JP2005182914A - Magnetic card reader and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate the coercive force of a magnetic card in a magnetic card reader. <P>SOLUTION: In occurrence of reading error when reading the magnetic card by a head part 1, a CPU 6 in the magnetic reader 100 detects the traveling velocity and magnetic force of the magnetic card by each track, and discriminates the coercive force of the magnetic card based on the detected traveling velocity and magnetic force. When it is discriminated that the coercive force is insufficient, a display part 7 and a sound output part 8 inform that the magnetic card is insufficient in the coercive force and defective. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic card reader and a program.

A payment terminal that performs payment using a magnetic card such as a credit card or a debit card is equipped with an MCR (Magnetic Card Reader) that reads data recorded on the magnetic card. Data recorded on the magnetic card is read by receiving the magnetic force generated from the magnetic tape on the magnetic card with the magnetic head of the MCR, and the stronger the generated magnetic force, the higher the reading performance (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .). Further, since the magnetic force output from the magnetic head increases as the scanning speed (running speed) of the magnetic card increases, the reading performance increases. However, an upper limit is set for the traveling speed at which the reading operation can be performed by the MCR.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-175817

  Generally, when the magnetic tape of the magnetic card is dirty or scratched, or when the magnetic tape is brought close to a magnet, the magnetic force generated from the magnetic tape is weakened, and the reading performance in the MCR is deteriorated. When such a magnetic card is read by MCR, a reading error may occur. However, in the conventional MCR, when a reading error occurs, even if the magnetic card is defective, it is often determined that a failure has occurred on the payment terminal side on which the MCR is mounted, and the manufacturer side that manufactured the payment terminal However, there is a problem that analysis of the cause of the reading error is forced.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to determine the coercivity of a magnetic card in a magnetic card reader.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the magnetic card is read, the detecting means for detecting the traveling speed and the magnetic force of the magnetic card, and the magnetic card is stored based on the traveling speed and the magnetic force detected by the detecting means. It is characterized by comprising coercive force determining means for determining magnetic force, and notifying means for notifying the determination result by the coercive force determining means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the computer detects the traveling speed and magnetic force of the magnetic card when the magnetic card is read, and the coercive force of the magnetic card based on the detected traveling speed and magnetic force. This is a program for realizing the function of determining the determination and the function of notifying the determination result of the determination.

  According to the present invention, since the coercive force of the magnetic card is determined based on the traveling speed and magnetic force of the magnetic card and the determination result is notified, the terminal on which the magnetic card reader is mounted as in the prior art. It is not determined that the terminal is unilaterally defective, and there is a high possibility that error analysis on the terminal side is not required.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a magnetic card reader 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A magnetic card reader 100 is mounted on a payment terminal that performs payment using a magnetic card such as a credit card or a debit card. As shown in FIG. 1, a head unit 1, a demodulation unit 2, a gate array 3, a voltage detector 4, A power supply unit 5, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 6, a display unit 7, and an audio output unit 8 are configured.

  In the present embodiment, the number of tracks applied by the magnetic card reader 100 is two tracks, but the number of tracks applied is not particularly limited. Hereinafter, the two tracks will be referred to as track 1 and track 2, respectively. In the present embodiment, the recording method of the magnetic card is assumed to be F2F (frequency modulation method). F2F is a method in which data and a clock are combined and recorded on the same track.

  The head unit 1 includes a track 1 head 11 and a track 2 head 12 as magnetic heads for reading data recorded on two tracks (track 1 and track 2) of the magnetic card. The track 1 head 11 reads the data recorded on the track 1 of the magnetic tape on the magnetic card, converts the magnetic signal obtained by the reading into an electric signal (IN), and outputs it to the demodulator 2. Similarly, the track 2 head 12 reads the data recorded on the track 2 of the magnetic tape on the magnetic card, converts the magnetic signal obtained by the reading into an electric signal (IN), and outputs it to the demodulator 2. The head unit 1 includes a sensor (not shown) that detects insertion of a magnetic card. When the sensor detects insertion of the magnetic card, the head unit 1 outputs a detection signal to the power supply unit 5.

2 and 3 show the waveform (analog waveform) of the signal IN (F2F modulation signal) output from the head unit 1. FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the higher the magnetic force of the magnetic card, the higher the peak value V _{1 of the} F2F modulation signal (voltage) (FIG. 2A), and the weaker the magnetic force, the higher the wave of the F2F modulation signal (voltage). The high value V ₂ becomes low (FIG. 2B).

