Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2014/010067 filed on Oct. 24, 2014, which claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2013-0147045 filed on Nov. 29, 2013, which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a card reader configured such that a user can use both a contact type card and a non-contact type card through a single card insertion opening. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, card readers are connected to relay servers or VAN servers through on/off dedicated lines in order to carry out credit card payments. 
     Credit cards are mainly classified into a magnetic card and an IC card according to a method of storing information therein. The magnetic card uses a magnetic stripe, and the IC card, called a smart card, has an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip therein. 
     Herein, the magnetic card is referred to as a contact type card, and the IC card is referred to as a non-contact type card. 
     A contact type card has a magnetic stripe in which data is stored. 
     A separate contact type card reader is required to read the data from the magnetic stripe of the contact type card. 
     Namely, the contact type card reader includes a magnetic head and has a card insertion opening, and when the contact type card passes through the card insertion opening from top to bottom, or from left to right, the magnetic head reads the data stored in the magnetic stripe that is attached to the back side of the contact type card, and the contact type card reader outputs the data on the screen and provides various pieces of information to an inquirer. 
     Meanwhile, a non-contact type card has an IC chip therein, which stores all information therein. The non-contact type card is widely used because it has a higher storage capacity than an existing magnetic card and exhibits good security. 
     For this reason, the non-contact type card is diversely used for general banking, a credit card, a transportation card, an ID card, etc. In addition, since the non-contact type card may also perform the function of electronic money, the non-contact type card is used to purchase goods in Internet shopping malls or to purchase charged content, as well as to pay a congestion fee, a parking fee, a highway toll fee, etc. 
     A non-contact type card reader is required in order to stably use the non-contact type card on the Internet, which can be used for various purposes. The non-contact type card reader includes a card reader main body, a signal processing unit, an RF module, an antenna, and a printed circuit board. 
     The non-contact type card reader is a device that may transmit data from a card to an external device through a connector. 
     However, in order to use the existing contact type card or non-contact type card, a contact or non-contact type card reader is separately required, which causes an inconvenience to the user. 
     In other words, there is a shortcoming in that a user has to have a contact type card reader when using a contact type card and has to have a separate non-contact type card reader when using a non-contact type card. 
     Recently, in order to overcome the shortcoming, a card reader has been developed to use a contact type card and a non-contact type card together. 
     However, the conventional card reader that is usable for both a contact type card and a non-contact type card, which has separate card insertion openings for sliding the contact and non-contact type cards, causes an inconvenience to the user because the user has to insert a contact type card into the card insertion opening dedicated to a contact type card in order to use it, and has to insert a non-contact type card into the separate card insertion opening dedicated to a non-contact type card in order to use it. 
     Accordingly, a card reader in which both a contact type card and a non-contact type card can be used through a single card insertion opening is required. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may provide a card reader that has a single card insertion opening formed in a single card reader main body to identify both a contact type card and a non-contact type card passing through the single card insertion opening so that it is possible to use only the single card reader instead of using existing contact and non-contact type card readers that are separately provided, thereby enhancing the use of the product and reducing the cost required for additionally purchasing a product. 
     Further, various embodiments of the present invention may provide a card reader in which both a contact type card and a non-contact type card can be used through a single card insertion opening formed in a single card reader main body, thereby further enhancing the use of the product. 
     According to various embodiments of the present invention, a card reader includes: a card reader main body; a card insertion opening that is formed in the card reader main body and into which a contact type card and a non-contact type card are inserted; and a rotation guide unit provided in the card insertion opening to pass the contact type card through the card insertion opening according to the rotation thereof, or to restrict the movement of the non-contact type card according to the contact with the non-contact type card. 
     According to various embodiments of the present invention, a card reader includes: a card reader main body; a contact type card identification module provided in the card reader main body; a circuit board provided in the card reader main body, the circuit board having a non-contact type card identification module mounted thereon; a card insertion opening formed in the card reader main body, wherein a contact type card and a non-contact type card are inserted into the card insertion opening; and a rotation guide unit rotatably provided in the card insertion opening, wherein the rotation guide unit passes the contact type card through the card insertion opening according to the rotation thereof such that the contact type card identification module identifies the contact type card; and restricts the movement of the non-contact type card according to the contact therewith after the non-contact type card is inserted into the card insertion opening such that the non-contact type card identification module identifies the non-contact type card. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the coupled state of the card reader according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating a state in which a contact type card is used in the card reader according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged plan view of portion A of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view illustrating a state in which a non-contact type card is used in the card reader according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating the state in which the non-contact type card is used in the card reader according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the non-contact type card and a rotation guide unit make contact with each other in the card reader according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Terms used in various embodiments of the present invention will be described in brief first, and then the various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. 
