JP2019149215A - Card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

To appropriately perform control by automatically determining which of a magnetic head for read or a magnetic head for read/write is installed.SOLUTION: A card reader 1 comprises a head discrimination circuit 20 supplying to a control unit 9 an output according to whether a coil for write 62 is connected to a terminal part for write 30. Since the head discrimination circuit 20 enters a state where current flows when the coil for write 62 is connected, and enters a state no current flows when the coil for write 62 is not connected, an electric potential of an output terminal 26 changes depending on presence/absence of connection of the coil for write 62. Because a diode 25 is arranged in series between one terminal 31 of the terminal part for write 30 and the output terminal 26 in a first circuit part 21 of the head discrimination circuit 20, write current supplied from a drive circuit for write 3 to the terminal 31 does not flow through the output terminal 26, so that the control unit 9 can be protected from the write current.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a card reader provided with a magnetic head.

  Patent Document 1 describes that there are various types of magnetic heads of a card reader. For example, the magnetic head mounted on the card reader includes a magnetic head corresponding to a card specification such as a magnetic head corresponding to a magnetic material having a high coercive force and a magnetic head corresponding to a magnetic material having a low coercive force. There is. In addition, a magnetic head having a read coil for reading magnetic information (hereinafter referred to as a read magnetic head) and a magnetic head having both a write coil and a read coil for writing magnetic information ( Hereinafter, it is referred to as a read / write magnetic head.

JP 2005-267710 A

  In the card reader, when changing the specifications of the magnetic head, a configuration capable of sharing other specifications is required. Conventional card readers have a circuit board with different resistances depending on the type of magnetic head. The resistance value of the resistance mounted on the circuit board is detected to determine the type of magnetic head, Take control. In such a configuration, it is necessary for the card reader not only to have the magnetic head but also to the circuit board to be adapted to the magnetic head, and there is a problem that the circuit board cannot be shared.

  Accordingly, it has been proposed to configure the magnetic head control unit so as to hold the magnetic head type information, and to control the magnetic head based on the magnetic head information held in the control unit. ing. In this case, the circuit board constituting the control unit can be shared. However, if a magnetic head that does not match the information of the magnetic head held by the control unit is mistakenly or intentionally attached during manufacture of the card reader, the card reader will not operate normally.

  The card reader of Patent Document 1 realizes the specifications for mounting a magnetic head for a high coercive force magnetic card and the specifications for mounting a magnetic head for a low coercive force magnetic card without changing the circuit board. A magnetic head identification circuit is provided for detecting the DC resistance of the write coil (recording coil) to discriminate the magnetic head. Thus, if the type of the magnetic head itself can be automatically discriminated, it is not necessary to previously hold the information on the type of the magnetic head in the control unit, so the information held by the control unit does not match the actually mounted magnetic head. There will be no malfunction.

  However, in the magnetic head identification circuit of Patent Document 1, a protective resistor is connected in series between a write drive circuit (recording current supply circuit) and a write coil (recording coil) to detect the voltage across the protective resistor. Is. Therefore, when the magnetic head is identified, it is necessary to pass the same current to the write coil (recording coil) as when recording magnetic data from the write drive circuit (recording current supply circuit). Therefore, if the magnetic head is identified while the magnetic card is inserted in the card reader, the same current as when recording magnetic data flows through the write coil, so that the magnetic data is written to the magnetic card. There was a problem.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader that can automatically determine whether a read magnetic head or a read / write magnetic head is mounted and perform appropriate control. There is.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a lead terminal portion to which a lead coil for reading magnetic data recorded on a magnetic card is connected, and an output of the lead coil via the lead terminal portion. Is supplied to the write coil, the write terminal connected to the write coil for recording magnetic data on the magnetic card, and the write coil via the write terminal. A write drive circuit, a first magnetic head connected to the read circuit and the write drive circuit, including the read coil and not including the write coil, and the read coil and the write A control unit capable of controlling any of the second magnetic heads having a coil for use, and the write unit connected to the write terminal. A head discriminating circuit for supplying an output corresponding to whether or not the write coil is connected to a child to the control unit, and the head discriminating circuit is connected to the write terminal when the write coil is connected. The predetermined current flows from the power supply different from the write drive circuit to the write coil, and the predetermined current is a low current at which magnetic data is not recorded on the magnetic card. It is characterized by that.