Further, the magnetic force of the magnetic card is proportional to the scanning speed (traveling speed) of the magnetic card. As shown in FIG. 3, the higher the traveling speed of the magnetic card, the higher the peak value V _{3 of the} F2F modulation signal (voltage) (FIG. 3A), and the smaller the traveling speed of the magnetic card, the F2F modulated signal. The peak value V ₄ of (voltage) is lowered (FIG. 3B). In FIG. 3, v _max is an upper limit value of the traveling speed at which the magnetic card reader 100 can perform a reading operation.

  FIG. 6A shows a timing chart of the signal IN (F2F modulation signal) output from the head 1. As shown in FIG. 6A, the signal period of the signal IN output differs according to the data read by the head unit 1.

  The demodulator 2 includes a track 1 demodulator 21 and a track 2 demodulator 22. The track 1 demodulator 21 demodulates the F2F modulation signal (IN) input from the track 1 head 11 into a digital signal and outputs it to the gate array 3. The track 2 demodulator 22 demodulates the F2F modulation signal (IN) input from the track 2 head 12 into a digital signal and outputs it to the gate array 3. FIG. 6B shows a timing chart of the F2F demodulated signal demodulated into the digital signal. As shown in FIG. 6B, the signal period (signal width) of the F2F demodulated signal differs according to the signal value (0, 1).

  As shown in FIG. 1, signals output from the track 1 demodulator 21 and the track 2 demodulator 22 include CLS (Card Loading Signal), RCP (Reading Clock Pulse), and RDD (Reading Decode Data). There are three types.

The CLS signal becomes Low level when the F2F modulation signal is input to the demodulating unit 2 for a predetermined number of read-out bits (for example, 12 bits), and while the magnetic card passes through the head unit 1 (that is, during scanning). ) Is maintained at the Low level. FIG. 6C shows a timing chart of the CLS signal. As shown in FIG. 6C, when the magnetic card is correctly scanned, the CLS signal falls once and rises once during the scanning (time T _{1 to} T ₂ ). Has occurred once. When an abnormality occurs in the magnetic card scanning operation, such as when the scanning operation is stopped halfway during the magnetic card scanning, the falling and rising edges of the CLS signal occur multiple times, and the CLS signal occurs multiple times. It will be done.

  The RCP signal is a timing pulse for reading output data. FIG. 6D shows a timing chart of the RCP signal. The RDD signal represents data recorded on the magnetic card. FIG. 6E shows a timing chart of the RDD signal.

  The gate array 3 includes a track 1 buffer 31 and a track 2 buffer 32 as buffers for temporarily storing the signal input from the demodulator 2 and the signal input from the voltage detector 4. The track 1 buffer 31 stores the signal input from the track 1 demodulator 21 and the data of the detected voltage value of track 1 input from the voltage detector 4. The track 2 buffer 32 stores the signal input from the track 2 demodulator 22 and the data of the detected voltage value of track 2 input from the voltage detector 4.

  The voltage detector 4 detects the voltage (analog electric signal) output from the track 1 head 11 and the track 2 head 12 of the head unit 1 and outputs it to the gate array 3.

  The power supply unit 5 supplies power to each unit of the magnetic card reader 100 using a battery or an AC adapter. The power supply unit 5 is in an OFF state while no magnetic card is inserted, and is in an ON state when a detection signal for notifying the insertion of the magnetic card is input from the head unit 1.

The CPU 6 detects (measures) the magnetic force for each track from the detected voltage value for each track output from the gate array 3. FIG. 4 shows a magnetic force detection method. The magnetic force is expressed as a duty ratio D = T ₁ / T ₂ , where T _{1 is} a time when the detected voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold and T ₂ is a time when the detected voltage falls below the threshold. That is, the greater the value of D = T ₁ / T ₂ , the greater the magnetic force.

Further, the CPU 6 detects (calculates) the traveling speed of the magnetic card for each track from the RCP signal of each track and the recording density of each track. The traveling speed of the magnetic card is defined as the following formula (1).
Travel speed = 2.54 ÷ recording density ÷ clock cycle (1)
Here, the clock cycle is the cycle of the RCP signal. The recording density is, for example, 210 bpi when the track is ISO1 and 75 bpi when the track is ISO2.

  When a magnetic card reading error occurs, the CPU 6 prompts the user to scan the magnetic card again by display on the display unit 7 and / or audio output from the audio output unit 8, and is obtained from at least two scan operations. The coercive force is determined from the magnetic force (duty ratio D) and the traveling speed.

