Seat Device Camera for Transaction Card OCR

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems in transportation vehicles lack an efficient mechanism for capturing information from transaction cards, making it difficult to conduct transactions or access services efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that initializes a transaction mode on a seat device, adjusts lighting, captures images of transaction cards using a camera, and processes the images to extract information using optical character recognition, eliminating the need for manual entry and magnetic stripe reading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a magnetic stripe reader is used to capture transaction card information, then the transaction can be processed, but the device weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction card information capture accuracyVSAvoidseat device weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the magnetic stripe reader (mechanical/electromagnetic reading system) with a camera-based optical imaging system. The camera captures an image of the transaction card, and optical character recognition (OCR) technology extracts the card information from the image, eliminating the need for physical contact with the card's magnetic stripe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the transaction card using a camera instead of directly reading the magnetic stripe data. The captured image serves as a replica that can be processed digitally to extract card information, replacing the need for direct magnetic stripe interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If a magnetic stripe reader is used to capture transaction card information, then the transaction can be processed, but the device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction card information capture accuracyVSAvoiddevice manufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the magnetic stripe reader (mechanical/electromagnetic reading system) with a camera-based optical imaging system. The camera captures an image of the transaction card, and optical character recognition (OCR) technology extracts the card information from the image, eliminating the need for physical contact with the card's magnetic stripe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a camera and software-based OCR processing instead of expensive specialized magnetic stripe reading hardware. The camera is a common, relatively inexpensive component, and the software processing eliminates the need for costly specialized readers, reducing overall device manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Device complexity

If manual entry of transaction card information is required, then no additional hardware is needed, but the transaction processing time increases and error rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware requirementsVSAvoidtransaction processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically captures the card information through the camera and uses OCR technology to extract the data without requiring manual typing by the user. The process is self-service in that the system performs the data entry function automatically, improving both speed and accuracy while minimizing user interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the magnetic stripe reader (mechanical/electromagnetic reading system) with a camera-based optical imaging system. The camera captures an image of the transaction card, and optical character recognition (OCR) technology extracts the card information from the image, eliminating the need for physical contact with the card's magnetic stripe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If lighting is not adjusted for card capture, then the system is simpler, but the image quality and information extraction accuracy decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting control mechanismVSAvoidcard information extraction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts the lighting conditions before capturing the transaction card image. By preliminarily optimizing the illumination, the system ensures that the card information is clearly visible and readable, improving the accuracy of subsequent OCR processing while maintaining relatively simple hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary 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

Enables efficient and error-free capture of transaction card information, reducing costs and weight by eliminating the need for magnetic stripe readers, while providing a user-friendly experience even in turbulent environments.

Implementation Method 1

capturing the image of the transaction card using a camera of the seat device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10657517B2Methods and systems for using a transaction card on a transportation vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.05.19 PANASONIC AVIONICS CORP

AI summary

Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. For example, one method includes initializing a transaction mode for using a transaction card having a front portion and a rear portion from a seat device of a transportation vehicle; adjusting lighting from the seat device to capture an image of the transaction card; capturing the image of the transaction card using a camera of the seat device; and processing the image of the transaction card and extracting information from the image of the transaction card.