Detection of the opening of a data-entry device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10747904-B2
Application number	US-201715482099-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2017
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

A data-entry device includes an upper cover to which a capacitive pad is affixed through the exterior. The capacitive pad has at least one flexible security element having at least one electrical track connected to a cut-detection module in the device. The shape and the mounting of the at least one security device is adapted to exert a force on the internal face of the upper cover.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A data-entry device comprising:
an upper cover having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a capacitive pad, enabling both a display of data and an entry of data in tactile mode, affixed to the exterior surface above the upper cover;
a cut-detection module in said data entry device; and
at least one flexible security element affixed to the capacitive pad, inserted into at least one corresponding opening of said upper cover and having at least one electrical track connected to the cut-detection module in said device, wherein a shape and mounting of said at least one flexible security element are adapted to exert a force on the interior surface of said upper cover.

2. The data-entry device according to claim 1 , wherein said flexible security element has at least two parts, of which a first part is affixed to an internal face of said capacitive pad and a second part, and wherein said second part of said flexible security element is movable between the following positions:
a mounting position in which said second part extends perpendicularly to the first part and to the internal face of the capacitive pad and is insertable into said at least one corresponding opening made in said upper cover; and
a securing position in which said second part is folded along one part of the interior surface of said upper cover to exert said force on said interior surface of said upper cover.

3. The data-entry device according to claim 2 , wherein said cut-detection module is situated on a printed-circuit board mounted inside said upper cover of said device and, in said securing position, the cut-detection module is in contact with said second part of said flexible security element and with said at least one electrical track.

4. The data-entry device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one flexible security element is formed of a flexible printed-circuit board, denoted as FPC.

5. A method comprising:
detecting an intrusion into a data-entry device comprising:
an upper cover having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
a capacitive pad, enabling both a display of data and an entry of data in tactile mode, affixed to the exterior surface above the upper cover;
a cut-detection module in said data entry device; and
at least one flexible security element affixed to the capacitive pad, inserted into at least one corresponding opening of said upper cover, and having at least one electrical track connected to the cut-detection module in said device, wherein a shape and mounting of said at least one flexible security element are adapted to exert a force on the interior surface of said upper cover,
wherein detecting comprises:
detecting the intrusion by the cut-detection module when said at least one electrical track of said at least one flexible security element is cut.

Assignees

• Ingenico Group

Inventors

• Andre Jerome

Classifications

• G06F21/83 Primary

  input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof · CPC title

• G06F21/86

  Secure or tamper-resistant housings · CPC title

• G06F21/70 Primary

  Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer · CPC title