Patent ID: 12190191

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Configuration)

FIG.1is a perspective view of the card reader to which the present invention is applied.FIG.2is a plan view of a card to be processed by the card reader.FIG.3is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure of the card reader.FIG.4is a plan view of the card reader from which a board, a fixed frame, and a front cover have been removed. InFIG.5, (a) and (b) are perspective views of an IC contact block unit. (a) ofFIG.5is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit when viewed from a side of a resin sealing member, and (b) ofFIG.5is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit when viewed from a side of an IC contact block. A card reader1is communicatively connected to a predetermined higher-level device while in use.

The card reader1reads information from a magnetic stripe2aincluded in a card2. Furthermore, the card reader1reads information stored in an IC chip2bbuilt in the card2.

Moreover, the card reader1records information in the IC chip2bbuilt in the card2.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the card reader1is shaped like a flat cuboid as a whole. The card reader1includes a front cover5at one end thereof in its longitudinal direction. The front cover5includes a card insertion slot6. Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.3, the card reader1includes a card passage7through which the card2passes after being inserted through the card insertion slot6. The card passage7linearly extends in the longitudinal direction of the card reader1from the card insertion slot6through a first read/write position R1and a second read/write position R2(read position). At the first read/write position R1, information is read from the magnetic stripe2a. At the second read/write position R2, information is read from the IC chip2b, and information is written to the IC chip2b. In this example, the user manually inserts the card2into the card insertion slot6. Accordingly, the card2passes through the first read/write position R1. Further, the card2is placed at the second read/write position R2.

The card reader1includes a frame4including an end face defining the card passage7, a magnetic head10provided at the first read/write position R1, and an IC contact block unit11provided at the second read/write position R2. The magnetic head10and the IC contact block unit11are located on opposite sides with the card passage7interposed therebetween. Furthermore, the card reader1includes a board13and a board14where various electronic components, and the like, are mounted, and a fixed frame15(seeFIG.1) that fixes the card reader1to the higher-level device where the card reader1is mounted.

In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the card reader1in which the card passage7extends is an X direction.

The direction on the side where the card insertion slot6is located in the X direction is a −X direction, and the opposite direction is a +X direction. The lateral direction of the card reader1perpendicular to the X direction is a Y direction. The direction on one side in the Y direction is a −Y direction, and the opposite direction is a +Y direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction is a Z direction. The Z direction is a vertical direction when the card reader1is fixed to the higher-level device.

Moreover, the direction on one side in the Z direction is a −Z direction, and the opposite direction is a +Z direction. The −Z direction is a direction on the side where the magnetic head10is located with respect to the card passage7and is a downward direction when the card reader1is fixed to the higher-level device. The +Z direction is a direction on the side where the IC contact block unit11is located with respect to the card passage7and is an upward direction when the card reader1is fixed to the higher-level device.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the card2inserted into the card reader1is made of vinyl chloride. The card2has substantially a rectangular planar shape. The card2has a thickness of approximately 0.7 to 0.8 mm. The back surface of the card2includes the magnetic stripe2awhere magnetic data is recorded.

Furthermore, the card2includes the built-in IC chip2b. The front surface of the card2includes an external connection terminal17for the IC chip2b. The card2complies with an international standard or JIS standard, and the magnetic stripe2ais formed along the longitudinal direction of the card2, which is formed in substantially a rectangular shape. Furthermore, the external connection terminal17is formed at one longitudinal end side of the card2. The card2is inserted into the card insertion slot6, with the one longitudinal end side of the card2inserted first, in such a manner that the surface including the external connection terminal17faces upward (+Z direction).

As illustrated inFIG.3, the magnetic head10is located near the card insertion slot6. Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.4, the magnetic head10is located at a position so as to face the magnetic stripe2aof the card2inserted into the card insertion slot6. With regard to the magnetic head10, a sensor surface of the magnetic head10faces the card passage7from the −Z side.

Here, as illustrated inFIG.3, the magnetic head10is supported by a plate spring18fixed to the frame4. The magnetic head10is biased in the +Z direction due to the biasing force of the plate spring18. Accordingly, the magnetic head10is brought into contact with the magnetic stripe2aof the card2passing through the first read/write position R1.

The IC contact block unit11is provided on the +X side of the card reader1.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the IC contact block unit11includes an IC contact block21, a flexible printed board22, an encryption circuit23mounted on the flexible printed board22, and a resin sealing member24.

As illustrated in (b) ofFIG.5, the IC contact block21includes a contact spring27capable of being in contact with the external connection terminal17of the IC chip2bof the card2and a holder28that holds the contact spring27. The IC contact block21and the encryption circuit23are electrically connected to each other via the flexible printed board22. As illustrated in (a) ofFIG.5, a distal end portion of the flexible printed board22is placed on the +Z side of the holder28. Accordingly, a first surface22aof the flexible printed board22on the −Z side is in contact with the holder28. The holder28includes a contact surface28athat is in contact with the first surface22aof the flexible printed board22. Moreover, the holder28includes a downwardly projecting card engagement portion29at the end portion thereof in the +X direction. A rear end of the flexible printed board22is coupled to the board13.

