Docking station for electronic payment terminal, corresponding electronic payment terminal and system

Description

1. Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of payment systems and more specifically to the field of payment terminals.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a docking station for an electronic payment terminal, to an electronic payment terminal, and to an associated electronic payment system. 2. Prior art

[0003] Currently, electronic payment terminals are mainly used to enable the payment of goods and services at points of sale.

[0004] Such terminals generally include a chip card reader and a magnetic card reader. They also include a screen, allowing transaction amounts to be viewed, and a keypad for entering these amounts and confidential codes entered by customers, or a touch screen.

[0005] These payment terminals generally have a battery, allowing them to operate autonomously. This battery must be regularly recharged, typically via a docking station, otherwise known as a docking base, power base or power supply base, on which the mobile payment terminal is placed in a horizontal, or close to horizontal, position, so that contacts of the terminal come into contact with contacts of the station forming an electrical connection between the power supply means of the terminal and the power supply means of the station. Documents US2016253668 and US2017236109 relate to docking stations for payment terminals. Document US6700773 relates to a modular computer system.

[0006] The station can be connected to a computer via a wired connection, for example using the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard.

[0007] Typically, such a docking station has means for guiding the payment terminal to a feeding position, for example in the form of uprights along which the terminal must slide.

[0008] However, currently, the payment terminal's secure hold on the docking station is not entirely satisfactory. Poor hold means poor contact, which can cause a transaction to fail.

[0009] For example, poor contact on the connection connector, such as a poor USB contact, can cause a transaction to fail when the table supporting the docking station and the terminal is subject to vibration or movement, due to the fact that occasional loss of contact may occur. Such a disadvantage can be problematic during network communications, for example.

[0010] Furthermore, when a large number of contacts between the docking station and the terminal are implemented, whether charging contacts or USB type contacts, the force resulting from the compression of the contacts may be greater than the weight of the terminal and therefore prevent good contact quality.

[0011] Furthermore, poor holding of the payment terminal on the docking station may hinder the correct reading of a chip card because the force of inserting the card into the terminal may cause it to come out of its housing on the station, or of a magnetic reading card because of the card sliding jerkily into the dedicated slot of the terminal or the card escaping when sliding it into said slot, for example.

[0012] Finally, another disadvantage of current payment systems is that they turn out to be bulky and therefore cumbersome for users.

[0013] Thus, there is a need to propose a payment system, comprising a docking station and an associated electronic payment terminal, making it possible to at least partially resolve some of the drawbacks of the prior art. 3. Objectives of the invention

[0014] An objective of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0015] More specifically, the invention aims to overcome at least some of the drawbacks of the payment systems of the state of the art.

[0016] The invention aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, an electronic payment terminal docking station making it possible to ensure sufficient support to maintain satisfactory electrical contact between the station and the terminal resting on the latter.

[0017] Another objective of at least one embodiment is to implement such a payment system having a limited footprint.

[0018] Yet another objective of at least one embodiment is to provide such a system that is simple to use and inexpensive to implement. 4. Statement of the invention

[0019] These objectives, as well as others which will appear in the remainder of this description, are achieved using a docking station defined by claim 1.

[0020] Thus, the invention provides a novel and inventive approach to at least partially resolving some of the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0021] To do this, the invention provides reversible locking of the payment terminal on the station by implementing mobile locking means on the station which cooperate or not with fixed complementary locking means located under the payment terminal.

[0022] These locking means are used to hang the terminal on the support element so as to position it correctly and make it fixed to maintain satisfactory electrical contact between the station and the terminal and ensure optimal operation of the assembly.

[0023] The mobile locking means can be retracted to detach the terminal from the station and allow mobile use of the latter.

[0024] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first movable locking means comprise two fingers and in that the second locking means comprise two housings in which the two fingers are housed at least in part when the latter are in the deployed position.

[0025] According to one aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, the station further comprises means for actuating the first locking means capable of moving the first movable locking means from the deployed position to the retracted position.

[0026] According to another particular characteristic of at least one embodiment of the invention, the actuating means comprise an unlocking push button extending on a surface opposite the docking surface, the unlocking push button being pivotally mounted on said docking station and carrying a return spring secured to said docking station.

[0027] The first locking means are capable of being moved from the deployed position to the retracted position by manual pressure on the push button.

[0028] Manual pressure on the push button against the spring causes the push button to pivot and the first locking means to retract, allowing the terminal to be released and detached from the base.

