Protection device, electronic payment terminal and magnetic reading head corresponding thereto
View Patent ↗A protection device is provided, which includes a detection circuit for detecting a short-circuit between at least two output branches of a magnetic reading head. Each of the output branches is able to convey a signal read by the reading head on a track of a magnetic card and the detection circuit is able to detect a short-circuit during the reading of at least one track of a magnetic card.
1. A device including:
a magnetic reading head having at least two output branches, wherein each of said output branches is configured to convey a signal read by said reading head on a track of a magnetic card; and
a detecting circuit connected to the at least two output branches and configured to detect a short-circuit between the at least two output branches of the magnetic reading head, wherein said detecting circuit is configured to detect the short-circuit during reading of the tracks of the magnetic card.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting circuit includes a comparator connected to compare a signal picked up at said output branches with at least one first reference signal.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting circuit includes means for superimposing a DC component on at least one signal generated by said reading head on at least one of said output branches.
4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein said means for superimposing enable a permanent superimposing of said DC component.
5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device furthermore includes means for perceiving a deterioration of at least one output branch of said reading head.
6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein said means for perceiving include comparator connected to compare a signal picked up on an output branch with at least one second reference signal.
7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting circuit includes:
a first comparator connected to compare a signal picked up at said at least two output branches with at least one first reference signal, for detecting the short-circuit between the at least two output branches; and
a second comparator connected to compare a signal picked up on at least one of the at least two output branches with at least one second reference signal for perceiving a deterioration of the at least one output branch of said reading head, wherein said first and second reference signals take the form of first and second reference voltages, the second reference voltage having a value greater than that of the first reference voltage.
8. An electronic payment terminal including:
a magnetic reading head provided with at least two output branches, wherein each of said output branches is configured to convey a signal read by said reading head on a track of a magnetic card;
a processing unit comprising means for processing at least one output signal produced by said reading head; and
a protecting device connected to the at least two output branches and configured to detect a short-circuit between the at least two output branches of the magnetic reading head, wherein said detecting circuit is configured to detect the short-circuit during reading of the tracks of the magnetic card.
9. The electronic payment terminal according to claim 8 wherein said means for processing comprise means for filtering said generated signal.
10. The electronic payment terminal according to claim 9 , wherein said means for filtering are configured to eliminate a DC component from said generated signal.
11. The electronic payment terminal according to claim 8 , wherein said at least two output branches are connected to said processing unit and situated on an implantation layer, at least one of said output branches being situated on an accessible face of said implantation layer and being fixedly attached to a protective strip at least partially covering at least one other of said at least two output branches so as to hide said other output branch from view and limit access to said other output branch.
12. The electronic payment terminal according to claim 11 , wherein said protecting device is included in said processing unit and said other branch provides a reference signal to said protecting device.
13. A magnetic reading head comprising:
at least two output branches connecting to a processing unit and situated on an implantation layer, wherein at least one of said output branches is situated on a face accessible to said implantation layer and is fixedly attached to a protective strip at least partially covering at least one other of said at least two output branches so as to keep said other output branch hidden from view and limit access to said other output branch.