WO2009131558A1

WO2009131558A1 - Compact read head for a magnetic stripe card reader

Info

Publication number: WO2009131558A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/005389
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arne Rimmeraide
Original assignee: Michigan Magnetics, Inc.
Priority date: 2008-04-25
Filing date: 2008-04-25
Publication date: 2009-10-29

Abstract

A read head for reading magnetic strip card reader has a sensing core with an upright head section and leads having a respective proximate section extending away from the head section in opposite directions. The leads have two distal ends extending transverse from the proximate sections. A straight coil core is attached to the two distal ends. A coil assembly surrounds the straight coil core. The coil assembly has leads connected to signal terminals.

Description

COMPACT READ HEAD FOR A MAGNETIC STRIPE CARD READER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The technical field relates generally to magnetic heads and electrical measuring devices. More specifically, the field relates to magnetic card read heads and magnetic information storage and retrieval.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Presently, individuals and corporations generate, store, and access increasing amounts of data. The ever increasing amounts of data create needs for economical, portable, and readily accessible methods of storage. In certain applications, saved data is frequently accessed in a variety of locations. Often, data is stored electronically in a variety of ways. One such way is using a magnetic stripe card, sometimes referred to as a magnetic strip card and a magnetic card reader. A magnetic stripe card is a card capable of storing data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based magnetic particles on a strip (i.e. stripe) of magnetic material on the card. The magnetic stripe is read using a card reader. The card reader physically contacts a card when the card is swiped past a read head that responds to magnetic flux reversals along the magnetic stripe. Magnetic stripe cards are commonly used in credit cards, identity cards, and transportation tickets. They may also contain an RFID tag, a transponder device and/or a microchip and are mostly used for business premises access control or electronic payment.

[0003] The usage rates of magnetic stripe cards have continued to increase.

In the past, some of the most prolific users of card readers have been retail stores, public transportation, security devices, and ATMs. These consumers of card readers have been accepting of larger card readers as many times the card reader was a small part of a much larger device. But as magnetic stripe cards have proliferated, many users wish for compact and portable card readers to read magnetic stripe cards. Typical state of the art dimensions show vertical height in the range of 5 mm. for a read head. What is needed is a compact device card reader magnetic head with a reduction in overall size and profile of magnetic read heads and a method of manufacturing such a compact magnetic head for a card reader.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a read head for reading magnetic stripe card reader has a sensing core with an upright head section and leads having respective proximate sections extending away from the head section in opposite directions. The leads have two spaced distal ends extending transverse from the proximate sections. A straight coil core is attached to the two distal ends and a coil assembly surrounds the straight coil core. The coil assembly has leads connected to signal terminals. Preferably, the upright head section has an upturned end section extending from each proximate section of the leads abutting each other.

[0005] The sensing core is affixed to a support link having a ground terminal on at least one end. In one embodiment, a non-conductive housing extends about the sensing core and coil assembly and has access windows for the sensing core and the terminals to extend therethrough.

[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a read head for a magnetic stripe card reader has a sensing core with a head section and opposite extending leads. A coil assembly has a core electrically connected to the leads and is laterally spaced from the sensing core and the leads. The coil assembly is also co- planar with the leads and connected to opposite longitudinally extending signal terminals.

[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of making a compact head for reading a magnetic stripe card includes providing left and right sensing core strips with a plurality of respective left and right sensing core sections with each left and right sensing core section having an upright section and a proximate section and transverse distal section. The left and right sections of the left and right sensing core strips are abutted together. A coil assembly is placed over protruding coils core section that extends from a coil core strip. The coil core strip is placed on one of the left and right sensing core strips. The coil core strip is bonded to the transverse distal sections. A lead frame strip with signal terminals and a ground terminal is placed against the core strip and bonding leads of the coil assembly to the signal terminals and the proximate sections of the core strips to the grounding terminal. The left and right core sections, the coil core sections and the signal terminals and ground terminal are disconnected from the respective strips.

[0008] A housing is placed substantially about the core, the ground terminal and the coil assembly before frangibly disconnecting from the lead frame strip from the ground terminal and signal terminals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of a magnetic head according to the invention;

[0011] Figure 2 illustrates an exploded top perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

[0012] Figure 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a plurality of sensor core sections connected to planar supports during the manufacturing of the read heads;

[0013] Figure 4 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of sensing core member sections assembled together;

[0014] Figure 5 illustrates an exploded bottom perspective view of assembling being assembled to the sensor core members;

[0015] Figure 6 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a further assembly step of the read head assembly;

[0016] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective bottom view of a further assembly step of the read head assembly; and

[0017] Figure 8 illustrates a top perspective view of a further assembly step of the read head assembly, more particularly placement of the cover thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] The compact magnetic head often referred to as read head 10 shown in Figure 1 attempts to facilitate small and portable magnetic stripe card readers. Generally, the read head 10 has an external housing 12 with the internal construction and arranging of internal elements creating a more efficient and cost-effective design and produce a more compact and space-saving read head. The vertical height of the housing 12 can be decreased from prior art height of about 5 mm to about 2.5 mm. Additionally, the arrangement and construction of the elements can provide expeditious construction of the head 10 quickly, cost-effectively, and with fewer defects. It is envisioned that many compact read heads can be produced simultaneously in a production setting and that the element design and arrangement can speed its manufacture.

[0019] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of a compact read head 10 with external housing 12 made from an upper shell 14 and lower shell 16 with the housing, a conductive metal assembly 18 that further includes a sensing core 20, a coil assembly 22, signal terminals 24 attached to the coil assembly and ground terminals 26 electronically connected to the core 20. The coil assembly 22 has coils 28 with leads 30 connected to the signal terminals 24. A conductive coil core 32 fits through the coils 28 and is electrically connected to contact transverse distal ends 34 of sensing core 20. In this fashion the coil assembly 22 is laterally shifted over from the core 20 and lies adjacent to it, but can create current by induction as the sensing core 20 passes in close proximity to magnetic strips on a card which it then carried by signal terminals 24 to a core reader (not shown) for the purpose of reading data from a magnetic strip. The proximate section 46 longitudinally extends from the sensor head 20. The coil assembly 22 is laterally spaced from the sensor head and is co-planar with the sections 46. The coil assembly 22 has its two signal terminals 24 longitudinally extend in opposite directions.

[0020] The method of assembly of the read head 10 starts with a left and right core strips 40 and 42 as shown in Figure 3. For ease of illustration, Figures 3-7 are shown in a bottom perspective view, i.e. upside down relative to Figures 1, 2 and 8. Each left and right core strip 40 and 42 may be formed from the same straight core strip but bent in different directions such that the each strip has an upright core head sections 44, a proximate lead 46, and transverse distal ends 34. The transverse distal ends 34 have frangible sections 48 connected to the respective strips 40 and 42 made to easily break off upon bending with respect to the strips 40 and 42.

[0021] The strips are moved together as shown in Figure 4 such that the respective left and right head sections 44 abut together to form the sensing core 20. They are secured together using solder paste or conductive epoxy paste. Referring now to Figure 5, an I-core strip assembly 50 has a plurality of straight coil cores 32. Each coil core 32 has a frangible end 52 to easily break from the strip assembly 50. A coil 28 is then slipped onto each coil core 32. The coil terminals 30 extend substantially vertical to be transverse to the coil core 32 at this time.

