reader and the transaction terminal has one or more physical connectors compatible with a magnetic-card communication protocol. A non-magnetic card signal incorporated with card data of the non-magnetic card is converted by the integrator module to match the magnetic-card communication protocol and is selectively transmitted to a main controller of the transaction terminal for identification. A magnetic card signal from the magnetic card reader incorporated with card data of the magnetic card is selectively transceived through the integrator module to the main controller for identification.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A non-magnetic card reader adapted to electrically connect with a magnetic card reader and a transaction terminal for selectively reading and identifying a magnetic card and a non-magnetic card, the magnetic card reader having a first connector outputting a magnetic card signal, the transaction terminal having a terminal connector and a main controller, both the first connector and the terminal connector being compatible with a magnetic-card communication protocol, the non-magnetic card reader comprising:

a second reading unit, reading card data of the non-magnetic card;
a converting module, decoding the read card data of the non-magnetic card;
a second input connector, electrically connecting with the first connector of the magnetic card reader;
a second output connector, electrically connecting with the terminal connector of the transaction terminal;
and
an integrator module, transceiving the magnetic card signal from the second input connector to the second output connector, and converting the decoded card data of the non-magnetic card into a non-magnetic card signal;
wherein the non-magnetic card signal is transmitted through the second output connector and the terminal connector to the main controller of the transaction terminal for identification;
wherein the magnetic card signal is transmitted through the first connector of the magnetic card reader, the second input connector, the integrator module, the second output connector and the terminal connector to the main controller of the transaction terminal for identification.

5 more elements

A card transaction method, comprising the steps of:

providing a magnetic card reader with a first connector, the magnetic card reader reading and decoding card data of a magnetic card, and outputting a magnetic card signal through the first connector;
providing a non-magnetic card reader, the non-magnetic card reader having a second input connector, an integrator module and a second output connector, the non-magnetic card reader reading and decoding the card data of a non-magnetic card, converting and outputting a non-magnetic card signal through the second output connector;
electrically connecting the first connector of the magnetic card reader with the second input connector of the non-magnetic card reader;
providing a transaction terminal with a main controller and a terminal connector, the terminal connector electrically connecting the second output connector to selectively receive the magnetic card signal and the non-magnetic card signal;
transmitting the magnetic card signal to the main controller of the transaction terminal for transaction identification through the first connector, the second input connector, the integrator module, the second output connector and the terminal connector;
and
transmitting the non-magnetic card signal from the integrator module to the main controller of the transaction terminal for transaction identification through the second output connector and the terminal connector.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/951,917Filed 22 Nov 2010 · continuation in part
Priority: TW 97212282 U10 Jul 2008
Published: US 2011/0068171 A124 Mar 2011
Granted: 13 Aug 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

G06K 7/0004
Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns: hybrid readers
G06K 17/0022
Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g.…:…
G06K
Graphical data reading