Card reader with card capture clamp

Abstract

A card reader card capture clamp having a base plate for slidably receiving a card. A switch detects movement of the card past a predetermined position and produces a “card insertion” signal representative thereof. A clamp plate pivots between a clamped position in which the card is clamped between the two plates, and an unclamped position in which the card is movable relative to the plates. The clamp plate is biased into the unclamped position in the absence of production of the card insertion signal. A solenoid coupled between the two plates is actuated upon production of the card insertion signal to overcome the biasing and move the clamp plate from the unclamped into the clamped position. The switch includes two switch arms respectively pivotally mounted on opposed rearward ends of the clamp plate. Magnets are provided on the switch arms, and magnetic field sensors are mounted adjacent to the switch arms. Movement of the card past the predetermined position moves the switch arms relative to the magnetic field sensors, causing the sensors to detect magnetic field changes and to thereupon produce the card insertion signal. A clamping detection sensor detects movement of the clamp plate into the clamped position and produces a “card clamped” signal representative thereof. The clamping detection sensor includes a magnetic field sensor mounted on the clamp plate and a magnet mounted adjacent to the clamp plate. Movement of the clamp plate from the unclamped into the clamped position moves the magnetic field sensor relative to the magnet, causing the magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field change and to thereupon produce the card clamped signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A card reader card capture clamp, comprising: 
 (a) a base plate for slidably receiving a card;    (b) a switch for detecting slidable movement of said card past a predetermined position on said base plate and for producing a card insertion signal representative thereof;    (c) a clamp plate pivotally connected to said base plate for pivotal movement of said clamp plate relative to said base plate between: 
 (i) a clamped position in which said card is clamped between said clamp plate and said base plate;  
 (ii) an unclamped position in which said clamp plate is biased away from said base plate to allow movement of said card relative to said clamp plate and said base plate;  
   (d) biasing means coupled between said clamp plate and said base plate to bias said clamp plate away from said base plate into said unclamped position in the absence of production of said card insertion signal; and,    (e) a solenoid having a first portion coupled to said clamp plate and a second portion coupled to said base plate, said solenoid operable upon production of said card insertion signal to overcome said biasing means and pivotally move said clamp plate from said unclamped position into said clamped position.    
     
     
         2 . A card reader card capture clamp as defied in    claim 1   , wherein said card is clamped, in said clamped position, between said clamp plate and said base plate along a portion of said card forward of an electronic chip bearing portion of said card.  
     
     
         3 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 2   , further comprising friction grip means on said clamp plate for contacting and frictionably gripping said card in said clamped position.  
     
     
         4 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 1   ,    2    or  3 , wherein: 
 (a) said switch further comprises a switch arm pivotally mounted on a rearward end of said clamp plate; and,  
 (b) said biasing means further comprises a spring coupled between said clamp plate and said switch arm to bias said switch arm toward said base plate;  
 wherein said slidable movement of said card past said predetermined position on said base plate overcomes said biasing means and moves said switch arm away from said base plate to produce said card insertion signal.  
 
     
     
         5 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 1   ,    2    or  3 , wherein: 
 (a) said switch further comprises: 
 (i) a first switch arm pivotally mounted on a first rearward end of said clamp plate;  
 (ii) a second switch arm pivotally mounted on a second rearward end of said clamp plate, opposite said first rearward end;  
 
 (b) said biasing means further comprises: 
 (i) a first spring coupled between said clamp plate and said first switch arm to bias said first switch arm toward said base plate; and,  
 (ii) a second spring coupled between said clamp plate and said second switch arm to bias said second switch arm toward said base plate;  
 wherein said slidable movement of said card past said predetermined position on said base plate overcomes said biasing means and moves said first and second switch arms away from said base plate to produce said card insertion signal.  
 
 
     
     
         6 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 1   ,    2    or  3 , wherein said solenoid second portion is coupled to said base plate by coupling said solenoid second portion to a solenoid support plate and by coupling said solenoid support plate to said base plate.  
     
     
         7 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 4   , wherein: 
 (a) said switch arm has an inverted triangular shape having a rounded apex; and,    (b) said spring further biases said apex to contact said base plate at said predetermined position.    
     
     
         8 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 5   , wherein: 
 (a) said first switch arm has an inverted triangular shape having a first rounded apex;    (b) said second switch arm has an inverted triangular shape having a second rounded apex;    (c) said first spring further biases said first apex to contact said base plate at a first position;    (d) said second spring further biases said second apex to contact said base plate at a second position; and,    (e) said first and second positions together comprise said predetermined position.    
     
     
         9 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 1   ,    2    or  3 , wherein: 
 (a) said clamp plate further comprises first and second clamp arms on opposed sides of said clamp plate;  
 (b) said first clamp arm further comprises a first downwardly extending member on a forward end of said first clamp arm;  
 (c) said second clamp arm further comprises a second downwardly extending member on a forward end of said second clamp arm; and,  
 (d) said clamp plate is pivotally connected to said base plate by pivotally attaching said first downwardly extending member to a first side of said base plate and pivotally attaching said second downwardly extending member to a second side of said base plate opposite said first side of said base plate.  
 
