Protective Electromagnetic Field for Card Readers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-service terminals, such as cash machines and statement printers, face challenges in preventing data from magnetic strip cards from being read by spying-out devices without inadvertently impairing the genuine card reading device's functionality.
Innovation Solution
A control unit synchronizes the activation and deactivation of a protective electromagnetic field generated by an inductor, ensuring it is switched off or reduced during card reading to prevent interference with the card reading device, and reestablished after reading is complete, using a sensor system for detecting and suppressing spying-out apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective electromagnetic field is generated to prevent spying-out devices from reading card data, then security against fraud is improved, but the card reading device may be adversely affected and reading function may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The protective electromagnetic field is made dynamic by controlling its activation state. The field generator is activated only when a card is not present in the reading device, and deactivated when a card is detected. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by ensuring the protective field operates only when needed for security while preventing interference during actual card reading operations
Solution Approach 2:
The protective electromagnetic field is applied periodically rather than continuously. It is activated in periods when no card is present (providing security) and deactivated in periods when a card is present (allowing reading). This periodic action pattern resolves the contradiction by separating the security function and reading function in time
2Reliability
If the protective field is positioned directly in front of the insertion slot to effectively impair spying-out apparatuses, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the magnetic track preidentification head located behind the insertion slot is more easily adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The protective field's activation is dynamically controlled based on card presence detection. When a card is inserted, the field is deactivated, preventing adverse effects on the magnetic track preidentification head and other reading heads. When no card is present, the field is activated to provide protection. This dynamic timing control allows the field to be positioned effectively for protection without permanently interfering with reading operations
Solution Approach 2:
The protective electromagnetic field is activated in advance before card insertion to prevent spying-out devices from capturing data. The field is positioned directly in front of the insertion slot where spying-out apparatuses are most likely to be installed. This preliminary protective action occurs before any reading operation, ensuring security without interfering with the actual reading process
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
This method effectively prevents data from being read by spying-out devices while ensuring the card reading device operates reliably, providing double protection against fraudulent activities by ensuring the protective field does not impair the genuine card reading process.
Implementation Method 1
generating a protective electromagnetic field which is suitable for impairing the functioning of a magnetic card reading head of the spying-out apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a device for a self-service terminal which contains a card reading device, for preventing the possibility of data on a card which is to be read by the card reading device 10 being spied-out by means of a spying-out apparatus which is installed in the vicinity of the card reading device 10. The device comprises a protection apparatus 26 for generating a protective electromagnetic field which is suitable for impairing the functioning of the spying-out apparatus. The protection apparatus is controlled by a control unit 24 of the card reading device, which control unit also controls a card transportation apparatus 18 and/or a reading apparatus 20, 22 of the card reading device, such that the protective field is changed during reading of the card in the card reading device 10 such that it is ensured that reading of the card in the card reading device 10 is not impaired.