IP Library Granted Patent US 9,250,709
Granted Patent B2
US 9,250,709 · App. 14/592,296 · Granted Feb 2, 2016

Secure point of sale terminal

Inventors: Mehran Mirkazemi-Moud (Rochlin, CA); John Barrowman (Knoxville, TN); Christian Eric Schulz (Rocklin, CA); Arnon Aviv (Herzilia, IL); Amihay Avital (Petach Tikva, IL); Sergey Meron (Netanya, IL); Dave Faoro (New Castle, CA)
Assignee: VERIFONE, INC.
G06F3/023G06F1/1626G06F1/1658G06F1/1684G06F3/0219G06F21/83G06F21/86H04M1/23
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,250,709
App. No.
14/592,296
Granted
Feb 2, 2016
Kind
B2
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 including an arrangement of electrical contacts including at least first, second and third contacts and a displaceable conductive element, the tamper indication circuitry and the third contact together being operative such that when the third contact is short circuited to at least one of the first contact, the second contact and another contact, an output indication of possible tampering is provided.

Claims (24)

1. A device comprising:

an enclosure;

circuitry located on an electrical circuit board within said enclosure;

at least one switch assembly operative to sense when said enclosure is opened; and

tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from said at least one switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with said circuitry located on said electrical circuit board within said enclosure,

said at least one switch assembly including a raised resilient dome and an arrangement of electrical contacts located on said electrical circuit board, said electrical contacts including at least first, second and third mutually concentric conductive pads all underlying said dome; said at least first, second and third mutually concentric conductive pads and said raised resilient dome being configured and arranged such that as long as said enclosure is closed in a non-tampered state, said raised resilient dome is in electrical contact with some but not all of said at least first, second and third mutually concentric conductive pads,

said tamper indication circuitry being operative such that when electrical connections between said at least first, second and third mutually concentric conductive pads change from those in said non-tampered state, an output indication of possible tampering is provided.

2. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said at least first, second and third mutually concentric conductive pads are connected to said tamper indication circuitry.

3. A data entry device according to claim 1 and wherein:

said enclosure includes a top portion including key apertures;

a plurality of keys are mounted in said enclosure to have key depression travel paths in said enclosure, said plurality of keys being associated with a substrate, which is disposed below said top portion; and

anti-tampering electrical conductors are arranged between said top portion and said substrate thereby to prevent unauthorized access to said substrate.

4. A device device according to claim 3 and wherein said substrate is a flexible substrate.

5. A device according to claim 3 and wherein said anti-tampering electrical conductors are disposed peripherally of said substrate.

6. A device according to claim 3 and also comprising a plurality of key switch contacts mounted on said substrate and arranged to be displaced into or out of electrical contact with a corresponding plurality of electrical switches by depression of corresponding ones of said plurality of keys to at least a predetermined extent along corresponding ones of said key depression travel paths.

7. A device according to claim 3 and also comprising a plurality of key switch contacts mounted on said plurality of keys and arranged to be displaced into or out of electrical contact with a corresponding plurality of electrical switches by depression of corresponding ones of said plurality of keys to at least a predetermined extent along corresponding ones of said key depression travel paths.

8. A device according to claim 3 and wherein said plurality of keys are integrally formed with said substrate.

9. A device according to claim 3 and wherein said anti-tampering electrical conductors are electrically connected to anti-tampering detection circuitry.

10. A device according to claim 3 and wherein said anti-tampering electrical conductors are disposed above and below said substrate.

11. A device according to claim 10 and wherein said anti-tampering electrical conductors above said substrate and said anti-tampering electrical conductors below said substrate are electrically connected to anti-tampering detection circuitry.

12. A device according to claim 10 and wherein said anti-tampering electrical conductors above said substrate are electrically connected to said anti-tampering electrical conductors below said substrate.

13. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said raised resilient dome is in a first operative orientation vis-à-vis said at least first, second and third mutually concentric conductive pads when said enclosure is dosed and is in a second operative orientation vis-à-vis said at least first, second and third mutually concentric conductive pads when said enclosure is open.

14. A device according to claim 13 and also comprising at least one urging element which normally urges said raised resilient dome into said first operative orientation vis-à-vis said at least first, second and third mutually concentric conductive pads when said enclosure is closed.

15. A device according to claim 14 and also wherein said at least one urging element is mounted on said enclosure.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL RECORDED AT R/F 046920-0784 Recorded Apr 28, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ASSIGNOR
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ASSIGNEE
Reel/Frame 071095/0667 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 46920/0817 Recorded May 10, 2019
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: VERIFONE SYSTEMS, INC.; VERIFONE, INC.; HYPERCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049150/0190 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: VERIFONE, INC.; HYPERCOM CORPORATION
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046920/0817 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: VERIFONE, INC.; HYPERCOM CORPORATION
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046920/0784 →
RELEASE (R045575F0019) Recorded Aug 21, 2018
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: VERIFONE, INC.; HYPERCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046865/0270 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2018
From: VERIFONE, INC.; HYPERCOM CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045575/0019 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded May 30, 2016
From: VERIFONE, INC.
To: VERIFONE, INC.
Reel/Frame 038845/0718 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 14082704 · Nov 18, 2013
Continuation 12666054
Continuation In Part 12355857 · Jan 19, 2009
Provisional Application 61011993 · Jan 22, 2008
Related Publication 20150128297A1 · May 7, 2015