Abstract:
A point of sale device including a housing, a magnetic card reader disposed in the housing, the magnetic card reader including at least first and second heads, a flexible circuit board electrically coupled to the first and second heads and a unitary resilient head mounting element resiliently supporting the at least first and second heads independently of the flexible circuit board and electronic circuitry coupled to the magnetic card reader.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to magnetic card readers generally and more particularly to point of sale devices including magnetic card readers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The following published patent documents are believed to represent the current state of the art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,028,734; 4,631,610; 6,585,156 and 5,196,680. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention seeks to provide an improved magnetic card reader and improved devices employing magnetic card readers. 
         [0004]    There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a point of sale device including a housing, a magnetic card reader disposed in the housing, the magnetic card reader including at least first and second heads, a flexible circuit board electrically coupled to the first and second heads and a unitary resilient head mounting element resiliently supporting the at least first and second heads independently of the flexible circuit board and electronic circuitry coupled to the magnetic card reader. 
         [0005]    There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a magnetic card reader including at least first and second heads, a flexible circuit board electrically coupled to the first and second heads and a unitary resilient head mounting element resiliently supporting the at least first and second heads independently of the flexible circuit board. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the at least first and second heads are mutually displaceable with respect to X, Y and Z axes. Additionally or alternatively, the magnetic card reader is configured to provide enhanced quality of reading bent, warped or otherwise misshapen magnetic cards. 
         [0007]    Preferably, the head mounting element is formed of spring steel. Additionally, the head mounting element includes three-dimensionally flexible head mounting leaves, each of which is attached to a side of one of the at least first and second heads. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the magnetic card reader includes a thermoplastic elastomer overmold element which is retained on the head mounting element and which frictionally engages the at least first and second heads in a three-dimensional flexible, resilient manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a simplified pictorial illustration of a point of sale device including a magnetic card reader constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a simplified exploded view pictorial illustration of a magnetic card reader constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are assembled view pictorial illustrations of the magnetic card reader of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a simplified exploded view pictorial illustration of a magnetic card reader constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are assembled view pictorial illustrations of the magnetic card reader of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified pictorial illustration of a point of sale device including a magnetic card reader constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0016]    For the purposes of the present description and claims, the phrase “point of sale device” includes, inter alia, a payment terminal, an electronic cash register, a pin pad, an ATM and a kiosk. 
         [0017]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , a point of sale device  100  includes a housing formed of a bottom housing portion  102  and a top housing portion  104 . A keypad assembly  106  includes keys  108  which extend through corresponding apertures  110  in top housing portion  104 . A display  112  is also mounted on top housing portion  104 . 
         [0018]    A magnetic card reader  120  is located on an outer facing wall portion  122  of top housing portion  104 , facing a card swipe slot  124 , which is also defined by an upstanding wall  126 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and as described hereinbelow in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 2-8C , the magnetic card reader  120  includes mutually displaceable heads  130 ,  132  and  134 , which are preferably mutually displaceable with respect to X, Y and Z axes, as illustrated in an exaggerated manner respectively at enlargements I, II and III in  FIG. 1 . The mutual displaceability of heads  130 ,  132  and  134  enables the magnetic card reader to provide enhanced quality of reading bent, warped or otherwise misshapen magnetic cards, such as card  140 . 
         [0019]    Reference is now made additionally to  FIG. 2 , which is a simplified exploded view pictorial illustration of a magnetic card reader constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , which are assembled view pictorial illustrations of the magnetic card reader of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0020]    As seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B, the magnetic card reader preferably includes three single track heads  202 ,  203  and  204 , which may be of conventional construction and are commercially available from Apollo (Zhuhai) Electronics Co., Ltd. such as Model Nos. AP-1150B and AP-1150. Each of heads  202 ,  203  and  204  includes a pair of data connection pins  205 . 