     With respect to the terms in the various embodiments of the present invention, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present invention. However, meanings of the terms may be changed according to an inventor&#39;s intention, a judicial precedent, appearance of a new technology, and the like. Further, in a certain case, a term arbitrarily selected by the applicant may be used. In such a case, the meaning of the term will be described in detail at the corresponding part in the description of the present invention. Thus, the terms used in various embodiments of the present invention should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall contents of the embodiments of the present invention instead of simple titles of the terms. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the coupled state of the card reader according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     The configuration of the card reader  10  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The card reader  10  includes a card reader main body  20 , a contact type card identification module  30 , a circuit board  40  having a non-contact type card identification module  70  mounted thereon, a card insertion opening  50 ; and a rotation guide unit  60 . The card reader main body  20  is configured such that the contact type card identification module  30 , the circuit board  40 , the card insertion opening  50 , and the rotation guide unit  60 , which will be described below, may be provided therein. The contact type card identification module  30  is provided in the card reader main body  20  to identify a contact type card  11 , which will be described below. The circuit board  40  has the non-contact type card identification module  70  mounted thereon for identifying a non-contact type card  12 , which will be described below, and is provided in the card reader main body  20 . The card insertion opening  50 , into which both the contact type card  11  and the non-contact type card  12  may be inserted, is formed in the card reader main body  20 . The rotation guide unit  60  is rotatably provided in the card insertion opening. The rotation guide unit  60  passes the contact type card  11  through the card insertion opening  50  according to the rotation thereof such that the contact type card identification module  30  may identify a magnetic stripe (not illustrated) provided on the contact type card  11 . In addition, the rotation guide unit  60  restricts the movement of the non-contact type card  12  according to the contact therewith after the non-contact type card  12  is inserted into the card insertion opening  50  such that the non-contact type card identification module  70  may identify an IC chip  12   a  provided in the non-contact type card  12 . 
     Namely, the rotation guide unit  60  passes the contact type card  11  through the card insertion opening  50  while rotating at the same time as making contact with the contact type card  11 . In addition, the rotation guide unit  60  restricts the movement of the non-contact type card  12  within the card insertion opening  50  without rotating when it makes contact with the non-contact type card  12  that is inserted into the card insertion opening  50 . 
     As described above, the single card insertion opening  50  is formed in the card reader main body  20  such that both the contact type card  11  and the non-contact type card  12  may be identified and used at the same moment they are inserted into the card insertion opening  50 . Accordingly, both the contact type card  11  and the non-contact type card  12  can be used in the single card reader, instead of a contact type card reader and a non-contact type card reader, thereby enhancing the use of the product and reducing the cost required for additionally purchasing a product. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a cover  90  is provided on the exterior of the card reader main body  20 . The cover  90  is coupled to the card reader main body  20  to protect the card reader main body  20 . Further, first and second connection terminals  41  and  42  are mounted on the circuit board  40  to electrically connect the card reader main body  20  and external electronic devices (not illustrated). The first connection terminal  41  may include a connection jack, and the second connection terminal  42  may include a USB terminal. In this embodiment, the first and second connection terminals  41  and  42  are exemplified by the connection jack and the USB terminal, respectively, but they are not limited thereto. Namely, any other configurations that may be electrically connected with the external electronic devices (not illustrated) may be applied as various modified examples of the first and second connection terminals  41  and  42 . 
     The electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes all information and communication devices and multimedia devices, such as a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), an MP3 player, a navigation, a game player, a notebook, a netbook, an advertising panel, a TV, a digital broadcasting receiver, a Personal Digital Assistant, and a smart phone, as well as all kinds of mobile communication terminals which operate according to communication protocols corresponding to various communication systems, and application devices thereof. 
     Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a battery unit  80  is provided in the card reader main body  20  to supply power to the contact type card identification module  30  and the non-contact type card identification module  70 . The contact type card identification module  30  is constituted by a magnetic head unit in which a Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR) is installed to detect data stored in the magnetic stripe (not illustrated) that is provided on the contact type card  11 . Namely, at the same moment the contact type card  11  makes contact with the rotation guide unit  60  when passing through the card insertion opening  50 , the rotation guide unit  60  rotates to pass the contact type card  11 . In other words, the magnetic head unit detects and reads the data stored in the magnetic stripe of the contact type card  11  at the same moment the magnetic stripe (not illustrated) of the contact type card  11  passes through the magnetic head unit. 
