Payment Card Receiver Shutter with Integrated Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing payment card receivers lack an effective mechanism to prevent insertion of foreign objects while allowing card insertion, and they do not provide a clear indication of card presence for electronic sensing.
Innovation Solution
A card-operated shutter movement restricting switch is spring-loaded and pivotably rotated by card insertion, changing its operational orientation from blocking to non-blocking, and includes a conductor for electronic sensing to indicate card presence, ensuring secure card insertion and prevention of foreign object entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shutter is used to block the card slot, then security against foreign object insertion is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shutter blocking mechanism with a card-operated switch into a single integrated component. The shutter assembly includes both the blocking shutter and the switch that detects card insertion, merging two functions into one structure to reduce overall device complexity while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter is designed to be automatically operated by the card itself during insertion. The card's presence and insertion depth directly control the shutter's position through mechanical interaction, eliminating the need for external actuators or complex control systems to manage the blocking function.
2Measurement precision
If a card-operated switch is added to control shutter movement, then card presence detection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card-operated switch is integrated into the shutter assembly rather than being a separate component. The switch's actuator is mechanically linked to the shutter, so that card insertion simultaneously operates both the shutter blocking function and the electrical switching function, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated shutter-switch assembly performs multiple functions: it blocks foreign objects, detects card presence, and controls the timing of shutter release. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing device complexity while improving detection precision.
3Reliability
If the shutter is spring-loaded to normally block the slot, then security is improved, but the force required for card insertion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter system uses dynamic spring loading that adapts to the card insertion process. The spring provides blocking force when no card is present, but as the card is inserted, the mechanical linkage gradually transitions the shutter from blocked to open position, distributing the force requirement throughout the insertion stroke rather than requiring high peak force.
Solution Approach 2:
The card-operated switch actuator serves as an intermediary mechanical element between the card and the shutter. It translates the card's insertion motion into shutter rotation, mediating the force transfer and reducing the direct force requirement on the card while maintaining effective shutter blocking.
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
The solution effectively prevents foreign objects from entering the card slot while allowing full card insertion, providing electronic feedback on card presence, thus enhancing security and usability.
Implementation Method 1
the card-operated shutter movement restricting switch is spring loaded to normally be in the shutter movement restricting operative orientation in the absence of engagement therewith by a payment card
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A payment card receiver including at least one element defining a payment card receiving slot, a shutter, pivotably mounted with respect to the payment card receiving slot for selectably blocking the payment card receiving slot and a card-operated shutter movement restricting switch operative to retain the shutter in a shutter movement restricting operative orientation, in which the shutter blocks the payment card receiving slot, in the absence of at least partial insertion of a payment card in the payment card receiving slot.