Compact card reader for a mobile communication terminal
A card reader includes a printed circuit board, a magnetic head and a smart card connector. The magnetic head and the smart card connector share a common operating volume for card reading.
1. A card reader comprising:
A printed circuit board
A magnetic head; and
A smart card connector, said magnetic head and said smart card connector sharing a common operating volume for card reading;
Wherein the printed circuit board comprises an opening within which said magnetic head is mobile between a retracted, idle position, wherein the magnetic head is at least partially retracted relative to the opening and is not solicited, and a reading position, wherein the magnetic head is pressed into said opening providing a narrow contact between a reading surface of the magnetic head and a magnetic strip of a magnetic card.
2. The card reader according to claim 1 , wherein, in the reading position, said magnetic head occupies a portion of the volume dedicated to the displacement of a smart card.
3. The card reader according to claim 1 , wherein, in the reading position, a portion of the magnetic head takes up space within a secure protective enclosure of said smart card connector.
4. The card reader according to claim 1 , wherein said magnetic head and said smart card connector share at least partially a same card insertion slot.
5. The card reader according to claim 1 , further comprising a flexible printed circuit, said flexible printed circuit connecting said magnetic head to said printed circuit board.
6. The card reader according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one support element that maintains said magnetic head in the opening of said printed circuit board which is shaped to allow for a translation of the magnetic head in said opening according to a direction perpendicular to said printed circuit board.
7. The card reader according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card connector comprises an upper contact surface, and wherein said upper contact surface of said smart card connector and said reading surface of the magnetic head are located on a same side of said printed circuit board.
8. The card reader according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card connector comprises an upper contact surface, and wherein said upper contact surface of the smart card connector and said reading surface of the magnetic head are located on opposite sides of said printed circuit board.
9. The card reader according to claim 8 , wherein the card reader has an orientation of reading a smart card which is perpendicular to an orientation of reading a magnetic card.
10. A removable payment terminal, which comprises the card reader according to claim 1 .