Automatic gain control sub-circuit management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9374176-B2
Application number	US-201414295186-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2014
Priority date	Jun 3, 2014
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure provide a reader device for managing operation of an automatic gain control (AGC) sub-circuit on a host device computing device. In some implementations, a reader device of the subject technology can include a controller, a noise generator, noise coupling circuitry, and a 3.5 mm audio plug including an audio bus that is configured for insertion into a headphone port of a host device, such as a smart phone or tablet computer. Upon connection of the reader device to the host computing device, the reader device can provide an intentional noise signal to the host device via a signal path where the intentional noise signal is configured to establish a substantially stable gain amount at the AGC sub-circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A point-of-sale system, comprising:
a portable computing device comprising an audio jack coupled to an audio input channel, an automatic gain control (AGC) sub-circuit associated with the audio input channel, a signal processing system for processing audio signals on the audio input channel to produce digital data signals, a processor coupled to the signal processing system for receiving the digital data signals, and a payment processing application; and
a card reader coupled to the portable computing device, the card reader being configured to enable a financial transaction between a customer and a merchant via the portable computing device via the payment processing application,
wherein the card reader comprises:
a read head,
an audio output channel,
an audio plug coupled to the audio output channel and configured to engage the audio jack such that the audio output channel of the card reader is coupled to the audio input channel of the portable computing device,
a controller communicatively coupled to the read head and the output audio channel, and
a charge pump configured for supplying power to the controller and operating at a switching frequency that is an audio frequency,

wherein the payment processing application is configured to cause the processor to initiate the financial transaction in response to receiving the digital data signals,
wherein the charge pump is coupled to the audio output channel so as to cause audio noise signal in the audio output channel that is propagated to the audio input channel of the portable computing device, and wherein the audio noise signal is configured to establish a first gain amount at the AGC sub-circuit that is lower than a second gain amount required for amplifying other audio noise signals present in the audio input channel into audio signals that can be processed into digital data signals by the signal processing system.

2. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein the charge pump is coupled to the audio output channel by at least one of a capacitive coupling, a resistive coupling, or an inductive coupling.

3. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein audio noise signal is an alternating current waveform in which at least a frequency and an amplitude are substantially constant.

4. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for transmitting, via the output audio channel, an audio data signal representing payment information detected at the read head that is propagated to the audio input channel, wherein the audio data signal causes the AGC sub-circuit to establish a third gain amount lower than the first gain amount, and wherein the third gain amount amplifies the audio data signal sufficiently for the signal processing system to process the audio data signal into digital data signals.

5. A reader device, comprising:
at least one media reader;
at least one analog signal connector configured for engaging an analog signal port associated with a networked computing device;
a noise generator coupled to an audio output channel, wherein the noise generator operates at a switching frequency within a frequency range associated with a data signal; and
a device electronics communicatively coupled to the at least one media reader, the at least one analog signal connector, and the noise generator,
wherein the noise generator and the device electronics are configured to introduce an intentional noise signal into the at least one analog signal connector, via the audio output channel, and wherein the intentional noise signal is configured to establish a substantially stable gain amount at an automatic gain control (AGC) sub-circuit of the networked computing device when the at least one analog signal connector is engaged with the analog signal port.

6. The reader device of claim 5 , wherein the device electronics is configured for transmitting, via the at least one analog signal connector, a data signal representing information detected via at the at least one media reading device, whereby the data signal causes the AGC sub-circuit to establish a gain amount lower than the substantially stable gain amount established based on the noise signal.

7. The reader device of claim 6 , wherein the data signal and the intentional noise signal each comprise an audio signal.

8. The reader device of claim 6 , wherein the device electronics is configured for causing the intentional noise signal to be discontinued while the data signal is being transmitted.

9. The reader device of claim 5 , wherein the noise generator is configured for generating noise information, and wherein the device electronics comprises a controller for receiving the noise information and generating an output signal for the at least one analog signal connector, comprising the intentional noise signal, based on the noise information.

10. The reader device of claim 5 , wherein the noise generator comprises an analog signal generator.

11. The reader device of claim 5 , wherein the noise generator is coupled to the at least one audio signal connector by at least one of capacitive coupling, resistive coupling, or inductive coupling.

12. The reader device of claim 5 , wherein the device electronics comprises a controller and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to implement the noise generator.

13. The reader device of claim 12 , wherein the computer program is configured for causing the controller generate the audio noise signal using a stochastic process.

14. A method for managing operation of an automatic gain control (AGC) sub-circuit coupled to an analog data signal path susceptible to noise, the method comprising:
generating an intentional noise signal, by a noise generator coupled to the analog data signal path, wherein the noise generator operates within a frequency range associated with a data signal; and
introducing the intentional noise signal, by a controller communicatively coupled to at least one analog signal connector and the noise generator, into the at least one signal connector, via the analog data signal path,
wherein the generating of an intentional noise signal, by the controller, comprises configuring the intentional noise signal to establish a substantially stable first gain amount at an automatic gain control (AGC) sub-circuit lower than a second gain amount required for detecting the other noise signals generated in the analog data signal path when the at least one analog signal connector is engaged with an analog signal port associated with a networked computing device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the generating comprises configuring the intentional noise signal so that the first gain amount at the AGC sub-circuit is greater than a third gain amount at the AGC sub-circuit for a data signal introduced into the analog data signal path.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein generating comprises producing the intentional noise signal using a stochastic process, and wherein the introducing comprises introducing the intentional noise signal into the analog data signal path.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein generating comprises producing an alternating current signal at an audio signal frequency to produce an alternating current signal, and wherein the introducing comprises introducing at least the high frequency component into the analog data signal path.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
adding a data signal to the analog data signal path; and
discontinuing generating and the introducing duri

Assignees

• Square Inc

Inventors

• Post Dan
• Lamba Kartik
• Wade Jeremy
• Steshenko Rodion

Classifications

• G06Q20/322 Primary

  Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices] · CPC title

• G06K7/01

  Details · CPC title

• G06Q20/202

  Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR · CPC title

• H04B15/005 Primary

  Reducing noise, e.g. humm, from the supply · CPC title

• G06K7/087

  flux-sensitive, e.g. magnetic, detectors (G06K7/10336 takes precedence) · CPC title