IP Library Granted Patent US 10,936,926
Granted Patent B1
US 10,936,926 · App. 15/796,840 · Granted Mar 2, 2021

Systems and methods for sensor mechanisms for magnetic cards and devices

Inventors: Randy L. Rhoades (Swissvale, PA); James H. Workley (Imperial, PA); Jeffrey D. Mullen (Glenshaw, PA)
Assignee: DYNAMICS INC.
G06K19/06206G06K7/084
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,936,926
App. No.
15/796,840
Granted
Mar 2, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A card exhibiting multiple linear arrays of sensors are provided to detect a presence and movement of an external object (e.g., a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader). Each sensor of each array of sensors may be independently connected to a dual port of a processor so that the processor may determine a direction in which the card is swiped through a magnetic stripe reader. A portion of sensors of each array of sensors may be shared by a portion of inputs and/or outputs of a single port of a processor. Sensors may be cross-coupled to a single processor port so that forward and reverse directions of a card swipe may nevertheless be detected by a single-port processor of a card.

Claims (36)

1. A device, comprising:

a processor including a first port and a second port;

a first plurality of conductive pads coupled to the first port, the first conductive pads and the first port coupled to a first node;

a second plurality of conductive pads coupled to the second port, the second conductive pads and the second port coupled to a second node; and

a component coupled to the first node.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a communications device.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a light emitting device.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the component is a light emitting diode.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the component includes an input device.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a manual input device.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a transmitter.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a receiver.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the component is a transceiver.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of conductive pads is a sensor, and

the component includes a light emitting diode.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of conductive pads is a sensor, and

the component includes a button.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of conductive pads is a sensor, and

the component includes a receiver.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of conductive pads is a conductive pad of a first transducer,

the component includes a second transducer, and

the second transducer is coupled to the second node.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of conductive pads is a conductive pad of a transducer, and

the component includes an electromagnetic transducer.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of conductive pads is a conductive pad of a capacitive transducer, and

the component includes an electromagnetic transducer.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of conductive pads are part of a capacitive transducer, and

the component includes an bidirectional transducer.

17. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pin coupled between the first node and the first plurality of conductive pads,

wherein the processor is operable to reconfigure the pin, and

the component includes an bidirectional transducer.

18. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pin coupled between the first node and the first plurality of conductive pads,

wherein the processor is operable to disable the first plurality of conductive pads during performance of a function of the component, and

the component includes an bidirectional transducer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2017
From: MULLEN, JEFFREY D; RHOADES, RANDY L; WORKLEY, JAMES H
To: DYNAMICS INC.
Reel/Frame 043977/0027 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15133538 · Apr 20, 2016
Continuation 14101576 · Dec 10, 2013
Continuation 13478995 · May 23, 2012
Provisional Application 61489190 · May 23, 2011
Cited By (6)
US 12,204,978 US 12,217,110 US 12,236,308 US 12,373,820 US 12,380,474 US 12,536,397