Card reader and a method for reading of cards

• US 20040169079A1
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Todos AB
• Original Assignee: Todos AB
• Inventors: Skygebjerg, Per
• Granted Patent: US 7,104,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40975 using encryption therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable card reader for communication with card provided with a chip, such as so called smart cards. The reader comprises processing means, a card holder for holding the card in contact with connection means to form a connection between said chip and said processing means, a display and entering means for manually entering information into the reader. The entering means comprises a roller for scrolling a predetermined set of input items, simultaneously being displayed on the display, and an entry key for selecting a presently chosen one of said input item.

Claims

1. A portable card reader for communication with card provided with a chip, comprising processing means, a card holder for holding the card in contact with connection means to form a connection between said chip and said processing means, a display and entering means for manually entering information into the reader, wherein said entering means comprises a roller for scrolling a predetermined set of input items, simultaneously being displayed on the display, and an entry key for selecting a presently chosen one of said input items, said card reader having an elongate form with a length less than 50% longer than the width of the card to be read.

2. A card reader according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined set of input values comprises alpha numerical characters, preferably to be used as personalizing information for accessing information and/or services on the card.

3. A card reader according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined set of input items comprises at least one control character, such as “

delete”

, “

back space”

, “

accept input/OK”

or “

return to a higher menu level”

.

4. A card reader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises at least two sets of input items, wherein entry of at least one input item or sequence of input items from a first set of input items enables entry of input items from a second set of input items.

5. A card reader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing means are adapted to display information provided by the card on the display.

6. A card reader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it further comprises an energy supply, and preferably a battery.

7. A card reader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the card holder comprises a card slot formed in the reader in which the card could be at least partly inserted.

8. A card reader for retaining access codes from a smart card, according to any one of the preceding claims.