IC card reading method and card reader

Abstract

The present invention discloses an IC card reading method and a card reader. The IC card reading method comprises the following steps: after the IC card reaches a designated position, the stylus is controlled to move toward the IC card and abut against the chip of the IC card to read the chip information; if the control component connected to the stylus cannot read the chip information, the stylus is controlled to repeat the action of detaching from the chip and abutting against the chip. In the reading method, the stylus achieves good contact with the chip by repeatedly detaching from the chip and moving toward the chip and abutting against the chip. The chip does not need to move back and forth, avoiding friction between the chip and the stylus, thereby avoiding wear, deformation or breakage of the stylus, and reducing the failure rate of the card reader.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of card readers, and in particular to an IC card reading method and a card reader. Background Art

[0002] A card reader is a device that reads information from an IC card. The card reader contacts the chip on the IC card through a stylus to read the information in the chip.

[0003] Due to oxidation or contamination of the chip on the IC card, the existing card reader may not be able to read the chip information after the stylus contacts the chip. The IC card needs to be moved back and forth to make the stylus contact the chip well, thereby completing the reading of the chip information.

[0004] In this reading method, the stylus is always in contact and friction with the chip during the movement of the chip, which will not only cause serious wear of the stylus and chip, and the stylus cannot make normal contact with the chip or has poor contact, thus failing to correctly read the chip information, but also cause the stylus to be deformed or even broken due to force, increasing the failure rate of the card reader. Summary of the invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reading method to avoid the wear and deformation of the stylus and reduce the failure rate of the card reader.

[0006] To achieve this object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A method for reading an IC card. After the IC card reaches a specified position, a control pin is controlled to move toward the IC card and abut against a chip of the IC card to read chip information. If a control component connected to the contact pin cannot read chip information, the contact pin is controlled to repeatedly separate from and abut against the chip.

[0008] Among them, after controlling the contact pin to repeatedly separate from and contact with the chip for a specified number of times, if the control component cannot read the chip information, the card swallowing or card ejection action is performed.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a card reader that avoids friction between the stylus and the chip, thereby preventing the stylus from being worn and deformed, and reducing the failure rate of the card reader.

[0010] To achieve this object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0011] A card reader using the above reading method comprises:

[0012] Support seat;

[0013] A plurality of contact pins, the contact pins being used to contact the chip of the IC card;

[0014] A return spring, connected to the support seat and the contact pin respectively;

[0015] An electromagnetic coil is arranged on the support seat, and the electromagnetic coil is used to absorb the contact pin so that the contact pin contacts the chip on the IC card;

[0016] The control component is connected to the electromagnetic coil and the contact pin respectively, and is used to control the on and off of the electromagnetic coil and read the chip information.

[0017] Wherein, the contact needle includes a needle handle and a contact end connected to the needle handle, the needle handle is magnetic or made of iron material, and the needle handle is connected to the reset spring and is located at one end of the electromagnetic coil.

[0018] Wherein, the needle handle and the contact end are connected via a connecting portion, and the connecting portion is made of insulating material.

[0019] There are eight contact pins, which are symmetrically distributed in two rows.

[0020] Wherein, each contact pin or each column of contact pins is correspondingly provided with one electromagnetic coil.

[0021] Wherein, it also includes a stop cover, which is arranged on the support seat and abuts against the upper end of the needle handle.

[0022] Wherein, it also includes a guide plate connected to the support seat, and the guide plate is provided with a guide hole allowing the contact end to pass through.

[0023] There are multiple guide plates, and the guide plates are arranged at intervals along the moving direction of the contact pin.

[0024] Beneficial effects: The present invention provides an IC card reading method and a card reader. The IC card reading method comprises the following steps: after the IC card reaches the designated position, the stylus is controlled to move toward the IC card and abut against the chip of the IC card to read the chip information; if the control component connected to the stylus cannot read the chip information, the stylus is controlled to repeat the action of detaching from the chip and abutting against the chip. In the reading method, the stylus achieves good contact with the chip by repeatedly detaching from the chip and moving toward the chip and abutting against the chip. The chip does not need to move back and forth, avoiding friction between the chip and the stylus, thereby avoiding wear, deformation or breakage of the stylus, and reducing the failure rate of the card reader. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is a flow chart of the IC card reading method provided by the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2It is a structural schematic diagram of the card reader provided by the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the guide plate provided by the present invention.

