Card Reader Device and Method of Use

Abstract

In one embodiment, a card reader device includes: a read head configured to generate a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe of a card, an output plug, adapted to be inserted into a headset jack of a mobile host device, configured to communicate an output signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to a microphone input of the headset jack of the mobile host device; and circuitry configured to set the amplitude, which includes attenuation by at least a resistor, of a signal communicating said data included in the signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe generated by the read head resulting in the output signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. In one embodiment, the circuitry includes decoding circuitry configured to decode the signal indicative of the data stored on the magnetic stripe.

1 . A card reader comprising:
 a) a housing having a slot therein;   b) a read head positioned within said housing proximate said slot such that when a card having a magnetic stripe with data including an account number stored thereon is swiped through said slot said read head generates an output signal indicative of the data stored on the magnetic stripe;   c) an integrated circuit housed within said housing configured to receive said read head output signal and to decode said read head signal including the account number; and   d) said integrated circuit being configured to communicate the decoded read head signal including said account number to a mobile host device via a stereo plug extending from the housing and inserted into a standard headset jack of said mobile host device, said headset jack having a microphone input cooperable with said plug such that the decoded signal including the account number is communicated via said microphone input to the mobile host device thereby enabling said mobile host device to communicate the decoded signal including the account number to a third party for authorizing a transaction.