Point of sale terminal having enhanced security
First Claim
1. A data entry device comprising:
- a housing formed of at least two portions;
data entry circuitry located within said housing;
at least one case-open switch assembly operative to sense when said housing is opened; and
tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from said at least one case-open switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with said data entry circuitry located within said housing,said at least one case-open switch assembly including;
an arrangement of electrical contacts arranged on a base surface, said arrangement of electrical contacts including an outer ring contact, at least one intermediate ring contact, and a central contact, at least one of said outer ring contact and said at least one intermediate ring contact being an anti-tampering contact and being coupled to said tamper indication circuitry; and
a resiliently deformable conductive element, which defines a short circuit between said central contact and said at least one intermediate ring contact only when said housing is closed,said resiliently deformable conductive element comprising;
an at least partially continuous circumferential flange fixed in electrical contact with said at least one intermediate ring contact;
a circumferential portion having a cross sectional configuration which includes two mutually spaced arches;
a central portion disposed in a case-open operative orientation at a first distance from said base surface; and
a contact portion located interiorly of said central portion and disposed in a case-open operative orientation at a second distance from said base surface, less than said first distance, and in a non-case open operative orientation touching said central contact.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data entry device including a housing formed of at least two portions, data entry circuitry located within the housing, at least one case-open switch assembly operative to sense when the housing is opened and tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from the at least one case-open switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with the data entry circuitry located within the housing. The at least one case-open switch assembly includes an arrangement of electrical contacts arranged on a base surface and a resiliently deformable conductive element, which defines a short circuit between at least some of the arrangement of electrical contacts only when the housing is closed.
79 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A data entry device comprising:
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a housing formed of at least two portions; data entry circuitry located within said housing; at least one case-open switch assembly operative to sense when said housing is opened; and tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from said at least one case-open switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with said data entry circuitry located within said housing, said at least one case-open switch assembly including; an arrangement of electrical contacts arranged on a base surface, said arrangement of electrical contacts including an outer ring contact, at least one intermediate ring contact, and a central contact, at least one of said outer ring contact and said at least one intermediate ring contact being an anti-tampering contact and being coupled to said tamper indication circuitry; and a resiliently deformable conductive element, which defines a short circuit between said central contact and said at least one intermediate ring contact only when said housing is closed, said resiliently deformable conductive element comprising; an at least partially continuous circumferential flange fixed in electrical contact with said at least one intermediate ring contact; a circumferential portion having a cross sectional configuration which includes two mutually spaced arches; a central portion disposed in a case-open operative orientation at a first distance from said base surface; and a contact portion located interiorly of said central portion and disposed in a case-open operative orientation at a second distance from said base surface, less than said first distance, and in a non-case open operative orientation touching said central contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A case-open switch assembly for use with a two part housing, said two part housing having at least an open state and a closed state, the case-open switch assembly comprising:
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an arrangement of electrical contacts arranged on a base surface in said housing, said arrangement of electrical contacts including an outer ring contact, at least one intermediate ring contact, and a central contact, at least one of said outer ring contact and said at least one intermediate ring contact being an anti-tampering contact; and a resiliently deformable conductive element, which defines a short circuit between said central contact and said at least one intermediate ring contact only when said housing is closed, said resiliently deformable conductive element comprising; an at least partially continuous circumferential flange fixed in electrical contact with said at least one intermediate ring contact; a circumferential portion having a cross sectional configuration which includes two mutually spaced arches; a central portion disposed in a case-open operative orientation at a first distance from said base surface; and a contact portion located interiorly of said central portion and disposed in a case-open operative orientation at a second distance from said base surface, less than said first distance, and in a non-case open operative orientation touching said central contact. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification