Card transaction terminal

• US 5,426,286 A
• Filed: 10/22/1993
• Issued: 06/20/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microbilt Corporation (Western Union)
• Original Assignee: Microbilt Corporation (Western Union)
• Inventors: Evans, John C., Choudhuri, Kumar S., Nair, Parameswaran B., Stills, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): FILIPEK, JEFFER
• Application Number:
  US08/141,486
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 235/449, 235/436, 455/352, 455/353, 361/730, 361/736, 361/752, 361/684, 361/686
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state

Abstract

A low cost, easily manufacturable, and easy to use card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card. A two piece case snaps securely together without screws or other fasteners. The case includes printed circuit board supports for receiving and temporarily supporting a single, double sided circuit board. The circuit board includes minimized circuit components, including a microcomputer with integral program read-only memory. An improved data read head sub-assembly facilitates assembly and provides for precise positioning of data read head and substantially parallel biasing of the read head against the magnetic stripe of a data card. Keying features ensure that the read head subassembly is mounted in the proper orientation. An integral strain relief mechanism formed in the two piece case provides strain relief for power cord without additional hardware. An improved data decode method for the microcomputer decodes data in real time as it is read from the magnetic stripe on the card and obviates random access memory external to the microcomputer. An adaptive method is provided for initially configuring and thereafter operating the card transaction terminal, by affixing a predetermined string of additional access characters to a host telephone number in the event that a first attempt to contact a host computer system fails.

Claims

1. An injection molded enclosure for a low cost, easily manufacturable card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card, comprising:

(a) a top half, comprising;

means defining at least a first portion of a card swipe slot,

means for mounting a data read head assembly including a magnetic read head for reading said magnetic stripe on said card, said data read head assembly mounting means including means for receiving and supporting a head mounting bracket for supporting said read head, said head mounting bracket defining at least a second portion of said card swipe slot,

a plurality of key openings for receiving keys of a keypad membrane,

a plurality of self-aligning key guides for guiding said keys of said keypad membrane into said key openings to facilitate the insertion of said keypad membrane during assembly,

a strain relief well for receiving a predetermined length of electrical wire during assembly, and

a plurality of printed circuit board support studs positioned to extend through mounting holes in a printed circuit board and support said printed circuit board in a temporary inverted position during assembly of said terminal; and

(b) a bottom half, comprising;

a strain relief tab for operatively engaging with said strain relief well on said top half and holding the predetermined length of wire in said well for strain relief of the wire when said top half and said bottom half are assembled, and

a plurality of cylindrical posts for matingly engaging with said support studs of said top half and holding the printed circuit board firmly in position when said top half and said bottom half are assembled together.

2. An injection molded enclosure for a low cost, easily manufacturable card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card, comprising:

(a) a top half, comprising;

means defining at least a first portion of a card swipe slot,

means for mounting a data read head assembly including a magnetic read head for reading said magnetic stripe on said card,

a plurality of key openings for receiving keys of a keypad membrane,

a plurality of self-aligning key guides for guiding said keys of said keypad membrane into said key openings to facilitate the insertion of said keypad membrane during assembly,

a strain relief well for receiving a predetermined length of electrical wire during assembly, and

a plurality of printed circuit board support studs positioned to extend through mounting holes in a printed circuit board and support said printed circuit board in a temporary inverted position during assembly of said terminal; and

(b) a bottom half, comprising;

a strain relief tab for operatively engaging with said strain relief well on said top half and holding the predetermined length of wire in said well for strain relief of the wire when said top half and said bottom half are assembled,

a plurality of cylindrical posts for matingly engaging with said support studs of said top half and holding the printed circuit board firmly in position when said top half and said bottom half are assembled together, and

means defining a second portion of said card swipe slot, said second portion comprising a card lead-in region having a pair of oppositely disposed and partially converging side walls and a floor, said side walls and said floor terminating at a junction between said top half and said bottom half at the beginning of said first portion of said card swipe slot in said top half.

3. An injection molded enclosure for a low cost, easily manufacturable card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card, comprising:

(a) a top half, comprising;

means defining at least a first portion of a card swipe slot,

means for mounting a data read head assembly including a magnetic read head for reading said magnetic stripe on said card,

a plurality of key openings for receiving keys of a keypad membrane,

a plurality of self-aligning key guides for guiding said keys of said keypad membrane into said key openings to facilitate the insertion of said keypad membrane during assembly,

a strain relief well for receiving a predetermined length of electrical wire during assembly, and

a plurality of printed circuit board support studs positioned to extend through mounting holes in a printed circuit board and support said printed circuit board in a temporary inverted position during assembly of said terminal; and

(b) a bottom half, comprising;

a strain relief tab for operatively engaging with said strain relief well on said top half and holding the predetermined length of wire in said well for strain relief of the wire when said top half and said bottom half are assembled,

a plurality of cylindrical posts for matingly engaging with said support studs of said top half and holding the printed circuit board firmly in position when said top half and said bottom half are assembled together, and

means defining a second portion of said card swipe slot, said second portion comprising a card exit region having a pair of parallel side walls and a floor, said side walls and said floor terminating at a junction between said top half and said bottom half at the end of said first portion of said card swipe slot in said top half.

4. An injection molded enclosure for a low cost, easily manufacturable card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card, comprising:

(a) a top half, comprising;

means defining at least a first portion of a card swipe slot,

means for mounting a data read head assembly including a magnetic read head for reading said magnetic stripe on said card,

a plurality of key openings for receiving keys of a keypad membrane,

a plurality of self-aligning key guides for guiding said keys of said keypad membrane into said key openings to facilitate the insertion of said keypad membrane during assembly,

an opening for mounting of a display means associated with the terminal,

a translucent bezel for covering said opening to protect the display means,

an antistatic lens for affixing within said top half over said bezel for preventing static charges from being transmitted to circuit components mounted within the terminal,

a strain relief well for receiving a predetermined length of electrical wire during assembly, and

a plurality of printed circuit board support studs positioned to extend through mounting holes in a printed circuit board and support said printed circuit board in a temporary inverted position during assembly of said terminal; and

(b) a bottom half, comprising;

a strain relief tab for operatively engaging with said strain relief well on said top half and holding the predetermined length of wire in said well for strain relief of the wire when said top half and said bottom half are assembled, and

a plurality of cylindrical posts for matingly engaging with said support studs of said top half and holding the printed circuit board firmly in position when said top half and said bottom half are assembled together.

5. A low cost, easily manufacturable card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card, comprising:

a single printed circuit board having a first side and a second side and a plurality of mounting holes, said first side having a data display device mounted thereto and a plurality of keypad electrical contacts, said second side having a plurality of electronic circuit components mounted thereto;

a silicone membrane keypad comprising a plurality of individually depressible keys defined on one side and a plurality of electrically conductive pellets defined on the opposite side, said pellets positioned to contact said keypad electrical contacts on said printed circuit board when a corresponding depressible key is actuated;

a data read head assembly including a magnetic read head for reading said magnetic stripe on said card; and

an injection molded case comprising a top half and a bottom half, said top half comprising;

means defining at least a first portion of a card swipe slot,

a plurality of key openings for receiving said keys of said keypad membrane,

a plurality of self-aligning key guides for guiding said keys of said keypad membrane into said key openings to facilitate the insertion of said keypad membrane during assembly,

a strain relief well for receiving a predetermined length of electrical wire during assembly, and

a plurality of printed circuit board support studs positioned to extend through said mounting holes in said printed circuit board and support said printed circuit board in a temporary inverted position during assembly of said terminal;

said bottom half comprising;

a strain relief tab for operatively engaging with said strain relief well on said top half and holding said predetermined length of wire in said well for strain relief of said wire when said top half and said bottom half are assembled,

a plurality of cylindrical posts for matingly engaging with said support studs of said top half and holding said printed circuit board firmly in position in operative juxtaposition with said conductive pellets of said keypad membrane when said top half and said bottom half are assembled together, and

means defining a second portion of said card swipe slot, said second portion comprising a card lead-in region having a pair of oppositely disposed and partially converging side walls and a floor, said side walls and said floor terminating at a junction between said top half and said bottom half at the beginning of said first portion of said card swipe slot in said top half.

6. A low cost, easily manufacturable card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card, comprising:

a single printed circuit board having a first side and a second side and a plurality of mounting holes, said first side having a data display device mounted thereto and a plurality of keypad electrical contacts, said second side having a plurality of electronic circuit components mounted thereto;

a silicone membrane keypad comprising a plurality of individually depressible keys defined on one side and a plurality of electrically conductive pellets defined on the opposite side, said pellets positioned to contact said keypad electrical contacts on said printed circuit board when a corresponding depressible key is actuated;

a data read head assembly including a magnetic read head for reading said magnetic stripe on said card; and

an injection molded case comprising a top half and a bottom half, said top half comprising;

means defining at least a first portion of a card swipe slot,

a plurality of key openings for receiving said keys of said keypad membrane,

a plurality of self-aligning key guides for guiding said keys of said keypad membrane into said key openings to facilitate the insertion of said keypad membrane during assembly,

a strain relief well for receiving a predetermined length of electrical wire during assembly, and

a plurality of printed circuit board support studs positioned to extend through said mounting holes in said printed circuit board and support said printed circuit board in a temporary inverted position during assembly of said terminal;

said bottom half comprising;

a strain relief tab for operatively engaging with said strain relief well on said top half and holding said predetermined length of wire in said well for strain relief of said wire when said top half and said bottom half are assembled,

a plurality of cylindrical posts for matingly engaging with said support studs of said top half and holding said printed circuit board firmly in position in operative juxtaposition with said conductive pellets of said keypad membrane when said top half and said bottom half are assembled together, and

means defining a second portion of said card swipe slot, said second portion comprising a card exit region having a pair of parallel side walls and a floor, said side walls and said floor terminating at a junction between said top half and said bottom half at the end of said first portion of said card swipe slot in said top half.

7. The card transaction terminal of claim 6, wherein said top half includes an opening for mounting of a display means associated with the terminal, and further comprising a translucent bezel for covering said opening to protect the display means, and an antistatic lens for affixing within said top half over said bezel for preventing static charges from being transmitted to circuit components mounted within the terminal.

8. In a magnetic stripe card transaction terminal, an improved read head mounting apparatus, comprising:

a read head sub-assembly including a magnetic stripe read head and a mounting bracket for said read head, said mounting bracket defining at least a second predetermined portion of said swipe slot;

a housing including means defining at least a first portion of a card swipe slot, and means for receiving said read head sub-assembly; and

keying means defined in said card swipe slot for orienting said read head subassembly in a predetermined mounting orientation.

9. In a magnetic stripe card transaction terminal, an improved read head mounting apparatus, comprising:

a read head sub-assembly including a magnetic stripe read head and a mounting bracket for said read head;

a housing including means defining at least a first portion of a card swipe slot, and means for receiving said read head sub-assembly;

keying means defined in said card swipe slot for orienting said read head subassembly in a predetermined mounting orientation; and

a pair of outwardly extending arms, each comprising a tab on one side, and a tab on the opposite side, and said read head sub-assembly receiving means comprises a pair of pylons slotted to receive said tabs.