JP2573400B2 - Card reader - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card reader, and more particularly to a method for stably reading a magnetic stripe.

[Prior Art] FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional card reader.

In the figure, (1) is a card reader, (2) is a magnetic card having a magnetic stripe, and (3) is a magnetic card that generates an electric signal by rubbing the magnetic stripe when a magnetic card (2) is inserted. A head, (4) a sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element and detecting that a magnetic card (2) is inserted, and (5) a magnetic card (2) having a light emitting element and a light receiving element and being magnetic; It is a sensor that detects that the card has been inserted into the card insertion section (6).

In the card reader configured as described above, it is general to stop the magnetic card (2) once at the stop position in the drawing and insert it to the back in order to insert the magnetic card (2).

However, once inserted to the stop position in the figure, the sensor (4) detects the insertion, and the magnetic head (3) rubs the magnetic stripe, so that the data up to the stop position has already been read. If the stop position in the figure stops at the position of the data area of the magnetic stripe, for example, if the stop position in the figure stops at the position of the data area of the magnetic stripe, the data read up to the stop position and the data read again from the stop position The continuity is lost, and the control unit cannot read the data.

Therefore, the operator has inserted the magnetic card (2) again.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional card reader as described above, when a magnetic card is inserted, the magnetic card is stopped once at a position in the middle of the area where the data of the magnetic stripe is stored. However, there is a case that the data of the magnetic stripe can be read only halfway, and as a result, the operator has to insert the magnetic card again.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem. Even when a magnetic card is inserted, the card temporarily stops at a position that does not exceed an area where data of a magnetic stripe is stored, and can perform stable reading. The goal is to get a leader.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A card reader according to the present invention temporarily stops when a magnetic card having a magnetic stripe is inserted, and further inserts the magnetic card to the back, so that the magnetic head in the magnetic stripe contacts the magnetic head. In a card reader for converting information into an electric signal and outputting the same, the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card is composed of a spare data area and a valid data area, and stops when the magnetic card is inserted with less than a predetermined force. A stopper lever that passes when inserted with a predetermined force or more, a sensor that outputs a magnetic card detection signal when the magnetic card passes, and an electric signal of the valid data area following the electric signal of the spare data area. Is input and the magnetic card detection signal is input before the electric signal of the valid data area is input. And a decoder for starting decoding of the electric signal.

[Operation] In the present invention, when the magnetic card is inserted with an insertion force less than the predetermined value and hits the inclined surface of the stopper lever, the inserted magnetic card stops.

Then, the magnetic card is further pushed, and if the insertion force is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the stopper lever rotates in a direction to release the insertion force, and the magnetic card passes through and is inserted to the back,
The sensor outputs a magnetic card detection signal to the decoder by passing the magnetic card.

The electrical signal of the valid data area is input to the decoder following the electrical signal of the spare data area, and the reset state is released by the magnetic card detection signal input before the electrical signal of the valid data area is input. Start decrypting.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a card reader showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, (1), (2) and (3) are the same as those in FIG. However, in this case, the magnetic head (3) is shown electrically.

(2a) is the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card (2), (2b)
Is a leading end when the magnetic card (2) is inserted, (10) is a magnetic card insertion opening into which the magnetic card (2) is inserted,
(10a) is the lower surface of the magnetic card insertion opening (10).

(11) is an L-shaped lever with a cam, which is provided rearward with a predetermined interval from the magnetic head (3), has a tapered portion (11a) on the cam portion, and further has a shielding plate on the other lower end. (11c), when the magnetic card (2) is inserted, it is temporarily received by the tapered portion (11a), and the magnetic card (2) is inserted.
When the is pressed further, it rotates downward in the figure around the axis (11b).

Further, (11d) and (11e) are elastic bodies for stabilizing the L-shaped lever with a cam and protecting a sensor described later, for example, a spring.

In this case, the length is almost the same as that of the magnetic card (2).

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the concept of an L-shaped lever with a cam. This drawing is a cross-sectional view for ease of explanation, and furthermore, the explanation will be made with the shielding plate (11c) omitted.

(2), (2a), (11a), and (11b) are the same as those described above. The X and Y axes are set around the point of action of the magnetic card (2) on the tapered portion (11a). The axis indicating the component of the force P of the magnetic card (2) is denoted by u and v, and the axis (11)
Let b be the length from b) to the point of application, a be the height from the axis (11b) to the point of application, and h be the length drawn from the slope of the tapered portion (11a) to the axis (11b) at right angles. Moment M when the length of the perpendicular drawn from the axis (11b) to the line drawn at right angles from the point is L (in this case, clockwise is positive)
Is obtained by the following equation.

