JPH05274774A - Magnetic card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately read data even when a part is demagnetized by arranging side by side plural magnetic heads in a width direction on one data track and reading the same data with plural heads. CONSTITUTION:Reading magnetic heads 3a, 3b, 3c brought into contact with the data track 2 of a magnetic card C and reading the data recorded on the data track are arranged side by side in the width direction of one data track 2. Then, when error data is contained in any data read by plural reading magnetic heads 3a to 3c brought into contact with the same data track 2, a micro computer (data reading means) 5 reads the error data replacing to correct data read by other magnetic heads 3a to 3c. Thus, the data is read accurately even when a part of the track is demagnetized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic card reader for reading data magnetically recorded on a data track of a magnetic card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When data is recorded on a magnetic stripe of a magnetic card, according to the JIS standard, the width of a 1-track format data track is a minimum of 6 mm, and the width of each 3-track format data track is a minimum of 2.8 mm. The reading magnetic head for reading the data magnetically recorded on these data tracks is generally selected to be 1/2 to 1/3 of the data track width, and it is slidably contacted with the center of each data track. It is installed. If a magnetic head for reading having such a narrow width is used, even if the magnetic head is mounted at a slight inclination with respect to the longitudinal direction of the data track, the data of adjacent bits are simultaneously read without causing a read error.
Further, since it is mounted so as to be slidably contacted with the center of the data track, it is possible to read the data accurately even when the magnetic card is inserted, even if the position is slightly displaced in the width direction of the data track.

[0003]

However, the magnetic data recorded on the magnetic card may be demagnetized by the influence of the magnetic force from the outside. In this case, since the read magnetic head is formed to have a narrow width and has a narrow width in sliding contact with the data track, the reading magnetic head is in sliding contact with the magnetic head even when the magnetic head is not completely demagnetized in the width direction of the data track. If even a part of the data is demagnetized, the data cannot be read and a read error occurs. It can be read by using a wide magnetic head, but if it is attached at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the data track as described above, adjacent data bits are read at the same time and there is no degaussing portion. It may cause an error. Therefore, it is a technical object of the present invention to enable accurate reading of data even when the data track is partially demagnetized in its width direction.

[0004]

In order to solve this problem, the present invention relates to a magnetic card reader for reading data magnetically recorded on a magnetic card so that the data track of the magnetic card is slidably contacted with the data track. A plurality of magnetic read heads for reading recorded data are arranged in parallel in the width direction of one data track, and data read by the plurality of read magnetic heads slidably contacting the same data track. When any one of the above includes error data, the data reading means is provided to replace the error data with correct data read by another magnetic head and read the data.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a plurality of read magnetic heads for reading data recorded on each data track are arranged in parallel in the width direction of one data track. The data magnetically recorded on is read by a plurality of magnetic heads. Therefore, if the data is normally recorded on the data track, the data can be accurately read by any magnetic head. However, for example, the data track is partially degaussed in the width direction, and an error occurs. Even if the data is included, the error data can be read accurately by replacing the error data with the correct data read by another magnetic head that is in sliding contact with the non-demagnetized portion. Further, if the data track is demagnetized over the entire width, all the data read by each magnetic head will include error data, but unless the recording positions of each error data overlap, other magnetic heads The data recorded on the data track can be accurately read by replacing it with the correct data read by.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flow sheet showing the device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing its control procedure.

In the figure, C is a magnetic card having a magnetic stripe 1 formed on its surface, and data is magnetically recorded in a one-track format on the data track 2 selected to have a width of 6 mm, for example. ing. Reference numerals 3a, 3b and 3c are magnetic heads for reading which are slidably contacted with the data tracks 2 to read the data, and are formed with a width of 2 mm or less and arranged in parallel with the data tracks 2 at predetermined intervals. It is set up. Also, 4a, 4b and 4c
Is an AD converter for converting the pulse waveforms output from the reading magnetic heads 3a, 3b and 3c into digital data, the output of which is input to the reading device including the microcomputer 5.

In the microcomputer 5, the read magnetic heads 3a and 3b slidably contacting the same data track 2 are provided.
And 3c, it is determined whether or not each data read includes an error. If the data includes an error, it is determined whether or not the data can be read. Replace with the correct data read by another magnetic head. The microcomputer 5 includes an input / output port 5a, an arithmetic processing unit 5b for processing and processing the data read according to a predetermined program, a program for the arithmetic processing unit 5b previously stored, and the read data as necessary. And a storage device 5c for storing the data.

Magnetic read heads 3a, 3b and 3c are connected to the input side of the input / output port 5a via the AD converters 4a, 4b and 4c, and a write / read select switch 6 is provided. And a writing magnetic head 7 having a writing width equal to that of the data track 2 are connected to the output side via a writing device 8 and an external display device 9 and a pilot indicating a data recording state. The lamp 10 is connected. The pilot lamp 10 is composed of, for example, blue, yellow, and red lamps. If the read data does not include any error, it is a blue lamp. If the read data is readable but includes an error, it is yellow. Lamp,
If it is unreadable, turn on the red lamp.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the processing procedure of the microcomputer 5. First, when a switch (not shown) is turned on and the magnetic card C is inserted, the process starts to be executed. First, in step (1), the data read by the reading magnetic heads 3a, 3b and 3c is stored in a predetermined memory. The data is stored in the area, the process proceeds to step (2), and the respective data are compared to determine whether or not an error is included. This judgment is made, for example, based on the inspection content defined in JIS standard.

Then, in step (2), when it is determined that there is no error in any data, step
In step (3), the pilot lamp 10 is turned on in blue, and in step (4), the data is displayed on the display 9 or a computer (not shown) connected to the outside.
Output to. If it is determined that some data contains an error, the process moves to step (5) to select the data not containing the error, and the process moves to step (9).

