Anti-tampering protection for magnetic stripe reader
A magnetic stripe reading device including a magnetic head assembly including a mounting element, at least one information reading sensor having output contacts, the sensor being mounted in the mounting element and a flat cable coupled to the output contacts of the at least one information reading sensor, a portion of the flat cable being arranged in a doubled-over configuration over the output contacts, thereby to provide anti-tampering protection to the output contacts.
1. A magnetic head assembly comprising:
a mounting element defining a peripheral anti-tamperinu enclosure;
at least one information reading sensor having output contacts, said at least one information reading sensor being mounted in said mounting element; and
a flat cable coupled to said output contacts of said at least one information reading sensor, a portion of said flat cable being arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts, thereby to provide anti-tampering protection to said output contacts,
said output contacts of said at least one information reading sensor and said portion of said flat cable arranged in a doubled-over configuration being located within said peripheral anti-tampering enclosure.
2. A magnetic head assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said flat cable comprises multiple conductors arranged generally in a conductor plane and at least one protective wire grid arranged in a plane parallel to said conductor plane.
3. A magnetic head assembly according to claim 2 and wherein a layer of epoxy is formed over said portion of said flat cable arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts within said peripheral anti-tampering enclosure.
4. A magnetic head assembly comprising:
a mounting element;
at least one information reading sensor having output contacts, said at least one information reading sensor being mounted in said mounting element; and
a flat cable, comprising multiple conductors arranged generally in a conductor plane and at least one protective wire grid arranged in a plane parallel to said conductor plane, coupled to said output contacts of said at least one information reading sensor, a portion of said flat cable being arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts, thereby to provide anti-tampering protection to said output contacts.
5. A magnetic head assembly according to claim 4 and also comprising a magnetic head assembly tamper detection and disabling circuit which is coupled to said at least one protective wire grid.
6. A magnetic head assembly according to claim 5 and wherein said magnetic head assembly tamper detection and disabling circuit is also coupled to at least one of said multiple conductors.
7. A magnetic head assembly according to claim 4 and also comprising a magnetic head assembly tamper detection and disabling circuit which is coupled to at least one of said multiple conductors.
8. A magnetic head assembly according to claim 4 and wherein said at least one protective wire grid comprises a plurality of wire grids arranged in at least two planes disposed on both sides of said conductor plane.
9. A magnetic head assembly according to claim 8 and wherein a layer of epoxy is formed over said portion of said flat cable arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts.
10. A point-of-sale device comprising:
a housing defining at least one keypad and display location; and
a magnetic card reader assembly associated with the housing and including a slot and magnetic stripe reading device, said magnetic stripe reading device comprising:
a magnetic head assembly including:
a mounting element defining a peripheral anti-tampering enclosure;
at least one information reading sensor having output contacts, said at least one information reading sensor being mounted in said mounting element; and
a flat cable coupled to said output contacts of said at least one information reading sensor, a portion of said flat cable being arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts, thereby to provide anti-tampering protection to said output contacts,
said output contacts of said at least one information reading sensor and said portion of said flat cable arranged in a doubled-over configuration being located within said peripheral anti-tampering enclosure.
11. A point-of-sale device according to claim 10 and wherein said flat cable comprises multiple conductors arranged generally in a conductor plane and at least one protective wire grid arranged in a plane parallel to said conductor plane.
12. A point-of-sale device according to claim 11 and wherein a layer of epoxy is formed over said portion of said flat cable arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts within said peripheral anti-tampering enclosure.
13. A point-of-sale device comprising:
a housing defining at least one keypad and display location; and
a magnetic card reader assembly associated with the housing and including a slot and magnetic stripe reading device, said magnetic stripe reading device comprising:
a magnetic head assembly including:
a mounting element;
at least one information reading sensor having output contacts, said at least one information reading sensor being mounted in said mounting element; and
a flat cable, comprising multiple conductors arranged generally in a conductor plane and at least one protective wire grid arranged in a plane parallel to said conductor plane, coupled to said output contacts of said at least one information reading sensor, a portion of said flat cable being arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts, thereby to provide anti-tampering protection to said output contacts.
14. A point-of-sale device according to claim 13 and also comprising a magnetic head assembly tamper detection and disabling circuit which is coupled to said at least one protective wire grid.
15. A point-of-sale device according to claim 14 and wherein said magnetic head assembly tamper detection and disabling circuit is also coupled to at least one of said multiple conductors.
16. A point-of-sale device according to claim 13 and also comprising a magnetic head assembly tamper detection and disabling circuit which is coupled to at least one of said multiple conductors.
17. A point-of-sale device according to claim 13 and wherein said at least one protective wire grid comprises a plurality of wire grids arranged in at least two planes disposed on both sides of said conductor plane.
18. A point-of-sale device according to claim 17 and wherein a layer of epoxy is formed over said portion of said flat cable arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts.
19. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head assembly including:
mounting at least one information reading sensor having output contacts in a mounting element;
coupling a flat cable to said output contacts of said at least one information reading sensor, said flat cable comprising multiple conductors arranged generally in a conductor plane and at least one protective wire grid arranged in a plane parallel to said conductor plane; and
doubling-over a portion of said flat cable over said output contacts, thereby to provide anti-tampering protection to said output contacts.
20. A magnetic bead assembly comprising:
a mounting element defining a peripheral antitampering enclosure;
at least one information reading sensor having output contacts, said at least one information reading sensor being mounted in said mounting element; and
a flat cable coupled to said output contacts of said at least one information reading sensor, a portion of said flat cable being arranged in a doubled-over configuration over said output contacts, thereby to provide anti-tampering protection to said output contacts,
said at least one information reading sensor and said portion of said flat cable arranged in a doubled-over configuration being located within said peripheral anti-tampering enclosure.