Secure smartcard reader

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016267299-A1
Application number	US-201615098629-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2016
Priority date	Sep 16, 2014
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A secure smartcard reader including a smartcard connector and a flexible printed circuit board wrapped around and at least partially surrounding the smartcard connector and at least partially defining a security volume enclosing the smartcard connector, the wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining on an outer-facing surface thereof a plurality of keypad contacts, the wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining electrical conductors connecting the plurality of keypad contacts to connector pads and the wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining a protective anti-tamper mesh protecting the electrical conductors.

First claim

1 . A secure smartcard reader comprising:
a smartcard connector; and a flexible printed circuit board wrapped around and at least partially surrounding said smartcard connector and at least partially defining a security volume enclosing said smartcard connector, said wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining on an outer-facing surface thereof a plurality of keypad contacts, said wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining electrical conductors connecting said plurality of keypad contacts to connector pads, and said wrapped flexible printed circuit board defining a protective anti-tamper mesh protecting said electrical conductors.

2 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 1 and also comprising tamper detection and alarm circuitry which is coupled to said protective anti-tamper mesh.

3 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 2 and also comprising a keypad element cooperating with said plurality of keypad contacts.

4 . A secure smartcard reader according to any claim 2 and also comprising:
a rigid PCB, which, together with said wrapped flexible printed circuit board, fully defines said security volume.

5 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 4 and wherein said rigid PCB also comprises a protective anti-tamper mesh.

6 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 4 and wherein said rigid PCB has first and second surfaces and both said smartcard connector and said plurality of keypad contacts are located adjacent said first surface of said rigid PCB.

7 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 4 and wherein said rigid PCB has first and second surfaces and said security volume is located alongside said first surface.

8 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 2 and wherein said wrapped flexible printed circuit board comprises at least inner and outer conductive layers, said at least outer conductive layer including at least a portion of said protective anti-tamper mesh and said at least inner conductive layer including at least some of said electrical conductors connecting said plurality of keypad contacts to connector pads.

9 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 8 and wherein said at least inner conductive layer includes ones of said electrical conductors which carry signals representing key presses.

10 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 2 and also comprising at least one tamper detector switch assembly which extends through at least one corresponding aperture in said wrapped flexible printed circuit board to normally engage at least one corresponding electrical contact.

11 - 22 . (canceled)

23 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 1 and also comprising a keypad element cooperating with said plurality of keypad contacts.

24 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 23 and also comprising:
a rigid PCB, which, together with said wrapped flexible printed circuit board, fully defines said security volume.

25 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 1 and also comprising:
a rigid PCB, which, together with said wrapped flexible printed circuit board, fully defines said security volume.

26 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 25 and wherein said rigid PCB also comprises a protective anti-tamper mesh.

27 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 25 and wherein said rigid PCB has first and second surfaces and both said smartcard connector and said plurality of keypad contacts are located adjacent said first surface of said rigid PCB.

28 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 25 and wherein said rigid PCB has first and second surfaces and said security volume is located alongside said first surface.

29 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 1 and wherein said wrapped flexible printed circuit board comprises at least inner and outer conductive layers, said at least outer conductive layer including at least a portion of said protective anti-tamper mesh and said at least inner conductive layer including at least some of said electrical conductors connecting said plurality of keypad contacts to connector pads.

30 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 29 and wherein said at least inner conductive layer includes ones of said electrical conductors which carry signals representing key presses.

31 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 1 and also comprising at least one tamper detector switch assembly which extends through at least one corresponding aperture in said wrapped flexible printed circuit board to normally engage at least one corresponding electrical contact.

32 . A secure smartcard reader according to claim 3 and also comprising:
a rigid PCB, which, together with said wrapped flexible printed circuit board, fully defines said security volume.

Assignees

• Verifone Inc

Inventors

• Yanko Igal Yosef
• Mckibben Scott William
• Barrowman John Henry

Classifications

• H01H2201/026

  non precious · CPC title

• H01H2233/09

  Actuating striker on actuator part · CPC title

• H01H2203/038

  to be bridged by a dome shaped contact · CPC title

• G06K7/0021

  for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts · CPC title

• G06K19/07

  with integrated circuit chips · CPC title