  The card reader of the present invention includes a read terminal portion and a read circuit to which a read coil is connected, and a write terminal portion and a write drive circuit to which a write coil is connected. Both the first magnetic head (read magnetic head) having only the coil for control and the second magnetic head (read / write magnetic head) having the read coil and the write coil can be controlled. is there. A head discriminating circuit is provided for supplying an output corresponding to the presence or absence of connection of the write coil to the write terminal section to the control unit. Accordingly, since it is possible to automatically determine which of the first magnetic head and the second magnetic head is mounted, the control unit can automatically determine the mounted magnetic head and perform appropriate control. it can. Further, since the configuration other than the magnetic head can be shared, it is possible to cope with the change of the specifications of the magnetic head only by replacing the magnetic head.

  In particular, in the present invention, when the write coil is connected to the write terminal, the head discrimination circuit is a level at which magnetic data is not recorded on the magnetic card from the power source different from the write drive circuit. Is configured to flow at a low current. Therefore, there is no possibility that magnetic data is written to the magnetic card when the magnetic head is identified. Further, it is not necessary to control the head discriminating circuit such as current on / off. Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide control wiring in the head discrimination circuit, the head discrimination circuit can be simplified. Further, since it is not necessary to provide an I / O port for connecting the control wiring of the head discrimination circuit to the control unit, a control unit with a small number of I / O ports can be used.

  In the present invention, the head discriminating circuit includes: a first circuit portion connecting a first resistor in series between the power source and one of a pair of terminals constituting the write terminal portion; and a pair of the terminals. And a second circuit unit connecting a second resistor in series between the other and the ground terminal, and the control unit is configured to provide an output provided between the first resistor and one of the pair of terminals. It is preferable to be connected to a terminal. If it does in this way, depending on the presence or absence of connection of the coil for light with respect to the terminal part for light, the state where an electric current will flow into the 1st circuit part will change, and the state which does not flow will change the potential of an output terminal. Therefore, the control unit can determine whether or not the write coil is connected based on the change in potential of the output terminal, and the first magnetic head (read magnetic head) and the second magnetic head (read / write magnetic head). ) Can be determined.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the first circuit unit includes a diode connected in series between one of the pair of terminals and the output terminal. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the current supplied from the write drive circuit to the write terminal section from flowing to the output terminal. Therefore, the control unit can be protected.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the control unit is connected to the head discrimination circuit via one I / O port. In this way, since a plurality of I / O ports are not used in the head discrimination circuit, the configuration of the control unit can be simplified. For example, when the control unit is configured using a CPU with one remaining I / O port, the head discrimination circuit can be connected without increasing the number of CPU I / O ports.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically determine which of the first magnetic head (reading magnetic head) and the second magnetic head (reading / writing magnetic head) is mounted. Therefore, it is possible to automatically determine the magnetic head being used and perform appropriate control. Further, since the configuration other than the magnetic head can be shared, it is possible to cope with the change of the specifications of the magnetic head only by replacing the magnetic head. Further, when the write coil is connected to the write terminal, the head discriminating circuit receives a low current at a level at which no magnetic data is recorded on the magnetic card from the power supply different from the write drive circuit. It is configured as follows. Therefore, there is no possibility that magnetic data is written to the magnetic card when the magnetic head is identified. Further, it is not necessary to control the head discriminating circuit such as current on / off. Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide control wiring in the head discrimination circuit, the head discrimination circuit can be simplified. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a port for connecting the control wiring of the head discriminating circuit to the control unit, a control unit with a small number of ports can be used.

It is explanatory drawing of the card reader to which this invention is applied, and explanatory drawing of a magnetic card. It is explanatory drawing of a head discrimination circuit.

  Hereinafter, a card reader to which the present invention is applied and a control method thereof will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram of a card reader 1 to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of a magnetic card 2. The card reader 1 writes magnetic data to the magnetic stripe 2a formed on the magnetic card 2 and reads magnetic data recorded on the magnetic stripe 2a.

(overall structure)
The card reader 1 is inserted into a card insertion slot 5, a magnetic head 6, a card conveyance path 7 extending linearly from the card insertion slot 5 through the magnetic head 6 in the card conveyance direction X, and the card insertion slot 5. A card transport mechanism 8 for taking the magnetic card 2 into the card transport path 7 and transporting it along the card transport path 7. The magnetic head 6 includes a sensor surface that can contact the magnetic card 2 passing through the card transport path 7. The card transport mechanism 8 includes a plurality of sets of drive rollers 81 and pad rollers 82 that transport the magnetic card 2 with the magnetic card 2 interposed therebetween. The card transport mechanism 8 includes a transport motor 83 that rotates each drive roller 81.

