A nanoparticle sized between 10-180 nm composed of M(III).sub.2O.sub.3, M(II)O and M(II)M(III).sub.2O.sub.4, wherein M(III) is a trivalent metal and M(II) is a divalent metal, or Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MnO and M(II)O, wherein M is a divalent metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Pt, Au, Ag, Ba and a rare earth metal.

A transaction card is provided. The transaction card includes a card frame having a card inlay and a card housing. The transaction card also includes a magnetic stripe disposed inside the card frame between the card inlay and the card housing.

A contactless payment device and method transmits a sequence of magnetic-field pulses directly to two or three magnetic-stripe read heads of a point-of-sale terminal. The baud rate at which the data is transmitted is modulated so that track data for one read head channel will be ignored by another read head channel, based on the change to the baud rate and/or the rate of change in the baud rate to improve acceptance of the transmitted pulses received by the read heads of the point-of-sale terminal.

A platform assembly for use with sorting articles includes a first panel including a plurality of markers thereon, the markers forming a track on the first panel for transit thereabout by a plurality of vehicles. Each marker includes one or more magnetic characteristics for determining an orientation of the marker. A container is positioned about at least one of the plurality of markers. The platform assembly defines a first orientation in which the platform assembly is in a retracted position and a second orientation in which the platform assembly is in an extended position with a horizontal disposition. During operation, the vehicle is directed by a control system to deposit an article carried thereon into a container associated with a marker based on the location and the orientation of the marker.

Devices and methods for detecting credit card skimmers are provided herein. A device can include a printed circuit board having a pattern of electrical traces on its surface, and a computer readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to direct an electrical voltage to a trace and detect an electrical current between two points of the trace. A gap can be disposed between the two points across which a voltage is applied in order to detect a magnetic reader. A count of the detected magnetic readers within a credit card reading device may be indicative of the presence of a credit card skimmer.

A multi-function card has a non-contact IC card function, a magnetic stripe card function, a function of generating a magnetic card signal and an NFC signal, and a Bluetooth function capable of transmitting a signal to devices such as smartphones. The multi-function card includes a metallic frame, and is robust against bending or breakage. A transmission/reception sensor system is used for the multi-function card or the like, and for a wearable device. The transmission/reception sensor system includes a magnetic sensor 10 including a coil 2 wound around a magnetic sensor core 1, and an NFC coil 12 formed in a planar shape. A metallic frame having of a loop shape is installed along the NFC coil 12 and includes one or more cut portions.

The disclosure is related to systems and methods of smart packaging. In one example, a package can include an embedded data storage element that is readable at a point-of-sale terminal and includes custom data stored on the data storage element. The custom data may be associated with a specific product related to the package, such as a SIM card or phone. The custom data can include information to allow a process related to the product to be performed. The process may include allowing activation of the product only when an indicator at a server indicates the package was processed at an authorized terminal.

An circuit includes a first inductive coil and a second inductive coil each including a plurality of metal traces. The first and second inductive coils are each configured to receive a first signal from an electromagnetic field and generate respective first and second output voltages. Each of the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil are configured to inductively couple to the electromagnetic field. A first circuit element is configured to receive the first output voltage and generate a first response at a first power level of the first output voltage. A second circuit element is configured to receive the second output voltage and transition to an active state to perform one or more functions when the second output voltage exceeds a second power level. The first and second power levels are related to movement of the first and second inductive coils through the electromagnetic field.

A card with a magnetic stripe and increased durability is described. A protective lamina or coating may be disposed on a card with a magnetic stripe to protect the magnetic stripe embedded into the card from scratches, fractures, or chemical damage. An adhesive in the protective lamina is compatible with a material composition of the magnetic stripe such that the bond established onto the card surface is also accomplished with the magnetic stripe. The magnetic stripe has high coercivity and is overlaminated. The overlamination is performed across the entire rear side of the card. Accordingly, stress lines in cards with magnetic stripes can be avoided thereby significantly reducing cracking and fractures in cards.

In some implementations, a transaction card may include a card body and a plurality of magnetic stripe segments disposed on the card body. The plurality of magnetic stripe segments may be non-contiguous with each other. The plurality of magnetic stripe segments may define a tactile pattern that indicates an attribute of the transaction card.