Modular transaction terminal
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A modular Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal apparatus comprising:
- a core unit comprising a printed wiring board including a processor and associated basic memory, a keypad for inputting data, an integral display for displaying data from the processor, and plural hardware-based interfaces that, in use, support optional modules which may be connected to said core unit, said core unit hardware-based interfaces including;
a hardware-based magnetic stripe card reader interface for, in use, supporting a magnetic stripe card reading module,a hardware-based smart card module interface for, in uses, supporting a smart card module,a hardware-based memory interface for, in use, supporting an expansion memory module,a hardware-based security module interface for, in use, supporting a security module, anda hardware-based data exchange interface for providing data exchange with a communication unit printed wiring board; and
a communication unit including;
a top cover having an opening facing the core unit;
said communication unit printed wiring board including an interface connector extending through the opening to connect to the core unit hardware-based data exchange interface; and
a bottom cover, wherein the top cover and the bottom cover define a housing capable of retaining plural optional modules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular terminal apparatus including a core unit interchangeable with a plurality of communication modules.
1246 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A modular Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal apparatus comprising:
a core unit comprising a printed wiring board including a processor and associated basic memory, a keypad for inputting data, an integral display for displaying data from the processor, and plural hardware-based interfaces that, in use, support optional modules which may be connected to said core unit, said core unit hardware-based interfaces including; a hardware-based magnetic stripe card reader interface for, in use, supporting a magnetic stripe card reading module, a hardware-based smart card module interface for, in uses, supporting a smart card module, a hardware-based memory interface for, in use, supporting an expansion memory module, a hardware-based security module interface for, in use, supporting a security module, and a hardware-based data exchange interface for providing data exchange with a communication unit printed wiring board; and
a communication unit including;a top cover having an opening facing the core unit; said communication unit printed wiring board including an interface connector extending through the opening to connect to the core unit hardware-based data exchange interface; and a bottom cover, wherein the top cover and the bottom cover define a housing capable of retaining plural optional modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A modular terminal base unit capable of being connected to optional modules adding or enhancing functionality to said modular terminal base unit, said modular terminal base unit comprising:
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a processor, a memory, a display, a keypad, and an application-specific integrated circuit coupled to at least said processor, said application-specific integrated circuit including display interface circuitry interfacing with said display, keypad interface circuitry interfacing with said keypad, a processor bus interface interfacing with said processor, memory interface circuitry interfacing with said memory, a magnetic stripe card reader interface, a smart card reader interface, a security module interface, and at least one further communication interface for data exchange with at least one external device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification