Tone-based wake up circuit for card reader
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for waking up a card reader, the method comprising:
- receiving, at an audio plug of the card reader, an audio signal from an audio jack of a mobile device;
comparing, by wake-up circuitry within the card reader, the audio signal with a microphone bias signal received from the audio jack of the mobile device;
outputting, by the wake-up circuitry within the card reader, a wake-up signal based on the comparing;
transitioning the card reader from a sleep mode to an awake mode in response to outputting the wake-up signal by the wake-up circuitry within the card reader; and
reading transaction data from a transaction object in response to transitioning the card reader from the sleep mode to the awake mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A card reader for a point-of-sale system that is configured to accept both magnetic strip-type and integrated circuit (IC) chip-type payment cards. The card reader is a component of a point-of-sale system including a portable computing device in communication with the card reader that is configured to present a first graphical user interface (GUI) when a magnetic stripe-type card is detected and a second GUI when an IC chip-type card is detected in the card reader. The card reader comprises a slot configured to receive the payment card, a magnetic reading device and an IC chip reading device. The card reader also includes a discriminator contact disposed within the slot that is configured to conduct across a surface of a metal pad of the IC chip-type card prior to the CI chip reading device making contact with the IC chip.
314 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for waking up a card reader, the method comprising:
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receiving, at an audio plug of the card reader, an audio signal from an audio jack of a mobile device; comparing, by wake-up circuitry within the card reader, the audio signal with a microphone bias signal received from the audio jack of the mobile device; outputting, by the wake-up circuitry within the card reader, a wake-up signal based on the comparing; transitioning the card reader from a sleep mode to an awake mode in response to outputting the wake-up signal by the wake-up circuitry within the card reader; and reading transaction data from a transaction object in response to transitioning the card reader from the sleep mode to the awake mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wake-up circuit for a portable card reader, comprising:
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a conditioning circuit comprising a capacitor coupled to an audio signal, and a bias circuit coupled to an input voltage, whereby the capacitor is configured to block any DC component on the audio signal and whereby the bias circuit is configured to bias the input voltage to a biased input voltage; a comparator coupled to the audio signal and the biased input voltage, whereby the comparator is configured to output a wake-up signal whenever a voltage of the audio signal is greater than a voltage of the biased input voltage; and an envelope detector connected to an output of the comparator, the envelope detector configured to convert the wake-up signal to a DC voltage wake-up signal and to output the DC voltage wake-up signal, the portable card reader configured to transition from a sleep mode to an awake mode following output of the DC voltage wake-up signal, the portable card reader configured to read transaction data from a transaction object in response to transitioning the portable card reader from the sleep mode to the awake mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A card reader comprising:
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an audio plug configured to be inserted into an audio jack of a mobile device; a slot for receiving a payment card; a media reading device for reading information off the payment card in response to the card reader transitioning from a sleep mode to an awake mode; and a wake up circuit comprising; a conditioning circuit comprising a capacitor coupled to an audio input of the audio jack of the mobile device, and a bias circuit coupled to a microphone bias signal, whereby the capacitor is configured to block any DC component on the audio input and whereby the bias circuit is configured to bias the microphone bias signal to a biased input voltage, a comparator coupled to the audio input and the biased input voltage, whereby the comparator is configured to output a wake-up signal whenever a voltage of the audio input is greater than a voltage of the biased input voltage, and an envelope detector connected to an output of the comparator, the envelope detector configured to convert the wake-up signal from the comparator to a DC voltage wake-up signal and to output the DC voltage wake-up signal, the card reader configured to transition from the sleep mode to the awake mode following output of the DC voltage wake-up signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification