Universal card reader apparatus and method

• US 20060022039A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Beck, David, Klein, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,441,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/06 Guiding cards; Checking correct operation of card-conveying mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0043 the plurality of cards being cards of different formats, e.g. SD card and memory stick

Abstract

A multiple card reading apparatus for reading at least two different types of information cards that may be used in a handheld point of sale device with printing capability. The multiple card reading apparatus has a housing containing at least two card reading devices and defining slots that receive the cards and position them for reading by the card reading devices. In one aspect, the slots overlap facilitating a compact arrangement of the card reading apparatus. Preferably, the common portions of the slots are an entrance portion so that only a single slot marks the outside of the housing. For instance, the slots may originate in the same position but diverge at different angles from each other. In this manner, different types of cards can be inserted through the same opening portion but at different angles to reach different card reading devices capable of reading its respective type of card.

Claims

1. An apparatus capable of reading information stored in at least two different formats from one or more media, said apparatus comprising:

a first communication device configured to communicate information in a first format;

a second communication device configured to communicate information in a second format;

a housing at least partially defining a first media slot configured to receive and guide media capable of communicating information in the first format while in a position accessible by said first device, and at least partially defining a second media slot configured to receive and guide media capable of communicating information in the second format while in a position accessible by the second device, wherein the first and second media slots each have a common portion.

2. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein said common portion is an entrance portion.

3. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first media slot and second media slot have generally linear shapes and wherein the slots extend at different angles from each other.

4. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first media slot extends through lateral edges of the housing so as to allow swiping of the first media past the first communication device.

5. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second media slot is contained within the lateral edges of the housing and is configured for insertion and temporary retention of the second media.

6. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second slots are positioned at about a 10°

to 45°

angle with respect to each other.

7. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second slots are positioned at about a 30°

angle with respect to each other.

8. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first communication device includes a magnetic strip reader.

9. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second communication device includes a smart card reader.

10. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is a housing for a printer.

11. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first communication device is relatively smaller, and positioned closer to a surface of the housing, than the second communication device.

12. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications device connected in communication with the first and second communication devices and configured to receive data therefrom and communicate the data wirelessly to a network.

13. A multiple media reading apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a printer device connected to the wireless communication device and the communication devices and capable of receiving data therefrom for printing.

14. A multiple card reading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multiple media reading apparatus is part of a handheld device.

15. A method of reading information stored in at least two different formats from one or more media, said method of reading including:

receiving and guiding media in a first media slot of a housing into a position accessible by a first communication device configured to communicate information in a first format; and

receiving and guiding media in second media slot of the housing into a position accessible by a second communication device configured to communicate information a second format and through a portion of the first media slot.

16. A method of claim 15, wherein receiving and guiding the first media includes guiding swiping of the first media through the first media slot which extends through lateral edges of the housing.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein receiving and guiding the second media includes receiving and temporarily retaining the second card in the second media slot of the housing.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein receiving and guiding the first media through the first media slot includes guiding the first media at a different angle than receiving and retaining the second media in the second media slot.

19. A method of claim 18, further comprising reading media from the first card with the first communication device and reading data from the second media with the second communication device.

20. A method of claim 19, further comprising wirelessly transmitting data read from the first and second media to a clearinghouse.

21. A multiple media reading apparatus for reading at least two different types of information contained on one or more media, said multiple media reading apparatus comprising:

a first card reading device configured to read information from the first type of card;

a second card reading device configured to read information from the second type of card; and

a housing at least partially defining a first card slot configured to receive and guide the first type of card into a position at which the first card is readable by the first card reading device, and at least partially defining a second card slot configured to receive and guide the second type of card into a position at which the second card is readable by the second card reading device, wherein the first and second card slots each have a common portion.

22. A method of reading at least two different types of information containing cards, including a first type of card and a second type of card, said method of reading different types of cards including:

receiving and guiding a first card, in a first card slot of a housing, into a position configured to allow the first card to be read by a first card reading device; and

receiving and guiding a second card, in a second card slot of the housing, through a portion of the first card slot and into a position configured to allow the second card to be read by the second card reading device.