The card reader 1 includes, as the magnetic head 6, a read magnetic head 6A (see FIG. 2B) that is a first magnetic head that includes a read coil 61 and does not include a write coil 62. Any of the read / write magnetic head 6B (see FIG. 2A), which is the second magnetic head including both the coil 61 and the write coil 62, can be mounted.

  When the magnetic card 2 is inserted into the card insertion slot 5, the card reader 1 detects the magnetic card 2 by the sensor 51 provided at the card insertion slot 5, and drives the transport motor 83 to rotate the driving roller 81. . As a result, the magnetic card 2 is conveyed along the card conveying path 7 and slidably contacts the sensor surface of the magnetic head 6 when passing through the position of the magnetic head 6. When reading the magnetic data recorded on the magnetic card 2, a change in the magnetic field when the magnetic card 2 passes the sensor surface of the magnetic head 6 is detected by the read coil 61. When writing magnetic data to the magnetic card 2, a write current is passed through the write coil 62 of the magnetic head 6 (read / write magnetic head 6B) to generate a magnetic field that magnetizes the magnetic card 2.

(Head discrimination circuit)
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the head discrimination circuit 20. FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the card reader 1 when the read / write magnetic head 6B, which is the second magnetic head, is mounted. FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the card reader 1 when the read magnetic head 6A as the first magnetic head is mounted. The card reader 1 includes a control unit 9 including a CPU 10, a write drive circuit 3 and a read circuit 4 connected to the CPU 10, and a head determination circuit 20 connected to the CPU 10 and the write drive circuit 3. The CPU 10 communicates with a host device via a communication unit (not shown). Further, the CPU 10 controls the transport motor 83 of the card transport mechanism 8 based on a detection signal of a sensor 51 (see FIG. 1) provided at the card insertion slot 5.

  The card reader 1 is provided with a head mounting portion that can be mounted on either the read magnetic head 6A or the read / write magnetic head 6B. A write coil 62 is driven for writing on the head mounting portion. A write terminal 30 for connection with the circuit 3 is provided. The light terminal unit 30 includes a pair of terminals 31 and 32. The head mounting portion is provided with a lead terminal portion 40 for connecting the lead coil 61 to the lead circuit 4. The lead terminal portion 40 includes a pair of terminals 41 and 42.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the read / write magnetic head 6B includes a read coil 61 and a write coil 62, and a core 63 around which the read coil 61 and the write coil 62 are wound. The read / write magnetic head 6 </ b> B includes head side read terminals R <b> 1 and R <b> 2 connected to the read coil 61 and head side write terminals W <b> 1 and W <b> 2 connected to the write coil 62. When the read / write magnetic head 6B is mounted on the card reader 1, the head-side read terminals R1, R2 are connected to the terminals 41, 42 of the read terminal section 40, and the head-side write terminals W1, W2 are connected to the write terminal section 30. The terminals 31 and 32 are connected. Thereby, in the read / write magnetic head 6B, the read coil 61 is connected to the read circuit 4, and the write coil 62 is connected to the write drive circuit 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the read magnetic head 6A includes a read coil 61 and a core 63 around which the read coil 61 is wound, but does not include a write coil 62. Therefore, the read magnetic head 6A includes the head-side read terminals R1 and R2, but does not include the head-side write terminals W1 and W2. Therefore, when the read magnetic head 6A is mounted on the card reader 1, the head-side lead terminals R1 and R2 are connected to the terminals 41 and 42 of the read terminal section 40, but are connected to the terminals 31 and 32 of the write terminal section 30. Is in a state where nothing is connected.

The read circuit 4 performs a process of converting the waveform of the analog current output from the read coil 61 into a rectangular wave, converting the waveform into digital data using a demodulation circuit, and outputting the digital data to the CPU 10. The write drive circuit 3 supplies a write current for writing magnetic data to the magnetic card 2 to the write coil 62 based on a control signal supplied from the CPU 10.

  The head discriminating circuit 20 includes a first circuit unit 21 connected to one of a pair of terminals 31 and 32 constituting the write terminal unit 30 and a second circuit unit 22 connected to the other. In this embodiment, the first circuit unit 21 is connected to the terminal 31, and the second circuit unit 22 is connected to the terminal 32. The terminal 31 is a plus terminal and the terminal 32 is a minus terminal. The first circuit unit 21 is configured by connecting a first resistor 24 and a diode 25 in series between a power supply 23 and a terminal 31. An output terminal 26 for connection with the CPU 10 is provided between the diode 25 and the first resistor 24. As described above, by arranging the diode 25 between the output terminal 26 and the terminal 31, the write current flows from the output terminal 26 to the CPU 10 when the write current flows from the write drive circuit 3 to the terminal 31. Be blocked. Therefore, the CPU 10 can be protected from the write current. The second circuit unit 22 is configured by connecting a second resistor 28 in series between a ground terminal 27 and a terminal 32.

