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 capable of accessing a memory card is provided. The electronic device includes a circuit board, a processing unit, a memory card slot, and a memory card access module. The processing unit is disposed on the circuit board. The memory card slot is disposed on the circuit board, allows the insertion of the memory card, and is coupled to the processing unit through a first signal line. The memory card access module is disposed on the circuit board for accessing the memory card. The memory card access module is coupled to the processing unit through a second signal line and coupled to the memory card slot through a third signal line and a fourth signal line. The first signal line, the second signal line, and the third signal line conform to the standard of a signal transmission interface.

A card reader may include an IC contact block; an insertion port; an insertion posture detection mechanism; a tip end detection mechanism; a pulling-out prevention mechanism structured to prevent pulling-out of a card inserted in an inside of the card reader when it is detected that the card is inserted into the insertion port in a correct posture based on a detected result of the insertion posture detection mechanism and, when it is detected that the tip end face of the card in the inserting direction has been inserted to the predetermined position based on a detected result of the tip end detection mechanism; and a pushing-out mechanism structured to push out the card inserted into the inside of the card reader in an ejecting direction of the card which is an opposite direction of the inserting direction.

A card reader for a point-of-sale system that is configured to accept both magnetic strip-type and integrated circuit (IC) chip-type payment cards. The card reader is a component of a point-of-sale system including a portable computing device in communication with the card reader that is configured to present a first graphical user interface (GUI) when a magnetic stripe-type card is detected and a second GUI when an IC chip-type card is detected in the card reader. The card reader comprises a slot configured to receive the payment card, a magnetic reading device and an IC chip reading device. The card reader also includes a discriminator contact disposed within the slot that is configured to conduct across a surface of a metal pad of the IC chip-type card prior to the CI chip reading device making contact with the IC chip.

A biometric electronic card is disclosed. The biometric electronic card includes an electronic transactions unit to enable secure financial transactions; a communications network unit; a card data encoding storage; an input/output unit to interact with the biometric electronic card and to verify biometrics of a user; a power source; and a location positioning unit, where the electronic transactions unit, the communications network unit, the card data encoding storage, the input/output unit, the power source and the location positioning unit are all integrated with the biometric electronic card. A biometric electronic card case for interaction with the biometric electronic card is disclosed. The biometric electronic card case includes an input/output unit; a securing mechanism; a protective cover surrounding the biometric electronic card case; an integrated biometric electronic card case circuit; a power source; a communications unit; a processing unit; and a location positioning unit.

A card reader may include a card insertion part which is formed with an insertion port for the card; and a conveying passage for the card which is connected with the insertion port. The card insertion part may include a shutter member disposed on a rear side with respect to the insertion port is movable between a closed position an open position; and a protruding member which is attached to the shutter member and is protruded from the shutter member to an insertion port side. An insertion port side of the protruding member may be formed with a card abutting face. A distance between the insertion port and the card abutting face in a conveying direction of the card may be set to be shorter than a width in the short widthwise direction of the card.

A card reader may include a conveying passage; a magnetic head structured to abut with a magnetic stripe on the card; a head moving mechanism structured to move the magnetic head in a widthwise direction of the conveying passage between an abutting position and a retreated position; an IC contact block having a plurality of IC contact springs to contact a plurality of external connection terminals of an IC chip formed on the card; and a contact block moving mechanism structured to move the IC contact block between a contact position retreated position. The conveying passage may be formed with an opening part through which the magnetic head is passed. The magnetic head may be located at the head abutting position and is abutted with the one face of the card at a time when the IC contact springs and the external connection terminals are contacted with each other.

In a card reader, in a card moving step performed when activation of an IC chip fails in a first activation attempt step, a card is transported and stopped within a range where IC contact springs in contact with external connection terminals do not come off the external connection terminals, with an IC contact block positioned in a contactable position where the IC contact springs are allowed to contact the external connection terminals of the card. In such a card reader, in a second activation attempt step after the card moving step, the card is stopped within a range where the card is moved in the card moving step, then to attempt to activate the IC chip.

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 card reader includes an IC contact block having IC contact springs, a main body frame and a torsion coil spring which urges the IC contact block. The IC contact block has a card abutting part abutting with a card and a block side spring engaging part with which one end of the torsion coil spring is engaged and is movable between a contact position where the IC contact springs are contacted with the card and a retreated position where the IC contact springs are retreated from the card. The main body frame has a frame side spring engaging part with which the other end of the torsion coil spring is engaged. The torsion coil spring urges the IC contact block toward the retreated position and, when the IC contact block is pushed by the card, the IC contact block is moved from the retreated position against the torsion coil spring.