A card reader may include a magnetic sensor to detect whether magnetic data are recorded in the magnetic stripe of the card; a control section to supply electric power to the magnetic sensor and into which an output signal of the magnetic sensor is inputted; and a card insertion port into which the card is inserted and in which the magnetic sensor is disposed. The magnetic sensor may output an output signal when the electric power is supplied from the control section. The control section may supply the electric power to the magnetic sensor during a first supply time period which is shorter than a card passage time period.

A card reader may include a magnetic sensor to detect whether magnetic data are recorded in the magnetic stripe of the card; a control section to supply electric power to the magnetic sensor and into which an output signal of the magnetic sensor is inputted; and a card insertion port into which the card is inserted and in which the magnetic sensor is disposed. The magnetic sensor may output an output signal when the electric power is supplied from the control section. The control section may supply the electric power to the magnetic sensor during a first supply time period which is shorter than a card passage time period.

A device comprising a detection mechanism to detect a medium; a pre-head to slide on a magnetic strip formed on the medium to read magnetic data; a shutter that opens and closes in response to the result of the detection mechanism; a card processor to process information recorded on the medium; and a magnetic field generating device which may include a magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field by a resonance unit; and a drive control circuit to control driving of the magnetic field generator. The drive control circuit may include a power supply, a reference potential circuit, and a resonance drive circuit.

A toll transponder may receive transaction card data identifying a transaction card associated with a transaction account. The toll transponder may provide to a toll server device, and via a toll antenna of a toll collection system, a request for a transaction amount for a vehicle toll, and may receive a response requesting authorization for payment of the transaction amount. The toll transponder may determine, based on the response, an authorization request cryptogram for payment of the transaction amount, and generate an encrypted signal identifying the authorization request cryptogram, the transaction card data, and a toll transponder identifier identifying the toll transponder. The toll transponder may provide the encrypted signal to the toll server device via the toll antenna, and may receive from the toll server device, via the toll antenna, data indicating whether the transaction amount for the vehicle toll is approved.

A card reader may include a card insertion port; a card passage; and a disturbing magnetic field generator. The disturbing magnetic field generator may include a first disturbing magnetic field generation part and a second disturbing magnetic field generation part which are disposed so as to interpose the card passage. The first disturbing magnetic field generation part may include a first core formed of magnetic material and a coil wound around the first core, and the second disturbing magnetic field generation part may include a second core formed of magnetic material and a coil wound around the second core.

A bankruptcy board game, including a game board, including a plurality of spaces disposed on a perimeter of the game board, and a plurality of card retaining areas to receive cards thereupon, a spinner unit removably disposed on at least a portion of the game board to control a course of action of at least one player during a game, and a plurality of figurines to move around the plurality of spaces and represent a position of the at least one player on the game board.

A magnetic stripe transmission (MST) apparatus that improves a recognition rate and operates at a low current is provided. The apparatus includes a first coil disposed between a first power supply source and a second power supply source, and wound in a first direction, a second coil connected in parallel to the first coil, disposed between the first power supply source and the second power supply source, and wound in a second direction, a first driver disposed between the first coil and the second power supply source, and configured to control a first current of the first coil according to a first voltage pulse supplied by a first pulse supply source, and a second driver disposed between the second coil and the second power supply source, and configured to control a second current of the second coil according to a second voltage pulse supplied by a second pulse supply source.

Magnetic readers that read magnetic data which is recorded on a magnetic card and a flexible cable that transfers each of the signals from the magnetic readers to a signal processing circuit side are included, branch portions that are branched off from a main body of the flexible cable and are connected to the magnetic readers, respectively, are provided in the flexible cable, the branch portions have first and second main-body portion side end portions, respectively, that extend in parallel to each other along a card sliding passage, and the main-body portion has a branch portion side end portion that intersects the card sliding passage and extends.

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.

A vehicular system (1) detects a magnetic marker (10) laid in a road and wirelessly communicates with a wireless tag (15) attached to the magnetic marker (10). The system includes a measuring unit (2) which detects the magnetic marker (10) by sensing magnetism, a tag reader (34) which executes a communication process with the wireless tag (15), and a control unit (32) which sets a communication start point as a start point of the communication process by the tag reader (34). The control unit (32) sets, as a communication start point, a time after a lapse of specified time with reference to a time point of detection at which the measuring unit (2) detects the magnetic marker (10). Upon reading information from the wireless tag (15), the tag reader (34) terminates communication, thereby shortening a communication time.