Patent ID: 6164538
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A device for preliminarily determining types of recorded data cards, said device includes a card carry path which has at least a sensor, so that types of cards are determined based upon the output from said sensor when a recorded data card having a magnetic recording region and an IC carrying region passes through said card carry path, the device comprising:a first non-contacting magnetic sensor disposed at a first predetermined position where said magnetic recording region passes through, for detecting the magnetic characteristic of said magnetic recording region;a second non-contacting magnetic sensor disposed at a second predetermined position where said IC carrying region passes through, for detecting the magnetic characteristic of said IC carrying region;a reference signal generating circuit for producing a first reference signal corresponding to said first magnetic sensor, and a second reference signal corresponding to said second magnetic sensor in response to a switching signal; anda comparator for comparing the respective outputs from said first and second magnetic sensors with the respective reference signals in response to the switching signal.