M = −P _ux a (moment of X axis) −P _vx a (moment of X axis) −P _uya (moment of Y axis)
+ P _vy b (moment component on the Y axis) Further, the moment M viewed from the axis (11b) is M = + P _vL −P _U h Therefore, from P _vy b, P _ux a, P _vx a, and P _uya are obtained. If large, M
Becomes-(minus), and the lever is rotated upward. Therefore, in order to rotate the lever downward, a is made smaller than b and the slope of the tapered portion (11a) is increased so that the component of P _vy becomes large. Is formed.

Also, if P _u h is large, M becomes-, and the lever is rotated upward.
Position of P _v L so increases the axial (11b) than the point of action,
It is formed at the back.

Returning to FIG. 1, reference numeral (12) denotes a sensor unit, and an L-shaped lever with cam (11) is rotated to form a shielding unit (11c).
Goes up to output a magnetic card detection signal indicating that the magnetic card (2) has been inserted. For example, a photocoupler is used.

(13) is a mounting plate on which the inserted magnetic card (2) is mounted, and has an opening of a predetermined width so that the cam of the L-shaped lever with cam (11) protrudes. Things.

(16) is an amplifying unit for amplifying information from the magnetic head (3). In this case, differential amplification is used.

(17) is a level converter for converting an input analog signal into a TTL level.

(18) a decoder, which inputs a magnetic card detection signal from the sensor (12) as a reset signal, and is in a reset state while the magnetic card detection signal is not input;
When the magnetic card detection signal is input, the reset state is released, input via an initial data amplifying unit (16) described later, activated by the initial data, input information is decoded, and output as data. It outputs a sampling signal indicating that sampling is being performed.

Reference numeral (19) denotes a control unit. When a magnetic card detection signal is inputted, the magnetic card (2) is put into an operating state as if it has been inserted.
The processing is based on the data input from 8).

The operation of the card reader configured as described above will be described below with reference to the drawings.

If the magnetic card (2) is first inserted into the magnetic card insertion opening (10) as shown in FIG.
The card hits the cam of the lever (11), and the card temporarily stops, and the state is as shown below.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where FIG. 3 is inserted. In the figure, (2) to (13) are the same as those in FIG. 1 except for (2c) to (2e), and (2c) is a magnetic stripe (2).
The spare area of (a), (2d) is an invalid data area of the magnetic stripe (2a), and (2e) is an effective data area in which necessary information is stored.

Referring to the figure, the inserted magnetic card (2) hits the tapered portion (11a) of the cam of the L-shaped lever with cam (11) and stops once.

At this time, the L-shaped lever with cam (11) is
d) and (11e), the axis (11
It does not rotate around b) and is parallel to the mounting plate (13).

Since the decoder (18) in FIG. 1 is in the reset state, the information in the invalid data area (2d) is not processed by the decoder (18).

Next, when the magnetic card (2) is further inserted into the magnetic card insertion opening (10), the tapered portion (11a) of the L-shaped lever with cam (11) is pushed, and the L-shaped lever with cam (11) is pressed.
The cam moves around the axis (11b) in the lower part of the figure (circular movement), the shielding plate (11c) rises, the sensor (12) operates, and a magnetic card detection signal is output, and the magnetic stripe (2a ) Are detected by the magnetic head (3), and the information is transmitted via the amplifier (16) and the level converter (17) in FIG. 1 to the decoder (2). Enter in 18).

Since the reset state of the decoder (18) has been released by the magnetic card detection signal, the spare area (2
c) and decodes the information in the valid data area (2e), outputs the decoded data to the control unit (19), and outputs a sampling signal indicating that the data in the valid data area (2e) is being output to the control unit ( Output to 19).

That is, the decoder (18) performs the operation described below.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the decoder.

In the figure, (17a) is information (hereinafter referred to as an information signal) of the magnetic stripe (2a) output from the level conversion unit (17), and generally, the spare area (2c) has all logic 0s.
Are used to activate the decoder (18). Logic 0 indicates that the frequency is low, logic 1 indicates that the frequency is high, and the spare area (2c) indicates logic 0 of low frequency. The valid data area (2e) indicates that the effective data area is composed of a data string of logic 1 having a high frequency and logic 0 having a low frequency.

(12a) is the magnetic card detection signal (reset signal), (1
8a) is a data signal (18b) output to the control unit (19) is a sample signal.

According to the figure, the information signal (17) from the spare area (2c)
a) is logic 0, and the decoder (18) outputs the information signal (17a).
Is activated when logic 0 is continuously input from, but does not output any data.

Then, the information signal (17) from the valid data area (2e)
When a) is output (the sensor is in the operating state), the magnetic card detection signal (12a) is output at the same time, and the reset state is released, so that stable data (18a) can be output.

At this time, since the magnetic card detection signal (12a) is input to the control unit (19), the control unit (19) knows that the magnetic card (2) has been inserted, and performs necessary processing based on the input data.

Next, it is assumed that the magnetic card (2) is further inserted and inserted to the back.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a state in which the magnetic card is fully inserted. In this case, it is assumed that the sensor (not shown) at the back detects that the magnetic card (2) has been inserted to the back and stops at a predetermined position.

