Adaptor for magnetic stripe card reader

• US 7,051,932 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Technologies & Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: ViVOtech Incorporated
• Inventors: Khan, Mohammad A., Brown, Kerry D., Fernandes, Jorge M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US10/306,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20030218066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 235/449, 235/380, 235/383, 235/453, 235/441, 235/487, 235/493, 235/451, 235/492
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means

Abstract

An adaptor allows a magnetic stripe card reader to receive information from other media such as wireless proximity chip cards while maintaining the ability to receive a magnetic stripe card. In accordance with one embodiment, the adaptor includes a simulacrum structure of sufficiently narrow width to fit substantially permanently within the slot of the magnetic stripe reading device, while providing sufficient room for a magnetic stripe card to also be concurrently accommodated within the slot and read by the reader head. The simulacrum structure may be in electronic communication with one or more transceivers of wireless communications such as RF and IR.

Claims

1. An adaptor for a magnetic stripe card reader comprising:

a simulacrum configured to be substantially permanently positioned within a slot of a magnetic stripe card reader, the simulacrum comprising an inductor aligned with a magnetic head of the magnetic stripe card reader and configured to generate a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic head, a presence of the simulacrum within the slot allowing the magnetic head to continue to receive signals from a magnetic stripe card;

a wireless transceiver, wherein the wireless transceiver is housed in an element separate from the simulacrum, the element in electronic communication with the simulacrum through one of a wired and a wireless connection; and

a processor in electronic communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to receive a wireless signal from the wireless transceiver, to convert the wireless signal into a corresponding series of electrical pulses emulating the wireless signal in a magnetic stripe format, and to communicate the pulses to the simulacrum.

2. The adaptor of claim 1 further comprising a separate magnetic card reader comprising a separate slot and a separate magnetic head, the separate magnetic head in electronic communication with the simulacrum.

3. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the simulacrum occupies a cross-sectional width of about 0.050″

or less within the slot to allow the slot to accommodate a magnetic stripe card and the simulacrum at the same time.

4. The adaptor of claim 3 wherein the simulacrum is substantially permanently secured within the slot distal from the magnetic head to define a gap proximate to the magnetic head for receiving the magnetic stripe card.

5. An adaptor for a magnetic stripe card reader comprising:

a simulacrum configured to be substantially permanently positioned within a slot of a magnetic stripe card reader, the simulacrum comprising an inductor aligned with a magnetic head of the magnetic stripe card reader and configured to generate a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic head, a presence of the simulacrum within the slot allowing the magnetic head to continue to receive signals from a magnetic stripe card, and

wherein the inductor comprises a conductive coil surrounding a magnetic core to define a magneto-inductive gap, and

wherein the magnetic core comprises cobalt alloy.

6. The adaptor of claim 5 wherein the cobalt alloy comprises a percentage composition of cobalt of 30% or greater.

7. An adaptor for a magnetic stripe card reader comprising:

a simulacrum configured to be substantially permanently positioned within a slot of a magnetic stripe card reader, the simulacrum comprising an inductor aligned with a magnetic head of the magnetic stripe card reader and configured to generate a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic head, a presence of the simulacrum within the slot allowing the magnetic head to continue to receive signals from a magnetic stripe card, and

wherein the inductor comprises a conductive coil surrounding a magnetic core to define a magneto-inductive gap, and

wherein the magneto-inductive gap is defined between a first portion of the core and a second portion of the core spaced horizontally from the first core portion, the first and second core portions comprising separate elements, the coil comprising a first coil wrapped around the first core and a second coil wrapped around the second core.

8. An adaptor for a magnetic stripe card reader comprising:

a simulacrum configured to be substantially permanently positioned within a slot of a magnetic stripe card reader, the simulacrum comprising an inductor aligned with a magnetic head of the magnetic stripe card reader and configured to generate a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic head, a presence of the simulacrum within the slot allowing the magnetic head to continue to receive signals from a magnetic stripe card, wherein the simulacrum occupies a cross-sectional width of about 0.050″

or less within the slot, and wherein the magnetic head is moveably biased to project into the gap, and movement of the magnetic stripe card through the slot between the simulacrum and the head is accommodated by movement of the magnetic head to allow the slot to accommodate a magnetic stripe card and the simulacrum at the same time.