[0028] in:

[0029] 1. Support seat; 2. Contact pin; 21. Contact end; 22. Connecting part; 23. Needle handle; 24. Data wire; 3. Reset spring; 4. Electromagnetic coil; 5. Stop cover; 6. Guide plate; 61. Guide hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the technical problem solved by the present invention, the technical solution adopted and the technical effect achieved more clearly, the technical solution of the present invention is further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings and through specific implementation methods.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a method for reading an IC card. Currently, most IC cards are read in a contact-type manner. A card reader generally includes a card insertion port, an IC card transmission channel, a transmission mechanism, a control component, a sensor component, and a plurality of contact pins. The card insertion port is connected to the IC card transmission channel, and the control component is connected to the transmission mechanism, the contact pin, and the sensor component. When the IC card enters the IC card transmission channel from the card insertion port of the card reader, the control component controls the transmission mechanism to move and transmit the IC card. The sensor component is used to detect whether the IC card has reached a specified position to ensure the position accuracy of the IC card transmission. The contact pin contacts the chip in the IC card and reads the information of the chip through the control component.

[0032] When the transmission mechanism inside the card reader drives the IC card to move, and the sensor component detects that the IC card has moved to the specified position, the control pin moves toward the IC card and contacts the chip on the IC card to read the chip information. Since the chip is easily oxidized or contaminated, after the pin contacts the chip on the IC card, there is poor contact and the chip information cannot be read. If the control component connected to the pin cannot read the chip information, the control pin repeatedly detaches from and contacts the chip, that is, the pin repeatedly hits the chip on the IC card. Since the pin has a certain impulse to the chip during the process of moving toward the chip, the contact effect between the pin and the chip can be improved, ensuring good contact between the pin and the chip on the IC card, thereby ensuring that the control component can read the chip information and avoid card reader reading errors.

[0033] With regard to the reading method in the prior art, in the reading method of this embodiment, the stylus achieves good contact between the chip and the chip by repeatedly separating from the chip and moving toward the chip and abutting against the chip. The chip does not need to move back and forth, thereby avoiding friction between the chip and the stylus, thereby avoiding wear, deformation or breakage of the stylus and reducing the failure rate of the card reader.

[0034] To further ensure good contact between the contact pin and the chip, the end face where the contact pin contacts the chip can be a convex arc surface. When the chip surface is worn, scratched or uneven due to various reasons, the arc surface can adapt well to the surface of the chip, thereby obtaining good contact.

[0035] When the control stylus repeatedly disengages from and abuts against the chip for a specified number of times, and the control component still cannot read the chip information, the control stylus is disengaged from the chip to perform a card swallowing or card ejection action, thereby avoiding the card reader repeating the reading action due to IC card failure or IC card insertion in the wrong direction, which wastes the operator's time. The specified number of times the stylus repeatedly disengages from and abuts against the chip can be determined according to actual conditions.

[0036] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment also provides a card reader to implement the above-mentioned card reading method. The card reader includes a support seat 1, a plurality of contact pins 2, a reset spring 3, an electromagnetic coil 4 and a control component. The electromagnetic coil 4 and the reset spring 3 are both arranged on the support seat 1. The two ends of the reset spring 3 are respectively connected to the support seat 1 and the contact pin 2. When the electromagnetic coil 4 is energized, it will generate magnetic force and adsorb the contact pin 2 so that the contact pin 2 contacts the chip on the IC card. The reset spring 3 is used to support the contact pin 2, and the direction of the elastic force of the reset spring 3 on the contact pin 2 is opposite to the direction of the adsorption force of the electromagnetic coil 4 on the contact pin 2. When the electromagnetic coil 4 is powered off, the elastic restoring force of the reset spring 3 resets the contact pin 2, thereby separating the contact pin 2 from the IC card. The control component is respectively connected to the electromagnetic coil 4 and the contact pin 2, and is used to control the power on and off of the electromagnetic coil 4 and read the chip information.

[0037] When the IC card reaches the designated position, the control component controls the electromagnetic coil 4 to be energized, so that the stylus 2 contacts the chip and reads the chip information. If the control component cannot read the chip information, the control component controls the electromagnetic coil 4 to be powered on and off, and controls the stylus 2 to repeatedly separate from and contact with the chip, that is, the control component controls the stylus 2 to repeatedly hit the chip, thereby ensuring that the stylus 2 contacts the chip well to read the chip information.

[0038] In this embodiment, the control component may include one controller or two controllers, one connected to the stylus 2 via the data conductor 24 to read the chip information; and the other connected to the electromagnetic coil 4 to control the on and off of the electromagnetic coil 4.