  When the read magnetic head 6A is mounted on the card reader 1, nothing is connected to the write terminal 30 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, since no current flows through the first circuit unit 21 in the head determination circuit 20, the potential of the output terminal 26 is the same as that of the power supply 23. In this embodiment, since the power supply 23 is 3.3V, the output terminal 26 is also 3.3V.

  When the read / write magnetic head 6B is mounted on the card reader 1, the write coil 62 is connected to the write terminal section 30 as shown in FIG. In this case, in the head determination circuit 20, the first circuit portion 21 and the second circuit portion 22 are connected by the write coil 62, so that a current flows from the power supply 23 to the ground terminal 27. As a result, the potential of the output terminal 26 drops from the potential of the power supply 23 to a predetermined potential determined by the resistance value of the first resistor 24, the resistance value of the second resistor 28, and the resistance value of the write coil 62. Will do. In this embodiment, the potential of the output terminal 26 in the state of FIG. 2A is configured to be about 0.9 to 1.0V.

  As described above, the head discriminating circuit 20 includes the output terminal 26 when the read magnetic head 6A is mounted on the card reader 1 and when the read / write magnetic head 6B is mounted on the card reader 1. The potential of changes. Therefore, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the potential of the output terminal 26 is lowered to about 0.9 to 1.0 V, and if it is lowered, it is determined that the read magnetic head 6A is mounted. Can do. If the potential of the output terminal 26 is the same as the potential of the power source 23, it can be determined that the read / write magnetic head 6B is mounted.

  The CPU 10 only needs to have one I / O port for connection with the head discrimination circuit 20. The CPU 10 only needs to have one I / O port for connection with the read circuit 4 and one I / O port for connection with the write drive circuit 3. That is, the CPU 10 may have three I / O ports used for controlling the magnetic head 6. Further, in the read magnetic head 6A and the read / write magnetic head 6B, the head side write terminals W1 and W2 for connection to the write drive circuit 3 and the head side read terminal for connection to the read circuit 4 are used. R1 and R2 may be the same as the conventional configuration, and it is not necessary to provide a new terminal.

Here, in the head discrimination circuit 20, when the read / write magnetic head 6 </ b> B is mounted on the card reader 1, a predetermined current flows from the power supply 23 to the ground terminal 27 via the write coil 62. This current continues to flow while the power of the card reader 1 is on, and continues to flow even when the write drive circuit 3 is not supplying the write current. However, the current supplied to the write coil 62 by the head discriminating circuit 20 is a low current sufficiently smaller than the current value of the write current, and the magnetic data is not recorded on the magnetic stripe 2a of the magnetic card 2. The current is low. For example, in this embodiment, the current supplied from the head discrimination circuit 20 to the write coil 62 is about 0.3 mA, which is sufficiently smaller than the current of about 6 mA at which it is possible to write magnetic data on the magnetic card. Magnetic data is not recorded by the current.

  The control unit 9 of the card reader 1 determines that the magnetic head 6 mounted on the head mounting portion and the read / write magnetic head 6 are based on a signal obtained from the output terminal 26 in the initialization process at the time of activation. The head 6B is discriminated and the discrimination result is held in the storage unit of the control unit 9. When the initialization process is completed, the magnetic head 6 is controlled based on the determination result of the magnetic head 6 stored in the control unit 9 thereafter. The card reader 1 performs a process of determining the magnetic head 6 every time the initialization process is performed.

(Main effects of this form)
As described above, in the card reader 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 9 includes the read magnetic head 6A including only the read coil 61, and the read / lead including the read coil 61 and the write coil 62. Any of the write magnetic heads 6B can be controlled. A head discriminating circuit 20 is provided for supplying an output to the control unit 9 according to whether or not the write coil 62 is connected to the write terminal unit 30. Therefore, since it is possible to automatically determine which of the read magnetic head 6A and the read / write magnetic head 6B is mounted, the control unit 9 automatically determines the mounted magnetic head 6 and performs appropriate control. It can be performed. In addition, since the configuration other than the magnetic head 6 can be shared, it is possible to cope with the change of the specifications of the magnetic head 6 only by replacing the magnetic head 6.

