Keypad membrane security

• US 8,432,300 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypercom Corporation (Verifone Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hypercom Corporation (Verifone Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Chris, Shumate, William
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, BRIAN K
• Application Number:
  US12/748,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/24, 235/494, 200/61.93
• US Class Current: 341/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a security sensor is present in a POS terminal between the keypad and a processor. The security sensor is configured to detect an unauthorized probe through the keypad and implement a security protocol. In an exemplary embodiment, the security sensor is a serpentine conductive circuit screen printed on the polyester film. The serpentine conductive circuit may cover almost all of the polyester film. For example, the serpentine conductive circuit may cover 90% to 100% of the film. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the serpentine conductive circuit limited to a section of the polyester film. For example, the serpentine conductive circuit may be on only ¼ of the film. This embodiment has the advantage of printing the serpentine conductive circuit on the critical security areas and leaving the non-critical areas with blank polyester film.

Claims

1. A point-of-sale device comprising:

a rubber keypad;

a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to at least one of store or access transaction data;

a secure membrane located between the rubber keypad and the printed circuit board, the secure membrane being configured to detect an interruption in a conductive circuit of the secure membrane;

at least one switch contact connected to the PCB;

a spacer layer connected to the PCB on a first side and to the secure membrane on a second side, the spacer layer comprising a via; and

a switch shorting bar attached to the secure membrane adjacent the PCB, the switch shorting bar being spaced apart from the at least one switch contact.

2. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit is a serpentine conductive circuit printed on at least one side of the secure membrane.

3. The point-of-sale device of claim 2, wherein the serpentine conductive circuit covers at least 90% of the secure membrane.

4. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein user data is entered via the rubber keypad in response to the at least one switch contact electrically connecting to the switch shorting bar.

9. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, further comprising a security cover covering the PCB, wherein the security cover is positioned opposite the rubber keypad.

5. A point-of-sale device comprising:

a rubber keypad;

a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to at least one of store or access transaction data;

a secure membrane located between the rubber keypad and the printed circuit board, wherein the secure membrane is configured to detect an interruption in a conductive circuit of the secure membrane;

at least one switch contact integrated into the PCB;

a spacer layer connected to the PCB on a first side and the secure membrane on a second side, the spacer layer comprising a via; and

a switch shorting bar integrated into the secure membrane adjacent the PCB, the switch shorting bar being spaced apart from the at least one switch contact.

6. The point-of-sale device of claim 5, wherein the at least one switch is integrated into the PCB by printing the at least one switch onto the PCB, and wherein the switch shorting bar is integrated into the secure membrane by printing the switch shorting bar onto the secure membrane.

10. The point-of-sale device of claim 5, wherein the conductive circuit is a serpentine conductive circuit printed on at least one side of the secure membrane.

11. The point-of-sale device of claim 10, wherein the serpentine conductive circuit covers at least 90% of the secure membrane.

12. The point-of-sale device of claim 5, further comprising a security cover covering the PCB, wherein the security cover is positioned opposite the rubber keypad.

7. A point-of-sale device comprising:

a rubber keypad;

a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to at least one of store or access transaction data;

a secure membrane located between the rubber keypad and the printed circuit board, wherein the secure membrane is configured to detect an interruption in a conductive circuit of the secure membrane;

a switch contact layer comprising at least one switch contact;

a switch shorting bar attached to the secure membrane adjacent the switch contact layer, the switch shorting bar being spaced apart from the switch contact layer;

a first spacer layer connected to the switch contact layer on a first side and the secure membrane on a second side; and

a second spacer layer connected to the PCB on a first side and the switch contact layer on a second side.

8. The point-of-sale device of claim 7, wherein the secure membrane is non-planar.

13. The point-of-sale device of claim 7, wherein the conductive circuit is a serpentine conductive circuit printed on at least one side of the secure membrane.

14. The point-of-sale device of claim 13, wherein the serpentine conductive circuit covers at least 90% of the secure membrane.

15. The point-of-sale device of claim 7, further comprising a security cover covering the PCB, wherein the security cover is positioned opposite the rubber keypad.