Self-defense ATM

• US 6,508,397 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Do, Cuong D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US09/280,583
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380-382, 902/1-21, 705/43, 705/39, 705/44
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

An enhanced-security automated bank teller machine/customer activated teller (ATM/CAT). The ATM/CAT includes a multi-level security system. The first line of defense is access control to the service area behind the ATM/CAT through the use of an electronic lock on the service area door with an emergency override, which is only operable during non-curfew hours. The second line of defense is a passive infrared (PIR) detector in the service area, and lights and a loudspeaker to deter theft. The third line of defense is an impact sensor panel covering the security chest, which can be cheaply replaced. The fourth line of defense is the steel or composite material security chest and boltwork, which locks so that the door cannot open if the hinge is removed. Furthermore, the location of the lock, the latching bars, and the hinges cannot be ascertained from the outside of the security chest. The fifth line of defense is a glass plate to jam the boltwork closed if an attacker drills through the chest door.

Claims

1. An enhanced-security automated teller machine, comprising:

a security chest made of a theft-deterrent material, the security chest having at least one open side;

a door member made of a theft-deterrent material, the door member sized so as to close the at least one open side;

a boltwork module;

an electronic lock mounted on the door member such that the electronic lock is not visible from the outside of the security chest, wherein the electronic lock is mounted in a random location on the door member such that an exact position of the electronic lock cannot be determined from outside of the security chest, wherein the electronic lock is operable to release a bolt when a correct combination is received, wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to a network, and wherein the correct combination is received from the network;

a controller device; and

a maintenance panel;

wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to a secondary interface, and wherein the correct combination can only be received from the network, after a correct password is received by the maintenance panel.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the theft-deterrent material comprises steel.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the theft-deterrent material comprises a composite material.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the composite material includes a polymer, aluminum oxide, and an elastomeric alloy.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the door is attached to the security chest by a hinge.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the hinge has a first pivot point and a second pivot point.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the door member is opened by pivoting at the first pivot point to pull the door perpendicularly away from the open side, and pivoting at the second pivot point to provide access to the security chest through the open side.

8. The machine of claim 6, wherein the hinge is a crane hinge.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the boltwork module includes a first latching bar and a second latching bar engageable to lock the door member.

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the first latching bar and the second latching bar are configured to prevent the door member from being opened by removing the hinge.

11. The machine of claim 10, further comprising a control dial operable to engage and disengage the boltwork mechanism.

12. The machine of claim 1, wherein the correct combination received from the network is only valid for a predetermined period of time.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the predetermined period of time is of a short duration, such that the correct combination may not be captured and used at a later time to open the safe.

14. The machine of claim 1, wherein the maintenance panel includes a display screen and a data entry device.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the display screen is a flat panel liquid crystal diode display.

16. The machine of claim 14, wherein the data entry device is a numeric keypad.

17. The machine of claim 1, wherein the door member includes a glass plate, sensors, and a plastic protective panel.

18. The machine of claim 17, wherein the breaking of glass plate jams the latching bars to prevent the door member from opening.

19. The machine of claim 17, wherein the sensors include at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a door open/close sensor, a bolt lock sensor, a thermal sensor, a seismic sensor, an impact detection sensor, a passive infrared detector, a video camera device, and a motion detector device.

20. The machine of claim 1, wherein the controller device includes a security controller module, and an automated teller machine controller module.

21. The machine of claim 20, wherein the network comprises an automated teller machine/customer activated terminal (ATM/CAT) network.

22. The machine of claim 20, wherein the correct combination received from the network is requestable via a telephone call.

23. The machine of claim 20, wherein the correct combination received from the network is requestable from the maintenance panel.

24. The machine of claim 20, further comprising at least one security sensor in communication with the security controller module, the at least one security sensor outputting sensor data to the security controller module, wherein the security controller module further comprises reference data determinative of a security incident, the security controller module further operable to signal an alarm condition based on a comparison of the sensor data with the reference data.

25. The machine of claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a door open/close sensor, a bolt lock sensor, a thermal sensor, a seismic sensor, an impact detection sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a video camera device, and a motion detector sensor.

26. The machine of claim 24, wherein the at least one sensor is an impact detection sensor.

27. The machine of claim 24, further comprising a spotlight, a loudspeaker and a prerecorded message, wherein the security controller module is operable to turn on the spotlight and play the prerecorded message through the loudspeaker when the alarm condition is detected.

28. The machine of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of security sensors in communication with the security controller module, the plurality of security sensors each outputting sensor data to the security controller module, wherein the security controller module further comprises reference data determinative of a security incident, the security controller module further operable to signal an alarm condition based on a comparison of at least one of the plurality of sensor data with the reference data.

29. The machine of claim 28, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of a door open/close sensor, a bolt lock sensor, a thermal sensor, a seismic sensor, an impact detection sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a video camera device, and a motion detector sensor.

30. The machine of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sensor data includes sensor data from an impact detection sensor.

31. The machine of claim 28, further comprising a spotlight, a loudspeaker and a prerecorded message, wherein the security controller module is operable to turn on the spotlight and play the prerecorded message through the loudspeaker when the alarm condition is detected.

32. An enhanced-security automated teller machine, comprising:

a security chest made of a theft-deterrent material, the security chest having at least one open side;

a door member made of a theft-deterrent material, the door member sized so as to close the at least one open side;

a boltwork module;

a controller device;

a maintenance panel; and

an electronic lock mounted on the door member such that the electronic lock is not visible from the outside of the security chest, wherein the electronic lock is mounted in a random location on the door member such that an exact position of the electronic lock cannot be determined from outside of the security chest, wherein the electronic lock is operable to release a bolt when a correct combination is received, wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to a secondary interface, and wherein the correct combination is received from the secondary interface, the secondary interface being located in a hidden location, such that an external device may be attached to the secondary interface to receive the correct combination even if the maintenance panel is damaged.

33. The machine of claim 32, wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to the maintenance panel, and wherein the correct combination is receivable from the maintenance panel.

34. The machine of claim 32, wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to a network, and wherein the correct combination is receivable from the network.

35. The machine of claim 34, wherein the network comprises an automated teller machine/customer activated terminal (ATM/CAT) network.

36. The machine of claim 34, wherein the correct combination received from the network is requestable via a telephone call.

37. The machine of claim 34, wherein the correct combination received from the network is requestable from the maintenance panel.

38. The machine of claim 32, wherein the controller device further comprises a security controller module, and further comprising at least one security sensor in communication with the security controller module, the at least one security sensor outputting sensor data to the security controller module, wherein the security controller module further comprises reference data determinative of a security incident, the security controller module further operable to signal an alarm condition based on a comparison of the sensor data with the reference data.

39. The machine of claim 38, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a door open/close sensor, a bolt lock sensor, a thermal sensor, a seismic sensor, an impact detection sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a video camera device, and a motion detector sensor.

40. The machine of claim 39, further comprising a spotlight, a loudspeaker and a prerecorded message, wherein the security controller module is operable to turn on the spotlight and play the prerecorded message through the loudspeaker when the alarm condition is detected.

41. The machine of claim 33, wherein the at least one sensor is an impact detection sensor.

42. The machine of claim 32, wherein the controller device further comprises a security controller module, and further comprising a plurality of security sensors in communication with the security controller module, the plurality of security sensors each outputting sensor data to the security controller module, wherein the security controller module further comprises reference data determinative of a security incident, the security controller module further operable to signal an alarm condition based on a comparison of at least one of the plurality of sensor data with the reference data.

43. The machine of claim 42, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of a door open/close sensor, a bolt lock sensor, a thermal sensor, a seismic sensor, an impact detection sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a video camera device, and a motion detector sensor.

44. The machine of claim 42, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sensor data includes sensor data from an impact detection sensor.

45. The machine of claim 42, further comprising a spotlight, a loudspeaker and a prerecorded message, wherein the security controller module is operable to turn on the spotlight and play the prerecorded message through the loudspeaker when the alarm condition is detected.

46. An enhanced-security automated teller machine, comprising:

a security chest made of a theft-deterrent material, the security chest having at least one open side;

a door member made of a theft-deterrent material, the door member sized so as to close the at least one open side;

a boltwork module;

a controller device comprising a security controller module;

a plurality of security sensors in communication with the security controller module, the plurality of security sensors each outputting sensor data to the security controller module, wherein the security controller module further comprises reference data determinative of a security incident, the security controller module further operable to signal an alarm condition based on a comparison of at least one of the plurality of sensor data with the reference data;

a maintenance panel; and

an electronic lock mounted on the door member such that the electronic lock is not visible from the outside of the security chest, wherein the electronic lock is mounted in a random location on the door member such that an exact position of the electronic lock cannot be determined from outside of the security chest, wherein the electronic lock is operable to release a bolt when a correct combination is received, wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to a secondary interface, and wherein the correct combination is received from the secondary interface, the secondary interface being located in a hidden location, such that an external device may be attached to the secondary interface to receive the correct combination even if the maintenance panel is damaged.

47. The machine of claim 46, wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to the maintenance panel, and wherein the correct combination is receivable from the maintenance panel.

48. The machine of claim 46, wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to a network, and wherein the correct combination is receivable from the network.

49. The machine of claim 48, wherein the network comprises an automated teller machine/customer activated terminal (ATM/CAT) network.

50. The machine of claim 46, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of a door open/close sensor, a bolt lock sensor, a thermal sensor, a seismic sensor, an impact detection sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a video camera device, and a motion detector sensor.

51. The machine of claim 50, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sensor data includes sensor data from an impact detection sensor.

52. The machine of claim 50, further comprising a spotlight, a loudspeaker and a prerecorded message, wherein the security controller module is operable to turn on the spotlight and play the prerecorded message through the loudspeaker when the alarm condition is detected.

53. An enhanced-security automated teller machine, comprising:

a security chest made of a theft-deterrent material, the security chest having at least one open side;

a door member made of a theft-deterrent material, the door member sized so as to close the at least one open side, the door member having an open position and a closed position;

a boltwork module including a latching mechanism having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the door member is securable in the closed position when the latching mechanism is in the locked position;

an electronic lock mounted on the door member in a predetermined location and coupled to the boltwork module, the electronic lock having a predetermined combination such that latching mechanism is movable to the unlocked position upon receipt of the predetermined combination;

a maintenance panel; and

a predetermined input mechanism coupled to the electronic lock, the predetermined combination transmittable to the electronic lock via the predetermined input mechanism, wherein the predetermined input mechanism comprises at least one of a secondary interface and a network;

wherein the predetermined combination can be received from the network, after a correct password is received by the maintenance panel.

54. The machine of claim 53, wherein the network comprises an automated teller machine/customer activated terminal (ATM/CAT) network.

55. The machine of claim 53, wherein the predetermined combination transmittable via the network is requestable via a telephone call.

56. The machine of claim 53, further comprising a primary input device coupled to both the electronic lock and the network, wherein the predetermined combination transmittable via the network is requestable from the primary input device.

57. The machine of claim 56, wherein the primary input device comprises a maintenance panel.

58. The machine of claim 53, further comprising a security controller module and a plurality of security sensors, the plurality of security sensors in communication with the security controller module and each outputting sensor data to the security controller module, wherein the security controller module further comprises reference data determinative of a security incident, the security controller module further operable to signal an alarm condition based on a comparison of at least one of the plurality of sensor data with the reference data.

59. The machine of claim 58, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of a door open/close sensor, a bolt lock sensor, a thermal sensor, a seismic sensor, an impact detection sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a video camera device, and a motion detector sensor.

60. The machine of claim 58, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sensor data includes sensor data from an impact detection sensor.

61. The machine of claim 58, further comprising a spotlight, a loudspeaker and a prerecorded message, wherein the security controller module is operable to turn on the spotlight and play the prerecorded message through the loudspeaker when the alarm condition is detected.

62. The machine of claim 53, wherein the predetermined location of the electronic lock is randomly selectable from a plurality of redefined positions.

63. An enhanced-security automated teller machine, comprising:

a security chest made of a theft-deterrent material, the security chest having at least one open side;

a door member made of a theft-deterrent material, the door member sized so as to close the at least one open side;

a boltwork module;

an electronic lock mounted on the door member such that the electronic lock is not visible from the outside of the security chest, wherein the electronic lock is mounted in a random location on the door member such that an exact position of the electronic lock cannot be determined from outside of the security chest, wherein the electronic lock is operable to release a bolt when a correct combination is received, wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to a network, and wherein the correct combination is received from the network;

a controller device; and

a maintenance panel;

wherein the electronic lock is operatively coupled to the maintenance panel, and wherein the correct combination is received from the maintenance panel.