Automatic bank teller machine for the blind and visually impaired

• US 6,061,666 A
• Filed: 12/17/1996
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citicorp Del-Lease Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merman, Michael, Do, Cuong
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KALINOWSKI, ALEXANDER G
• Application Number:
  US08/768,289
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 705/43, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/008 using visual presentation of the information for the partially sighted

Abstract

An automatic bank teller machine (ATM) that uses a combination of simple visual cues, large-type visual displays, audio, and a touch-sensitive display screen to facilitate use of the ATM by the blind and visually impaired, while still being useful for the sighted. In particular, the ATM uses a touch-sensitive display screen that has a fixed, easy to locate touch scanning zone. The display screen operates by contacting the screen, with a fingertip, for example, and slidingly moving to a location on the touch scanning zone corresponding to an item to be input, such as one of the numbers 0 to 9, for example.

Claims

1. An automated teller machine (ATM) that provides a visually impaired person with assistance in performing a transaction, comprising:

a display screen having a visual display portion and a separate, touch-sensitive scanning zone at a predetermined, fixed location, said scanning zone having a plurality of adjacent, fixed input areas each for generating an input signal for controlling the operation of said ATM in performing said transaction, said scanning zone adapted to generate said input signal in correspondence to sensing a track of coordinates along which sliding contact is maintained and then released within said input area;

at least one ATM system component for performing an ATM function required by said transaction in response to said input signal, said at least one ATM system component disposed adjacent to said display screen;

a selectively actuable light source disposed adjacent to said at least one ATM system component, said light source illuminable to provide a coarse visual signal in response to said input signal and in conjunction with the utilization of said ATM system component to direct said visually impaired person in locating said ATM system component used in performing said transaction; and

a selectively actuable audio system disposed adjacent to said display screen, said audio system for emitting sound and verbal instructions in coordination with the illumination of said light source for assisting said visually impaired person in performing said transaction.

2. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one ATM system component comprises a component selected from the group consisting of an access control device, a cash dispensing mechanism, a deposit intake mechanism and a printer.

3. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said input/output device and said at least one ATM system component are identified by a Braille label disposed at least adjacent thereto.

4. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said light source is a light-emitting diode(LED).

5. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio system comprises a computer sound card.

6. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio system comprises at least a first speaker and a second speaker, and further comprising a hand set containing one of said first speaker and said second speaker.

7. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio system comprises a speaker for emitting sound.

8. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 7, further comprising a hand set containing said speaker.

9. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 1, wherein contacting each of said plurality of input areas causes the display of a corresponding image on said visual display portion.

10. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 9, wherein said access control device is a transport-type magnetic stripe card reader.

11. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 9, wherein said access control device is a dip-type magnetic stripe card reader.

12. An automated teller machine (ATM) that provides a visually impaired person with assistance in performing a transaction, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display screen for generating an input signal for controlling the operation of said ATM in performing said transaction, said touch-sensitive display screen comprising a visual display portion and a separate, single touch-sensitive scanning zone at a fixed, tactilely distinguishable location within said display screen, said scanning zone having a plurality of contiguous, fixed input areas each for providing said input signal upon the release of a sliding contact of said visually impaired person within said touch-sensitive scanning zone;

at least one ATM system component for performing an ATM function required by said transaction in response to said input signal, said at least one ATM system component disposed adjacent to said input/output device;

a selectively actuable light source disposed adjacent to said at least one ATM system component, said light source illuminable to provide a coarse visual signal in response to said input signal and in conjunction with the utilization of said ATM system component to direct said visually impaired person in locating said ATM system component used in performing said transaction; and

a selectively actuable audio system disposed adjacent to said display screen, said audio system for emitting sound and verbal instructions in coordination with the illumination of said light source for assisting said visually impaired person in performing said transaction.

13. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said audio system comprises a computer sound card.

14. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said audio system comprises at least a first speaker and a second speaker, and further comprising a hand set containing one of said first speaker and said second speaker.

15. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein contacting each of said plurality of input areas causes the display of a corresponding image on said visual display portion.

16. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one ATM system component comprises a cash dispensing mechanism.

17. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one ATM system component comprises a deposit intake mechanism.

18. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one ATM system component comprises a printer.

19. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said touch sensitive display screen and said at least one ATM system component are identified by a Braille label disposed at least adjacent thereto.

20. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said light source is a light-emitting diode (LED).

21. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said audio system comprises a speaker for emitting sound.

22. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 21, further comprising a hand set containing said speaker.

23. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said at least one ATM system component comprises an access control device.

24. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 23, wherein said access control device is a transport-type magnetic stripe card reader.

25. An automated teller machine as recited in claims 23, wherein said access control device is a dip-type magnetic stripe card reader.

