JPH01199363A - Magnetic card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly read plural kinds of magnetic cards without erasing their magnetic recording contents by discriminating the kind of a magnetic card as inserted with a bit density in a leading part of a magnetic stripe and reading subsequently the recording contents for individual kinds. CONSTITUTION:The subject magnetic card reader is capable of reading plural kinds of magnetic cards in different magnetic recording method, whereas a magnetic recording method can be discriminated immediately by counting the bit density of the leading part, and then a make-and-break switchover is performed on a bias current to be impressed on a magnetic head based on the discriminated magnetic recording method. For example, regarding a magnetic commutation ticket 20, because of a space between bits in its magnetic stripe 21 being 1.3mm, one or two bits are counted by a counter 12 to be less than a set number of seven, so that its magnetic recording method is discriminated as the NRZI method having coarse density, and the output of the counter 12 is continuously kept at an 'L' level even after a timer 15 is timed up. By this method, the discrimination processing time can be reduced without fear of erasing any magnetic recording contents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a magnetic card reader that reads a plurality of types of magnetic cards with different recording methods.

(Summary of the Invention) This invention identifies the type of inserted magnetic card by the bit density at the beginning of the magnetic stripe, and then
! This allows the recorded contents to be read.

(Prior art and its problems) Conventionally, magnetic cards used for prepaid cards, commuter passes, etc. have adopted various magnetic recording methods depending on their purpose, and magnetic card readers for reading these have been used. , each has a reading structure that corresponds to the magnetic recording method.

When trying to read a magnetic card of 2mWK or more using one of these magnetic card readers, first read the striped magnetic record from beginning to end, and then read the magnetic record based on the read content. Since the system is configured so that the magnetic recording system is identified and the demodulation of the magnetic recording is started according to the magnetic recording system, there is a drawback that the processing time during reading becomes long.

Moreover, in the case of a magnetic card reader that uses a magnetic layer with a large coercive force to maintain confidentiality or has two magnetic layers, such as a prepaid card, a magnetic bias is applied to the magnetic head during reading. It was being applied.

Therefore, when a card made of a magnetic layer with low coercive force, such as a commuter pass, is inserted into this magnetic card reader, the recorded magnetic information may be erased by the magnetic bias.

(Objective of the Invention) This invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and its purpose is to provide a magnetic card reader that can read multiple types of magnetic cards quickly and without erasing magnetically recorded contents. It is about providing.

(Structure and Effects of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a magnetic card that requires application of a bias current to a magnetic head when reading a card, and a magnetic card that does not require a bias current.
In a magnetic card reader that reads data with the same magnetic head, a demodulation circuit for each magnetic recording method demodulates the magnetic data read by the magnetic head, a counting means that counts the bit density of the leading edge of the magnetic data read by the magnetic head, an identification means for identifying a magnetic recording method based on the counted bit density; a switching means for switching between intermittent and continuous bias current applied to the magnetic head based on the identified magnetic recording method; and an identified magnetic recording method. The present invention is characterized by comprising a selection means for selecting an output from the demodulation circuit based on the method.

According to the present invention, in a magnetic card reader capable of reading multiple types of magnetic cards with different magnetic recording methods, since the magnetic card reader is configured to immediately identify the magnetic recording method by counting the focus density at the beginning, the identification processing time is reduced. can be shortened.

In addition, since the configuration is configured to switch between cutting and reading of the bias current applied to the magnetic head based on the identified magnetic recording method, even when a magnetic card consisting of a magnetic layer with resistive magnetic force is read, the magnetically recorded contents are It has the effect that there is no risk of erasure.

(Explanation of Examples) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, along the card transport direction, the card transport path l includes a detector 2 for detecting the passage of a magnetic card, a magnetic head 3 for reading magnetic data of the magnetic card, and a detector 4 for detecting the passage of the magnetic card. is located.

Note that structures other than those shown in the drawings are omitted because they are constructed in a way that is different from conventional magnetic card readers.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the embodiment.

In the figure, the output from the reading coil 5 is connected to an FM demodulator 7, an NRZI demodulator 8 and a waveform shaping circuit 9 after passing through an amplifier 6.

The outputs of the FM demodulator 7 and the NRZf demodulator 8 are AN
It is sent to the outside via D gates 10 and 11.

The output of the waveform shaping circuit 9 is connected to a counter 12.

On the other hand, the phototransistor 13 constituting the detector 2 is connected to the counter 12 via a waveform shaping circuit 14 and a timer 15 made of a one-shot or the like.

The output of the counter 12 is connected to an AND game 10, an AND game 11 via an inverter 16, and a bias coil 18 via an inverter 17.

Note that the reading coil 5 and bias coil 18 are
This is provided in the magnetic head 3 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a magnetic commuter pass 20, and a magnetic stripe 21 consisting of a resistive magnetic layer magnetically recorded using the NR21 method generally records data at a bit density of 208 PI, that is, a focus interval of 1.3 fi. .

The data recording portion of the magnetic stripe 21 is formed in the center part separated from the dummy data from the card edge, and a direction discrimination bit is attached to the part where the dummy data changes to the data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a prepaid card 30, in which a magnetic stripe 31 consisting of a high coercive force layer magnetically recorded by the FM method has 1. Generally, data is recorded at a bit density of 1058 PI, that is, at a bit interval of 0.24 PI.

The data recording portion of the magnetic stripe 31 is formed in the center part separated from the dummy data and preamble from the card edge.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be explained.