The encryption circuit23is mounted at the distal end portion of the flexible printed board22and on a second surface22bopposite to the first surface22a. The resin sealing member24integrally covers, from the +Z direction, the area where the contact spring27is coupled (a spring end31of the contact spring27) and the area where the encryption circuit23is mounted in the distal end portion of the flexible printed board22.

As illustrated inFIG.3, in the IC contact block unit11, the contact spring27is provided so as to face the card passage7from the +Z side. The holder28is supported by an end portion of the frame4on the +Z side via a parallel link mechanism35. Furthermore, the holder28is biased in the −X direction by an extension coil spring19. The IC contact block unit11is lowered due to a movement in the +X direction and is raised due to a movement in the −X direction by the parallel link mechanism35.

Both the board13and the board14are rigid boards. Both the board13and the board14have a rectangular planar shape. The board13is larger than the board14. The board13is fixed to the frame4to cover, from the +Z direction, the +X side area of the frame4with respect to the front cover5. The board13is a main board where a control circuit, and the like, for the card reader1is mounted. The encryption circuit23and the contact spring27are coupled to the main board via the flexible printed board22.

(Operation of Card Reader)

When the card2is inserted into the card insertion slot6, the magnetic stripe2aof the card2passes through the first read/write position R1. Here, the card reader1drives the magnetic head10to read information from the magnetic stripe2a.

Then, when the card2is further pushed in the +X direction, an end2cof the card2is brought into contact with the card engagement portion29of the IC contact block21. In this state, when the card2is further pushed in the +X direction, the card2pushes the card engagement portion29in the +X direction so that the IC contact block unit11moves in the +X direction. Accordingly, the IC contact block unit11is lowered so that the contact spring27is brought into contact with the external connection terminal17of the card2located in the second read/write position R2. Here, the card reader1reads information from the IC chip2bor writes information to the IC chip2bvia the IC contact block21. The encryption circuit23encrypts the information acquired from the IC chip2bvia the IC contact block21and decrypts the information transmitted from the higher-level device to be written to the IC chip2bvia the IC contact block21.

The information read from the magnetic stripe2aby the card reader1and the information read from the IC chip2bby the card reader1and encrypted by the encryption circuit23are transmitted to the higher-level device via the control circuit of the board13. Furthermore, the information written to the IC chip2bby the card reader1is supplied from the higher-level device to the card reader1.

(Details of IC Contact Block Unit)

Next, the IC contact block unit11is described in detail.FIG.6is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit11from which the resin sealing member24has been removed.FIG.7is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit11when the flexible printed board22is unfolded.

As illustrated in (a) and (b) ofFIG.5, the IC contact block21includes the contact spring27and the holder28. As illustrated inFIG.3, and (a) and (b) ofFIG.5, the contact spring27includes a contact portion32projecting in the −Z direction from the holder28and the spring end31projecting in the +Z direction from the contact surface28aof the holder28in contact with the flexible printed board22. The contact portion32is bent in a V-shape along the X direction. The contact portion32is brought into elastic contact with the external connection terminal17of the card2when the IC contact block unit11is lowered. The spring end31is coupled to the flexible printed board22in such a manner that the spring end31penetrates the flexible printed board22from the side of the first surface22ato the side of the second surface22b.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the flexible printed board22includes a rectangular-shaped first board portion41having the first surface22aextending in contact with the IC contact block21, a square-shaped second board portion42facing the first board portion41with a gap interposed therebetween on the side of the second surface22bof the first board portion41, and a coupling board portion43coupling the first board portion41and the second board portion42. The coupling board portion43extends in the Z direction to couple an end portion of the first board portion41on the +Y side and an end portion of the second board portion42on the +Y side. Here, when the flexible printed board22is converted on a plane, as illustrated inFIG.7, the first board portion41, the coupling board portion43, and the second board portion42are provided in this order along the Y direction at the distal end portion thereof. Thus, the coupling board portion43is bent and the second board portion42is overlapped with the first board portion41in the +Z direction due to folding so that the first board portion41and the second board portion42face each other in the Z direction. The spring end31of the contact spring27penetrates the first board portion41in the Z direction. When viewed in the Z direction (the facing direction in which the first board portion41and the second board portion42face each other), the spring end31and the second board portion42are overlapped with each other.

The encryption circuit23is mounted on the second surface22bof the flexible printed board22and is electrically connected to the contact spring27. The encryption circuit23includes a first circuit portion45mounted on the second surface22bof the first board portion41and a second circuit portion46mounted on the second surface22bof the second board portion42. When the second board portion42is overlapped with the first board portion41due to folding, the first circuit portion45and the second circuit portion46are located between the first board portion41and the second board portion42in the Z direction.