     Here, the contact type card  11  may be a magnetic card having a magnetic stripe provided thereon. The contact type card  11  is exemplified by the magnetic card in this embodiment, but it is not limited thereto. Namely, any other card configurations from which the magnetic head unit may read data at the same moment they make contact with the magnetic head unit may be applied as various modified examples of the contact type card  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the non-contact type card identification module  70  is constituted by a reader that reads information stored in the IC chip  12   a  that is provided within the non-contact type card  12 . Namely, if the rotation guide unit  60  restricts the movement of the non-contact type card  12  while making contact with it at the same moment the non-contact type card  12  is inserted into the card insertion opening  50 , the reader reads the information stored in the IC chip  12   a  of the non-contact type card  12 . 
     Here, the non-contact type card  12  may be an IC card having the IC chip  12   a  therein. Likewise, the non-contact type card  12  is exemplified by the IC card in this embodiment, but it is not limited thereto. Namely, any other card configurations that may not make contact with the reader may be applied as various modified examples of the non-contact type card  12 . 
     More specifically, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rotation guide unit  60  includes a rotation hole  61 , a rotary part  62 , a rotation hinge part  63 , and a resilient member  64 . The rotation hole  61  is formed in the card reader main body  20  in order to rotate the rotary part  62  therein and restrict the rotation of the rotary part  62 . The rotary part  62  is provided in the rotation hole  61  in order to pass the contact type card  11  through the card insertion opening while rotating at the same time as making contact with the contact type card  11  and to restrict the movement of the non-contact type card  12  within the card insertion opening while making contact with the non-contact type card  12 . The rotation hinge part  63  is located adjacent to the rotation hole  61  to rotatably support the rotary part  62 . The resilient member  64  is coupled to the rotary part  62  and provides a resilient force in order to rotate the rotary part  62 . 
     The resilient member  64  may be constituted by a wire spring, and other types of springs, such as a coil spring and a plate spring, may be employed for the resilient member  64 , as well as the wire spring. 
     Further, a contact stopper  61   a  is formed in the rotation hole  61  such that the rotary part  62  makes contact with the contact stopper  61   a  to restrict the movement of the non-contact type card  12  after the non-contact type card  12  is inserted into the card insertion opening  50 . Namely, the contact stopper  61   a  restricts the rotation of the rotary part  62  while making contact with one end of the rotary part  62 . In other words, when the contact type card  11  is inserted into an inlet at one side of the card insertion opening  50 , the contact type card  11  makes contact with the rotary part  62  to rotate the rotary part  62  while separating the end of the rotary part  62  from the contact stopper  61   a . In this way, the contact type card  11  passes through the card insertion opening  50 . After the contact type card  11  passes through the card insertion opening  50 , the rotary part  62  rotates by the resilient member  64  and returns to the original position, in which case the end of the rotary part  62  makes contact with the contact stopper  61   a  so that the rotation of the rotary part  62  is restricted by the contact stopper  61   a.    
     When the non-contact type card  12  is inserted into an inlet at the opposite side of the card insertion opening  50 , the non-contact type card  12  makes contact with the rotary part  62  so that the movement of the non-contact type card  12  is restricted by the rotary part  62 . Namely, the non-contact type card  12  inserted into the card insertion opening  50  is identified by the non-contact type card identification module  70  that is provided in the card reader main body  20 . 
     Herein, the assembly of the card reader will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . First, the rotary part  62  is rotatably coupled to the card reader main body  20  in which the card insertion opening  50  is formed as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this case, the rotary part  62  is provided so as to be rotatable within the rotation hole  61  that is formed in the card reader main body  20  to receive the rotary part  62  therein. 
     The rotary part  62  is rotatably coupled to the rotation hinge part  63  that is located adjacent to the rotation hole  61  to support the rotation of the rotary part  62 . 