  When the write coil 62 is connected to the write terminal section 30, the head discrimination circuit 20 of this embodiment receives magnetic data from the power source different from the write drive circuit 3 to the magnetic card 2 in the write coil 62. It is configured such that an unrecorded current flows. Therefore, there is no possibility that magnetic data is written to the magnetic card 2 when the magnetic head 6 is discriminated. Therefore, the head discrimination circuit 20 does not have a problem even if a current always flows through the write coil 62 by connecting the write coil 62, and the head discrimination circuit 20 is controlled to turn on / off the current. There is no need to do it. Accordingly, since it is not necessary to provide control wiring in the head discrimination circuit 20, the head discrimination circuit 20 can have a simple configuration. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the CPU 10 with an I / O port for connecting the control wiring of the head discrimination circuit 20, the CPU 10 having a small number of I / O ports can be used.

  The head discriminating circuit 20 according to the present embodiment includes a first circuit unit 21 in which a first resistor 24 is connected in series between a power source 23 and one terminal 31 constituting the write terminal unit 30, and a write terminal unit. 30, the second circuit section 22 that connects the second resistor 28 in series between the other terminal 32 constituting the terminal 30 and the ground terminal 27, and the control unit 9 includes the first resistor 24, the terminal 31, It is configured to be connected to an output terminal 26 provided between the two. Therefore, the state of the current flowing through the first circuit portion 21 and the state of not flowing through the first circuit portion 21 are switched depending on whether or not the write coil 62 is connected to the write terminal portion 30, and the potential of the output terminal 26 changes. The presence or absence of connection of the write coil 62 can be determined based on the change in the potential of the output terminal 26.

  In this embodiment, since the diode 25 is arranged in series between the one terminal 31 of the write terminal section 30 and the output terminal 26 in the first circuit section 21 of the head discrimination circuit 20, the write drive circuit Since the current supplied from 3 to the terminal 31 can be prevented from flowing to the output terminal 26, the control unit 9 can be protected.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the magnetic head 6 includes one core 63 has been described as an example. However, the magnetic head may include three cores (3 channels). Three 20 may be provided corresponding to each of the three cores, or may be configured to be connected to at least one of the three cores.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the head determination circuit 20 determines whether or not the write coil 62 is connected has been described as an example. However, the head determination circuit is used for connection detection or disconnection detection of a solenoid or a motor. You can also.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card reader, 2 ... Magnetic card, 2a ... Magnetic stripe, 3 ... Write drive circuit, 4 ... Read circuit, 5 ... Card insertion slot, 6 ... Magnetic head, 6A ... Read magnetic head, 6B ... Read / Magnetic head for writing, 7 ... card transport path, 8 ... card transport mechanism, 9 ... control unit, 10 ... CPU, 20 ... head discrimination circuit, 21 ... first circuit section, 22 ... circuit section, 23 ... power supply, 24 ... 1st resistor, 25 ... diode, 26 ... output terminal, 27 ... ground terminal, 28 ... second resistor, 30 ... write terminal, 31, 32 ... terminal, 40 ... read terminal, 41, 42 ... Terminals 51... Sensor 61... Read coil 62. Write coil 63. Core 81 Drive roller 82 Pad roller 83 Transport motor R 1, R 2 Head lead terminal W 1 W ... head-side light terminal, X ... card transfer direction

Claims (4)

A lead terminal portion to which a lead coil for reading magnetic data recorded on the magnetic card is connected; and a read circuit to which an output of the lead coil is input via the lead terminal portion;
A write terminal connected to a write coil for recording magnetic data on the magnetic card; and a write drive circuit for supplying a write current to the write coil via the write terminal;
A first magnetic head that is connected to the read circuit and the write drive circuit, includes the read coil and does not include the write coil, and the read coil and the write coil. A control unit capable of controlling any of the second magnetic heads;
A head discriminating circuit that is connected to the write terminal and supplies an output corresponding to the presence or absence of connection of the write coil to the write terminal to the control unit;
The head discriminating circuit is configured such that when the write coil is connected to the write terminal, a predetermined current flows from the power source different from the write drive circuit to the write coil.
The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined current is a current that does not record magnetic data on the magnetic card. The head discrimination circuit is
A first circuit portion connecting a first resistor in series between the power source and one of a pair of terminals constituting the light terminal portion;
A second circuit portion for connecting a second resistor in series between the other of the pair of terminals and the ground terminal;
The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to an output terminal provided between the first resistor and one of the pair of terminals.   The card reader according to claim 2, wherein the first circuit unit includes a diode connected in series between one of the pair of terminals and the output terminal.   4. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to the head discrimination circuit via one I / O port. 5.

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