[0039] Specifically, if Figure 2As shown, the contact pin 2 includes a needle handle 23 and a contact end 21 connected to the needle handle 23, the contact end 21 is used to contact the chip, and the data wire 24 is connected to the contact end 21. The needle handle 23 is magnetic or made of iron material, so that after the electromagnetic coil 4 is energized, it can move under the action of the adsorption force. The needle handle 23 is connected to the reset spring 3 and is located at one end of the electromagnetic coil 4.

[0040] In this embodiment, the contact end 21 is arranged perpendicular to the IC card, the needle handle 23 is parallel to the IC card, the reset spring 3 is connected to the bottom end of the needle handle 23, and the electromagnetic coil 4 is located below the needle handle 23. When the electromagnetic coil 4 is energized, the electromagnetic coil 4 adsorbs the needle handle 23, thereby compressing the spring, so that the needle handle 23 drives the contact end 21 to move downward and abut against the chip. When the electromagnetic coil 4 is de-energized, the adsorption force of the electromagnetic coil 4 on the needle handle 23 disappears, and the needle handle 23 moves upward under the elastic force of the reset spring 3, so that the contact end 21 is separated from the chip.

[0041] To prevent the electromagnetic coil 4 from affecting the control component in reading chip information through the contact terminal 21 when it is energized, the needle handle 23 and the contact terminal 21 are connected via a connecting portion 22, which is made of insulating material, thereby preventing the electromagnetic coil 4 from interfering with the chip reading when it is energized.

[0042] In order to prevent the reset spring 3 from shaking during the movement, thereby changing the relative position of the contact end 21 and the chip, a guide column can also be provided on the support seat 1, and the reset spring 3 can be sleeved on the outside of the guide column, and ensure that the upper end of the reset spring 3 is higher than the guide column by a certain distance, so as to ensure that the needle handle 23 does not interfere with the guide column during the downward movement, thereby ensuring that the needle handle 23 moves downward to a distance that allows the contact end 21 to contact the chip. The distance that the reset spring 3 is higher than the guide column should not be too long to prevent the needle handle 23 from shaking during the movement.

[0043] The guide column may also be a hollow structure so that the reset spring 3 is placed inside the guide column. The inner wall of the guide column may also limit and guide the reset spring 3, thereby ensuring that the contact position between the moving contact end 21 and the chip is fixed.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown, in order to further improve the contact position accuracy between the contact end 21 and the chip, the card reader may further include a guide plate 6, which is connected to the support base 1. The guide plate 6 is provided with a plurality of guide holes 61 for allowing the contact end 21 to pass through. A guide hole 61 is correspondingly provided at the contact end 21 of each contact pin 2. The guide hole 61 can guide the contact pin 2 to prevent the contact end 21 of the contact pin 2 from tilting or misaligning, thereby ensuring the position accuracy of the contact pin 2 and the chip.

[0045] In this embodiment, three guide plates 6 are provided, and the three guide plates 6 can be arranged at intervals along the moving direction of the contact pin 2 to ensure that the axis of the contact end 21 does not move during the entire moving process, thereby improving the position accuracy of the contact pin 2 and the chip. Of course, two, four or more guide plates 6 can also be provided, and the specific number can be determined according to actual conditions.

[0046] In this embodiment, the number of the contact pins 2 is 8, and the 8 contact pins 2 are symmetrically distributed in two columns, that is, there are 4 contact pins 2 in each column. The positions of the 8 contact pins 2 correspond to the chip in the IC card, and the 8 contact pins 2 are in contact with the chip at the same time to realize the reading of the chip information.

[0047] In this embodiment, each stylus 2 includes a handle 23 and a contact end 21, so that after a single stylus 2 is damaged, it can be independently replaced or repaired, which is convenient for the maintenance of the card reader in the future. Of course, eight contact ends 21 or each column of contact ends 21 can share one handle 23, and for the convenience of independent maintenance, each contact end 21 can be detachably connected to the handle 23.

[0048] Accordingly, each contact pin 2 may correspond to one electromagnetic coil 4, or each column of contact pins 2 may correspond to one electromagnetic coil 4, as long as the adsorption of the needle handle 23 can be achieved.

