Fuel dispenser fraud detection apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12056559-B2
Application number	US-202117477132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2021
Priority date	Sep 16, 2020
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

A shimmer detection apparatus for detecting a shimmer within a chip card reader is provided. The shimmer detection apparatus comprises processing circuitry, memory, and a first sensor in electronic communication with the processing circuitry. The first sensor comprises at least one sensor coil. The at least one sensor coil of the first sensor is disposed proximate to contacts of the chip card reader and is operative to generate a first magnetic field when electrical current flows through the at least one sensor coil. The first sensor is operative to measure at least one electrical value from the first magnetic field. The processing circuitry is operative to receive information representative of at least one electrical value of said first sensor. The memory comprises stored therein information representative of at least one predetermined electrical value. A multiplexer and hand-detection functionality is provided. Tampering-detection methods are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shimmer detection apparatus for detecting a shimmer, comprising:
a chip card reader defining a slot for receipt of a chip card;
processing circuitry including a memory;
a first sensor in communication with said processing circuitry, said first sensor comprising at least one sensor coil;
said at least one sensor coil of the first sensor disposed proximate to contacts of the chip card reader, said at least one sensor coil of the first sensor operative to generate a first magnetic field when electrical current flows through said at least one sensor coil, wherein the first sensor is operative to measure at least one electrical value from the first magnetic field;
said processing circuitry operative to receive information representative of at least one electrical value of said first sensor; and
said memory having stored therein information representative of at least one predetermined electrical value, further comprising:
a second sensor in communication with said processing circuitry, said second sensor comprising at least one sensor coil, wherein said second sensor is disposed away from the chip card reader, wherein said at least one sensor coil of the second sensor is operative to generate a second magnetic field when electrical current flows through said at least one sensor coil of the second sensor, said second sensor operative to measure at least one electrical value from the second magnetic field;
said processing circuitry operative to receive information representative of at least one electrical value of the second sensor; and
said processing circuitry further operative to compare the information representative of at least one electrical value of the first sensor with the information representative of at least one electrical value of the second sensor, said processing circuitry further operative to indicate potentially fraudulent activity based on the comparison.

2. The shimmer detection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a card detector, wherein the processing circuitry is further operative to indicate potentially fraudulent activity if the input signal indicates that an object is being detected by the card detector for greater than a first time period.

3. The shimmer detection apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the card detector comprises a contact, wherein the contact rests in a first position when an object is touching the contact and wherein the contact rests in a second position when an object is touching the contact.

4. The shimmer detection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising
incrementing a read count if a card is detected in the chip card reader; and
indicating potentially fraudulent activity if the read count is greater than a specified period.

5. The shimmer detection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a multiplexer, said multiplexer in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, said multiplexer operative to receive information from the first sensor representative of at least one electrical value for the first sensor, said multiplexer operative to receive information from the second sensor representative of at least one electrical value for the second sensor, wherein the multiplexer is operative to output data for only a selected sensor, wherein the selected sensor is one of the first sensor and the second sensor.

6. The shimmer detection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the multiplexer is operative to repeatedly alternate between the first sensor and the second sensor.

7. The shimmer detection apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a time interval by which the multiplexer alternates between the first sensor and the second sensor is no greater than one millisecond.

8. Apparatus for detecting tampering with a chip card reader comprising:
processing circuitry;
a first sensor in communication with said processing circuitry, said first sensor comprising at least one sensor coil;
said at least one sensor coil of the first sensor operative to generate a first magnetic field when electrical current flows through said at least one sensor coil of the first sensor, and said first sensor operative to measure at least one electrical value from the first magnetic field;
a second sensor in communication with said processing circuitry, said second sensor comprising at least one sensor coil;
said at least one sensor coil of the second sensor operative to generate a second magnetic field when electrical current flows through said at least one sensor coil of the second sensor, and said second sensor operative to measure at least one electrical value from the second magnetic field;
said processing circuitry operative to receive a first signal representative of the at least one electrical value of said first sensor, and said processing circuitry operative to receive a second signal representative of the at least one electrical value of said second sensor; and
a multiplexer, said multiplexer operative to activate only one selected sensor from the first sensor and the second sensor at a given time, wherein said selected sensor is the first sensor at a first time and wherein said selected sensor is the second sensor at a second time.

9. Apparatus for detecting tampering with a chip card reader comprising:
processing circuitry;
a sensor in electronic communication with said processing circuitry, said sensor comprising at least one sensor coil, wherein the at least one sensor coil is disposed proximate to a chip card reader, said at least one sensor coil is operative to generate a magnetic field when electric current flows through the at least one sensor coil, said sensor is operative to measure at least one electrical value from the magnetic field;
said processing circuitry operative to receive a signal representative of at least one electrical value of said sensor; and
said sensor operative to detect the presence of a human hand proximate to the chip card reader,
wherein said sensor is operative to detect the presence of a human hand proximate to the chip card reader by sensing changes in the frequency generated in the magnetic field of the at least one sensor coil.

10. Apparatus for detecting tampering with a chip card reader comprising:
processing circuitry;
a sensor in electronic communication with said processing circuitry, said sensor comprising at least one sensor coil, wherein the at least one sensor coil is disposed proximate to a chip card reader, said at least one sensor coil is operative to generate a magnetic field when electric current flows through the at least one sensor coil, said sensor is operative to measure at least one electrical value from the magnetic field;
said processing circuitry operative to receive a signal representative of at least one electrical value of said sensor; and
said sensor operative to detect the presence of a human hand proximate to the chip card reader,
wherein:
said processing circuitry is operative to retrieve the typical transaction duration from a memory, said processing circuitry being further operative to indicate a fault if a human hand is detected proximate to the chip card reader for a duration longer than the typical transaction duration.

11. Apparatus for detecting tampering with a chip card reader comprising:
processing circuitry;
a sensor in electronic communication with said processing circuitry, said sensor comprising at least one sensor coil, wherein the at least one sensor coil is disposed proximate to a chip card reader, said at least one sensor coil is operative to generate a magnetic field when electric current flows through the at least one sensor coil, said sensor is operative to measure at least one electrical value from the magnetic field;
said pr

Assignees

• Gilbarco Inc

Inventors

• Carapelli Giovanni
• Mcninch Wayne

Classifications

• H04B5/70

  specially adapted for specific purposes · CPC title

• H04B5/26

  using coils · CPC title

• G06K7/084 Primary

  sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state · CPC title

• G06K7/0069

  including means for detecting correct insertion of the card, e.g. end detection switches notifying that the card has been inserted completely and correctly · CPC title

• G06K7/10336

  the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil · CPC title