A card detector configured to be communicatively coupled to a card reader comprises: a first comparator configured to output periodically a first comparison result by comparing a voltage for a device under test with a first reference; a second comparator outputs periodically a second comparison result by comparing a second reference voltage with the first reference voltage, wherein the second reference voltage is adjustable; a decision circuit communicatively coupled to both the first comparator and the second comparator, and decides whether a card is in proximity to the card detector by comparing the time delay relationship between the first comparison result and the second comparison result respectively at a first time point and a second time point different from the first time point, and further wakes up the card reader if the decision circuit decides that the card is in proximity to the card detector.

A card processing apparatus includes a card insertion opening, and a card insertion detection sensor. A magnetic card is to be inserted in the card insertion opening. The card insertion detection sensor is configured to detect the magnetic card inserted in the card insertion opening. A magnetic head is provided near the card insertion opening and is configured to detect a change in an electromagnetic field and output a magnetic signal. A control unit is configured to: receive the magnetic signal from the magnetic head when the card insertion detection sensor detects the magnetic card; receive magnetic signal from the magnetic head when the card insertion detection sensor does not detect the magnetic card; acquire the magnetic signal when the magnetic signal includes a predetermined pattern; and discard the magnetic signal when the magnetic signal does not include the predetermined pattern.

A card reader includes a movable upper surface platform with a lower surface platform including one or more sensors. When there is no card transaction in progress, the upper surface platform moves toward the lower surface platform and locks in place making contact with the lower surface platform. The one or more sensor indicate whether the two surfaces are in contact with one another. When the two surfaces are not in contact with one another, when the card reader is in an idle state, the card reader shuts down/disables since there is foreign object is present in the card reader's transport path, which may indicate a skimmer/shimmer was placed in the card reader.

A card reading assembly for a self-service terminal includes a storing compartment for a card containing data to be read. The self-service terminal includes at least one sensor and an evaluation device connected hereto and the card reading assembly is protected against manipulation attempts by arranging at least one sensor in the card reading assembly and at least one linearly extending sensor arrangement that is attached in the storing compartment. The evaluation device checks at least one spatial dimension of the card via the sensor arrangement. Preferably, the sensor system is a sensor arrangement including a plurality of linearly extending sensor elements that extend in a first direction or a second direction in relation to the card retracted into the storing compartment. It can be effectively determined whether a retracted card is a genuine card of if a manipulation is present that targets the inside of the card reading assembly.

A SIM card connector includes a base, signal spring, a detection apparatus, and a controller. The detection apparatus is configured to cooperate with one side of a SIM card, and includes a fixed contact and a detection spring, where an action of the SIM card can be detected by separation or union between the fixed contact and the detection spring. The controller can disconnect a power supply of the signal spring before the SIM card is separated from the signal spring, and can switch on the power supply of the signal spring after the SIM card presses against the signal spring, which effectively prevents the SIM card from being burned out by a momentary electric arc generated between the SIM card and the signal spring when the SIM card is being inserted or removed.

A card reader includes a card reader housing with a card insertion opening, a contact unit, which is arranged in the card reader housing, and a hood which covers the contact unit, apart from the card insertion opening. The hood is back-molded on the inner side with an at least two-layered conductor track foil. The first layer, which faces the hood, has an extensive drill-protection conductor track structure with at least one continuous drill-protection conductor track. The second layer, which faces away from the hood, has a lift-off protection conductor track structure with at least one lift-off-protection conductor track. The at least one drill-protection conductor track is routed onto the second layer by means of through connections of the conductor track foil and ends in electrical connection contacts of the second layer. The at least one lift-off-protection conductor track ends in electrical connection contacts of the second layer.

Apparatus and method for electronic card insertion detection in an electronic device includes, for example, a spring or detection element positioned in a cavity of the electronic card slot of the electronic device and the detection element being adapted so that changes in the temperature of the environment and/or the spring force of the detection element will not unintentionally dislodge or push out the electronic card from the electronic card slot.

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.

A card processing device may include a moving part having a support member and a presser member, the moving part being structured to move in the thickness direction of the card; a holding member; an abutting member; a first urging member urging the abutting member in the ejecting direction; a second urging member urging the moving part; and a drive source to move the moving part. In inserting the card, the holding member may slide from a hold position to a retreated position, and the moving part may move from an insertable and ejectable position to an insertion completion position. In ejecting the card, the moving part may move from the insertion completion position to the insertable and ejectable position, and the abutting member may push the card in the ejecting direction of the card.

A representative card reader that communicates with a host device comprises an EMV chip interfacing circuit that facilitates transmitting and receiving data to and from a Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) chipcard; and a computing device that is electrically coupled to the EMV chip interfacing circuit. The computing device receives and processes the received data from the EMV chip interfacing circuit, and transmits processed data to the EMV chipcard via the EMV chip interfacing circuit. The card reader further comprises a uni-directional interfacing circuit that establishes communications between the computing device and a host device without the need for specialized software drivers, with the simplicity for capturing the card data in a native OS system of the host device for transfer to a financial payment application, and applicable for both browser based or application based software on the host device. The uni-direction interfacing circuit communicates with the host device to transmit electrical signals associated with the processed data from the computing device.