Detecting and reporting skimming of a magnetic stripe of a magnetic instrument having a magnetic stripe. The magnetic head detector detects a reading of the magnetic stripe from the magnetic instrument and, if the reading is detected, transmits a reporting signal to a microchip indicating the magnetic stripe was read. The microchip receives the reporting signal from the magnetic head detector and transmits a buzzer signal to a microbuzzer. The microbuzzer generates an audible notification when the buzzer signal is received from the microchip. A microbattery powers the magnetic head detector, the microchip, and the microbuzzer.

A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.

Disclosed is an automated transaction machine (ATM) including a card receptacle of a user interface, the card receptacle having a wall extending adjacent a main surface of the user interface, and a support extending between the main surface and the wall. The support, the wall, and the main surface of the user interface define a cavity operable to receive a transaction card. The ATM may further include an exit device of the user interface, the exit device including a container for receiving the transaction card, and a door positioned adjacent the container. The door is biasable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the door substantially covers an exit opening through the main surface of the user interface, and wherein in the second position the door permits access to the container through the exit opening.

A card device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first interface that connects the card device with a host device. The card device notifies, through the first interface, the host device of whether or not the card device includes a second interface different from the first interface.

According to the invention, generally, a wireless connection may be established between two electronic modules (M1, M2) disposed in module openings (MO-1, MO-2) of a smartcard so that the two modules may communicate (signals, data) with each other. The connection may be implemented by a booster antenna (BA) having two coupler coils (CC-1, CC-2) disposed close to the two modules, and connected with one another. The booster antenna may also harvest energy from an external device such as a card reader, POS terminal, or a smartphone. A coupling antenna (CPA) may have only the two coupler coils connected with one another, without the peripheral card antenna (CA) component of a conventional booster antenna. A module may be disposed in only one of the two module openings.

A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.

The present invention relates to a POS device, the POS device (1) having improved characteristics, largely comprising: a saving device attachment/detachment structure (100); a card reader bidirectional mounting structure (200); a display frame (300) integrally formed with an input/output port mounting portion; and a hinge-coupling structure (400).

A dual antiphase read-head arranged card reader is provided. The card reader includes a first read-head arrangement and a second read-head arrangement. Electromagnetic noise is applied to both the first and second arrangements. Waves associated with the electromagnetic noise on the second arrangement is transformed and applied to the first arrangement canceling the noise on a first read head of the first arrangement. The first read head reads magnetically encoded information on a magnetic strip of a card inserted into a card slot of the card reader free of noise. However, the noise remains present such that any skimmer read head of a skimmer inserted into the card slot is unable to read the magnetically encoded information off the magnetic strip of the card.

In exemplary embodiments, a reader device is powered on only when a card is inserted in the reader device, thereby reducing the amount of time the reader device is powered and consequently reducing the amount of power consumption by the reader device. In some embodiments, inserting the card causes power-on of the reader device, while in other embodiments, insertion of the card plus other criteria are required to power on the reader device (e.g., having the reader device connected to the host device, or operating a manual switch while the card is inserted in the reader device).

A card reader includes a card lock mechanism preventing pulling-out of a card jammed in a card conveyance passage, and an operation part for manually releasing lock of the card caused by the card lock mechanism. The card lock mechanism includes a motor, and a lock member which is provided with a blocking pawl for preventing pulling-out of the card and is moved between a contact position where the blocking pawl contacts the card and a retreated position where the blocking pawl is retreated from the card conveyance passage. The operation part includes a rotation member in a tube shape having an inner circumference wall surrounding an output shaft of the motor, and an engaging member provided on the inner circumference wall and extended along a circumferential direction of the output shaft and engageable with an outer peripheral face of the output shaft. The engaging member is elastically deformable.