Registers – Coded record sensors – Feed mechanisms
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-14
2001-03-06
Pitts, Harold I. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Feed mechanisms
C235S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196463
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a card reader for receiving a card carrying stored data for the subsequent reading of the said data and, relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a magnetic card reader such as that employed in an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
Self-service financial terminals such as ATMs are commonly arranged to receive a card having magnetically stored data which can be employed to verify the identity of an individual accessing the self-service terminal. However, the requirement for using such a card does not prevent attempted fraud or other erroneous, or inappropriate, operation of the self-service terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide for a card reader such as the type that might be employed in a self-service terminal and which exhibits advantages over known such card readers in reducing the likelihood of fraudulent operation of the terminal.
According to the present invention there is provided a card reader comprising a card receiving means for receiving a card having stored data to be read and card reading means for reading the stored data, the reader being arranged to deliver a card received at the card receiving means to the card reading means via a delivery path, characterized by a signal source for providing an output signal arranged to be directed across the complete width and height of the path, and detecting means arranged to receive the said output signal so swept and serving to detect the presence of an object in the path in response to the object interfering with the signal.
The invention is advantageous in that any fraud that might involve the insertion of objects other than the card to be read into the card reader of the self-service terminal can be readily identified irrespective of the shape, configuration and/or dimensions of the object. Thus, a variety of attempted frauds involving the insertion of a “foreign” object into the card reader can be prevented.
In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the detecting means comprises a receiver located on a side of the path opposite to that at which the signal source is located.
In an alternative embodiment, both the signal source and the receiver are located on the same side of the delivery path and reflecting means is employed in order to reflect the signal from the signal source to the receiver. A particularly compact arrangement can be achieved in this manner.
According to a further advantage, both the signal source and the receiver can be commonly mounted such that any movement of the mount leads to equal movement of the signal sensor and the receiver.
Preferably, the signal source is movably mounted relative to the delivery path. In particular, the signal source can be arranged to be movable across the full extent of the delivery path.
Advantageously, the signal source is arranged to be moved across the delivery path under the control of a stepper motor.
A particularly compact, readily operable and accurate mounting and drive arrangement for the signal source can be achieved by mounting the signal source upon a threaded shaft arranged to be rotated under the control of the motor such as the aforementioned stepper motor. Movement of the signal source across the delivery path is therefore achieved by rotation of the shaft.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the signal source and receivers comprise appropriately matched electro-optic devices.
One example of such a signal source comprises a laser and the present invention can advantageously employ a laser inferometer for generating and monitoring the signal swept across the delivery path.
With such a movable signal source and receiver as outlined above, the reflecting means to be located on the mutually opposite side of the delivery path advantageously comprises an elongate reflector which extends parallel to the path of travel of the signal source during its movement across the delivery path so as to sweep the signal across the said path. In this manner, irrespective of the position of the signal source during its travel across the delivery path, a particularly compact reflector arrangement advantageously serves to return the signal to the receiver.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-service terminal comprising processor means, card input means, card reading means, data input means, display means, output means and connection means for connecting to a central authorization unit, characterized by a card reader arranged to deliver a card received at the card input means to the card reading means via a delivery path wherein a signal source is arranged to provide an output signal that is swept across the delivery path, and detecting means arranged to receive the signal so swept and serving to detect the presence of an object in the delivery path in response to the object interfering with the signal.
It should be appreciated that the present invention is particularly advantageous in detecting an object such as a thin or fine member in the form of a thread.
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Conte Francis L.
NCR Corporation
Pitts Harold I.
LandOfFree
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