CONTACTLESS SMARTCARD BEZEL
A multi media payment device includes a banknote acceptor and a RF card reader, and also may include a magnetic card reader. A bezel assembly for connection to the bill acceptor preferably includes a reader unit to read magnetic swipe cards and contactless chip cards.
1 . A multi media payment device comprising:
a banknote acceptor; and
a RF card reader, the RF card reader including an antenna loop for reading information stored in a contactless smart card.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the card reader unit is integrated in a bezel assembly.
3 . The device of claim 1 comprising a light pipe of a material with volume diffusion properties.
4 . The device of claim 3 wherein the display has a “chip-on-glass” construction.
5 . The device of claim 1 having an external form factor compatible with an industry standard footprint of approximately 86 mm×107 mm.
6 . The device of claim 1 including at least one of an alpha-numeric or graphical display.
7 . The device of claim 6 wherein the display is at least partially within a planar outline of the antenna of the RF card reader.
8 . The device of claim 6 wherein the antenna is located on a printed circuit board on which are mounted components to illuminate the display.
9 . The device of claim 6 wherein the components to illuminate the display are located substantially inside the antenna loop area.
10 . The device of claim 1 including a display, wherein the display overlaps at least a portion of the antenna loop.
11 . The device of claim 10 wherein the antenna loop is located behind the display relative to a front face of the device.
12 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic card reader.
13 . The device of claim 12 wherein the card reader unit is integrated with a bezel assembly.
14 . The device of claim 12 wherein the RF card reader includes a low profile magnetic head.
15 . A multi media payment device according to claim 12 wherein the antenna loop is sized to the available area of a vending machine aperture after space has been allocated for a banknote entry slot and a magnetic stripe slot.
16 . A multi media payment device according to claim 15 wherein a display overlaps the antenna loop.
17 . The device of claim 15 comprising indicator lights to illuminate a plurality of sections of the light pipe wherein at least some of the indicator lights are operable to flash in a strobe pattern and sequence to create an optical illusion of motion.
18 . A bezel assembly for connection to a bill validator, the bezel assembly comprising a reader unit including an antenna loop to read information stored on a contactless chip card.
19 . The bezel assembly of claim 18 wherein the reader unit also is operable to read a magnetic swipe card.
20 . The bezel assembly of claim 18 connected to a bill validator.
21 . The bezel assembly of claim 18 including a display, wherein the display overlaps at least a portion of the antenna loop.
22 . The bezel assembly of claim 21 wherein the antenna loop is located behind the display relative to a front face of the assembly.
23 . The bezel assembly of claim 18 including a first slot for insertion of a bill, a second slot for swiping a magnetic swipe card, and the antenna loop to read the contactless chip card placed in proximity to the bezel assembly.
24 . The bezel assembly of claim 18 including a light pipe and indicator lights to illuminate sections of the light pipe, wherein the indicator lights are operable to flash in a strobe pattern and sequence.
25 . The bezel assembly of claim 18 having an external form factor compatible with a footprint of approximately 84 mm×107 mm.
26 . A method of upgrading a vending machine with capability of reading contactless chip cards and magnetic swipe cards, the method comprising:
installing a bezel assembly comprising hardware to read the contactless chip cards and magnetic swipe cards; and
connecting the bezel assembly to an input port of a data collecting module.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the bezel assembly further includes a slot for insertion of a bill, the method including connecting the bezel assembly to a bill validator, wherein the bill validator is arranged to receive a bill inserted into the slot.