Various embodiments are generally directed to continuous authentication of a user to a digital service based on activity of a contactless card positioned proximate to a computing device on which the digital service operates. For example, a series of periodic status messages may be provided between a client device and the contactless card to verify whether the contactless card remains active, wherein authorization to access the digital service continues while the contactless card is active, and terminates when the contactless card is inactive.

A magnetic card reader comprising a groove for shifting of a magnetic card and a magnetic read head mounted on a first printed-circuit board so as to enable reading of a magnetic stripe of the magnetic card. The magnetic read head has a tunnel magnetoresistance sensor called a TMR magnetic sensor positioned in a recess of a side wall of the groove.

A card reader for use with a card may include a card insertion part provided with an insertion port into which the card is inserted, a protruded part which is provided on a front face of the card insertion part and is protruded to a front side with respect to the card insertion part, a breakage detection wiring which is provided in an inside of the protruded part, and a detection part which detects at least one of disconnection and a short circuit of the breakage detection wiring.

Various embodiments are generally directed to continuous authentication of a user to a digital service based on activity of a contactless card positioned proximate to a computing device on which the digital service operates. For example, a series of periodic status messages may be provided between a client device and the contactless card to verify whether the contactless card remains active, wherein authorization to access the digital service continues while the contactless card is active, and terminates when the contactless card is inactive.

An apparatus for marking a component by applying readable identifying information is provided. The identifying information has at least one identifying feature, in particular an identifying symbol. The apparatus includes a detection device which is designed to detect, on the basis of an eddy current measurement, identifying information applied or to be applied to a component by way of the apparatus.

A card reader may include a card passage; a shutter member to close the card passage; a magnetic head on a rear side of the shutter member reads or records data in a magnetic strip of a card; an electrostatic capacitance sensor on the rear side or the shutter member; a first guide member which structures at least a part of a face on a first direction side of the card passage when one side in a thickness direction of the card passing the card passage is referred to as a first direction; and a second guide member which structures at least a part of a face on a second direction side of the card passage. The first guide member may include insulating material and the second guide member may include conductive material. The electrostatic capacitance sensor may be attached to the first guide member.

An automated kiosk includes a front panel positioned in front of a conveyor with conveyor slots sized to receive clothing hangers. Dividers separate each conveyor slot from the adjacent conveyor slots, forming a compartment for each conveyor slot. Two doors are positioned in the front panel. An electronic controller moves a conveyor in order to reposition a desired compartment in front of the doors. The doors open inwardly, and are of sufficient length that the extended edge of the doors engages with and overlaps the outer edge of each of the dividers. With each door engaging the divider on each side of the compartment, a user is blocked from being able to access items that are in adjacent compartments.

Aspects of the technology provide a card reader for facilitating a financial transaction between a buyer and a merchant. In some implementations, the card reader includes an audio plug configured to provide a communicative coupling between the card reader and a smartphone device, and a read head communicatively coupled to the audio plug, the read head being configured to read financial information from a payment card for processing a transfer of funds from the buyer to the merchant. In certain implementations, the card reader further includes a switch coupled to the audio plug, wherein the switch is configured to close in response to the presence of the payment card to enable communication between the card reader and the smartphone via the audio plug.

A present-position measurement system includes a magnetic-field generation unit that generates a magnetic field, a magnetic sensor that measures a direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic-field generation unit, and a present-position measurement unit that measures a present position of the magnetic sensor. The present-position measurement unit measures the present position of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic-field generation unit based on the direction of the magnetic field measured by the magnetic sensor.

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.