Terminal case with integrated dual reader stack
First Claim
1. A mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal for processing a financial transaction between a buyer and a merchant, the POS terminal comprising:
- a register application configured to be executed by a mobile computing device, wherein the register application is configured to receive payment information from the buyer via the mobile computing device, thereby facilitating a transfer of funds from the buyer to the merchant; and
a case mechanically coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the case comprises;
a first card slot of a plurality of card slots, the first card slot having a magnetic read head disposed within, the first card slot being configured to receive a magnetic stripe payment card from the buyer and to thereby facilitate the magnetic read head reading financial information associated with the buyer from a magnetic stripe of the magnetic stripe payment card, thereby facilitating a transfer of funds from the buyer to the merchant using the register application,a second card slot of the plurality of card slots, wherein an interior planar surface of the second card slot is disposed parallel to an interior planar surface of the first card slot, the second card slot having projections for contacting an integrated circuit (IC) disposed therein, the second card slot configured receive an IC payment card from the buyer and to thereby facilitate the projections reading financial information associated with the buyer from the IC of the IC payment card, thereby facilitating a transfer of funds from the buyer to the merchant using the register application,stacked reader circuitry disposed within the case, the stacked reader circuitry comprising first read circuitry and second read circuitry both disposed on a single printed circuit board (PCB), the first read circuitry is mechanically integrated with the magnetic read head and the second read circuitry is mechanically integrated with the projections for contacting the IC of the IC payment card, anda displacement mechanism configured to allow temporary physical displacement of at least a portion of the stacked reader circuitry upon receipt of a first card into one of the plurality of card slots.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the technology provide a multi-purpose card reader configured for use with a mobile electronic device (e.g., a mobile host), such as a smart phone or tablet computer. In certain aspects, the card reader is integrated into a case for enclosing the mobile electronic device and configured for reading financial information from a payment card to facilitate a financial transaction between a buyer and a merchant. To facilitate operability of the card reader, the case can include multiple card slots, such as a swipe-slot (e.g., for receiving a magnetic stripe payment card), and a dip-slot (e.g., for use in receiving an IC type payment card).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal for processing a financial transaction between a buyer and a merchant, the POS terminal comprising:
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a register application configured to be executed by a mobile computing device, wherein the register application is configured to receive payment information from the buyer via the mobile computing device, thereby facilitating a transfer of funds from the buyer to the merchant; and a case mechanically coupled to the mobile computing device, wherein the case comprises; a first card slot of a plurality of card slots, the first card slot having a magnetic read head disposed within, the first card slot being configured to receive a magnetic stripe payment card from the buyer and to thereby facilitate the magnetic read head reading financial information associated with the buyer from a magnetic stripe of the magnetic stripe payment card, thereby facilitating a transfer of funds from the buyer to the merchant using the register application, a second card slot of the plurality of card slots, wherein an interior planar surface of the second card slot is disposed parallel to an interior planar surface of the first card slot, the second card slot having projections for contacting an integrated circuit (IC) disposed therein, the second card slot configured receive an IC payment card from the buyer and to thereby facilitate the projections reading financial information associated with the buyer from the IC of the IC payment card, thereby facilitating a transfer of funds from the buyer to the merchant using the register application, stacked reader circuitry disposed within the case, the stacked reader circuitry comprising first read circuitry and second read circuitry both disposed on a single printed circuit board (PCB), the first read circuitry is mechanically integrated with the magnetic read head and the second read circuitry is mechanically integrated with the projections for contacting the IC of the IC payment card, and a displacement mechanism configured to allow temporary physical displacement of at least a portion of the stacked reader circuitry upon receipt of a first card into one of the plurality of card slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A case comprising:
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a first card slot of a plurality of card slots, the first card slot configured for receiving a magnetic stripe payment card; a second card slot of the plurality of card slots, wherein an interior planar surface of the second card slot is disposed parallel to an interior planar surface of the first card slot, the second card slot configured for receiving an integrated circuit (IC) payment card; stacked reader circuitry disposed within the case, the stacked reader circuitry comprising first read circuitry and second read circuitry both disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the first read circuitry is mechanically integrated with the first card slot and configured to read financial information from a magnetic stripe of the magnetic stripe payment card upon passage of the magnetic stripe payment card through the first card slot, and wherein the second read circuitry is mechanically integrated with the second card slot and configured to read financial information from an integrated circuit (IC) of the IC payment card upon receipt of the IC payment card into the second card slot; and a displacement mechanism configured to allow temporary physical displacement of at least a portion of the stacked reader circuitry upon receipt of a first card into one of the plurality of card slots. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A card reader comprising:
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a first card slot of a plurality of card slots, the first card slot configured for receiving a magnetic stripe payment card; a second card slot of the plurality of card slots, wherein an interior planar surface of the second card slot is disposed parallel to an interior planar surface of the first card slot, the second card slot configured for receiving an integrated circuit (IC) payment card; stacked reader circuitry comprising first read circuitry and second read circuitry, wherein the first read circuitry is mechanically integrated with the first card slot and configured to read financial information from a magnetic stripe of the magnetic stripe payment card upon passage of the magnetic stripe payment card through the first card slot, and wherein the second read circuitry is mechanically integrated with the second card slot and configured to read financial information from an integrated circuit (IC) of the IC payment card upon receipt of the IC payment card into the second card slot; and a displacement mechanism configured to allow temporary physical displacement of at least a portion of the stacked reader circuitry upon receipt of a first card into one of the plurality of card slots. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification