Card reader for transmission of data by sound

• US 6,129,277 A
• Filed: 08/03/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Privicom Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Privicon Incorporated
• Inventors: Gambino, Richard J., Grant, Alan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/127,812
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 235/449, 235/380, 379/359, 379/361, 379/357
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state

Abstract

A portable card reader is designed to be carried in a wallet or purse. In a first embodiment, the card reader has an electromagnetic head that reads information from a magnetic strip of a card. In a second embodiment, information is read from the card by an array of Hall sensors. In both embodiments, the information read from the card is converted to a sequence of electronic bursts of predetermined frequency, preferably in the audible or ultrasound range. The sound signals are output by a speaker to the microphone of a telephone. The signal is then transmitted over the telephone lines to a remote receiver. The receiver then converts the sound bursts into signal pulses which can be read using the computer software of a conventional card reader.

Claims

1. A device for reading information stored on a magnetic card having a magnetic strip and a conductor bar, comprising:

a card reader having a sensor array and two contact pads positioned such that, when the magnetic card is positioned properly in the card reader, the contact pads are aligned with the conductor bar and the sensor array is aligned with the magnetic strip, and such that when the card is placed into physical contact with the reader the contact pads contact the conductor bar to activate the reader, providing power to the sensor array for reading the information stored on the magnetic strip and outputting a read signal;

a modulator connected to said sensor array for modulating the read signal to obtain a modulated signal;

an amplifier connected to said modulator for amplifying the modulated signal; and

an output device connected to said amplifier for outputting the amplified modulated signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the modulated signal is in the audible frequency range.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor array is a Hall sensor array.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor array is a magnetoresistive sensor array.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is portable.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said amplifier is an audio amplifier and said output device is a speaker.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said output device is an ultrasonic transducer.

6. A portable device for reading information stored on a magnetic strip of a card, comprising:

a card reader having activation means and a Hall sensor array positioned to be in alignment with the magnetic strip of the card when the card is properly placed within the reader, said activation means, responsive to proper placement of the card within the reader, activating the Hall sensor array for reading the information stored on the magnetic strip and outputting a read signal;

a sound signal generator connected to said reader for generating a sound signal based upon the read signal; and

a speaker connected to said sound signal generator for outputting the sound signal.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the modulated signal is in the audible frequency range.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said activation means includes a switch.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein said said activation means includes two contact pads for contacting a conductor bar on the card.

10. The device of claim 6, which said sound signal generator includes a modulator connected to said reader for modulating the read signal to obtain a modulated signal and an audio amplifier connected to said modulator for amplifying the modulated signal.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein said activation means deactivates, responsive to an absence of proper placement of the card within the reader, the Hall sensor array.

12. A portable device for reading information stored on a magnetic strip of a card and for converting the information to an audio signal, comprising:

a Hall sensor array for reading the information stored on the magnetic strip and outputting a read signal;

a sound signal generator connected to said array for generating a sound signal based upon the read signal, said sound signal generator including a modulator connected to said Hall sensor array for modulating the read signal as a modulated signal in an audible frequency range, and an audio amplifier connected to said modulator for amplifying the modulated signal; and

a speaker connected to said sound signal generator for outputting the amplified modulated signal.

13. A device for reading information stored on a magnetic strip of a card and for converting the information to a smart card format, comprising:

an array of Hall sensors;

a current source associated with each of said Hall sensors;

a delay line connected to each of said Hall sensors and to said current source, said delay line controlling said current source to sequentially activate each Hall sensor, each activated Hall sensor generating a signal in response to information stored on the magnetic strip of said card;

an amplifier connected to said Hall sensor array for amplifying the generated signal;

a logic circuit connected to said amplifier for converting the amplified signal into electronic pulses; and

a contact connected to said logic circuit for receiving the electronic pulses.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a speaker connected to said amplifier for outputting the amplified signal.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the delay line comprises a plurality of shift registers clocked to a common source.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising current lead lines to the current source and voltage lead lines, said current lead lines being coated with a better conductor material than the voltage lead lines and lines connecting the Hall sensors, such that current flow in the Y-direction is enhanced and parasitic flow of current in the X-direction is reduced.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein resistance in the voltage lead lines and lines connecting the Hall sensors is on an order of 100 times resistance in the current lead lines so that current is guided through the Hall sensors from top to bottom.