WO2000062236A1

WO2000062236A1 - Smart card reader contact head

Info

Publication number: WO2000062236A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/000455
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Pearson Tunley; Barend Johannes Kuhn; Leslie Gerhard Lubbe
Original assignee: Firstrand Bank Limited
Priority date: 1999-04-13
Filing date: 2000-04-13
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Also published as: AU3831100A

Abstract

A smart card reader head comprises a body which is mounted pivotably adjacent a smart card when the latter is in the correct position for reading. A solenoid pivots the head towards the card, so that a set of pins are brought into contact with a contact zone of the smart card. The pins are spring loaded and are mounted within tubular casings. The pins are relatively robust and do not damage the contact zone of the card.

Description

SMART CARD READER CONTACT HEAD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a smart card reader contact head of the type typically used in an ATM.

Known smart card reader contact heads have a plurality of spring fingers which are brought into contact with a contact zone of the smart card. These spring fingers have been found in use to be easily bent which in turn can result in serious damage to the PCB (printed circuit board) of the card reader. Furthermore, if the spring fingers are bent, they do not engage the contact zone on the smart card correctly and the card reader does not function.

Two primary causes for the spring fingers being bent are vandalism and incorrect maintenance of the card reader. One method of vandalising the card reader is jamming bits of paper into the card reader which can damage the spring fingers of the card reader. Often, while trying to remove these bits of paper, maintenance personal inadvertently further damage the spring fingers. The replacement of the contact unit is both costly and time consuming as it reduces the operational hours of the ATM.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a smart card reader contact head which minimises the possibility of becoming damaged. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a smart card reader contact head comprises:

a body adapted to be mounted movably relative to a smart card reader so that the body is movable between a first position in which it is spaced away from a smart card received in the smart card reader and a second position proximal to a smart card received in the smart card reader; and

a plurality of axially compressible contact members supported by the body and arranged to make contact with a contact zone of the smart card when the body is in the second position.

Preferably, each contact member comprises a pin movable telescopically in an outer casing.

Each pin may be biased axially outwardly relative to the casing by a spring.

The pin tips are preferably rounded for non-abrasive engagement with the smart card.

In a preferred embodiment, the body is mountable pivotably about a shaft located adjacent to a path of travel of the smart card and is arranged to be moved between the first and second positions by an electrically powered actuator.

The invention also extends to a smart card reader which comprises: drive means defining a path along which a smart card can be passed;

a sensor for determining when the smart card is located in a correct position to be read;

a contact head according to any one of claims 1to 6; and

an actuating mechanism for moving the contact head between a first position in which it is spaced away from the smart card located in the correct position to be read and a second position proximal to the smart card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side view of a smart card reader mechanism incorporating the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the smart card reader mechanism, showing a smart card inserted into the mechanism;

Figure 3 is an exploded pictorial view of a contact head of the smart card reader mechanism; and

Figure 4 is a sectional side view of a contact pin of the contact head. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a smart card reader contact head and a smart card reader including the contact head. Although the smart card reader contact head and smart card reader will be described with reference to an automatic teller machine or ATM, it will be appreciated that they can be used in any application which requires the use of a smart card reader.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a card reader mechanism 10, typically located in an ATM, is illustrated schematically. The card reader 10 is a fully motorized unit capable of receiving a smart card 12 through an aperture 14. A client wishing to perform a transaction on the ATM inserts the card into the throat of an ATM (not shown). The card 12 is passed by means of a motorized roller system through the ATM to the card reader mechanism 10 which is typically located towards the back of the ATM. The card is passed along a path by drive rollers (not shown) until it reaches the aperture 14. It is then driven between a roller 16 and a spring biased roller 18 into a reading position in the card reader mechanism, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The card reader mechanism contains an LED 20 and an optical sensor 22 which detects when the card is in position. Once the card is in position, a solenoid 24 is actuated which moves an arm 26 in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2. This in turn causes the smart card reader contact head 28 to pivot about a shaft 30 down onto the card 12 in the direction of the arrow B, thereby bringing a set of contact members 32 into contact with the contact zone of the card 12. When this contact has been established, data can be transferred between the smart card and electronic circuits of the ATM or a network to which the ATM is connected. The required transaction takes place, and after the transaction is complete, the contact head 28 is lifted off the card 12 which is then transported out of the card reader 10 back to the client. Standard software drivers in the ATM control the operation described above and no modification is required for the contact unit 10 of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the card reader contact head. The body of the head 28 has a two rows of holes 34 in which the contact members 32 are located. Each contact member 32 comprises a tubular outer casing 36 and a pin 38 with a rounded contact head 42. An assembled contact member 32 is shown in section in Figure 4. The pin 38 is movable telescopically in the outer casing 36, and is biased axially outwardly by (or compressible axially inwardly against) the outward force of a coil spring 40. The inner end 44 of the pin 38 is enlarged relative to the rest of the pin, and a crimp 46 is formed in the tubular casing 36 so that the pin is held captive in the casing. The portion of the pin 38 which extends beyond the open end of the casing 36 is substantially shorter than the portion of the pin which remains within the casing, so that the tip of the pin is well braced against transverse forces, making it more robust in use. In the prototype, the pin 38 extends for a length of approximately 2.54mm from the outer casing, and the diameter of the pin is 1.14mm. The contact members 32 are connected to a data bus 42 formed from flexible printed circuit board material which transfers data from the smart card via the contact members to the processing unit of the ATM.

One advantage of the contact unit of the present invention is that there is no change required to the overall construction of the card reader in order to use the contact head of the invention. The force exerted by the springs biasing the contact pins is pre-determined so as not to exert more pressure on the card than that of the prior art contact fingers. The rounded tips of the pins cause less wear and tear on the cards as they make a direct 'one- touch' rolling contact with the card, so that the contact with the card is non- abrasive, whereas the existing fingers have a sharp edge on each side which eventually scratches the card as the fingers slide along the card. In the present invention, as each pin is independently spring loaded, the pins do not wear out as easily as the fingers. Furthermore, the pins have a solid round section and only a small portion of each pin protrudes from its outer casing, whereas the fingers are made from a thin flat metal which is easily bent. Therefore, due to the nature of the housing and the pins, the pins cannot be damaged as easily as the fingers.

A further advantage of the contact head of the present invention is the self cleaning action of the pins as they move into and out of the housing. This keeps them clean and allows for less maintenance.

Claims

1. A smart card reader contact head comprising:

2. A smart card reader contact head according to claim 1 wherein each contact member comprises a pin movable telescopically in an outer casing.

3. A smart card reader contact head according to claim 2 wherein each pin is biased axially outwardly relative to the casing by a spring.

4. A smart card reader contact head according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the pin tips are rounded for non-abrasive engagement with the smart card.

5. A smart card reader contact head according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the body is mountable pivotably about a shaft located adjacent to a path of travel of the smart card and is arranged to be moved between the first and second positions by an electrically powered actuator.

6. A smart card reader contact head substantially as herein described and illustrated.

7. A smart card reader comprising:

drive means defining a path along which a smart card can be passed;

a contact head according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and

8. A smart card reader substantially as herein described and illustrated.