         [0021]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a head mounting element  206 , preferably formed of spring steel, is provided with side portions  208  formed with apertures  210  which are configured to be engaged by protrusions  212  formed on wall  122  ( FIG. 1 ). A central portion of head mounting element  206  is preferably formed with a generally rectangular aperture  214  for accommodating heads  202 ,  203  and  204 . On both sides of aperture  214  there are provided preferably three-dimensionally flexible head mounting leaves  220 , preferably six in total, each of which is preferably spot welded onto a side  222  of one of heads  202 ,  203  and  204 , as seen clearly in  FIG. 3A . 
         [0022]    Pins  205  of each of heads  202 ,  203  and  204  are electrically connected to corresponding electrical conductors  225  of a flexible printed circuit element  226 , which is formed with three mechanically independent fingers  228 , each having apertures  230  for receiving pins  205  of a corresponding one of heads  202 ,  203  and  204 . 
         [0023]    Returning now to  FIG. 1 , a typical example of mutual rotation about the X axis is shown in enlargement I. Head  134  is seen rotated through an angle A about the X axis relative to head  132  in a first angular direction, while head  130  is rotated through an angle B about the X axis relative to head  132  in a second angular direction, opposite to the first angular direction. Such an orientation typically occurs when there are local deformities in the magnetic card  140 . 
         [0024]    A typical example of mutual rotation about the Y axis is shown in enlargement II. Head  134  is rotated through an angle C about the Y axis relative to head  132  in a first angular direction, while head  130  is rotated through an angle D about the Y axis relative to head  132  in a second angular direction, opposite to the first angular direction. Such an orientation typically occurs when the card is bowed as shown in  FIG. 1  about the Y axis. 
         [0025]    A typical example of mutual displacement along the Z axis is shown in enlargement III. Head  134  is seen to be depressed along the Z axis by a distance E relative to heads  130  and  132 . Such an orientation typically occurs when the card is bowed as shown in  FIG. 1  about the Z axis. 
         [0026]    It is appreciated that the any suitable mutual rotation and/or displacement of heads  130 ,  132  and  134  may take place in order to accommodate the configuration of a given magnetic card  140 . The mounting structure of heads  130 ,  132  and  134 , described hereinabove with reference to  FIGS. 2-3B  is one preferred embodiment of enabling such mutual rotation and/or displacement. Another preferred mounting structure is shown in  FIG. 4 , it being appreciated that it is possible that other types of structures, not specifically shown herein, may also be suitable. 
         [0027]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which is a simplified exploded view pictorial illustration of a magnetic card reader constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention and to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , which are assembled view pictorial illustrations of the magnetic card reader of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0028]    As seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 A and  5 B, the magnetic card reader preferably includes three single track heads  302 ,  303  and  304 , which may be of conventional construction and are commercially available from Apollo (Zhuhai) Electronics Co., Ltd. such as Model Nos. AP-1150B and AP-1150. Each of heads  302 ,  303  and  304  includes a pair of data connection pins  305 . 
         [0029]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a head mounting base element  306 , preferably formed of spring steel, is provided with side portions  308  formed with apertures  310  which are configured to be engaged by protrusions  312  formed on wall  122  ( FIG. 1 ). A central portion of head mounting element  306  is preferably formed with a generally rectangular aperture  314  for accommodating a thermoplastic elastomer overmold element  315 , which is retained on head mounting base element  306  by overmolding into engagement with elongate apertures  316  formed on head mounting element  306 , producing an overmolded extension  317  at each of apertures  316 . 
         [0030]    Heads  302 ,  303  and  304  are frictionally engaged in corresponding apertures  322 ,  323  and  324  in overmold element  315  which retains them in a preferably three-dimensional flexible, resilient manner. 
         [0031]    Pins  305  of each of heads  302 ,  303  and  304  are electrically connected to corresponding electrical conductors  325  of a flexible printed circuit element  326 , which is formed with three mechanically independent fingers  328 , each having apertures  330  for receiving pins  305  of a corresponding one of heads  302 ,  303  and  304 . 
         [0032]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereto which would occur to a person skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.