Patent ID: 12254373

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As stated above, skimmers and shimming devices are a big problem in the industry. A variety of card manufactures have attempted to narrow the card transport area to no avail since some criminals now employ devices as small as less than 1 mm thick, which is almost equal to the half the thickness of bank and credit cards. These card manufacturing techniques have not been working well in the industry and skimmers/shimmers remain a significant problem in the industry.

The teachings that follow provide a new card reader that utilizes one or more sensors situated on a lower surface of the transport area and a movable upper surface situated above the lower surface. The shutter of the card reader is closed when the card reader is in an idle state. A shutter sensor reports when the shutter closes or opens. When the shutter is closed, the movable upper surface moves down towards the lower surface to make contact with the lower surface. The one or more sensors on the lower surface report if the upper surface made contact with the lower surface of did not make contact with the lower surface. The card reader is disabled when the one or more sensors are reporting that the upper surface is not in contact with the lower surface. This is an indication that a skimmer/shimmer is potentially present within the transport area of the card reader. The card reader detects the foreign objects regardless of the width of the foreign objects, such that even a fraction of a mm in thickness skimmer/shimmer is detected and the card reader is disabled.

FIG.1Ais a diagram of card reader100that includes a lower surface100A and an upper surface100B. The lower surface100A includes a card shutter/slot110with sensor111, a card transport120, one or more sensors130, a chip reader or read head140, and a magnetic reader or read head150. The upper surface100B includes a movable surface platform160, optionally a solenoid/motor170, and optionally a spring180.FIG.1Billustrates additional components of card reader100and discussed below withFIG.1B.

Furthermore, the various components identified in theFIG.1A) are illustrated and the arrangement of the components is presented for purposes of illustration only. It is to be noted that other arrangements with more or fewer components are possible without departing from the teachings of disabling a card reader100when a foreign object is detected along the card transport120of the lower surface100A as presented herein and below.

Shutter/card slot110is activated at a transaction terminal during a transaction when a card is expected for the transaction or upon detection by sensor111that a card is being presented for entry into card reader100. Sensor111reports when shutter110is opened or closed and/or reports when a card is being presented to the card slot110in cases where card reader100lacks a shutter.

When the shutter or card slot opens based on the event reported by sensor111, transport120activates to urge the card along the transport path or transport120for purposes of reading the card through a magnetic reader150when the card lacks a chip or for purposes of reading the card through chip reader130when the card includes an embedded chip. Reader150or140reads card data from the card and provides the card data back to the transaction terminal. With the card data obtained, transport120moves the card back out through card slow110and the card returns to the consumer who is performing a transaction on the transaction terminal.

As stated above, a shimmer/skimmer may be present along the transport120or lower surface100A, such that when the card is read, the card data is intercepted and saved in memory/storage of the shimmer/skimmer and/or transmitted wirelessly to a nearby device of a thief. However, unlike convention detection mechanisms before the shutter or card slot110was activated for the consumer transaction and before the card was urged along the transport120(in the direction indicated by the arrow and label “A” withinFIG.1A), card reader100already determined that there was not a shimmer/skimmer device or any other foreign object along the transport path120.

This is achieved via sensor130or sensors130located adjacent to the transport path and via moveable platform160. When the card reader100is idle and not being used for a card transaction, moveable platform160lowers onto and is in contact with lower surface100A. Movable platform160locks into place until sensor111reports that shutter110is opened for a card transaction or sensor111reports that a card is being presented for a card transaction to card slot110. When sensor111reports such an event or condition, movable platform160raises off of lower surface and returns to a card reading position to receive the card within the card reader100.

Sensor130or sensors130report when the card reader100is in an idle state an event indicating whether movable160is in contact with lower surface100A or not. When sensor130or sensors130report an event indication that moveable platform160is not in contact with lower surface100A during an idle state for card reader100, card reader100is disabled for card transactions because a foreign object is wedged in between lower surface100A and moveable platform160. The foreign object could potentially be a skimmer/shimmer device placed into the card reader100by a thief/criminal. In fact, any foreign object along lower surface100A is an indication that something is amiss and card reader100should be disabled for card transactions.

In an embodiment, moveable platform160is spring loaded behind a back surface of moveable platform160. The force of a card being inserted into card slot110forces the spring180of the upper surface100B to contact and allow entry into the card reader100. When a card is removed from the card reader100, the spring releases and pushes moveable platform160onto lower surface100A.

In an embodiment, moveable platform160is spring loaded with a spring, a latch, and a spring contraction apparatus. The latch and spring contraction apparatus controlled by a solenoid or a small motor170to contract the spring180, attached to a back surface of moveable platform160, into a card entry state for purposes of permitting a card inserted into card slot110during a transaction. The latch is released when the an idle state is reported by sensor111indicating no card is expected in card reader100; this causes the spring to uncoil and push mobile platform160onto lower surface100A.

In an embodiment, a rail mechanism with a solenoid or small motor raises and lowers movable platform160off of and on to lower surface100A. At least one side, any combination of more than one side, or all of the sides for moveable platform160aligned in the rail mechanism.

In an embodiment, sensor130is a single sensor130attached onto the lower surface in an area not previously occupied by other components of the lower surface100A for an existing card reader being enhanced as card reader100. In an embodiment, sensor130is two or more sensors130are attached in areas not previous occupied by other components of lower surface100A for an existing card reader being enhanced as card reader100.

In an embodiment, sensor130or sensors130is/are a microswitch sensor, a time-of-flight sensor, or an optical sensor. The optical sensor embodiment reports light detected between lower surface100A and upper surface100B such that when moveable platform160lowers onto lower surface100A the optical sensor is covered and reports no presence of light. When the card reader100is expected to be in an idle state and a sensor130reports an event indicating that mobile platform160is in contact with lower surface100A, card reader100disables the card reader for card transactions and reports a potential foreign object detected event to the transaction terminal. In response, the transaction terminal initiates additional security operations and procedures.

FIG.1Bis another diagram of the card reader100ofFIG.1A, according to an example embodiment.FIG.1Billustrates that card reader100further includes a processor190and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (hereinafter “medium”)191for executable instructions or firmware192. The instructions/firmware192when executed by processor190from medium191cause processor190to perform operations discussed herein and below.

For example, the processor190monitors events reported from sensors111and130. When sensor111reports that the card reader100is in an idle state, processor190expects an all-clear event from sensor130or sensors130indicating that moveable platform160is in contact with lower surface100A. When an all-clear event is not received from sensor130or sensors130, processor190disables card reader100and sends a foreign object event to the transaction terminal associated with card reader100. The card reader100can be disabled by locking shutter110, disabling power to card reader100, and/or permanently setting the state of the card reader100to offline or idle and not permitting the state to be changed. It is noted that processor190can perform other operations to effectively disable card reader100, such as disabling magnetic reader150and chip reader140.

In an embodiment, processor190activates a motor or solenoid170to cause movable platform160to lower onto or raise off of lower surface100A. In an embodiment, processor190, delays checking for an all-clear event by a configurable amount of micro seconds to permit mobile platform160to properly be lowered onto lower surface100A following a completion of a card transaction on card reader100.

FIG.1Cis a schematic diagram of rear-view of the card reader100ofFIGS.1A and1Bwhere the mobile platform160of the card reader100is moving down towards the lower surface100A after the card shutter110is closed, according to an example embodiment.FIG.1Cillustrates that mobile platform160is in contact with lower surface100A is moving from a card transaction position following a completed card transaction down to contact the lower surface100A at which point sensor130or sensors130report an all-clear event to processor190.

FIG.2is a diagram200of a system for card reader100that detects foreign objects in the card reader, according to an example embodiment. The system includes a transaction terminal210, other terminal peripheral devices211of terminal210, and card reader100as a card reader peripheral device of terminal210.

In an embodiment, the other peripherals211include a touch display, a receipt printer, a media depository, a media dispenser, a scanner, a weigh scale, a combined scanner and weigh scale, a bag scale, a keypad, a Personal Identification Number (PIN) pad, an encrypted PIN pad, etc. In an embodiment, the terminal210is an ATM, a self-service terminal (SST), a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a fuel pump kiosk, a travel kiosk, a reservation kiosk, an entertainment kiosk, or an informational kiosk.

During operation of the terminal210, a customer inserts a card (for example, a credit card, a debit card, a bank card, a loyalty card, a gift card, etc.) into card slot111of card reader100. In an embodiment, firmware192executed by processor190cause processor to perform operations discussed above withFIGS.1B and1C. For example, processor190detects a card is present event for a card transaction at terminal210via card reader100, sensor111reports the card is present event to processor190. In an embodiment, a spring-loaded moveable platform160is forced upward and away from contact with lower surface100A by the force of a card being inserted into card reader100, which contracts/coils a spring180of card reader100. In an embodiment, processor190activates a solenoid/motor170of card reader100to urge movable platform160off of and out of contact with lower surface100A based on the card is present event.

In an embodiment, processor190detects a shutter opened event reported by sensor111. A spring-loaded moveable platform160is forced upward and away from contact with lower surface100A by the force of a card being inserted into card reader100, which contracts/coils a spring180of card reader100. In an embodiment, processor190activates a solenoid/motor170of card reader100to urge movable platform160off of and out of contact with lower surface100A based on the card is present event.

In an embodiment, when the card is withdrawn from the card reader100, a spring-loaded moveable platform160de-coils or expands by the force of gravity and/or preconfigured tension of the spring180. The spring180in a relaxed state without the card wedged between lower surface100A and mobile platform160expands forcing mobile platform160onto and into contact with lower surface100A. Movable platform160covers or touches sensor130and/or sensors130and report an expected event for an idle state of card reader100to processor190. When the expected event is not received from sensor130or sensors130, processor190initiates operations to disable the card reader100and report a foreign object detected event to a processor of terminal210.

In an embodiment, when the card is withdrawn from the card reader100, processor190activates a solenoid/motor170to urge/move mobile platform160down from an initial position, which was associated with the card is present event, and onto lower surface100A touching or covering sensor130or sensors130. Sensor130or sensors130remote an expected event for an idle state of card reader100to processor190. When the expected event is not received from sensor130or sensors130, processor190initiates operations to disable the card reader100and report a foreign object detected event to a processor of terminal210.

Any presence of a foreign object including a skimmer/shimmer device of a single mm or less, is detected by card reader100when the card reader100is supposed to be in an idle state. This causes the card reader100to be disabled and a foreign object detected event sent to a processor of terminal210. Moreover, card jams associated with narrowing the card transport area are avoided because the card transport area is adjusted to have a sufficient clearance for any card inserted into card reader100whenever the card reader100is reporting a card is present or shutter is opened event. Thus, card reader100is flexible in design to catch and to detect any skimmer/shimmer manufactured by criminals.

FIG.3is a diagram of a method300for disabling a card reader100when a foreign object is detected within the card reader100, according to an example embodiment. The method300is implemented as executable instructions referred to herein as “firmware.” The firmware is executed by a processor190of a card reader100, which cause the processor190to perform operations discussed with method300. The firmware resides in non-transitory computer-readable storage media191or memory of the card reader100. In an embodiment, the firmware is firmware192discussed above withFIGS.1B,1C, and2.

At310, the firmware disables a card reader100when one or more sensors130of the card reader100report an event during an idle state of the card reader100. The event is an indication that a foreign object is inside the card reader's card transport area prevent a moveable upper surface platform100B from making contact or covering the one or more sensors130, which are attached to a lower surface100A of the card reader100.

In an embodiment, at311, the firmware locks a shutter110of the card reader100in a closed position and disables a card is present sensor111for a card slot110of the card reader100. In embodiment, the card reader is disable in any of the above-discussed manners.

In an embodiment, at320, the firmware sends a foreign object detected event to a processor of a transaction terminal210. The terminal210is associated with card reader100and the card reader is a peripheral device of the terminal210. In an embodiment, security software or security systems executed by the processor of the terminal210or executed by a cloud processor of a cloud connect to terminal210can disable the terminal210in response to receiving the foreign object detected event and cause service personnel/staff to be dispatched to visually inspect the card transport area of card reader100for the presence of a skimmer/shimmer device.

It should be appreciated that where software/firmware is described in a particular form (such as a component or module) this is merely to aid understanding and is not intended to limit how software/firmware that implements those functions may be architected or structured. For example, modules are illustrated as separate modules, but may be implemented as homogenous code, as individual components, some, but not all of these modules may be combined, or the functions may be implemented in software/firmware structured in any other convenient manner.

Furthermore, although the software/firmware modules are illustrated as executing on one piece of hardware, the software/firmware may be distributed over multiple processors or in any other convenient manner. The above description is illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of embodiments should therefore be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the foregoing description of the embodiments, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting that the claimed embodiments have more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Description of the Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate exemplary embodiment.