[0029] According to a feature of at least one embodiment, the unlocking push button comprises a light intended to cooperate with a Kensington type lock connected to an anti-theft cable.

[0030] According to an additional feature, the front wall extends substantially perpendicular to the receiving surface.

[0031] According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment, said guide means comprise at least one side wall extending from a side edge of said receiving surface and extending the front wall.

[0032] The invention also relates to an electronic payment terminal positionable on a docking station according to one of the aforementioned embodiments, the terminal being defined by claim 7.

[0033] The invention also relates to an electronic payment system comprising an electronic payment terminal, positionable on a docking station according to one of the embodiments detailed previously, the system being defined by claim 8. 5. List of Figures

[0034] The invention, as well as the various advantages that it presents, will be more easily understood, in the light of the following description of an illustrative and non-limiting embodiment thereof, and of the appended drawings among which: there figure 1 is a side perspective view of a payment system according to one embodiment of the invention showing the payment terminal when mounted on the base; figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the payment system of the figure 1 ; THE Figures 3 and 4are perspective views, from above and below respectively, of the payment terminal of the system illustrated in the Figures 1 and 2 ; there Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the docking station of the system illustrated in the Figures 1 and 2 ; there figure 6 is a perspective view of the release button carried by the system dock shown in the Figures 1 and 2 , and the figure 7 is a top perspective view of the docking station of the system shown in the Figures 1 and 2 . 6. Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0035] In this description, the terms "frontal", "rear", "lateral" orientation and positioning are used, arbitrarily referring to a normal position of use of a payment terminal and a docking station. The terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" are also used, referring to directions respectively approximately orthogonal to the front and rear faces of the docking station, and approximately orthogonal to the lateral faces of the docking station.

[0036] We now present, in relation to the figures 1 to 7 , an electronic payment system comprising a docking station and an associated electronic payment terminal.

[0037] As illustrated in particular on the figures 1, 2 , 3 and 4, the electronic payment terminal 2, which can be positioned on a docking station, or base, 1, comprises a magnetic card reader 25A, a chip card reader 25B, at least one screen 20, 23 for displaying transactions, a USB port 16 and an input keyboard 22.

[0038] The electronic payment terminal 2 comprises two screens, namely a first screen 20 allowing, for example, a merchant to view a connection status of the terminal 2 on the docking station 1 or a progress status of a transaction, and a second screen 23 allowing a customer to view, for example, the amount of a transaction as well as the entry of a confidential code specific to his credit card in order to carry out a transaction.

[0039] It should be noted that these two screens 20, 23 may, according to one embodiment of the invention, be touch screens.

[0040] This electronic payment terminal 2 can be positioned on the docking station 1 and is mobile relative to the station 1 between: a connected position in which the payment terminal 2 is locked to the station 1, and a detached position in which the payment terminal 2 is not locked to the station 1.

[0041] To enable such an electronic payment terminal 2 to be positioned, the docking station 1 comprises a docking surface 10 for the electronic payment terminal 2.

[0042] Such a reception surface 10 is, in this example, substantially flat. This reception surface 10 comprises a connector 14 making it possible to establish an electrical connection with the electronic payment terminal 2.

[0043] The reception surface 10 is, as illustrated in particular in Figures 5 and 7, provided with means for guiding the terminal 2 towards a position for connecting the terminal 2 to the docking station 1. In this connection position, the electronic payment terminal 2 is placed in such a way that the connector 14 provided on the docking surface 10 is connected with communication means 26 (illustrated in the figure 4 ) carried by the lower surface of terminal 2 opposite the surface carrying the screens 20, 23.

[0044] In this embodiment, this connector 14 of the docking station 1 combines electrical charging pins as well as data transfer pins.

[0045] The docking station 1 further comprises guide means 15 which comprise, in this embodiment, a front wall 100 extending from the front or front edge of the docking surface 10 and having a rectilinear profile curved at its free end and complementary to the profile of the front face 200 of the terminal 2. The front face 200 of the terminal 2 is intended to be positioned against this front wall 100.

[0046] In other words, the guide means 15 of the docking surface 10 have a front edge, here called front wall 100, which extends from the front edge, or front edge of the docking surface 10 perpendicular to the docking surface 10. Such a front wall 100 forms a positioning stop for the electronic payment terminal 2 and prevents it from sliding forward or from being incorrectly positioned too far in front of the docking station 1, which would result in a poor electrical connection between the terminal 2 and the docking station 1.