9. An adaptor for a point-of-sale (POS) magnetic stripe card reader to be used to conduct a transaction over a network coupled to the POS reader, the adapter comprising:

a wireless transceiver adapted to receive account information from a wireless device via a wireless signal, wherein the wireless transceiver is housed in a first portion separate from a second portion including the simulacrum;

a simulacrum adapted to be inserted into a card reading slot of the POS card reader, the simulacrum including an inductor which can be aligned with a magnetic head of the card reader, wherein the simulacrum is sufficiently thin to allow a magnetic stripe card to be swiped through the card reading slot and be read by the magnetic head while the simulacrum is positioned within the slot; and

a processor in electronic communication with the wireless transceiver and with the simulacrum, the processor configured to receive a wireless signal to an emulated signal that can be sent to the inductor in the simulacrum, read by the magnetic head of the card reader, and transmitted over the network.

10. The adaptor of claim 9 wherein the first and second portion are configured to communicate through a wireless signal.

11. An adaptor for a point-of-sale (POS) magnetic stripe card reader to be used to conduct a transaction over a network coupled to the POS reader, the adapter comprising:

a wireless transceiver adapted to receive account information from a wireless device via a wireless signal;

a simulacrum adapted to be inserted into a card reading slot of the POS card reader, the simulacrum including an inductor which can be aligned with a magnetic head of the card reader, wherein the simulacrum is sufficiently thin to allow a magnetic stripe card to be swiped through the card reading slot and be read by the magnetic head while the simulacrum is positioned within the slot, wherein the inductor comprises a conductive coil surrounding a magnetic core to define a magneto-inductive gap, and wherein the magnetic core comprises a cobalt alloy; and

a processor in electronic communication with the wireless transceiver and with the simulacrum, the processor configured to receive a wireless signal to an emulated signal that can be sent to the inductor in the simulacrum, read by the magnetic head of the card reader, and transmitted over the network.

12. The adaptor of claim 11 wherein the cobalt alloy comprises a percentage composition of cobalt of 30% or greater.

13. An adaptor for a point-of-sale (POS) magnetic stripe card reader to be used to conduct a transaction over a network coupled to the POS reader, the adapter comprising:

a wireless transceiver adapted to receive account information from a wireless device via a wireless signal;

a simulacrum adapted to be inserted into a card reading slot of the POS card reader, the simulacrum including an inductor which can be aligned with a magnetic head of the card reader, wherein the simulacrum is sufficiently thin to allow a magnetic stripe card to be swiped through the card reading slot and be read by the magnetic head while the simulacrum is positioned within the slot;

wherein the inductor comprises a conductive coil surrounding a magnetic core to define a magneto-inductive gap, and

wherein the magneto-inductive gap is defined between a first portion of the core and a second portion of the core spaced horizontally from the first core portion, the first and second core portions comprising separate elements, the coil comprising a first coil wrapped around the first core and a second coil wrapped around the second core; and

a processor in electronic communication with the wireless transceiver and with the simulacrum, the processor configured to receive a wireless signal to an emulated signal that can be sent to the inductor in the simulacrum, read by the magnetic head of the card reader, and transmitted over the network.

14. The adaptor of claim 13 wherein the wireless device is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a proximity chip card, and a personal trusted device.

15. A method for adapting a magnetic stripe card reader for use with an RF proximity chip card, the method comprising:

providing a magnetic stripe card reader having a slot and a magnetic head in magnetic communication with the slot;

disposing substantially permanently within the slot a simulacrum including an inductor aligned with the magnetic reader head, the simulacrum sufficiently narrow to allow a magnetic stripe card to access the slot and the magnetic head while the simulacrum is present within the slot;

providing a transceiver configured to receive a signal;

translating the communication signal from the transceiver into a series of electrical pulses emulating the signal in a magnetic stripe card format; and

communicating the series of electrical pulses to the inductor to generate a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic head, wherein the series of electrical pulses are translated from a wireless communication signal having a format selected from the group consisting of ISO 14443 Type A/B, ISO 15693, IEEE 802.11(a), IEEE 802.11(b), IEEE 802.11(g), IrDA version 1.2 or greater, and ViVOtech, Inc. Propitiatory IR.

16. A method for adapting a magnetic stripe card reader for use with an RF proximity chip card, the method comprising:

providing a magnetic stripe card reader having a slot and a magnetic head in magnetic communication with the slot;

disposing substantially permanently within the slot a simulacrum including an inductor aligned with the magnetic reader head, the simulacrum sufficiently narrow to allow a magnetic stripe card to access the slot and the magnetic head while the simulacrum is present within the slot;

providing a transceiver configured to receive a signal;

translating the communication signal from the transceiver into a series of electrical pulses emulating the signal in a magnetic stripe card format; and

communicating the series of electrical pulses to the inductor to generate a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic head, wherein the magnetic field generated by the inductor exhibits a horizontal domain relative to the magnetic head.

17. A method for adapting a magnetic stripe card reader for use with an RF proximity chip card, the method comprising:

providing a magnetic stripe card reader having a slot and a magnetic head in magnetic communication with the slot;

disposing substantially permanently within the slot a simulacrum including an inductor aligned with the magnetic reader head, the simulacrum sufficiently narrow to allow a magnetic stripe card to access the slot and the magnetic head while the simulacrum is present within the slot;

providing a transceiver configured to receive a signal;

translating the communication signal from the transceiver into a series of electrical pulses emulating the signal in a magnetic stripe card format; and

communicating the series of electrical pulses to the inductor to generate a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic head, wherein the magnetic field is generated across a gap between a first core element and a second core element.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the magnetic field has an intensity approximately equivalent to a magnetic stripe domain of between about 1000–

10,000 Oersteds.

19. A method for adapting a magnetic stripe card reader for use with an RF proximity chip card, the method comprising:

providing a magnetic stripe card reader having a slot and a magnetic head in magnetic communication with the slot;

disposing substantially permanently within the slot a simulacrum including an inductor aligned with the magnetic reader head, the simulacrum sufficiently narrow to allow a magnetic stripe card to access the slot and the magnetic head while the simulacrum is present within the slot;

providing a transceiver configured to receive a signal;

translating the communication signal from the transceiver into a series of electrical pulses emulating the signal in a magnetic stripe card format; and

communicating the series of electrical pulses to the inductor to generate a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic head, wherein the magnetic field is generated by applying a voltage to a ferroelectromagnetic material.

20. A method of using an RF proximity chip card to conduct a financial transactions over an existing magnetic stripe card point-of-sale (POS) network, the method comprising:

coupling an adaptor having a wireless transceiver, a processor, and a simulacrum including an inductor, to a magnetic card reading POS terminal by inserting the simulacrum into a magnetic card reading slot of the POS terminal and substantially permanently affixing the simulacrum to the terminal;

receiving with a wireless receiver a wireless signal from an RF proximity chip card comprising transaction information;

converting the wireless signal to a second signal emulating a magnetic card;

transmitting the second signal to the inductor aligned with a magnetic head of the terminal;

reading the second signal with the magnetic head;

transmitting the transaction information over the POS network using the POS terminal; and

allowing a magnetic card to be used in the POS terminal by swiping the magnetic card through a second slot provided in communication with the simulacrum.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the terminal receives one of an approval and a denial of the transaction after submitting the information to the POS network.

22. An adaptor designed for a magnetic stripe card reader conforming to ISO/IEC standard 7811, the magnetic card reader comprising a slot designed to accept a magnetic card for reading and a magnetic reader head positioned within the slot, the adaptor comprising;

a dielectric substrate designed to be inserted within the slot of the magnetic card reader, the substrate comprising a plurality of conductive traces and an inductor that can be communicatively coupled to the magnetic head when the substrate is positioned within the card reader slot, wherein the substrate has a thickness that allows a magnetic stripe card to be swiped through the card reader slot while the substrate is positioned within the slot, and wherein the dielectric substrate is made from a deformable material and further comprises an upper tab portion that is designed to be folded down to conform with and to be adhered to a top surface of the magnetic card reader; and

a wireless receiver that is electrically coupled to the conductive traces of the thin dielectric substrate.

23. The adaptor of claim 22 wherein the substrate occupies a cross-sectional width of about 0.050″

or less within the slot.

24. The adaptor of claim 22 wherein the inductor is configured to generate a magnetic field having a strength of between about 1000–

10,000 Oersteds.

25. A magnetic stripe card reader comprising:

a slot designed to accept a magnetic card for reading, the slot having first and second opposite sides;

a magnetic head that protrudes slightly into the slot from the first side of the slot;

a dielectric substrate positioned within the slot of the magnetic card reader and adhered to the second side of the slot, the substrate comprising a plurality of conductive traces and an inductor that is positioned to communicate with the magnetic head, wherein the substrate has a thickness that allows a magnetic stripe card to be swiped through the card reader slot while the substrate is positioned within the slot, and wherein the dielectric substrate is made from a deformable material and further comprises an upper tab portion that is designed to be folded down to conform with and to be adhered to a top surface of the magnetic card reader; and

a wireless receiver that is electrically coupled to the conductive traces of the thin dielectric substrate.

26. The reader of claim 25 wherein the substrate occupies a cross-sectional width of about 0.050″

or less within the slot.

27. The reader of claim 25 wherein the inductor is configured to generate a magnetic field having a strength of between about 1000–

10,000 Oersteds.