First, we will discuss the case of reading the magnetic commuter pass 20 shown in FIG. 3. When the magnetic commuter pass 20 is inserted into the card transport path 1, the light emitted to the phototransistor 13 is cut off when it passes through the detector 2. After the current change is shaped by the waveform shaping circuit 14, the timer 15 is activated. As the timer 15 operates, the counter 12 starts counting.

Next, when the leading end of the magnetic commuter pass 20 passes through the magnetic head 3, magnetic bits forming dummy data are detected by the reading coil 5. The read magnetic bit signal is amplified by an amplifier 6, shaped by a waveform shaping circuit 9, and then input to a counter 12. The counter 12 counts the number of magnetic bits that have passed through the magnetic head 3 using this magnetic bit signal.

This counted number is the number of magnetic bits within the operating time of the timer 15, that is, within a certain distance that the magnetic card has moved, so compare the counted number during the operating time of the timer 15 with the preset number. The density of the bits formed on the magnetic stripe is then determined.

In the embodiment, the operation time of the timer 15 is set such that the magnetic head 3 is set to 15 - after the tip of the magnetic commuter pass 20 passes the detector 2 .
The time until passing is set, and the set number 7 is also set on the counter 12.

Then, in this magnetic commuter pass 20, since the bit interval of the magnetic stripe 21 is 1.3 m, the counter 12
1 or 2 pieces are counted, and the number of sets becomes smaller than 7, and the magnetic recording method is NRZI, which has a coarse bit density.
It is determined that it is a method.

When it is determined that the inserted magnetic card is of the NRZI format, the counter 1 continues to be counted even after the timer 15 has timed the card.
Since the output of 2 continues to be kept at “L” level, the AN
D gate lO is turned off, AND gate 11 is turned on,
Further, the bias coil 1B is not energized.

As a result, when the magnetic commuter pass 20 continues to pass through the magnetic head 3 and passes through the direction discrimination and the data part is read out, the bit signal is amplified by the amplifier 6 and then demodulated by the NRZI demodulator 8. Only AND game) NR after 11
It is sent to the outside as ZI data output.

When reading the magnetic commuter pass 20 having the magnetic stripe 21 made of a low coercive force layer in this way, no magnetic bias is applied when reading data, and the magnetic data on the magnetic stripe 21 is erased. disappears.

Next, we will discuss the case of reading the prepaid card 30 shown in FIG. 4. When the prepaid card 30 is inserted into the card transport path l, it operates in the same way as the magnetic commuter pass 20, and the timer 15 and counter 12 are activated. The operation will start.

Next, when the leading end of the prepaid card 30 passes the magnetic head 3, magnetic bits forming dummy data are detected and counted by the counter I2.

In this prepaid card 30, since the focus interval of the magnetic stripe 31 is 0.24 m, the counter 12
10 or 11 are counted, and it is thicker than the number of cents (7).
It is determined that it is M method.

When it is determined that the inserted magnetic card is of the FM type, when the timer 15 times up, the output of the counter 12 becomes ``HH'' level, the AND gate 1O is turned on, and A is turned on.
The ND gate 11 is turned off and the bias coil 18 is turned off.
There will be 1lllll.

As a result, when the prepaid card 30 continues to pass through the magnetic field 7 and 3 and the data section is read out past the preamble, the bit signal is amplified by the amplifier 6 and then FM
Only the output demodulated by the demodulator 7 is sent to the outside as an FM data output via an AND gate IO.

According to this embodiment, the magnetic recording method is the NRZI method and the F
Two types of M type magnetic cards can be read by the same magnetic head 3, and it is not necessary to provide a magnetic head for each magnetic card.

Furthermore, during reading, it is determined whether the magnetic recording method is the NRZI method or the FM method based on the focus density of the dummy data at the tip of the magnetic stripe, so the time required for the determination is shortened.

Further, as a result of the determination, the bias coil 18 of the magnetic head 3 is energized only when reading the FM prepaid card 30, so that the magnetic data of the magnetic commuter pass 20 recorded in the NRZI method is not erased. (Become.

The bit density of the prepaid card 3G in this example is 10.
58PI, but it can be similarly identified even if it is 2108PI.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment, Fig. 2 is the same (block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the embodiment, and Fig. 3 shows the density of the magnetic stripe of the magnetic commuter pass 20 used in the embodiment). Figures 4 and 4 are the same (prepaid card 30 used in the example).
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the density of magnetic stripes in FIG. 1...Card transport path 2...Detector 3...Magnetic head 4...Detector 5...Reading coil 6...Amplifier 7...FM demodulator 8...NRZI demodulator 9...Waveform shaping circuit 10...AND gate 11...AND gate 12...Counter 13...Photo transistor 14...Waveform Shaping circuit 15...Timer 16...Inverter 17...Inverter 1B...Bias coil 20...Magnetic commuter pass 21...Magnetic stripe 30...Prepaid card 31 ...magnetic stripe

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a magnetic card reader that uses the same magnetic head to read a magnetic card that requires application of a bias current to the magnetic head and a magnetic card that does not require bias current when reading the card, the magnetic head comprises: a demodulation circuit for each magnetic recording method that demodulates the magnetic data read by the magnetic head, a counting means that counts the bit density at the leading edge of the magnetic data read by the magnetic head, and a magnetic recording method that identifies the magnetic recording method based on the counted bit density. a switching means for switching on and off the bias current applied to the magnetic head based on the identified magnetic recording method; and a switching means for switching on and off the bias current applied to the magnetic head based on the identified magnetic recording method; A magnetic card reader characterized by comprising: a selection means for selecting; and a magnetic card reader.