[0047] Of course, one could implement a docking station and an electronic payment terminal whose respective front portion and front face have a different profile than that illustrated.

[0048] In order to ensure guidance and positioning allowing a satisfactory electrical connection, the front wall 100 of the docking station 1 is provided with at least one positioning hook, or tab, capable of cooperating with a recess 24 provided on the front face 200 of the terminal 2.

[0049] These hooks 13 and recesses 24 further prevent the terminal 2 from being lifted when it is positioned on the docking station 1.

[0050] Opposite the front wall 100, an anti-lift tab 17 extends from the rear edge of the receiving surface 10 in the plane of the latter. This tab 17 is intended to cooperate with a housing 27 provided under the terminal 2.

[0051] In the embodiment presented, the front wall 100 is provided with two spaced hooks 13 each cooperating with a recess 24, the two recesses being provided on the front face 200 of the terminal 2.

[0052] These two hooks 13 here take the form of rectangular strips positioned in the recesses 24 of complementary shape.

[0053] However, hooks of other shapes could be provided.

[0054] The guide means 15 of the illustrated reception surface 10 further comprise a side wall 101 connected to the front wall 100 and extending perpendicular to the reception surface 10. The implementation of this side wall 101 aims to prevent the electronic payment terminal 2 from shifting laterally relative to the reception surface 10, and therefore to the docking station 1.

[0055] It is noted that a side wall opposite the side wall 101 could be provided.

[0056] The terminal 2 is positioned on the docking station 1 by sliding it from back to front on the docking surface 10. The hooks 13 and the tab prevent the terminal 2 from being lifted, and fingers 1230 described in detail below ensure an anti-rollback locking of the terminal 2 on the docking station 1.

[0057] As illustrated in the various figures, and so as to provide an electronic payment system in which the docking station ensures satisfactory holding of the payment terminal thereon, the docking station 1 further comprises first locking means 1230, and capable of cooperating with second complementary locking means 21 carried by the payment terminal 2, the first locking means 1230 being movable between: a deployed position in which the first locking means 1230 protrude relative to the docking surface 10 and are integral or cooperate with the second locking means 21 so that the payment terminal 2 is locked onto the docking station 1; a retracted position in which the first locking means 1230 are spaced from the second locking means 21 so that the payment terminal 2 is not locked onto the docking station 1.

[0058] In this way, the payment system is such that the terminal 2 is mobile relative to the docking station 1 between: a connection position in which the first locking means 1230 are integral with the second locking means 21 so that the payment terminal 2 is locked on said docking station 1, a free position in which the first locking means 1230 are not integral with the second locking means 21 so that the payment terminal 2 is not locked on the docking station 1.

[0059] As seen more particularly on the figures 2 And 5 , and so as to move the first locking means 1230 from the retracted position to the deployed position, the docking station 1 comprises means for actuating these first locking means 1230.

[0060] These actuating means comprise an unlocking push button 12 extending over the surface of the docking station 1 opposite said docking surface 10.

[0061] As illustrated in particular in Figures 5 and 6 , this push button 12 comprises a hollow cover 121 of oblong shape on which a return spring 120 is fixed.

[0062] The cover 121 carries two "L" shaped tabs 123. Each tab 123 carries an axle 1231 on a side edge and a locking finger 1230 whose upper face is inclined.

[0063] The cover 121 is mounted to pivot by means of the axes 1231 on the docking station 1.

[0064] The terminal 2 being locked on the docking station 1, when a user presses, preferably using his index finger, on the push button 12 and exerts upward pressure, the push button 12 pivots around the axes 1231 which causes the two locking fingers 1230 to move from their deployed position where they protrude relative to the docking surface 10 to their retracted position where they are housed in the docking station 1 without protruding relative to the docking surface 10.

[0065] Thus, it is the user's action on the push button 12 which allows the electronic payment terminal 2 to be released from its locking on the docking station 10. Once the user stops pressing the push button 12, the latter returns to the rest position under the action of the return spring 120.

[0066] In the deployed position, the first locking means of the docking station 10 which therefore comprise two locking fingers 1230 cooperate with the second locking means 21 of the payment terminal 2.

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, the second locking means 21 comprise two "U"-shaped housings which are placed opposite the two pins 1230 when the terminal 2 is positioned on the docking station 10.

[0068] When a user places the electronic payment terminal 2 on the docking station 10, the locking fingers 1230 are placed in the housings 21 of the electronic payment terminal which is then blocked in translation relative to the docking station 10, from front to rear and laterally.

