Read Head Slot Geometry Reduces Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic stripe card readers are bulky and not suited for portable or mobile device integration, limiting their use in convenient financial transactions between individuals or for micro-merchant purposes.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized card reader system with a read head mounted on a spring structure, allowing the card to swipe perpendicular to the central axis of an output jack that can rotate, and connected to a mobile device's audio or microphone port, enabling reliable data reading and decoding of magnetic stripe data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a miniaturized card reader is designed to be portable and connectable to mobile devices, then device portability and ease of operation are improved, but structural stability and reliability deteriorate due to reduced size and increased vulnerability to torque
Solution Approach 1:
The read head is mounted on a spring structure that allows it to swivel dynamically while maintaining contact pressure with the magnetic stripe. This dynamic mounting compensates for torque forces during card swiping, preventing misalignment and ensuring reliable data reading in a compact design
Solution Approach 2:
The slot is specifically configured with dimensions and orientation such that the card travels perpendicular to the central axis of the output jack and along a longitudinal plane of the spring structure. This geometric parameter configuration reduces torque applied on the read head during operation
2Measurement precision
If the read head is mounted on a spring structure to maintain contact pressure, then measurement precision of magnetic stripe data is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A spring structure is used to mount the read head, allowing it to swivel while maintaining contact pressure with the magnetic stripe. This flexible mounting ensures precise data reading and can be integrated into compact designs without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms
3Reliability
If the slot is configured to reduce torque on the read head, then reliability of data reading is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is specifically configured with dimensions and orientation such that the card travels perpendicular to the central axis of the output jack and along a longitudinal plane of the spring structure. This geometric parameter configuration reduces torque applied on the read head during operation
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
Enables secure and accurate financial transactions with minimal torque, allowing users to perform transactions without the need for separate card readers, enhancing convenience and reducing errors.
Implementation Method 1
the read head (16) reading data on the magnetic stripe and producing a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe
Implementation Method 2
the spring structure (20) allows the read head to swivel while maintaining contact pressure to track the magnetic stripe while the card is swept
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~4A
AI summary
A read head system has a housing and a read positioned in the housing with a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card with the slot utilized to enable a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head includes an output jack configured to be coupled to at least one of a audio jack or microphone port of a mobile device. The read head provides the signal to the mobile device. The slot is oriented and sized to reduce torque applied on the read head as the financial transaction card is swiped through slot in order to maintain accuracy and reliability of the data read by the read head. Decoding of the signal is performed in the mobile device. The decoding includes determining pulses in the signal and converting at least some of the pulses to characters.