  The determination of the coercive force can be performed based on a graph showing the relationship between the traveling speed and the magnetic force. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the traveling speed and the magnetic force in the magnetic card A and the magnetic card B. For example, the traveling speed and magnetic force (duty ratio D) obtained from the first scanning operation of the magnetic card A are respectively S1 and M1, and the traveling speed and magnetic force (duty ratio D) obtained from the second scanning operation. , S2 and M2, respectively, the coercivity of the magnetic card A can be determined by connecting the points (S1, M1) and (S2, M2) with straight lines. The same applies to the magnetic card B.

The maximum value of the traveling speed is v _max , the readable magnetic force is D1, and the straight line connecting the origin and the point (v _max , D1) is the coercive force determination reference line α. In the case of the magnetic card A, since the measured magnetic force is larger than the magnetic force defined by the determination reference line α and the traveling speed is increased, the CPU 6 reaches the readable magnetic force D1, so the CPU 6 displays the display unit 7 and / or the audio output unit 8. Is used to notify the user to increase the scan speed (running speed). In the case of the magnetic card B, the measured magnetic force is smaller than the magnetic force defined by the determination reference line α, and the readable magnetic force D1 cannot be reached no matter how fast the traveling speed is increased. Alternatively, the voice output unit 8 is used to notify the user that the magnetic card B is defective because the coercive force of the magnetic card B is insufficient.

  Further, the CPU 6 determines the quality of the running state of the magnetic card by measuring the number of times the CLS signal is generated for each track. When the number of occurrences of the CLS signal is two or more in one scan operation, the display unit 7 and / or the audio output unit 8 are used to prompt the user to scan the magnetic card again.

  The display unit 7 includes an indicator composed of a display screen such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and the like. In accordance with a control signal input from the CPU 6, display processing on the LCD and blinking operation of the indicator Perform the lighting operation.

  The audio output unit 8 converts a specified audio digital signal into an analog signal according to a control signal input from the CPU 6 and outputs the analog signal to the outside.

Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described.
A magnetic card reading process executed in the magnetic card reader 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 shows a magnetic card reading process in one track for the sake of simplicity, the process shown in FIG. 7 is performed for each track.

  When the scanning operation of the magnetic card is started (step S1), the data recorded on the magnetic tape of the magnetic card is read, and the magnetic force of the magnetic card is measured based on the read data (step S2). The traveling speed is measured (step S3).

  When no reading error occurs due to the magnetic card scanning operation (step S4; NO), the reading result is displayed on the display unit 7 (step S5), and the magnetic card reading process is terminated. When a reading error occurs due to the magnetic card scanning operation (step S4; YES), it is determined whether or not the number of CLS signals generated in one scanning operation is one (step S6).

  In Step S6, when it is determined that the number of occurrences of the CLS signal is 2 or more (Step S6; NO), the magnetic force measurement value measured in Step S2 and the travel speed measurement value measured in Step S3 are invalidated. The display unit 7 and / or the audio output unit 8 notify the user to scan the magnetic card again, and the process returns to step S1. If it is determined in step S6 that the number of occurrences of the CLS signal is 1 (step S6; YES), the magnetic force measurement value measured in step S2 is set to M1 (step S7), and measured in step S3. The measured travel speed value is set to S1 (step S8), and the display unit 7 and / or the audio output unit 8 notifies the user to scan the magnetic card again.

  When scanning of the magnetic card is started again (step S9), the data recorded on the magnetic tape of the magnetic card is read, and the magnetic force of the magnetic card is measured based on the read data (step S10). The traveling speed is measured (step S11).

  If no reading error has occurred due to the scanning operation in step S9 (step S12; NO), the reading result is displayed on the display unit 7 (step S5), and the magnetic card reading process is terminated. When a reading error has occurred due to the scanning operation in step S9 (step S12; YES), it is determined whether or not the number of occurrences of the CLS signal in one scanning operation is one (step S13).

  If it is determined in step S13 that the number of occurrences of the CLS signal is two or more (step S13; NO), the magnetic force measurement value measured in step S10 and the travel speed measurement value measured in step S11 are invalidated. The display unit 7 and / or the audio output unit 8 notify the user to scan the magnetic card again, and the process returns to step S1. If it is determined in step S13 that the number of occurrences of the CLS signal is one (step S13; YES), the magnetic force measurement value measured in step S10 is set to M2 (step S14), and is measured in step S11. The measured traveling speed is set to S2 (step S15).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there are data of magnetic force measurement values M1 and M2 and travel speed measurement values S1 and S2 (step S16). If it is determined in step S16 that there is no data M1, M2, S1, or S2 (step S16; NO), the display unit 7 and / or the audio output unit 8 informs the user to scan the magnetic card again. Return to step S1.

