Card Reader Sensor System for Skimming Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional self-service terminals, such as ATMs, are vulnerable to manipulation and skimming attacks, particularly from devices inserted into the card reading device's internal interface, which existing security measures fail to effectively prevent or detect.

Innovation Solution

A self-service terminal with a card reading device equipped with a sensor system that includes opto-electrical sensor strips and a light barrier in the card insertion and retraction areas, which checks the spatial dimensions and material properties of inserted cards to differentiate between legitimate cards and foreign objects, and mechatronic converters to monitor the integrity of the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional security measures (closing flaps, profile sensors) are used to prevent manipulation, then basic card insertion control is improved, but they fail to detect foreign objects or devices inserted into internal interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against manipulationVSAvoidskimming attacks via internal interface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is divided into multiple independent sensor strips arranged linearly along the card insertion path. Each sensor strip monitors a specific segment of the card slot, allowing detection of foreign objects at different positions and preventing manipulation attempts at both the card slot and internal interface levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor strips detect not only the presence of objects but also their spatial dimensions (length, width, thickness) by measuring the extent of light blockage across multiple sensor elements. This dimensional detection capability distinguishes between normal cards and foreign objects that may be inserted into the card reading device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If card collection process is changed to detect card trapping, then card trapping detection is improved, but transaction time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard trapping detectionVSAvoidtransaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system performs preliminary detection of foreign objects and card trapping conditions during the normal card insertion process, before the transaction begins. The linear arrangement of sensor strips continuously monitors the card path, so abnormal conditions are detected immediately when the card is inserted, eliminating the need for time-consuming additional verification steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If sensor systems are added to detect manipulation, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanipulation detection capabilityVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The linear sensor strip arrangement serves multiple functions: detecting foreign objects, verifying card dimensions, identifying card trapping conditions, and monitoring the card insertion path. This single sensor configuration replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate detection systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Effectively prevents or detects manipulation attempts by accurately identifying normal cards versus foreign objects and ensuring the integrity of the card reading device, thereby enhancing security against skimming and trapping attacks.

Implementation Method 1

opto-electrical sensor strips and a light barrier in the card insertion and retraction areas, which checks the spatial dimensions and material properties of inserted cards

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission and absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3142039B1Self-service terminal with card reader and method for monitoring

Publication Date: 2021.06.30 WINCOR NIXDORF INT GMBH

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AI summary

Starting from a card reading device (20) for a self-service terminal, which has a receiving space (13) for a card (11) on which data to be read is stored, wherein the self-service terminal has at least one sensor (6A, 6B) and an associated evaluation device (4), the card reading device (20) is secured against manipulation attempts by arranging the at least one sensor in the card reading device (20) and comprising at least one linearly extending sensor arrangement (6A, 6B) which is arranged in the receiving space (13), wherein the evaluation device (4) uses the at least one sensor arrangement (6A, 6B) to check at least one spatial dimension (1, b) of the card (11).Preferably, the at least sensor arrangement is designed as a sensor strip (6A, 6B) with several linearly arranged sensor elements extending in the longitudinal direction (X) or transverse direction (Y) to the card (11) inserted into the receiving space (13). This makes it possible to effectively determine whether the inserted card corresponds to a genuine card or whether manipulation has occurred, particularly targeting the interior of the card reading device.