[0022] Referring now to Figure 6, the coil assembly is then positioned onto the core assembly with the exposed ends of the coil core 32 bonded for electrical connectivity to the sensor core distal ends 34. The strip 50 is broken from the coil cores 32 and removed. A lead frame 60 is then positioned over the two strips 40 and 42. The frame 60 contains the two signal terminals 24 and the two ground terminals 26. Each terminal 24 has a frangible section 62 to break from the lead frame strip 60 and another frangible section 64 to break from a spanning support link 66 of frame 60. The ground terminals 26 likewise have frangible sections 68 to easily break from the strip 60 and frangible section 70 to break from an adjacent spanning support link 66. The ground terminals are permanently connected together via a support span 72.

[0023] Referring now to Figure 7, after the frame strip 60 is properly aligned over the left and right core strips 40 and 42, it is vertically moved to be adjacent thereto with the signal terminals 26 aligned with the upright coil terminals 30. The support span 72 abuts against one side of the sensor core 20 and is secured together using conductive epoxy. The coil assembly 22 lies adjacent the support span 72 and the sensor core. The terminals 30 are bent down horizontally to contact the signal terminals 26 and connected thereto such as by silver paint at area 74.

[0024] As shown in Figure 8, the housing upper shell 12 can now be placed over the sensor core 20. The upper shell 12 has a window 76 to receive the sensor core 20. In addition, the upper shell has notches 78 and 79 to receive the terminals 24 and 26. The lower shell 16 is complementarity shaped to fit with upper shell and enclose the interior parts. The frangible areas64 and 70 are also exposed through the housing at notches 80 and 82. The interior of the housing is filled with epoxy and is allowed to cure which seals the notches 80 and 82 against the frangible areas 64 and 70 to seal housing 12 from the ambient surrounding. After curing, the plurality of assembled read heads 10 are separated from the lead frame 60 and left and right core strips 40 and 42. The spanning support link 66 is also removed.

[0025] In this fashion a low profile read head for a magnetic card reader is expeditiously made in high volumes to have a ultra low profile and to be extremely compact in form and light weight for use in easily portable devices.

[0026] Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A read head for reading magnetic stripe card reader; said read head comprising: a sensing core with an upright head and two leads having a respective proximate section extending away from said head in opposite directions; said leads having two spaced distal ends extending transverse from said proximate sections; a straight coil core attached to said two distal ends; a coil assembly surrounding said straight coil core; and said coil assembly having leads connected to signal terminals.

2. A read head as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said upright head comprising an upturned end section extending from each proximate section of said leads and abutting each other.

3. A read head as defined in claim 2 further comprising: said sensing core affixed to a support link having a ground terminal on at least one end.

4. A read head as defined in claim 3 further comprising: a non-conductive housing about said sensing core and coil assembly and having access windows for said sensing core and said terminals to extend therethrough.

5. A read head as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said sensing core affixed to a support link having a ground terminal on at least one end.

6. A read head as defined in claim 4 further comprising: a non-conductive housing about said coil assembly and having access windows for said sensing core and said terminals to extend therethrough.

7. A read head for a magnetic stripe card reader; said read head comprising: a sensing core having a head section and opposite extending leads; a coil assembly having a core electrically connected to said leads and laterally spaced from said sensing core and said leads and co-planar with said leads; and said coil assembly connected to opposite longitudinally extending signal terminals.

8. A method of making a compact head for reading a magnetic stripe card, said method comprising: providing left and right sensing core strips with a plurality of respective left and right sensing core sections with each left and right sensing core section having an upright section and a proximate section and transverse distal section; abutting said left and right sections of said left and right sensing core strips together; placing a coil assembly over protruding coils core section extending from a coil core strip; placing said coil core strip on one of said left and right sensing core strips; bonding said coil core strips to the respective transverse distal sections; placing a lead frame strip with signal terminals and a ground terminal against said core strip and bonding leads of said coil assembly to said signal terminals and said proximate sections of said core strips to said ground terminal; and said left and right core sections, said coil core sections and said signal terminals and ground terminal being disconnected from said respective strips.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 further comprising: placing a housing substantially about said core, said ground terminal and said coil assembly before frangibly disconnecting from said lead frame strip from said ground terminal and signal terminals.