26. An automated teller machine (ATM) that provides a visually impaired person with assistance in performing a transaction, comprising:

an access control device for providing access to the functions of said ATM;

a touch-sensitive display screen having a visual display portion and separate, single touch-sensitive scanning zone at a fixed, tactilely distinguishable location for providing an input signal for controlling the operation of said ATM in performing said transaction, said input signal representing one of a plurality of selections said touch-sensitive scanning zone having a plurality of contiguous, fixed input signal locations each corresponding to one of said plurality of selections, and wherein said touch scanning zone senses a track of coordinates along which sliding contact is made and generates said input signal upon the release of said sliding contact;

a cash dispensing mechanism for distributing currency based on said transaction;

a first and second selectively actuable light source respectively disposed adjacent to said control device and said cash dispensing mechanism, each of said first and second light source illuminable to provide a coarse visual signal in response to said input signal and in conjunction with the respective utilization of said control device and said cash dispensing mechanism to direct said visually impaired person in locating said control device and said cash dispensing mechanism during said transaction; and

a selectively actuable audio system disposed adjacent to said display screen, said audio system for emitting sound and verbal instructions in coordination with the illumination of said first and second light sources for assisting said visually impaired person in performing said transaction.

27. An automated teller machine as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

an intake mechanism for receiving a deposit within said ATM;

a printer for printing a receipt of said transaction;

a third and fourth selectively actuable light source respectively disposed adjacent to said intake mechanism and said printer, each of said third and fourth light source illuminable to provide a coarse visual signal in response to said input signal and in conjunction with the respective utilization of said intake mechanism and said printer to direct said visually impaired person in locating said intake mechanism and said printer during said transaction; and

wherein said audio system further emits sound and verbal instructions in coordination with the illumination of said third and fourth light sources for assisting said visually impaired person in performing said transaction.

28. A method of providing assistance to a visually impaired person in the operation of an automated teller machine (ATM) in performing a transaction, comprising:

(a) receiving an input signal from the visually impaired person from the release of a sliding contact within a touch-sensitive scanning zone positioned at a fixed, tactilely distinguishable location adjacent to a separate display portion within a display screen, wherein the scanning zone includes a plurality of contiguous, fixed input areas each having a corresponding one of said input signal;

(b) selectively actuating audible sounds and verbal operating instructions during the operation of the ATM in response to the input signal, where the audible sounds and verbal operating instructions direct the visually impaired person in using the at least one ATM system component; and

(c) selectively illuminating a light source disposed adjacent to the at least one ATM system component, in coordination with providing the audible sounds and verbal operating instructions and in response to the input signal, wherein the light source is selectively illuminated in a sequence corresponding to the steps of the transaction and provides a coarse visual signal that aids the visually impaired person in locating the at least one ATM system component used in performing the transaction.

29. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 28, wherein performing an ATM function comprises performing a function selected from the group consisting of accessing the ATM using a control device, dispensing funds using a cash dispensing mechanism, receiving a deposit using a deposit intake mechanism, and printing a transaction record using a printer.

30. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 28, wherein selectively actuating audible sounds and verbal operating instructions comprises emitting sound from a speaker.

31. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 28, wherein selectively actuating audible sounds and verbal operating instructions comprises emitting sound from a speaker within a hand set.

32. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

receiving a readback signal; and

repeating the received input signal automatically via the ATM so that the visually impaired person may verify the accuracy of the input signal.

33. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 32, wherein repeating the received PIN is performed by displaying the received PIN on the display portion.

34. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 32, wherein repeating the received PIN is performed by audibly reciting the PIN via an audio system.

35. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 32, wherein the input signals are received from a display screen having a visual display portion and a separate, touch-sensitive scanning zone at a fixed, predetermined location, the scanning zone having a plurality of adjacent, fixed input areas each for generating the input signal for controlling the operation of the ATM, the scanning zone adapted to generate the input signal in correspondence to sensing a track of coordinates along which sliding contact is maintained and then released within the input area.

36. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 32, wherein receiving the input signal generates one of a plurality of menus capable of being displayed on the display portion, each of the plurality of menus having a corresponding set of selections associated with the plurality of input areas.

37. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 32, wherein performing an ATM function comprises performing a function selected from the group consisting of accessing the ATM using a control device, dispensing funds using a cash dispensing mechanism, receiving a deposit using a deposit intake mechanism, and printing a transaction record using a printer.

38. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 32, wherein receiving the input signal further comprises receiving a series of the input signals designated as a personal identification number (PIN) of the visually impaired person, and wherein repeating the input signal further comprises repeating the series of input signals automatically via the ATM for accuracy verification.

39. A method of providing assistance in the operation of an automated teller machine as recited in claim 32, further comprising receiving an enter signal only after repeating the received input signal.