[0049] After the power is turned off, the adsorption force of the electromagnetic coil 4 on the needle handle 23 suddenly disappears, and the needle handle 23 has an upward acceleration and impulse under the action of the reset spring 3. In order to prevent the needle handle 23 from continuing to move upward after returning to the initial position, thereby causing the needle handle 23 to fluctuate up and down, the card reader also includes a stop cover 5, which is arranged on the support seat 1 and located above the needle handle 23. The stop cover 5 can abut against the upper end of the needle handle 23 to prevent the needle handle 23 from continuing to move upward. The stop cover 5 can also have a certain gap with the upper end of the needle handle 23, and the needle handle 23 abuts against the stop cover 5 after moving up a certain distance, thereby preventing the needle handle 23 from continuing to move upward.

[0050] In this embodiment, the contact pin 2 can be detached from the chip when the electromagnetic coil 4 is energized, and the contact pin 2 can move toward the chip and abut against the chip when the electromagnetic coil 4 is deenergized. This structure can also achieve repeated actions of the contact pin 2 being detached from the chip and the contact pin 2 being abutted against the chip by controlling the on and off power of the electromagnetic coil 4. Accordingly, after the IC card is inserted into the card reader, the electromagnetic coil 4 needs to remain energized so that the IC card can move to the specified position and does not contact the contact pin 2 during the movement.

[0051] The positions of the electromagnetic coil 4, the reset spring 3 and the needle handle 23 can also be changed accordingly. For example, the reset spring 3 is a tension spring connected to the upper end of the needle handle 23. After the electromagnetic coil 4 is powered off, the needle handle 23 moves upward under the pulling force of the reset spring 3, so that the contact end 21 is separated from the chip. Similarly, the position of the electromagnetic coil 4 can also be changed accordingly, as long as the direction of the adsorption force of the electromagnetic coil 4 on the needle handle 23 is opposite to the direction of the elastic force of the reset spring 3 on the needle handle 23.

[0052] In this embodiment, the support seat 1 can be a slot structure with an opening at the upper end. A through hole is set in the middle of the support seat 1 to facilitate the passage of the contact pin 2. The electromagnetic coil 4 and the reset spring 3 are both located in the slot, and the stop cover 5 closes the opening of the support seat 1, so that the electromagnetic coil 4, the reset spring 3, etc. are all located in a relatively closed environment formed by the support seat 1 and the stop cover 5, which can play a dust-proof role, protect the internal structure, and increase the service life of the card reader.

[0053] The above contents are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, according to the concept of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scopes. The content of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for reading an IC card, comprising a card reader, The card reader comprises: Support seat (1); A plurality of contact pins (2), the contact pins (2) being used for contacting a chip of an IC card; A return spring (3) connected to the support seat (1) and the contact pin (2) respectively; An electromagnetic coil (4) is arranged on the support seat (1), and the electromagnetic coil (4) is used to absorb the contact pin (2) so that the contact pin (2) contacts the chip on the IC card; A control component, connected to the electromagnetic coil (4) and the contact pin (2) respectively, and used for controlling the on and off of the electromagnetic coil (4) and reading the chip information; The invention is characterized in that after the IC card reaches the designated position, the control pin moves toward the IC card and contacts the chip of the IC card to read the chip information; if the control component connected to the contact pin cannot read the chip information, the control pin is controlled to repeatedly separate from and contact the chip; After controlling the contact pin to repeatedly separate from and contact with the chip for a specified number of times, if the control component cannot read the chip information, the card swallowing or card ejection action is performed; The contact needle (2) comprises a needle handle (23) and a contact end (21) connected to the needle handle (23), wherein the needle handle (23) is magnetic or made of iron material, and the needle handle (23) is connected to the return spring (3) and is located at one end of the electromagnetic coil (4); The needle handle (23) and the contact end (21) are connected via a connecting portion (22), and the connecting portion (22) is made of insulating material.

2. The reading method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the contact pins (2) is 8, and the 8 contact pins (2) are symmetrically distributed in two rows.

3. The reading method according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each or each row of the contact pins (2) is correspondingly provided with an electromagnetic coil (4).

4. The reading method according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: It also comprises a stop cover (5), wherein the stop cover (5) is arranged on the support seat (1) and is located above the needle handle (23).

5. The reading method according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: It also comprises a guide plate (6) connected to the support seat (1), wherein the guide plate (6) is provided with a guide hole (61) allowing the contact end (21) to pass through.

6. The reading method according to claim 5, characterized in that: There are a plurality of guide plates (6), and the plurality of guide plates (6) are arranged at intervals along the moving direction of the contact pin (2).

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