Tamper resistant pin entry apparatus

• US 7,238,901 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nautilus Hyosung America Incorporated (Hyosung Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nautilus Hyosung America Incorporated (Hyosung Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Seung Chan, Jang, Hyun Soo, Kim, Bo Soon
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAROC, LHEIREN MAE ANGLO
• Application Number:
  US11/123,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20060102458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.8
• US Class Current: 200/61.8
• 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 7/1066 PIN data being compared to data on card
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/07 metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/006 Bank automat; Cash register; Vending machine
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/002 Conductive track to monitor integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/032 Anti-tamper

Abstract

Disclosed is a tamper resistant PIN entry apparatus for input of a key and for encryption of a password in a cash transaction machine. The PIN entry apparatus supplies the electric power to a memory of an electric circuit section, in such a manner that a first rod and a second rod of a rear case connect contacts of a key scan board, wherein the first rod is protruded on the rear of a key module including a button provided substantially on the front of the key module and the second rod of the rear case is coupled with the rear of the key module. At this time, in case that the rear case is removed from the key module or damaged, thereby changing the location of any one of the first and the second rods at the contact, the electric circuit section detects the event and destroys the memory itself physically. Otherwise, the electric circuit section makes information stored in the memory physically or softwarely unreadable, thereby preventing the leakage of the information.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant PIN entry apparatus comprising:

a key module including a button provided substantially on the front of the key module and a first rod formed substantially on the rear of the key module;

a key scan board including a first contact for the button, a second contact for the first rod and a third contact, wherein the first and the second contacts are formed substantially on the front of the key scan board and the third contact is formed substantially on the rear of the key scan board;

a rear case coupled with the key module, including a second rod for the third contact; and

an electric circuit section for making a stored information unreadable in accordance with a change of an electric current or voltage at the second contact or the third contact, the change caused by reduction or absence of pressing force by the first rod or the second rod.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a metal plate mounted adjacent to the key module or the rear case to physically protect the key scan board against a tampering attempt.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first rod or the second rod includes a tube portion and a rubber member, the tube portion is protruded on the key module or the rear case toward the second contact or the third contact, and the rubber member is positioned at the end of the tube portion to elastically press the second or the third contact, respectively.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a circuit connector is formed on the electric circuit section, a board connector is formed on the key scan board in accordance with the circuit connector, the board connector is electrically connected to the circuit connector to transmit the states of connection at the first, the second and the third contacts to the electric circuit.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second and the third contacts are formed using piezo electric elements to measure the pressing force.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the second and the third contact is positioned adjacent to a screw hole for coupling the key module and the rear case.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a screw hole for coupling the key module and the rear case is formed at the center portion of the key scan board, and the second contact is positioned adjacent to the screw hole on the key scan board.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third contact is positioned substantially on a vertical line passing the center portion of the rear of the key scan board.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second contact or the third contact includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal are electrically connected by the first rod or the second rod, the second contact or the third contact further includes a third terminal is formed closely adjacent to the first and the second terminal to form a part of the electric circuit section, and the electric circuit section makes the stored information unreadable in accordance with the connection between the first and the third terminals or between the second and the third terminals.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the third terminal is formed in a shape of a ring around the first terminal and the second terminal.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a front membrane interposed between the key module and the key scan board, wherein the front membrane includes a first switching portion for electrically connecting or cutting off the first contact according to the button of the key module and a second switching portion for electrically connecting or cuffing off the second contact according to the first rod.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rear membrane interposed between the key scan board and the rear case, wherein the rear membrane includes a third switching portion for electrically connecting or cuffing off the third contact according to the second rod.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a back bracket interposed between the key scan board and the electric circuit section to stably support the key scan board and the electric circuit section.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the back bracket is formed using a pile of metal plates.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key module further includes,

a protection rubber attached on the rear portion of the button for water-proofing;

a front bracket positioned substantially at the front of the button, having a button hole regularly arranged in the front bracket;

a protection pad positioned substantially at the rear of the front bracket, wherein the protection rubber is stuck to the protection pad for water-proofing;

a transmitting member positioned substantially at the rear of the protection pad, for transmitting a pressing force given to the button;

a switching member positioned substantially at the rear of the transmitting member, for transmitting a pressing force given to the transmitting member; and

a bezel base including a groove formed substantially on the front of the bezel base for receiving the transmitting member, a hole formed at the groove for passing the switching member and the first rod protruded backward at the rear of the bezel base to press the second contact.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key module further includes, a

rubber pad including the button protruded forward substantially at the front of the rubber pad and the first rod protruded backward substantially at the rear of the rubber pad;

and

a bezel base positioned at the front of the rubber pad, including a hole for exposing the button.