     The rotation hinge part  63  is screw-coupled to the card reader main body  20 . In other words, the rotation hinge part  63  has hinge holes  63   a  formed on opposite sides thereof, and hinge arms  62   a  of the rotary part  62  are coupled to the hinge holes  63   a . In this case, the resilient member  64  is mounted on one of the hinge arms  62   a  of the rotary part  62  in order to apply a resilient force to the rotary part. Further, the contact type card identification module  30  and the circuit board  40  on which the non-contact type card identification module  70  is mounted are provided in the card reader main body  20 . In this case, the contact type card identification module  30  and the non-contact type card identification module  70  are arranged side by side in the card reader main body  20 . The battery unit  80  is provided in the card reader main body  20  to supply power to the non-contact type card identification module  70 . The cover  90  is mounted on the exterior of the card reader main body  20 . 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the card reader will be described in more detail.  FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating a state in which the contact type card  11  is inserted into the card insertion opening  50  of the card reader main body  20  according to the present invention.  FIG. 4  is an enlarged plan view of portion A of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is a plan view illustrating a state in which the non-contact type card  12  is inserted into the card insertion opening  50  of the card reader main body  20  according to the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating the state in which the card reader, according to the present invention, is used for the non-contact type card  12 .  FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the non-contact type card  12  and the rotation guide unit  60  make contact with each other in the card reader according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the contact type card  11  is inserted into the card insertion opening  50  through one side thereof and passes through the card insertion opening  50 . Namely, when the contact type card  11  starts from one side of the card insertion opening  50  and passes through the card insertion opening  50  from the left to the right, the contact type card  11  makes contact with the rotary part  62  of the rotation guide unit  60  at the same moment it is inserted into the card insertion opening  50 , and the rotary part  62  rotates at the same moment the contact-type card  11  is brought into contact with the rotary part  62 , and passes the contact type card  11  through the card insertion opening  50 . When the contact type card  11  passes through the rotary part  62 , the contact type card identification module  30  provided in the card reader main body  20  reads data stored in the magnetic stripe (not illustrated) that is provided on the contact type card  11 . 
     The contact type card identification module  30  imparts the data, which is read from the magnetic stripe, to the external electronic devices (not illustrated) through the first and second connection terminals  41  and  42 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , after the contact type card  11  passes through the card insertion opening  50 , the rotary part  62  rotates again by the resilient member  64  and returns to the original position. At this time, the end of the rotary part  62  makes contact with the contact stopper  61   a  formed in the rotation hole  61  so that the rotation of the rotary part  62  is restricted. 
     In a case where a user uses the non-contact type card  12 , the non-contact type card  12  is inserted into the card insertion opening  50  through the opposite side thereof. Namely, when the non-contact type card  12  is inserted into the card insertion opening  50  from the right to the left, the non-contact type card  12  makes contact with the rotary part  62  and stops. 
     In other words, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the non-contact type card  12  starts from the opposite side of the card insertion opening  50  and is inserted thereinto from the right to the left, the non-contact type card  12  does not completely pass through the card insertion opening  50 , and makes contact with the rotary part  62  in a position that exceeds half of the card insertion opening  50  so that the movement of the non-contact type card  12  is restricted. The rotary part  62  does not rotate because the rotary part  62  makes contact with the contact stopper  61   a.    
     In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the non-contact type card  12  corresponds to the non-contact type card identification module  70  provided in the card reader main body  20  and is close to the non-contact type card identification module  70 . The non-contact type card identification module  70  reads and identifies the information of the IC chip  12   a  (not illustrated) that is provided in the non-contact type card  12 . 
     Further, an RF module (not illustrated) and an antenna (not illustrated) that are provided in the non-contact type card identification module  70  receive the signal of the non-contact type card  12 , and the signal is imparted to a signal processing unit (not illustrated) of the non-contact type card identification module  70 . 
     The signal processing unit (not illustrated) transmits the signal to the external electronic devices (not illustrated) through the first and second connection terminals  41  and  42 . 
     In a case where a user uses an existing contact type card (not illustrated) or non-contact type card (not illustrated), the user has to have separate card readers (not illustrated) so that it costs a lot to purchase the products. Further, an existing card reader that is usable for both a contact type card and a non-contact type card, which has separate card insertion openings for them, causes an inconvenience to a user because the user has to insert a contact type card into the card insertion opening dedicated to a contact type card in order to use it, and has to insert a non-contact type card into the separate card insertion opening dedicated to a non-contact type card in order to use it. 
     Accordingly, in order to overcome the shortcoming, the card reader  10  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) of the present invention is configured such that both the contact type card  11  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) and the non-contact type card  12  (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) are used through the single card insertion opening  50  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). Therefore, it is possible to enhance user convenience and to reduce the cost required to purchase a product because there is no need to additionally purchase an existing card reader according to use. 
     According to the various embodiments of the present invention, the single card insertion opening is formed in the single card reader main body to identify both a contact type card and a non-contact type card passing through the card insertion opening so that it is possible to use only the single card reader instead of existing contact and non-contact type card readers that are separately provided, thereby enhancing the use of the product and reducing the cost required for additionally purchasing a product. 
     In addition, both a contact type card and a non-contact type card can be used through the single card insertion opening formed in the single card reader main body so that it is possible to further enhance the use of the product. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: g