APPARATUS FOR PREVENTION OF READING OF MAGNETIC CARDS

• US 20090050699A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TMD Holding B.V.
• Original Assignee: Kronik Elektrik VE Bilgisayar Sistemleri Sanayi Ticaret Limited Sirketi
• Inventors: Yesil, Ismet, Askeroglu, Hakan, Basar, Cihat Celik
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/436
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0091 the circuit comprising an arrangement for avoiding intrusions and unwanted access to data inside of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/082 using inductive or magnetic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/2055 Anti-skimming aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A card reading machine includes a card reader for reading data on a magnetic card and a device for preventing reading of the data on the magnetic card by illegal card reading devices operatively associated with the card reading machine. The device for preventing may include an oscillator, a driver circuit and a coil for generating electromagnetic signals similar to data on a card. A method for preventing reading of data on a magnetic card by in illegal card reader in operative association with an apparatus having a card reader intended to read the data on the magnetic card includes producing a signal ruining the data collected by the illegal card reader. The apparatus having a card reader may include an insertion slot in which case the method may further include producing the signal near the insertion slot.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A card reading machine comprising:

a card reader for reading data on a magnetic card; and

a device for preventing reading of the data on the magnetic card by illegal card reading devices operatively associated with the card reading machine.

10. The card reading machine of claim 9, wherein the device for preventing reading comprises an oscillator, a driver circuit and a coil for generating signals similar to the data on a magnetic card.

11. The card reading machine of claim 9, further comprising a card insertion slot for receiving the magnetic card in operative association with the card reader, the device preventing reading providing an electromagnetic field ruining data obtained by illegal card reading devices operatively associated with the insertion slot.

12. The card reading machine of claim 11, wherein the device preventing reading comprises an oscillator, a driver circuit and a coil for providing the electromagnetic field.

13. The card reading machine of claim 12, wherein the electromagnetic field comprises signals similar to data on the magnetic card.

14. The card reading machine of claim 13, wherein the signals similar to the data on the magnetic card are self-repeating.

15. The card reading machine of claim 12, further comprising a control operatively associated with the coil to indicate an abnormal situation if the coil is removed.

16. The card reading machine of claim 15, further comprising the control indicating an abnormal situation if power to the coil is interrupted.

17. The card reading machine of claim 16, further comprising the control disabling the power circuit.

18. The card reading machine of claim 12, wherein the coil is placed near the insertion slot.

19. The card reading machine of claim 15, wherein the operative association between the coil and the control is provided by a feedback path.

20. The card reading machine of claim 9, wherein the card reading machine is an automated teller machine.

21. The card reading machine of claim 9, wherein the magnetic card comprises a magnetic stripe on the card.

22. A device for preventing reading of data on a magnetic card by an illegal card reading device at a card reading machine, the device comprising means for providing an electromagnetic field ruining the data obtained by the illegal card reader.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the means for providing the electromagnetic field comprises an oscillator, a driver circuit and a coil.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the oscillator, driver circuit and coil produce an electromagnetic field similar to data on the magnetic card.

25. The device of claim 23, further comprising a power input, a control and a control output.

26. The device of claim 25, further comprising a feedback path from the coil to the control, wherein the control output is positioned as an abnormal situation indicator if the coil is removed.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the control output is positioned as an abnormal situation indicator if power to the device is interrupted.

28. A method of preventing reading of data on a magnetic card by an illegal card reader in operative association with an apparatus having a card reader intended to read the data on the magnetic card, the method comprising:

producing a signal ruining the data collected by the illegal card reader.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the apparatus having a card reader intended to read data on a magnetic card comprises an insertion slot for the magnetic card, the method further comprising:

producing the signal near the insertion slot.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising the signal being an electromagnetic field comprising signals similar to the data on the magnetic card but self-repeating.