Patent attributes
A system and method is described for detecting a foreign object inserted into a card reader. The card reader has a housing having an internal portion and a card entry slot formed therein. A reader device for reading information from a card is mounted within the internal portion of the housing. A transport mechanism is within the internal portion of the housing and includes a structure having one or more distinctive patterns on an upper surface thereof. A camera is mounted within the housing above the transport mechanism in a position to allow an image to be taken of the upper surface of the structure of the transport mechanism. A controller is coupled to the camera to receive images therefrom and configured to compare each image received from the camera to a reference image to determine when a foreign object has been inserted into the internal portion of the housing.
