Self service terminal

• US 6,367,695 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Mair, John, Russell, Douglas F., Sharp, Gordon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US09/541,344
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 235/381, 902/30, 902/31
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/2055 Anti-skimming aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

A self-service terminal (SST) comprises: a data capture device (16); an emitter (34); a detector (40); and an arrangement (44,48) for producing an alarm signal if the detector (40) fails to receive emissions from the emitter (34). The data capture device (16), the emitter (34) and the detector (40) are arranged such that an object (21) in the vicinity of the data capture device (16) will obstruct the path of emissions from the emitter (34) to the detector (40).

Claims

1. A self-service terminal (SST) comprising:

a data capture device for receiving identifying data from a customer;

an emitter for producing emissions directed toward the data capture device;

a detector for receiving emissions directed from the emitter toward the data capture device, the detector being positioned and oriented so as to fail to detect the emissions directed from the emitter if the data capture device is at least partially covered by an object when the object is positioned in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device; and

an alarm signal generator for producing an alarm signal, the alarm signal generator being activated by the detector if the detector fails to receive emissions from the emitter.

2. An SST according to claim 1, wherein the data capture device comprises a keypad.

3. An SST according to claim 1, wherein the emitter produces electromagnetic radiation and the detector detects the electromagnetic radiation produced by the emitter.

4. An SST according to claim 1, wherein the emitter produces infra-red radiation and the detector detects the infra-red radiation produced by the emitter.

5. An SST according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the data capture device is transparent to the emitter and the emitter and the detector are arranged on opposite sides of the data capture device such that the emissions from the emitter pass through the transparent portion of the data capture device to strike the detector.

6. An SST according to claim 1, wherein the emitter emits an encoded signal.

7. An SST according to claim 1, wherein the detector activates the alarm signal generator if the detector fails to receive emissions from the emitter for a predetermined interval.

8. An SST according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm which is activated in response to the alarm signal.

9. A self-service terminal (SST) comprising:

a data capture device for receiving identifying information from a user;

means for detecting an object at least partially covering the data capture device in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device; and

means for producing an alarm signal when an object at least partially covering the data capture device in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device is detected.

10. An SST according to claim 9, wherein the data capture device comprises a keypad.

11. An SST according to claim 9, wherein the detecting means operates using electromagnetic radiation.

12. An SST according to claim 11, wherein the detecting means operates using infra-red radiation.

13. An SST according to claim 11, further comprising an alarm which activates in response to an alarm signal which is produced when an object is detected at least partially covering the data capture device in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device.

14. A method of detecting an attempted fraud in a self-service terminal having a data capture device for receiving identifying data from a customer, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring emissions along a path from an emitter directing emissions toward the data capture device to a detector placed near the data capture device such that the an object at least partially covering the data capture device in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device will prevent the emissions from reaching the data capture device; and

producing a signal indicative of an attempted fraud when an object at least partially covers the data capture device in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device and obstructs the path of emissions from the emitter to the detector.

15. A method according to claim 14, comprising the step of:

activating an alarm in response to the signal indicative of an attempted fraud.

16. A method of operating a self-service terminal having a data capture device for receiving identifying data from a customer, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring signals along a path directed toward the data capture device; and

producing an alarm signal indicative of an attempted fraud at the self-service terminal when an object is placed so as to at least partially cover the data capture device in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device and the object obstructs signals along the path.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

activating an alarm in response to an alarm signal which is produced when an object is placed in the vicinity of the data capture device and obstructs signals along the path.

18. A method of operating a self-service terminal having a data capture device for receiving identifying information from a customer, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an object at least partially covering the data capture device in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device; and

producing an alarm signal when an object is detected at least partially covering the data capture device in such a way as to intercept data intended for the data capture device.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of:

activating an alarm in response to an alarm signal which is produced when presence of an object is detected in the vicinity of the data capture device.