Multiple sensor detector systems and detection methods of magnetic cards and devices

• US 9,010,647 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Workley, James H., Shippee, Geoffrey D., Bruner, Kevin David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US13/770,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20140117094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/439, 235/441, 235/449, 235/451, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state

Abstract

A powered card may include a plurality of types of sensors used to detect a read-head of a card reader. Detection of a read-head may include comparing characteristics of a detection event to characteristics of an expected detection event and/or a sequence of expected detection events. An inductive read-head sensor may include a coil of a dynamic magnetic stripe communication device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a card, an object with a capacitive sensor;

activating an inductive sensor; and

detecting conductivity, by the card, using the inductive sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a third type of sensor; and

detecting an ambient property using the third type of sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a third type of sensor; and

detecting an ambient property using the third type of sensor,

wherein the third type of sensor is a photoelectric sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device upon the detection of the object by capacitive sensor and the detection of conductivity by the inductive sensor.

5. A card, comprising:

a capacitive sensor operable to detect an external object;

an inductive sensor operable to detect conductivity of the external object; and

a processor operable to communicate data based on the detection of the external object and the conductivity of the external object.

6. The card of claim 5, further comprising:

a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device,

wherein the processor is operable to communicate data via the dynamic magnetic stripe communications device, and

the inductive sensor includes at least a portion of the dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

7. The card of claim 5, further comprising:

a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device,

wherein the processor is operable to communicate data via the dynamic magnetic stripe communications device,

the dynamic magnetic stripe communications device includes at least one coil, and

the inductive sensor includes at least a portion of one coil selected from the group consisting of the at least one coil and a separate coil.

8. The card of claim 5, wherein the inductive sensor includes at least two coils.

9. The card of claim 5, further comprising:

a third sensor,

wherein the third sensor is a type of sensor selected from the group consisting of a photoelectric sensor, a magnetic sensor, a thermal sensor and a sonic sensor.

10. The card of claim 5, further comprising an oscillator.

11. The card of claim 5, further comprising an amplification and detection determination device.

12. The card of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one amplification and detection determination device,

wherein the processor is operable to communicate data based on an output of the at least one amplification and detection determination device.

13. The card of claim 5, further comprising:

a display; and

a button.

14. The card of claim 5, further comprising:

an RFID; and

an EMV chip.