IC Card Reader Contact Retry for Dirty Terminal Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IC card connector devices require a cleaning member to remove dirt from external connection terminals, increasing complexity and parts, which complicates the structure and reduces the probability of activating the IC chip.
Innovation Solution
A card reader with a card transport mechanism, IC contact springs, and a block moving mechanism that moves between contactable and retreat positions, allowing multiple activation attempts with the IC contact springs to clean and establish contact with external connection terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cleaning member is added to remove dirt from external connection terminals, then the reliability of electrical contact is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IC contact springs are designed to perform dual functions: establishing electrical contact and cleaning external connection terminals. By making the contact springs extendable and movable, they can scrape off dirt during contact establishment, eliminating the need for separate cleaning members while maintaining contact reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The IC contact springs clean the external connection terminals themselves during the contact establishment process. The movement and pressure applied by the contact springs during insertion automatically remove dirt without requiring additional dedicated cleaning components
2Reliability
If multiple activation attempts are implemented with card movement, then the probability of IC chip activation is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card transport mechanism dynamically adjusts card position during the activation process. When initial activation fails, the system automatically moves the card to different positions and retries, optimizing the contact between IC contact springs and external terminals without excessive time delay
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic activation attempts with structured card movement sequences. Rather than continuous retry, the card is moved to predetermined positions at specific intervals, systematically improving activation probability while controlling processing time through defined retry cycles
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 removes dirt from external connection terminals using IC contact springs, increasing the probability of activating the IC chip even with dirt present, while maintaining a simple configuration and reducing processing time.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of IC contact springs to contact each of the plurality of external connection terminals to communicate data
Implementation Method 2
a block moving mechanism to move the IC contact block between a contactable position where the plurality of IC contact springs are allowed to contact the plurality of external connection terminals and a retreat position where the plurality of IC contact springs are not allowed to contact the plurality of external connection terminals
Data Source
AI summary
In a card reader, in a card moving step performed when activation of an IC chip fails in a first activation attempt step, a card is transported and stopped within a range where IC contact springs in contact with external connection terminals do not come off the external connection terminals, with an IC contact block positioned in a contactable position where the IC contact springs are allowed to contact the external connection terminals of the card. In such a card reader, in a second activation attempt step after the card moving step, the card is stopped within a range where the card is moved in the card moving step, then to attempt to activate the IC chip.