Further, when it is determined that all the data include an error, the process proceeds to step (6), and the error data of all the data read by the read magnetic heads 3a, 3b, 3c It is determined whether or not the recording positions of are overlapped. Then, if they overlap, it is impossible to read the data, so that the process proceeds to step (7), the pilot lamp 10 blinks in red, the fact that the reading is impossible is notified, and the process ends.

If there is no overlap, the data can be read. Therefore, the process proceeds to step (8) to compare the corresponding data at the recording positions read by the read magnetic heads 3a, 3b and 3c. , Replace the error data with correct data and move to step (9). In this case, for example, with reference to the data read by the read magnetic head 3b slidably contacting the central portion of the data track 2, when error data is read, another read magnetic head 3a is read.
And refer to the data read in 3c and replace with the correct data.

In step (9), when the data is read in steps (5) and (8), the pilot lamp 1
While 0 is turned on in yellow, the process goes to step (10) to output the read data to the display 9 or a computer connected to the outside. Then, the process proceeds to step (11) to determine whether or not the write / read changeover switch 6 has been pressed. If not, the process proceeds to step (12) and the next magnetic card C is inserted. Wait until it is inserted, and if it is inserted, return to step (1).

When the writing / reading switch 6 is turned on in step (11), the process proceeds to step (13) to set the writing mode, and the magnetic card C is inserted in step (14). Wait until When the magnetic card C is inserted, the process proceeds to step (15), the writing device 8 is driven to write the read data to the magnetic stripe 1 by the write magnetic head 7, and the process is completed.

The above is an example of the configuration of the present invention, and its operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4 are conceptual diagrams showing a magnetic card C in which a part of the magnetic stripe 1 is demagnetized. For example, as shown in FIG.
The demagnetizing portion E is the read magnetic head 3 of the data track 2.
If the portion 2c formed on the portions 2a and 2b read by the magnetic heads 3a and 3b and read by the read magnetic head 3c is not demagnetized, the data read by the magnetic heads 3a and 3b contains an error, and the magnetic head 3c The data read by will be read in perfect condition with no errors. Therefore, the data can be accurately read by selecting the data read by the magnetic head 3c.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the demagnetization portion E is formed across the width direction of the data track 2,
Although all the data will include an error, since the degaussing portion E does not overlap, the data is read with the magnetic head 3b as a reference, and the error data portion is
It can be replaced with correct data read by another magnetic head 3a or 3c. Therefore, as long as the recording positions of error data do not overlap for all data, the data can be accurately read.

When the pilot lamp 10 is illuminated in yellow, the magnetic stripe 1 is partially degaussed and contains an error.
There is a high possibility that the reading becomes unreadable when read by an ordinary magnetic card reader provided with only one reading magnetic head that is slidably contacted with the central portion of the. Therefore, in this case, the read / write switch 6 is used to set the device in the write mode, and the magnetic card C is inserted to write the read data in the data track 2. The write magnetic head 7 is
Since the width of the data track 2 is selected, correct data can be written in the width of the data track 2, error data is corrected, and the magnetic card C is reproduced.

In the above description of the embodiment, the blue, yellow, and red pilot lamps 10 are used as means for notifying an error, but light, sound, or any other means can be used. .. For example, when there is no error, the blinking speed is changed, such as lighting, when the error data is included but it is readable, it blinks slowly, and when it is not readable, it changes the blinking speed, such as fast blinking, or when an alarm beep sounds. It may be a case where the number is notified.

Further, it goes without saying that the magnetic card C is not limited to the one for recording data in the one-track format, but can be applied to the magnetic card in which a plurality of tracks are magnetically recorded. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to the magnetic card C having the magnetic stripe 1 formed thereon but also to a magnetic card such as a prepaid card whose one side is entirely a magnetic recording surface.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of magnetic heads are juxtaposed in the width direction of one data track so that the same data can be read by the plurality of magnetic heads. Therefore, even if some magnetic recording parts of each data track are destroyed and error data is included, as long as the recording position of the error data does not match,
This has an excellent effect that the error data can be replaced with the correct data read by another magnetic head to accurately read the data recorded on the data track.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow sheet showing a magnetic card reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a partially degaussed data track.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a data track demagnetized over the entire width.

[Explanation of symbols]

 C ... Magnetic card 1 ... Magnetic stripe 2 ... Data tracks 3a, 3b, 3c ... Read magnetic head 5 ... Microcomputer (data reading means) 7 ... Write magnetic head E: Degaussing part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic card reader for reading data magnetically recorded on a magnetic card (C), comprising:
The magnetic head for reading (3a, 3b, 3c) which is in sliding contact with the data track (2) of (C) and reads the data recorded on the data track (2) is one data track (2).
Error data is included in any of the data read by the plurality of read magnetic heads (3a, 3b, 3c) that are arranged side by side in the width direction and are in sliding contact with the same data track (2). The magnetic card reader is provided with a data reading means (5) for reading the error data by replacing it with the correct data read by the other magnetic heads (3a, 3b, 3c). 2. A magnetic card reader for reading data magnetically recorded on a magnetic card (C), comprising:
The magnetic head for reading (3a, 3b, 3c) which is in sliding contact with the data track (2) of (C) and reads the data recorded on the data track (2) is one data track (2).
Error data is included in any of the data read by the plurality of read magnetic heads (3a, 3b, 3c) that are arranged side by side in the width direction and are in sliding contact with the same data track (2). If the error data has been read, the error data is replaced with the correct data read by the other magnetic heads (3a, 3b, 3c) and the data reading means (5) for reading and the correct data read by the reading means (5) are read. A magnetic card reader comprising: a writing means (7) for writing on a data track (2).