Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head – Head accessory
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-15
2002-11-12
Ometz, David L. (Department: 2651)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head
Head accessory
C360S240000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06480356
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new and improved magnetic head transducer assembly with a torsion box spring frame and method of making same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a magnetic head transducer assembly which enables reduction of lateral movement caused by head mounts supporting the magnetic transducer during the reading and writing of information on a single or multiple track magnetic stripe. The novel magnetic head mounting assembly device is comprised of a single or multiple track magnetic tripe read head transducer mounted to a support structure by means of a dual parallelogram spring structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Our society is becoming increasingly dependent upon information encoded within magnetic stripes used in such applications as credit cards, security cards and a variety of related magnetic media. Often these cards become warped during the course of usage and exposure to environmental factors. Today's rapid paced informational society is placing increased demands on electronic equipment to perform accurately, dependably, quickly and economically, even under such circumstances.
The necessity and usefulness of devices which encode and decode the information on such cards are well known. Examples of another type and kind of device for decoding information on magnetic strips is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,734.
In general, the structure and function of most magnetic stripe readers and encoders involve a single or multiple transducer heads mounted on a support structure. This support structure allows for limited movement of the head against the magnetic stripe.
Such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,734. The device a magnetic strip head assembly comprised of a support for transducer heads with leaf springs which permit the transducer head to move on a single axis to conform to any deformities in a card supporting a magnetic stripe.
The device is unidirectional in its usage when encoding and decoding information on and from magnetic stripes. Any attempt to run the card in the opposite direction leads to lateral movement, or jitter, of the transducer head making encoding and decoding of information impossible due to the fact that the transducer head is not in constant contact with the magnetic stripe.
In addition, the configuration of the device only allows for transducer head movement on the x axis and does not compensate for warping along the z axis. There is no mechanism provided for this device which would restrict movement of the head on the longitudinal or y axis. This longitudinal movement of the transducer head leads to jitter in the encoding and decoding process which cause variations in the placement of the encoded data bits.
Furthermore, the structure and configuration of the leaf springs cause wear on the assembly. The assembly is relatively work intensive to manufacture and both of these factors make the assembly expensive to maintain, replace and manufacture.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved device and method for making same for a magnetic head mounting device and method of making same that would provide for movement in the z and x axes of the magnetic head force against the magnetic media with a parallel action, with restrictive movement on the y axes to prevent longitudinal movement while reading or encoding the data off of or on to magnetic media and which would be durable and economically manufactured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved magnetic head transducer assembly device and method for making same. This magnetic head assembly would greatly reduce lateral movement or jitter of the magnetic head during the process of encoding and reading information stored on magnetic stripes by providing a double parallelogram torsion box spring frame for mounting the magnetic head.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide accurate encoding and decoding of data and processing of data by precisely measuring the distance between flux reversals allowing for overwrite or modifications of encoded data.
It is a yet a further object of the present invention to provide such a new and improved device and method for making same, magnetic head transducer assembly, with a snap action installation for head and spring assembly for easy and economical assembly.
Briefly, the above and further objects of the present invention are realized by providing a new and improved magnetic head transducer assembly and method of making same. This magnetic head assembly would have a single or multiple track magnetic stripe read head transducer mounted to a support structure by means of a dual parallelogram spring structure. The spring enables torsional and perpendicular movement of the magnetic head transducer during magnetic strip card transduction operations while preventing the head from rotating. The novel magnetic head assembly is provided with a means for rapid assembly without the use of mounting screws in single and multiple track configurations. The unique spring also reduces wear on the magnetic heads which increases the functional life of the unit. It also prevents the transducer from vibrating due to the action of springs on both sides of the transducer. This allows for the bi-directional reading and encoding without contributing to jitter. The novel locking means for the assembly allows inexpensive manufacture of the magnetic head assembly, yet the durability of available manufacturing materials and the structure of the spring provide the magnetic head assembly with a long useful life with little or no maintenance expense involved with upkeep.
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Duenas Miguel
Mos, Jr. Robert J.
Mos, Sr. Robert J.
von Mueller Clay
Clarke Richard D.
Ometz David L.
Semtek Innovative Solutions, Inc.
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