     
     
         10 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 5   , wherein: 
 (a) said first spring has a first end fixed to said first rearward end of said clamp plate, a second end biased against said first switch arm, and a coil portion encircling a first pivotal fastener interconnecting said first switch arm and said first rearward end of said clamp plate; and,    (b) said second spring has a first end fixed to said second rearward end of said clamp plate, a second end biased against said second switch arm, and a coil portion encircling a second pivotal fastener interconnecting said second switch arm and said second rearward end of said clamp plate.    
     
     
         11 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 4   , wherein said switch further comprises a magnet on said switch arm and a magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent to said switch arm such that said movement of said card past said predetermined position moves said magnet relative to said magnetic field sensor, causing said magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field change and to thereupon produce said card insertion signal.  
     
     
         12 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 5   , wherein said switch further comprises: 
 (a) a first magnet on said first switch arm;    (b) a first magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent to said first switch arm;    (c) a second magnet on said second switch arm; and,    (d) a second magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent to said second switch arm;    whereby said movement of said card past said predetermined position moves said first and second magnets relative to said first and second magnetic field sensors respectively, causing said first and second magnetic field sensors to detect magnetic field changes and to thereupon produce said card insertion signal.    
     
     
         13 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 11   , wherein said magnetic field sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.  
     
     
         14 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 12   , wherein said first and second magnetic field sensors are Hall Effect sensors.  
     
     
         15 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 1   ,    2   , or  3 , further comprising a clamping detection sensor for sensing movement of said clamp plate from said unclamped position into said clamped position and producing a card clamped signal representative thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 15   , wherein said clamping detection sensor further comprises a third magnetic field sensor mounted on said clamp plate and a third magnet mounted adjacent to said clamp plate such that said movement of said clamp plate from said unclamped position into said clamped position moves said third magnetic field sensor relative to said third magnet, causing said third magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field change and to thereupon produce said card clamped signal.  
     
     
         17 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 16   , wherein said third magnetic field sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.  
     
     
         18 . A card reader card capture clamp as defined in    claim 1   ,    2    or  3 , further comprising a blade on an underside of said clamp plate, said blade operable by said movement of said clamp plate into said clamped position to sever and/or short circuit wires connected to and extending beyond said electronic chip bearing portion of said card.  
     
     
         19 . A method of clamping a card in a card reader to facilitate updating of information stored on said card during a transaction in which a completion signal is produced to indicate completion of said updating, said method comprising: 
 (a) detecting initial slidable movement of said card past a predetermined position within said card reader and producing a card insertion signal representative thereof;    (b) upon production of said card insertion signal, clamping said card within said card reader;    (c) detecting said clamping of said card and producing a card clamped signal representative thereof;    (d) transmitting said card clamped signal to a transaction processor to enable said transaction processor to update said information stored on said card;    (e) maintaining said clamping of said card until said completion signal is produced; and,    (f) upon production of said completion signal discontinuing said clamping of said card.    
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in    claim 19   , wherein said clamping further comprises clamping said card along a portion of said card forward of an electronic chip bearing portion of said card.  
     
     
         21 . A method as defined in    claim 20   , further comprising aborting said clamping of said card if said card clamped signal is not produced within a predetermined time after production of said card insertion signal.  
     
     
         22 . A method as defined in    claim 19   ,    20    or  21 , further comprising discontinuing said clamping of said card if said completion signal is not produced within a predetermined time after production of said card clamped signal.  
     
     
         23 . A method as defined in    claim 22   , further comprising randomizing said predetermined time after production of said card clamped signal, with respect to a predefined mean value.  
     
     
         24 . A method as defined in    claim 19   ,    20    or  21 , said card reader having a line voltage power supply and a backup battery power supply, said backup battery power supply normally connected to supply power to said transaction processor for continued operation of said transaction processor when said line voltage power supply is unable to supply power to said transaction processor, said method further comprising, after discontinuing said clamping of said card: 
 (a) monitoring said line voltage power supply and producing a power failure signal upon detection of conditions indicative of an inability of said line voltage power supply to supply power exceeding a predetermined threshold;  
 (b) upon production of said power failure signal disconnecting said battery power supply;  
 (c) continuing said monitoring until said line voltage power supply resumes supply of power exceeding said threshold; and,  
 (d) when said line voltage power supply resumes supply of power exceeding said threshold, discontinuing production of said power failure signal and re-connecting said battery power supply.  
 
     
     
         25 . A method as defined in    claim 19   ,    20    or  21 , further comprising during said clamping of said card within said card reader, severing and/or short circuiting wires connected to and extending beyond said electronic chip bearing portion of said card.