Some embodiments include a smart card reader system that includes a card reader cavity that is impervious to liquid. The card reader cavity includes a secure card reader (SCR) holder bonded to a printed circuit board (PCB), to provide a liquid barrier between the SCR holder and the PCB. The PCB includes an SCR spring contact connector. The card reader cavity can receive a smart card including an integrated circuit (IC), where the IC is coupled to the SCR spring contact connector. A processor coupled to the SCR spring contact connector, can receive an input regarding a transaction using data of the smart card, and execute the transaction. In some embodiments a roller system seals the card reader cavity when the smart card reader system is not in use.

Some embodiments include a smart card reader system that includes a card reader cavity that is impervious to liquid. The card reader cavity includes a secure card reader (SCR) holder bonded to a printed circuit board (PCB), to provide a liquid barrier between the SCR holder and the PCB. The PCB includes an SCR spring contact connector. The card reader cavity can receive a smart card including an integrated circuit (IC), where the IC is coupled to the SCR spring contact connector. A processor coupled to the SCR spring contact connector, can receive an input regarding a transaction using data of the smart card, and execute the transaction. In some embodiments a roller system seals the card reader cavity when the smart card reader system is not in use.

An electronic device is provided that includes a housing having a first side with an insertion hole. The electronic device also includes a first tray configured to accommodate at least a subscriber identity module (SIM). The first tray is inserted into the housing through the insertion hole and is removably accommodated within the housing. The electronic device further includes a second tray configured to accommodate at least a memory card. The second tray is inserted into the housing through the insertion hole and is removably accommodated within the housing. In a state of being accommodated within the housing, the first tray and the second tray are at least partially disposed on the same plane, and at least a portion of the second tray is exposed to an outer surface of the housing while closing the insertion hole.

Some embodiments include a smart card reader system that includes a card reader cavity that is impervious to liquid. The card reader cavity includes a secure card reader (SCR) holder bonded to a printed circuit board (PCB), to provide a liquid barrier between the SCR holder and the PCB. The PCB includes an SCR spring contact connector. The card reader cavity can receive a smart card including an integrated circuit (IC), where the IC is coupled to the SCR spring contact connector. A processor coupled to the SCR spring contact connector, can receive an input regarding a transaction using data of the smart card, and execute the transaction. In some embodiments a roller system seals the card reader cavity when the smart card reader system is not in use.

Some embodiments include a smart card reader system that includes a card reader cavity that is impervious to liquid. The card reader cavity includes a secure card reader (SCR) holder bonded to a printed circuit board (PCB), to provide a liquid barrier between the SCR holder and the PCB. The PCB includes an SCR spring contact connector. The card reader cavity can receive a smart card including an integrated circuit (IC), where the IC is coupled to the SCR spring contact connector. A processor coupled to the SCR spring contact connector, can receive an input regarding a transaction using data of the smart card, and execute the transaction. In some embodiments a roller system seals the card reader cavity when the smart card reader system is not in use.

Techniques described enable a modular communication card to alert of its removal from a device. A method described herein includes monitoring, at a modular communication card for sending communications from a utility meter, a power fail signal received from a card of the utility meter. According to the method, the modular communication card monitors a power supply signal that supplies power to components of the modular communication card while the modular communication card is installed on the utility meter. The method includes detecting a change in the power fail signal, indicating a loss of power. The method further includes detecting that the power supply signal is outside an operational voltage range. The method further includes, responsive to the change and the power supply signal being outside, determining that the modular communication card has been removed from the utility meter. Additionally, the method includes transmitting an alert indicating the removal.

A shimmer detection apparatus for detecting a shimmer within a chip card reader is provided. The shimmer detection apparatus comprises processing circuitry, memory, and a first sensor in electronic communication with the processing circuitry. The first sensor comprises at least one sensor coil. The at least one sensor coil of the first sensor is disposed proximate to contacts of the chip card reader and is operative to generate a first magnetic field when electrical current flows through the at least one sensor coil. The first sensor is operative to measure at least one electrical value from the first magnetic field. The processing circuitry is operative to receive information representative of at least one electrical value of said first sensor. The memory comprises stored therein information representative of at least one predetermined electrical value. A multiplexer and hand-detection functionality is provided. Tampering-detection methods are also provided.

According to various embodiments disclosed in the present document, an electronic device may comprise: a housing comprising an insertion hole formed through one side thereof, a first tray for containing, among a subscriber identity module (SIM) and a memory card, at least the subscriber identity module, the first tray being inserted into the housing through the insertion hole and contained therein in an attachable/detachable manner; and a second tray for containing, among the subscriber identity module and the memory card, at least the memory card, the second tray being inserted into the housing through the insertion hole and contained therein in an attachable/detachable manner. While being contained in the housing, the first tray and the second tray may be at least partially positioned on the same plane, and at least a part of the second tray may be exposed to the outer surface of the housing while closing the insertion hole. The electronic device described above may vary according to embodiments.

A connector comprises a base, a plurality of terminals and a detection portion. The detection portion comprises a first contact piece and a second contact piece. The first contact piece has a contact target portion. The second contact piece has a contact main portion and an intersecting portion. The contact main portion is resiliently deformable. The resilient deformation changes a contact state of the contact main portion relative to the contact target portion. The intersecting portion is, at least in part, positioned in a card accommodating portion. The intersecting portion intersects with both an up-down direction and a horizontal plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. When a card pushes the intersecting portion downward in the up-down direction upon accommodation of the card within the card accommodating portion, the intersecting portion resiliently deforms the contact main portion in the horizontal plane so that the contact state is changed.

A card reader for use with a card having an integrated circuit (IC) chip may include a magnetic head configured to read magnetic data on the card; an IC sensor configured to read and write IC data from and to the IC chip on the card; a magnetic data discrimination unit configured to determine the presence of the magnetic data on the card according to whether or not the magnetic data has been read by the magnetic head when the inserted card has been transported to a rear side from a leading end up to a predetermined position; and an IC reading controller configured to, if the magnetic data discrimination unit determines that the magnetic data is not present on the card, perform control to transport the card to a front side and control the IC sensor to read the IC data on the IC chip.