Abstract: Card readers with adaptive magnetic head assemblies are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a card reader may include chassis comprising a card slot that receives a portion of a magnetic stripe card; a card guiding element positioned in a card path defined by the card slot and that interacts with a datum edge of the magnetic stripe card, at least a portion of the card guiding element being rotatable relative to the card path; and a magnetic reading head provided on the card guiding element that reads a magnetic stripe on the magnetic stripe card. The card guiding element and the magnetic reading head rotate relative to the card path in response to the datum edge of the magnetic stripe card applying a force to the card guiding element, thereby substantially maintaining an alignment between the magnetic stripe and the magnetic reading head.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for concealed chip-card readers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a chip-enabled card reader may include a card slot that receives a chip-enabled card; a carriage comprising a smart chip connector for contacting a chip on the chip-enabled card; and at least one carriage track disposed within the chassis that slideably engages the carriage and defines a path of movement for the carriage between a protected position and a reading position. The carriage may move along the path of movement to a reading position. The smart chip connector may contact the chip on the chip-enabled card when the chip-enabled card is in a fully-inserted position. The carriage is in the protected position when no card has been inserted into the card slot. In one embodiment, the smart chip connector has reduced accessibility through the opening.

Abstract: Card readers with adaptive magnetic head assemblies are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a card reader may include chassis comprising a card slot that receives a portion of a magnetic stripe card; a card guiding element positioned in a card path defined by the card slot and that interacts with a datum edge of the magnetic stripe card, at least a portion of the card guiding element being rotatable relative to the card path; and a magnetic reading head provided on the card guiding element that reads a magnetic stripe on the magnetic stripe card. The card guiding element and the magnetic reading head rotate relative to the card path in response to the datum edge of the magnetic stripe card applying a force to the card guiding element, thereby substantially maintaining an alignment between the magnetic stripe and the magnetic reading head.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for concealed chip-card readers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a chip-enabled card reader may include a card slot that receives a chip-enabled card; a carriage comprising a smart chip connector for contacting a chip on the chip-enabled card; and at least one carriage track disposed within the chassis that slideably engages the carriage and defines a path of movement for the carriage between a protected position and a reading position. The carriage may move along the path of movement to a reading position. The smart chip connector may contact the chip on the chip-enabled card when the chip-enabled card is in a fully-inserted position. The carriage is in the protected position when no card has been inserted into the card slot. In one embodiment, the smart chip connector has reduced accessibility through the opening.