Here, as illustrated in (a) ofFIG.5, the resin sealing member24integrally covers the spring end31and the encryption circuit23. Furthermore, the resin sealing member24seals the gap between the first board portion41and the second board portion42. Moreover, the resin sealing member24covers the second board portion42on the side of the first surface22aand the coupling board portion43. Accordingly, the resin sealing member24seals the spring end31of the contact spring27, a wiring pattern coupling the spring end31and the encryption circuit23on the flexible printed board22, and the encryption circuit23.

Advantageous Effect

In this example, the contact spring27of the IC contact block21is coupled to the flexible printed board22where the encryption circuit23is mounted. Accordingly, the information acquired from the IC chip2bof the card2via the IC contact block21may be encrypted by the encryption circuit23at the encryption circuit23. Furthermore, the resin sealing member24integrally covers the spring end31of the contact spring27and the encryption circuit23. Accordingly, the resin sealing member24seals the spring end31of the contact spring27, a wiring pattern coupling the spring end31and the encryption circuit23on the flexible printed board22, and the encryption circuit23. This leads to difficulty in external physical access to the spring end31of the contact spring27, the wiring pattern coupling the spring end31and the encryption circuit23on the flexible printed board22, and the encryption circuit23. Thus, it is possible to prevent a person who intends to commit a fraud from acquiring unencrypted information.

Moreover, as the encryption circuit23is mounted on the flexible printed board22, the encryption circuit23including the board may be made small as compared to the case where the encryption circuit23is mounted on a rigid board.

Furthermore, in this example, the holder28of the IC contact block21is in contact with the first surface22aof the flexible printed board22, the spring end31projects from the contact surface28aof the holder28in contact with the flexible printed board22, and the spring end31is coupled to the flexible printed board22in such a manner that the spring end31penetrates the flexible printed board22from the side of the first surface22ato the side of the second surface22bopposite to the first surface22a. Furthermore, the encryption circuit23is mounted on the second surface22bof the flexible printed board22, and the resin sealing member24is provided on the side of the second surface22bof the flexible printed board22. Accordingly, the flexible printed board22having the encryption circuit23mounted thereon may be overlapped with the IC contact block21. Moreover, as the spring end31penetrates the flexible printed board22, the coupling strength between the IC contact block21and the flexible printed board22is high as compared to the case where the spring end31is coupled to one side of the flexible printed board22.

Furthermore, the flexible printed board22includes the first board portion41having the first surface22aextending in contact with the IC contact block21, the second board portion42facing the first board portion41with a gap interposed therebetween on the side of the second surface22bof the first board portion41, and the coupling board portion43coupling the first board portion41and the second board portion42. Accordingly, it is easy to ensure the area for mounting the encryption circuit23on the flexible printed board22. Furthermore, as the first board portion41and the second board portion42are overlapped with each other, the encryption circuit23may be made compact while the area for mounting the encryption circuit23on the flexible printed board22is ensured.

Furthermore, when viewed in the Z direction, the second board portion42of the flexible printed board22is overlapped with the spring end31. Accordingly, it is more difficult for a person who intends to commit a fraud to physically access the spring end31of the contact spring27.

Furthermore, the resin sealing member24seals the gap between the first board portion41and the second board portion42and covers the second board portion42on the side of the first surface22aand the coupling board portion43. As the resin sealing member24covers the first board portion41, the second board portion42, the coupling board portion43, the first circuit portion45, the second circuit portion46, and the spring end31, it is difficult to identify what is sealed inside the resin sealing member24. Therefore, it is more difficult for a person who intends to commit a fraud to acquire unencrypted information. Moreover, with this configuration, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the relatively soft flexible printed board22and to mount the encryption circuit23and the spring end31on the flexible printed board in a stable manner.

Here, the card reader1may write information to the magnetic stripe2aat the first read/write position R1. In this case, the information written to the magnetic stripe2aby the card reader1is supplied from the higher-level device to the card reader1.

Furthermore, the present invention is applicable to a card reader that includes a card transport mechanism using a motor, or the like, as a drive source and uses the card transport mechanism to move the card2along the card passage7.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1Card reader2Card2aMagnetic stripe2bIC chip2cEnd4Frame5Front cover6Card insertion slot7Card Passage10Magnetic head11IC contact block unit13,14Board15Fixed frame17External connection terminal18Plate spring19Extension coil spring21IC contact block22Flexible printed board22aFirst surface22bSecond surface23Encryption circuit24Resin sealing member27Contact spring28Holder28aContact surface29Card engagement portion31Spring end32Contact portion35Parallel link mechanism41First board portion42Second board portion43Coupling board portion45First circuit portion46Second circuit portionR1First read/write positionR2Second read/write position (read position)