Card reader and method of operating the same

• US 9,536,118 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Hyunjae, Park, Sangchan, Kim, Junho, Song, Iljong
• Primary Examiner(s): FILE, ERIN M
• Application Number:
  US14/817,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20160086002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device

Abstract

A card reader performing a wireless communication with a card includes a first pulse generation unit generating a first detection pulse for detecting the card, a second pulse generation unit generating a plurality of second detection pulses for detecting the card, or a plurality of communication pulses for communicating with the card, and a card detection unit for sensing a card being detected by the first detection pulse or the second detection pulses. In the case that the card is not sensed through the first detection pulse, the second pulse generation unit generates the second detection pulses using the communication pulses and senses the card using the second detection pulses.

Claims

1. A card reader for wirelessly communicating with a card, the card reader comprising:

a first pulse generation unit configured to generate a first detection pulse for detecting the card;

a second pulse generation unit configured to generate at least one second detection pulse for detecting the card based on at least one communication pulse that is used to communicate with the card; and

a card detection unit configured to detect the card based on a reflection signal received in response to the first detection pulse or the at least one second detection pulse.

2. The card reader of claim 1, wherein the second pulse generation unit includes at least one detection pulse generator configured to generate the at least one second detection pulse or the at least one communication pulse.

3. The card reader of claim 2, wherein the second pulse generation unit further comprises a communication pulse generation unit configured to generate the at least one communication pulse if the card detection unit detects the card in response to one of the first detection pulse and the at least one second detection pulse.

4. The card reader of claim 1, further comprising a timer configured to periodically output a plurality of clock signals to the first pulse generation unit and the second pulse generation unit.

5. The card reader of claim 4, wherein if the reflection signal is received from the card, the card detection unit is configured to output a control signal to the timer and to instruct the timer to stop outputting the clock signals.

6. The card reader of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication pulse comprises:

a command for communicating with one of a type TYPEA card, a TYPEB card, a TYPEF card and a TYPEV card;

a first guard time area in which power is applied to the card; and

a second guard time area in which the card reader waits for a response from the card.

7. The card reader of claim 6, wherein the card reader is configured to generate the at least one second detection pulse by reducing the first and second guard time areas of the at least one communication pulse.

8. The card reader of claim 1, wherein the card reader is configured to generate the at least one second detection pulse such that the at least one second detection pulse has a signal level higher than a signal level of the first detection pulse.

9. The card reader of claim 1, further comprising a card type detection unit configured to determine a type of the card based on the reflection signal received from the card, if the card reader detects the card in response to the first detection pulse or the at least one second detection pulse.

10. The card reader of claim 1, wherein the second pulse generation unit is configured to generate the at least one second detection pulse to detect the card, if the card is not detected in response to the first detection pulse.

11. An operation method of a card reader configured to detect a card comprising:

generating a first detection pulse for detecting the card;

periodically outputting the first detection pulse to detect the card;

determining whether the card is detected;

generating at least one second detection pulse by modifying at least one communication pulse used to communicate with the card; and

sequentially outputting the at least one second detection pulse based on whether the card is detected.

12. The operation method of claim 11, wherein the outputting the at least one second detection pulse further comprises:

outputting a first one of the at least one second detection pulse;

determining whether the card is detected; and

outputting a second one of the at least one second detection pulse based on whether the card is detected in response to the first one of the at least one second detection pulse.

13. The operation method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a type of the card, if the card is detected in response to the first detection pulse or the at least one second detection pulse.

14. The operation method of claim 12, further comprising outputting the first detection pulse again, if the card reader does not detect the card in response to one of the at least one second detection pulse.

15. A card reader comprising:

an antenna; and

a processor configured to,

output, via the antenna, a first detection pulse to detect a card, and

output, via the antenna, at least one second detection pulse if the card is not detected by the first detection pulse, the at least one second detection pulse being generated using at least one communication pulse associated with communicating with the card.

16. The card reader of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to detect the card by waiting for receipt of a reflection signal from the card in response to the card receiving one of the first detection pulse and the at least one second detection pulse.

17. The card reader of claim 15, wherein the card reader is configured to support near field communication to communicate data with the card using the at least one communication pulse after the card is detected.

18. The card reader of claim 15, wherein the card reader is configured to generate the at least one second detection pulse such that the at least one second detection pulse has a signal level higher than a signal level of the first detection pulse and guard times shorter than the at least one communication pulse, and

the card reader is configured to supply power to the card during a first one of the guard times, and wait for a response from the card during a second one of the guard times.

19. The card reader of claim 17, wherein the response from the card is a reflection signal generated in response to one of the first detection pulse and the at least one second detection pulse.

20. The card reader of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to modify guard times associated with the at least one communication pulse to generate the at least one second detection pulse such that the at least one second detection pulse has guard times associated therewith that are shorter than the guard times associated with the at least one communication pulse.