In the figure, (2) to (13) are the same as above.

The figure shows that when the magnetic card (2) is inserted all the way, the L-shaped lever with cam (11) rotates about the axis (11b) at an angle corresponding to the length of the tapered portion (11a), The cam is lowered by the above length, and the shielding plate (11c) increases the distance based on the length of the L-shaped lever with cam (11) and the length of the tapered portion (11a), and activates the sensor (12). .

In this case, the rear end of the magnetic card (2) is located under the magnetic head (3) even if the magnetic card (2) is inserted all the way. Then, it returns to the initial state.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the L-shaped lever with a cam, where necessary parts are emphasized and described.

In the figure, (k) indicates the distance that the tip of the magnetic card (2) has moved the tapered portion (11a) of the cam. In this case, it is assumed that the tip has completely moved the tapered portion (11a).

(B) is the same length as above from the cam to the shaft (11b), (d) is the length from the shaft (11b) to the rear end, and (c) is the tapered portion (11a) of the cam connected to the magnetic card ( This is the distance that the rear end can be lifted by the movement of the front end in 2).

For example, the tapered portion (11a) of the cam is replaced with a magnetic card (2)
Is completely moved, the distance (a) decreases as shown by the dotted line, and the angle θ is obtained by the following equation.

Angle θ = tan ⁻¹ (a / b) Also, c becomes c = ad / b from c: d = a: b.

That is, the rising distance is determined by the distance (a),
Further, the rising distance (c) is larger than the distance (a), indicating that the sensor (12) can be brought into the operating state.

That is, according to the present invention, when the magnetic card (2) is inserted,
Once stopped at the tapered portion (11a) of the L-shaped lever with cam (11), and further when the magnetic card (2) is inserted, a signal indicating that the card is inserted for the first time is output, and the decoder (18) Since the reset state is released, the information of the magnetic card (2) can be smoothly detected and processed.

 Further, the L-shaped lever with cam (11) may be shortened.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a state in which the L-shaped lever with cam is shortened.

In the figure, (2) and (3) are the same as above, and (20) is an L-shaped lever with a short cam, but in this case, the shielding plate (20a) is made slightly heavier than the above.

As shown in the figure, even when the L-shaped lever with cam (20) is short, the card temporarily stops at the tapered portion, and when the magnetic card (2) is further inserted, the L-shaped lever with cam (11) described above is used. ), The rising distance (c) can be greatly increased, and the ON / OFF operation of the sensor (12) can be smoothly performed.

In the above embodiment, the sensor is described as a photocoupler, but may be a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

In the above embodiment, the L-shaped lever with the cam is used. However, a rectangular parallelepiped having an inclined surface may be used as long as the lever is within the range of the inclination and the center axis described in FIG.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cam-shaped L-shaped lever is located at the rear of the magnetic head, but may be located at the front if a predetermined interval is maintained.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card is constituted by the spare data area and the valid data area, and when the magnetic card is inserted with a predetermined insertion force or less, the magnetic card is inserted. The decoder is stopped and, if the insertion force is greater than or equal to the insertion force, a magnetic card detection signal is output when the magnetic card passes, and a decoder in which an electric signal in the valid data area is input following an electric signal in the spare data area, Since the decoding of the electric signal is started by the magnetic card detection signal input before the input of the electric signal of the area, the data of the magnetic stripe can be read stably, so that the magnetic card need not be inserted again. The effect of improving is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a card reader showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the concept of an L-shaped lever with a cam, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an inserted state, FIG. FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the decoder, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the magnetic card is fully inserted, FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the L-shaped lever with a cam, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a state in which an attached L-shaped lever is shortened, and FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional card reader. In the figure, (1) is a card reader, (2) is a magnetic card, (2a) is a magnetic stripe, (2b) is a tip, (3)
Is the magnetic head, (10) is the magnetic card insertion opening, (10
a) is the lower surface, (11) is an L-shaped lever with a cam, (11a) is a tapered portion, (11c) is a shielding plate, (11b) is a shaft, (11d) and (11e) are elastic bodies, and (12) is A sensor unit, (13) is a mounting plate, (16) is an amplifying unit, (17) is a level converter, (18) is a decoder, and (19) is a control unit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A card reader which temporarily stops when a magnetic card having a magnetic stripe is inserted, and converts the information in the magnetic stripe with which the magnetic head comes into contact into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal by inserting the magnetic card further into the card. Wherein the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card comprises a spare data area and a valid data area, and stops when the magnetic card is inserted with a force less than a predetermined value and stops when the magnetic card is inserted with a predetermined force or more. A stopper lever that passes therethrough, a sensor that outputs a magnetic card detection signal when the magnetic card passes, an electric signal of the valid data area is input following an electric signal of the spare data area, and an electric signal of the valid data area is input. And a decoder for starting decoding of an electric signal based on the magnetic card detection signal input before the A card reader, characterized in that: