Patent ID: 6840447

Claim:
An IC card reader configured to read data from an IC card through a radio communication, the IC card reader comprising: a casing made from a material through which the radio communication can occur; a data reading table provided on a surface of said casing, constructed to allow the IC card to be brought into proximity thereto, said data reading table having substantially flat surface over which the IC card is to be placed; an antenna disposed within said data reading table, said antenna working to establish the radio communication with the IC card which is placed over said data reading table; a card holder designed to hold the IC card in proximity to the data reading table, said card holder serving as a portion of an IC card access guide which guides access of the IC card to said data reading table; at least a first and a second recess formed in said data reading table, said first and said second recesses each having a first physical geometry facilitating installation of said card holder on said data reading table; a protrusion formed on said card holder, said protrusion having a second physical geometry for selectively establishing engagement with one of said first and said second recesses; and a fastening mechanism which includes said first and said second recesses and said protrusion to attach said card holder to the data reading table detachably, said fastening mechanism being designed to allow one of a first and a second joint mode to be achieved selectively, the first joint mode establishing a joint between said card holder and said data reading table in engagement of the first recess with said protrusion, the second joint mode establishing a joint between said card holder and said data reading table in engagement of the second recess with said protrusion, the first and second joint modes being different in orientation in which the access of the IC card to said data reading table is guided.