  If it is determined in step S16 that there is data M1, M2, S1, S2 (step S16; YES), a graph showing the relationship between the running speed and the magnetic force as shown in FIG. The coercive force is measured (step S17), and it is determined whether or not the measured coercive force is equal to or greater than the coercive force defined by the determination reference line α (step S18).

  In step S18, when it is determined that the coercive force measured in step S17 is equal to or greater than the coercive force defined by the determination reference line α (step S18; YES), the display unit 7 and / or the audio output unit 8 The user is notified to increase the scanning speed (traveling speed) of the magnetic card (step S20), and the process returns to step S1.

  In step S18, when it is determined that the coercive force measured in step S17 is less than the coercive force defined by the determination reference line α (step S18; NO), the display unit 7 and / or the audio output unit 8 The fact that the coercive force of the corresponding track is insufficient is notified (step S19), and the magnetic card reading process ends.

  If the difference between the magnetic force defined by the determination reference line α and the coercive force measured in step S17 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, scanning the magnetic card while pressing it against the head reads the magnetic force of the magnetic card. Since there is a possibility that the possible magnetic force D1 may be reached, in step S19, for example, a message such as “Please scan so as to press the magnetic card against the head of the track 1” is notified, and the magnetic card is again indicated to the user. A scan may be prompted.

  As described above, according to the magnetic card reader 100 of the present embodiment, when a reading error occurs, the coercive force of the magnetic card is determined based on the magnetic force and traveling speed of the magnetic card, and the determination result is notified. As a result, the settlement terminal on which the magnetic card reader 100 is mounted is not determined to be unilaterally defective as in the prior art, and there is no need for error analysis on the settlement terminal side. Increases nature.

  Note that the description in the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a magnetic card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the F2F modulation signal output from the head part of a magnetic card reader. The figure which shows the F2F modulation signal output from the head part of a magnetic card reader. The figure explaining the method of calculating magnetic force from the detection voltage by a voltage detector. The figure which shows the determination reference | standard line (alpha) for determining the running speed of a magnetic card | curd, and the quality of magnetic force. The timing chart which shows the operation | movement in the magnetic card reader which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the magnetic card reading process performed in the magnetic card reader which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head part 11 Track 1 head 12 Track 2 head 2 Demodulator 21 Track 1 demodulator 22 Track 2 demodulator 3 Gate array 31 Track 1 buffer 32 Track 2 buffer 4 Voltage detector 5 Power supply part 6 CPU
7 Display unit 8 Audio output unit 100 Magnetic card reader

Claims (6)

Detecting means for detecting the traveling speed and magnetic force of the magnetic card when reading the magnetic card;
A coercive force determining means for determining a coercive force of the magnetic card based on the traveling speed and the magnetic force detected by the detecting means;
Informing means for informing the determination result by the coercive force determining means,
A magnetic card reader comprising: The detecting means detects a traveling speed and a magnetic force every time the magnetic card is read a plurality of times,
2. The magnetic card reader according to claim 1, wherein the coercive force determining means determines the coercive force of the magnetic card based on a traveling speed and a magnetic force detected for each reading. A traveling state determining means for determining whether the traveling state at the time of reading the magnetic card is good,
The detection means invalidates the measured values of the detected traveling speed and magnetic force when the traveling state determining means determines that the traveling state of the magnetic card is not possible. The magnetic card reader according to 1 or 2. The detecting means detects a traveling speed and a magnetic force for each of a plurality of tracks included in the magnetic card,
The coercive force determining means determines the coercive force for each of a plurality of tracks included in the magnetic card,
The magnetic card reader according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies a determination result for each track by the coercive force determination unit.   5. The informing means, when the coercive force judging means judges that there is a track with insufficient coercive force, notifies that the coercive force of the track is insufficient. The magnetic card reader according to the description. On the computer,
A function of detecting the traveling speed and magnetic force of the magnetic card when the magnetic card is read;
A function of determining the coercivity of the magnetic card based on the detected traveling speed and magnetic force;
A function of notifying the determination result by the determination;
A program to realize

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