Magnetic stripe reader with signature scanner
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a housing having a swipe channel formed therein, said channel comprising two opposing walls located a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card;
(b) a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and
(c) an optical scanning unit positioned in said housing;
wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic stripe reader having an integrated signature scanner and electronic transaction system employing the same provide for simultaneous reading of magnetically encoded data and scanning of an authorized signature typically located above the magnetic stripe located on credit cards or other data cards, thus allowing a merchant or other operator to quickly and discretely compare a tendered signature with the authorized signature. In this manner, the signature may be verified without the need for physical retention of the card until a visual comparison of the signature can be made with the authorized signature on the card.
96 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a housing having a swipe channel formed therein, said channel comprising two opposing walls located a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; (b) a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and (c) an optical scanning unit positioned in said housing; wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A transaction terminal comprising a data terminal and an apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said data terminal comprising a microprocessor and a display screen, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card comprising:
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(a) a swipe channel comprising two opposing walls of a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; (b) a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and (c) an optical scanning unit; wherein wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed within said channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for conducting a transaction, said transaction employing a magnetic stripe card, said magnetic stripe card being of a type having a magnetic stripe, said magnetic stripe having data encoded thereon, and said magnetic stripe card being further of a type including a signature block thereon, said signature block for manual entry of a signature therein and said signature block being located in proximity to said magnetic stripe, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus for reading a magnetic stripe card, said apparatus comprising; a housing having a swipe channel formed therein, said channel comprising two opposing walls located a sufficient distance apart to allow passage of a magnetic stripe card; a magnetic stripe reader head mounted within said housing and extending through an aperture in one of said opposing walls; and an optical scanning unit positioned in said housing;
wherein said magnetic stripe reader head and said optical scanning unit are disposed within said channel so as to allow simultaneous reading of said data encoded on said magnetic stripe and scanning of a signature located in said signature block during a single swipe of said magnetic stripe card through said channel;electronically reading said magnetically encoded data; optically scanning said signature; outputting the scanned signature to a display; obtaining said cardholder'"'"'s signature; and visually comparing the cardholder'"'"'s signature with the scanned signature. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification