Dual Antiphase Card Reader Skimmer Disruption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motorized card readers are vulnerable to skimmers, which can steal magnetic encoded account information during transactions, as current electromagnetic disrupter solutions either prevent the card reader from functioning or allow skimmers to capture data.

Innovation Solution

A dual antiphase read-head motorized card reader is implemented, where electromagnetic noise is applied to both read heads, and an antiphase connection between the read heads transforms the noise 180 degrees, canceling it out on the primary read head while maintaining interference for any skimmer read head.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electromagnetic disrupters are activated to prevent skimmers from reading magnetic information, then security against skimmers is improved, but the card reader's ability to read magnetic encoded information is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against skimmersVSAvoidmagnetic encoded information reading capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The card reader is divided into multiple read heads (first read head and second read head), each serving different functions. The first read head is protected by noise cancellation for legitimate reading, while the second read head provides disruptive noise to prevent skimming, allowing both functions to coexist without interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the card reader have different electromagnetic characteristics. The first read head region has canceled electromagnetic noise for clean reading, while the second read head region maintains electromagnetic disruption to prevent skimmers from capturing magnetic information at other locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If electromagnetic disrupters are kept active at all times to prevent skimming, then security is improved, but transactions cannot be processed when cards are present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against skimmersVSAvoidtransaction processing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection to determine whether a card is present in the reader. Based on this detection, the electromagnetic disrupters are selectively activated or deactivated, ensuring security when no card is present while enabling normal transactions when a card is detected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electromagnetic disrupter system is made dynamic by adjusting its activation state based on real-time card detection. The system transitions between active disruption mode (no card present) and passive reading mode (card present), allowing both security and transaction functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If skimmers are made thinner to remain undetectable, then stealth is improved, but magnetic read performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual detectability of skimmerVSAvoidmagnetic read performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The card reader system applies preliminary anti-action by generating electromagnetic noise that actively counteracts skimmer attempts to read magnetic information. This preemptive disruption prevents thin skimmers from successfully capturing data, regardless of their reduced thickness and profile

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution allows the card reader to function normally by reading magnetic encoded information while preventing skimmers from accessing the same information, thereby enhancing transaction security without the need for constant disrupter activation.

Implementation Method 1

An antiphase connection between the second read head and the first read head transforms the electromagnetic waves associated with the electromagnetic noise on the second read head 180 degrees and the transformed waves are applied to the first read head. This cancels the electromagnetic noise signals on the first read head

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave transformation and interference: Interference

Implementation Method 2

the electromagnetic noise signal is still present to any skimmer read head that was inserted into the card slot preventing the skimmer read head from reading the magnetic encoded information off the magnetic strip of the card

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic interference: Interference

Data Source

PatentUS20250038880A1Internal card reader skimmer disrupter

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 NCR ATLEOS CORP

AI summary

A dual antiphase read-head arranged card reader is provided. The card reader includes a first read-head arrangement and a second read-head arrangement. Electromagnetic noise is applied to both the first and second arrangements. Waves associated with the electromagnetic noise on the second arrangement is transformed and applied to the first arrangement canceling the noise on a first read head of the first arrangement. The first read head reads magnetically encoded information on a magnetic strip of a card inserted into a card slot of the card reader free of noise. However, the noise remains present such that any skimmer read head of a skimmer inserted into the card slot is unable to read the magnetically encoded information off the magnetic strip of the card.