Magnetic Head Positioning for Passbook Registration Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated teller machines (ATMs) often register transaction information at incorrect positions on magnetic stripes in passbooks, leading to improper updating and duplicate registrations due to deviations from predetermined positions.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic information processing apparatus and method that includes a magnetic head, document receptacle, and processing unit to read and write registration position information on magnetic media, ensuring accurate registration by moving the magnetic head to specific positions on the magnetic stripe and storing the most recent registration position information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the magnetic head writes registration position information at predetermined positions on the magnetic stripe, then the registration process is automated and efficient, but positioning errors cause duplicate registrations and data integrity issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregistration efficiencyVSAvoidregistration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system reads back the registration position information from the magnetic stripe to verify correct writing. The control unit compares the written position with the predetermined position and detects deviations, enabling corrective action to prevent duplicate registrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs a preliminary read operation at the predetermined position before writing registration information. This preliminary action detects potential positioning errors in advance, allowing the system to adjust and ensure accurate registration before the actual data is written.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the system reads only from the predetermined position on the magnetic stripe, then the reading process is simple and fast, but it cannot detect registration position deviations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereading speedVSAvoidposition detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reading process is divided into multiple segments: reading from the predetermined position and reading from adjacent positions. This segmentation allows the system to compare multiple data points and accurately detect position deviations while maintaining overall reading efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs additional reading operations beyond the single predetermined position by also reading from adjacent positions on the magnetic stripe. This excessive action ensures complete detection of registration positions while the control unit processes only the necessary information to maintain efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive 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

Prevents registration at wrong positions on the passbook, ensuring accurate updating and preventing duplicate registrations by correctly identifying and updating the most recent registration positions on the magnetic stripe.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic head that reads information from a first position of the magnetic media, moves to a second position of the magnetic media, and reads additional information from the second position of the magnetic media

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3373191B1Magnetic information processing apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 TOSHIBA TEC KK
  • EP3373191B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3373191B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3373191B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A magnetic information processing apparatus for registering transaction information on a line in a document and storing the location of the line in magnetic media attached to the document, includes a magnetic head, a document receptacle configured to receive the document on which the magnetic media storing the position where the immediately previous transaction information is registered is attached, and a processing unit. The processing unit is programmed to control the magnetic head to read information from a first position of the magnetic media, move to a second position of the magnetic media, and read additional information from the second position of the magnetic media, extract registration position information indicating the location of the most recent previous registration position from the result of reading of the first and second positions of the magnetic media by the magnetic head, and output the extracted registration position information.