Hybrid keypad including full travel keys and minimal travel keys

• US 20090002202A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems LLC (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kretzler, Randal Scott, Weston, Timothy Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,502,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1033 Details of the PIN pad
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1091 Use of an encrypted form of the PIN

Abstract

A device for entering information securely in a customer transaction is described. The device may include a keypad comprising a set of full travel keys for transmitting a first set of data and a set of minimal travel keys for transmitting a second set of data. A subset of the full travel keys may be operable to receive numerical entries, and a subset of the minimal travel keys may be customized to perform one or more nonnumeric functions. A controller is connected to and receives data from one or more components of the keypad. The device may be used in a fuel dispenser system or another environment where a customer transaction occurs.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing fuel, comprising:

a nozzle for dispensing the fuel;

a controller connected to the nozzle for selectively causing the nozzle to dispense the fuel;

a reader connected to the controller for reading data provided by a user and for transferring the data to the controller;

a set of keypads connected to the controller for receiving at least one keypad entry entered by a user, comprising at least one full travel key and at least one minimal travel key;

wherein, upon receipt of the data and at least one keypad entry, the controller allows the nozzle to dispense the fuel as part of a transaction.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising an encryption device connected to a set of full travel keys, wherein at least one keypad entry is encrypted by the encryption device and sent to the controller in an encrypted format.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one keypad of the set of keypads includes only at least one full travel key.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one keypad of the set of keypads includes only at least one minimal travel key.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one minimal travel key consists of at least one membrane key.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of keypads consists of a single keypad.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising an encryption device connected to a set of full travel keys, wherein at least one keypad entry is encrypted by the encryption device and sent to the controller in an encrypted format.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a subset of full travel keys is operable to receive a personal identification number.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a set of minimal travel keys performs at least one nonnumeric function.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a subset of minimal travel keys is customized to perform at least one nonnumeric function by placing at least one graphic overlay substantially next to the subset of minimal travel keys intended to be customized.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the keypad contains at least one language selection key.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein each minimal travel key is adjacent to a subset of full travel keys.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the keypad comprises at least three columns of keys, wherein each column comprises at least one key.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the keypad comprises at least one key operable to authorize a step of a transaction and at least one key operable to cancel the transaction.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein at least one keypad entry comprises a selection of a payment option and a selection of a fuel grade.

16. A device for entering information securely in a customer transaction, comprising:

a keypad comprising a set of full travel keys for transmitting a first set of data and a set of minimal travel keys for transmitting a second set of data;

a subset of full travel keys on the keypad operable to receive numerical entries;

a subset of minimal travel keys on the keypad operable to perform at least one nonnumeric function;

a controller connected to the keypad, said controller operable to receive the first set of data and the second set of data;

an encryption device connected to at least one full travel key, wherein the first set of data is received by the controller in an encrypted format after being transmitted by the keypad and encrypted by the encryption device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the keypad comprises at least one key operable to authorize a step of a transaction and at least one key operable to cancel a transaction.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the keypad comprises at least one language selection key.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein a subset of minimal travel keys is customized to perform at least one nonnumeric function by placing at least one graphic overlay substantially next to the subset of minimal travel keys intended to be customized.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the subset of minimal travel keys consists of membrane keys.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller is a component of a means for dispensing fuel.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the first set of data comprises a personal identification number.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the first set of data comprises a zip code.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the second set of data comprises a selection of a payment option and a selection of a fuel grade.

25. The device of claim 16, wherein the set of full travel keys consists of one full travel key.

26. The device of claim 16, wherein the set of minimal travel keys consists of one minimal travel key.

27. A device for entering information securely in a customer transaction, comprising:

a keypad comprising a set of full travel keys for transmitting a first set of data and a set of minimal travel keys for transmitting a second set of data;

a subset of full travel keys on the keypad operable to receive numerical entries;

a subset of minimal travel keys on the keypad operable to perform at least one nonnumeric function;

a controller connected to the keypad, said controller operable to receive the first set of data and the second set of data;

an encryption device connected to at least one full travel key, wherein the first set of data is received by the controller in an encrypted format after being transmitted by the keypad and encrypted by the encryption device, and the second set of data is received by the controller in an unencrypted format.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein a subset of minimal travel keys is customized to perform at least one nonnumeric function by placing at least one graphic overlay substantially next to the subset of minimal travel keys intended to be customized.

29. The device of claim 27 wherein the controller is a component of a means for dispensing fuel.