Granted Patent B2

US 7,600,672 · App. 11/326,634 · Granted Oct 13, 2009

Abstract

Claims (56)

1. A method comprising:

with an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser and a user interface, wherein the user interface includes at least one input device;

(a) covering the at least one input device with a concealment mechanism comprising first and second mirrors, a hand entry slot, and a viewing portal;

(b) reflecting an image of the at least one input device with the first mirror onto the second mirror; and,

(c) reflecting the image of the at least one input device from the second mirror so as to enable viewing the at least one input device through the viewing portal.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

(d) accessing the at least one input device through the hand entry slot.

3. The method according to claim 2 and further comprising:

(e) manually actuating the at least one input device while viewing actuation of the at least one input device through the viewing portal.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the at least one input device comprises a keypad, and wherein (e) comprises inputting a personal identification number (PIN) through the keypad.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the banking machine comprises a card reader, and further comprising:

(f) reading indicia from a card input by a user with the card reader;

(g) responsive to the indicia read in (f) having a predetermined relationship to the PIN input by the user in (e), dispensing cash to the user through operation of the cash dispenser.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the first mirror and second mirror are in supporting connection with a body, and wherein the body includes a movable cover, and wherein at least one of the first mirror and the second mirror is in supporting connection with the movable cover, and further comprising:

moving the movable cover from a closed position to an open position, wherein greater access to the keypad is obtained in the open position of the cover than is obtained through the slot when the cover is in the closed position.

7. The method according to claim 3 and further comprising:

illuminating an interior area of the concealment mechanism with a light through operation of the banking machine.

8. The method according to claim 7 and further comprising determining through operation of at least one processor in the machine that the machine is ready to receive at least one input through the at least one input device, wherein the interior area is illuminated responsive to the determination.

9. The method according to claim 3 and further comprising:

sensing an unauthorized input detection device in operative connection with the concealment mechanism, through at least one sensor in operative connection with the banking machine.

10. The method according to claim 9 and further comprising generating at least one signal through operation of the banking machine responsive to sensing the unauthorized input detection device.

11. The method according to claim 3 and further comprising:

moving air through an interior area of the concealment mechanism through operation of the banking machine, whereby condensation of moisture in the interior area is minimized.

12. The method according to claim 11 and further comprising, sensing with at least one sensor at least one condition corresponding to moisture in the interior area, wherein the machine is operative to cause the moving of air through the interior area responsive to sensing the at least one condition.

13. The method according to claim 3 and further comprising:

heating an interior area of the concealment mechanism through operation of the automated banking machine, whereby condensation of moisture in the interior area is minimized.

14. The method according to claim 6 and further comprising:

(h) determining through operation of at least one processor in the machine that the banking machine is ready to receive input of the PIN;

(i) responsive to the determination in (h) illuminating an interior area of the concealment mechanism with a light through operation of the banking machine;

(j) sensing an unauthorized input detection device in operative connection with the concealment mechanism through at least one sensor in operative connection with the banking machine;

(k) generating at least one signal through operation of the banking machine responsive to sensing the unauthorized input detection device in (j);

(l) sensing at least one condition with the at least one sensor;

(m) at least one of heating air and moving air in the interior area of the concealment mechanism through operation of the banking machine responsible to sensing the at least one condition in (l);

(n) dispensing cash from the banking machine through operation of the cash dispenser.

15. A method comprising:

(a) extending at least one finger through an opening bounded by a body, wherein the body extends in generally surrounding relation of at least one manually actuatable input device on a cash dispensing automated banking machine;

(b) providing at least one input to the at least one manually actuatable input device in an interior area of the body through actuation by the at least one finger while indirectly perceiving operation of the at least one manually actuatable input device through an output device on the machine;

(c) receiving cash through operation of a cash dispenser of the machine responsive to the at least one input.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein in (b) operation of the at least one manually actuatable input device is perceived through viewing the at least one finger and at the least one manually actuatable input device through a viewing device on the machine.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the viewing device comprises a viewing opening bounded by the body, wherein the body includes at least one reflecting surface in the interior area thereof, and wherein in (b) the viewing is of an image reflected by the at least one reflective surface through the viewing opening.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein in (b) the viewing opening and at least one reflective surface are positioned so that the image cannot be seen by anyone other than a person actuating the at least one manually actuatable input device.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein in (b) the at least one manually actuatable input device comprises a keypad and wherein the at least one input comprises a personal identification number (PIN), and further comprising:

(d) reading indicia from a card through operation of a card reader of the machine;

wherein cash is received from the machine in (c) responsive to the read card indicia and the at least one input.

20. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:

(e) illuminating the keypad through operation of a light, wherein the interior area is illuminated.

21. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:

(e) moving air in the interior area through operation of the banking machine, whereby condensation of moisture therein is reduced.

22. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:

(e) heating the interior area through operation of the banking machine, wherein condensation of moisture therein is reduced.

23. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:

(e) sensing with at least one sensor, an unauthorized input sensing device in the interior area.

24. The method according to claim 20 and further comprising determining through operation of at least one processor in the machine that the machine is ready to receive the PIN, wherein in (e) the interior area is illuminated responsive to the determination.

25. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:

sensing with at least one sensor at least one environmental condition at the machine; and

operating the banking machine to cause at least one of moving air in the interior area and heating the interior area, responsive to sensing the at least one environmental condition.

Assignments (11)