Card Reader Single Slot Rotation Guide Contactless

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience and additional costs due to the need for separate card readers for contact and non-contact type cards, with existing multi-function card readers requiring separate insertion openings, limiting convenience and increasing costs.

Innovation Solution

A card reader with a single card insertion opening and a rotation guide unit that allows both contact and non-contact type cards to be identified and used through the same opening, utilizing a rotation guide unit to pass contact type cards and restrict non-contact type cards for proper identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate card readers are used for contact and non-contact type cards, then each card type can be reliably read, but the user must carry and use multiple devices, reducing convenience and increasing cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecard reading reliabilityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines contact type card reading function (magnetic head) and non-contact type card reading function (RF module with antenna) into a single card reader device. The housing integrates both reading sections, allowing users to use one device instead of carrying separate readers for magnetic cards and IC cards, thus improving convenience while maintaining reliable reading of both card types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The card reader is designed with multi-functionality to read both contact type cards (magnetic stripe) and non-contact type cards (IC chip) through a single device. The housing contains both a magnetic head for contact cards and an RF module with antenna for non-contact cards, making the device universal and eliminating the need for multiple specialized readers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate card insertion openings are provided for contact and non-contact type cards, then each card type has dedicated access, but the device structure becomes complex and space-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecard identification accuracyVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into two functional sections: a first reading section with a magnetic head for contact type cards and a second reading section with an RF module for non-contact type cards. This segmentation allows each card type to be processed by its dedicated reading mechanism while sharing a common housing structure, reducing overall device complexity compared to providing completely separate physical access points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Both reading sections are merged within a single housing structure, sharing common components such as the power supply unit, control unit, and single card insertion opening. This merging approach reduces device complexity and space requirements while maintaining reliable identification of both card types through their respective reading sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a single card reader handles both card types, then user convenience improves, but the device must accommodate multiple reading mechanisms, increasing manufacturing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoiddevice assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple reading mechanisms (magnetic head and RF module with antenna) into a single integrated device with shared housing, power supply, and control unit. This consolidation improves user convenience by providing a single device for both card types while managing manufacturing complexity through modular integration of the reading sections within the common housing structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables the use of both contact and non-contact type cards through a single card reader, enhancing user convenience and reducing the need for multiple devices, thereby lowering costs and improving product usability.

Implementation Method 1

the magnetic head reads the data stored in the magnetic stripe that is attached to the back side of the contact type card

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

The non-contact type card reader includes a card reader main body, a signal processing unit, an RF module, an antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3076338B1Card reader
Publication Date: 2019.01.30 KOREA INFORMATION & COMM
  • EP3076338B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3076338B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3076338B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Various embodiments related to a card reader are described. According to an embodiment, the card reader comprises: a card reader body part; a contact card recognition module included in the card reader body part; a circuit board having a contactless card recognition module included in the card reader body part; a card insertion hole which is formed in the card reader body part and allows a contact card and a contactless card to be inserted; and a rotation guide part rotatably provided within the card insertion hole, wherein the rotation guide part may recognize the contact card in the contact card recognition module by passing the contact card through the card insertion hole according to a rotation, and may recognize the contactless card in the contactless card recognition module by limiting a movement according to a contact after inserting the contactless card into the card insertion hole. In addition, various other embodiments are possible.