Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for a payment card reader comprising: a frame, where the frame includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, a second side surface of the side surfaces on an opposite side of the frame from the first side surface, the first side surface including a groove configured to receive a swipe of a magnetic stripe card, the second side surface including a slot configured to receive insertion of a chip card; a magnetic stripe reader interface; a chip card reader interface; circuitry configured to direct signals from the magnetic stripe reader interface and the chip card reader interface to a microcontroller in the card reader; and circuitry configured to communicate wirelessly between the card reader and a computing device.

Abstract: A point-of-sale system includes a stand that supports a tablet computer. The tablet computer can run a merchant application to provide the typical functionality for a point-of-sale system. The stand can be rotatable to face either the merchant or the customer. The stand can incorporate a card reader. The tablet computer can be connected through a hub to other peripheral components, such as a controllable cash drawer, a printer and/or a bar code reader. The cash drawer can include a slidable drawer having sliding rails that are hidden from a top view of the drawer.

Abstract: A point-of-sale system includes a stand that supports a tablet computer. The tablet computer can run a merchant application to provide the typical functionality for a point-of-sale system. The stand can be rotatable to face either the merchant or the customer. The stand can incorporate a card reader. The tablet computer can be connected through a hub to other peripheral components, such as a controllable cash drawer, a printer and/or a bar code reader. The cash drawer can include a slidable drawer having sliding rails that are hidden from a top view of the drawer.

Abstract: A point-of-sale system includes a stand that supports a tablet computer. The tablet computer can run a merchant application to provide the typical functionality for a point-of-sale system. The stand can be rotatable to face either the merchant or the customer. The stand can incorporate a card reader. The tablet computer can be connected through a hub to other peripheral components, such as a controllable cash drawer, a printer and/or a bar code reader. The cash drawer can include a slidable drawer having sliding rails that are hidden from a top view of the drawer.

Abstract: A card reader is positioned in a housing that has length, height and width dimensions. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device and has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head has length, height and width edge surfaces. An asymmetric spring is coupled to the read head. The asymmetric spring positions the read head to be offset in the housing with the housing length and height edges being non-symmetrical in respect to the length and height edges of the read head. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information to a mobile device uses a card reader that has an asymmetric spring. The card reader includes a housing with length, height and width dimensions, a read head with a slot, a microcontroller, an output jack and the asymmetric spring coupled to the read head. The asymmetrical spring positions the read head to be offset in the housing, with the housing length and height edges being non-symmetrical in respect to the length and height edges of the read head. A card is slid in the slot. Data is read from the magnetic stripe; A raw magnetic signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. An output jack signal is sent to the mobile device.

Abstract: A card reader is provided with a read head with a slot and is configured to be coupled to a mobile device and has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. A power supply is coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device. The wake-up electronics is powered by a microphone bias of a mobile device.

Abstract: A has a read head configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. Device electronics are provided with an analog front-end and a microcontroller. The analog to digital front end is coupled to a processing element in the microcontroller. The analog to digital front end receives a raw magnetic head signal and converts it into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. The microcontroller produces a signal. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information to a mobile device includes providing a read head with a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card, a power supply coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. The wake-up electronics are powered by a microphone bias of a mobile device.

Abstract: A reader is provided that has a housing with a center point and a read head positioned in the housing. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head is positioned to be offset from the center point of the housing. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device.

Abstract: A card reader has a read head positioned in the housing. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. Device electronics are provided that include a microcontroller. The device electronics receives a raw magnetic head signal and converts it into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. The microcontroller produces a synchronous Manchester encoded stream that makes a greater number of 0 crossings. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver a Manchester encoded stream output jack signal to the mobile device.

Abstract: These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a card reader with a read head positioned in a housing. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device and has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. A power supply is coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information to a mobile device uses a card reader inside of a housing. The read head is positioned offset from a center of a magnetic strip when the card is in the slot and is in contact with a bottom of the slot. A card is slid in the slot. Data is read from the magnetic stripe. A raw magnetic signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information to a mobile device converts a raw magnetic head signal into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. Rocking of a card that is swept in a slot of the card reader is accommodated while producing a successful read of the magnetic stripe of the card. The rocking is in an amount of 1 to 10 degrees of rotation of a bottom surface of the card away from a bottom surface of the slot. An output jack signal is sent to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method is provided of transmitting information with a communication protocol to a mobile device. A card reader is provided with a read head that has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card, an output jack and device electronics that includes a microcontroller. The read head is used to read data on a magnetic stripe of a card. A raw magnetic signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. A synchronous Manchester encoded stream is produced that makes a greater number of 0 crossings. A Manchester encoded stream output jack signal is delivered to the mobile device through the output jack.

Abstract: A small card reader has a read head with a slot and positioned in a housing. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe from a card that is slid in the slot and produces an output jack signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver the output jack signal to the mobile device. The read head positioned to accommodate rocking of a card while being swept in the slot while producing a successful read of the magnetic stripe of the card. The rocking is in an amount of 1 to 10 degrees of rotation of a bottom surface of the card away from a bottom surface of the slot.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information to a mobile device includes providing a card reader is provided with a read head, a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card and device electronics that includes an analog front-end and a microcontroller. The analog to digital front end is coupled to a processing element in the microcontroller. A raw magnetic head signal is received at the analog to digital front end. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. An output jack output jack signal is delivered to the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information to a mobile device has a card reader with wake-up electronics and a microcontroller, and a power supply coupled to the wake-up electronics and the microcontroller. Data is read on the magnetic stripe. A raw magnetic signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. An output jack signal is sent to the mobile device.