[0069] When a user places terminal 2 on docking station 1, a locking “click” signals the correct positioning of terminal 2 on docking station 1.

[0070] To remove the terminal 2 from the docking station 1, the user presses the push button 12 which retracts the fingers 1230 downwards outside the housings 21.

[0071] Other embodiments could be imagined in which the first locking means have more than two fingers so as, for example, to block other potential movements of the electronic payment terminal relative to the docking station.

[0072] One could also imagine an embodiment in which the fingers are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the docking station, the terminal housings being arranged accordingly.

[0073] It should be noted that these locking fingers 1230 have the function of preventing the payment terminal 2 from moving back onto the docking station 1.

[0074] The cover 121 of the push button 12 has on a lateral edge a through light 122 of substantially oblong shape. Such a light 122 is intended to cooperate with a Kensington type lock connected to an anti-theft cable so as to secure the installation of the docking station 1.

Claims

1. A docking station (1) for an electronic payment terminal (2) comprising a docking surface (10) for said payment terminal (2), said docking surface (10) being provided with means (15) for guiding said terminal (2) towards a position for connecting said terminal (2) to said docking station (1), said docking station (1) also comprising first locking means (1230) capable of cooperating with complementary second locking means (21) of said payment terminal (2), provided on the lower face of the terminal, said first locking means (1230) being movable between : - a deployed position in which the first locking means (1230) project with respect to said docking surface (10) and cooperate with the second locking means (21) so that the payment terminal (2) is locked to said docking station (1), and - a retracted position in which the first locking means (1230) do not cooperate with the second locking means (21) so that the payment terminal (2) is not locked to said docking station (1) and can be detached from said docking station (1), said guide means (15) comprising a front wall (100) extending from the front edge of said docking surface (10) and opposite which the front face (200) of said payment terminal (2) is intended to be positioned, said docking station (1) being characterised in that : - the electronic payment terminal (2) comprises, on the upper face of the terminal, a first screen (20) intended to be viewed by a retailer and a second screen (23) intended to be viewed by a customer, the first and second screens corresponding to respective opposite sides of the terminal (2), - the said front wall (100) of the said docking station (1) carries at least one positioning hook (13), able to cooperate with a recess (24) formed on the front face (200) of the said payment terminal (2) so as to prevent the said terminal (2) from being lifted, on the side of the terminal corresponding to the first screen (20), in the connection position, - said docking station comprises at least one tab (17) extending from the rear edge of said docking surface (10), said at least one tab (17) being intended to cooperate with a housing (27) provided on the underside of the payment terminal (2), so as to prevent said terminal (2) from being lifted, on the side of the terminal corresponding to the second screen (23), in the connection position.

2. Docking station (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first movable locking means comprise two fingers (1230) and in that the second locking means comprise two housings (21) in which said two fingers (1230) are at least partially housed when the latter are in the deployed position.

3. A docking station (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it further comprises actuating means (12) for said first locking means (1230) adapted to cause said first locking means (1230) to move from said deployed position to said retracted position.

4. A docking station (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the actuating means comprise an unlocking pushbutton (12) extending on a surface opposite said docking surface (10), the unlocking pushbutton (12) being pivotally mounted on said docking station (1) and carrying a return spring (120) secured to said docking station (1).

5. Docking station (1) as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the unlocking push button (12) comprises an aperture (122) intended to cooperate with a Kensington-type lock connected to an anti-theft cable.

6. A docking station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said guide means (15) comprise at least one side wall (101) extending from a side edge of said docking surface (10) and extending the front wall (100).

7. Electronic payment terminal (2) positionable on a docking station (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising : - in the front face (200) of the terminal (2), the recess (24) configured to cooperate with the positioning hook (13) of said docking station (1), - the complementary second locking means (21), provided on the lower face of the terminal, able to cooperate with the first locking means (1230) provided on the docking surface (10) of said docking station (1), characterised in that it comprises : - on the upper face of the terminal, the first screen (20) intended to be viewed by a retailer and the second screen (23) intended to be viewed by a customer, the first and second screens corresponding to respective opposite sides of the terminal, - the housing (27) formed on the underside of the payment terminal (2) and intended to cooperate with the tab (17) of said docking station.

8. An electronic payment system comprising an electronic payment terminal as claimed in claim 7, positionable on a docking station (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, the terminal (2) being movable relative to the docking station (1) between : - a connected position in which the first locking means (1230) cooperate with the second locking means (21) so that the payment terminal (2) is locked to said station (1), and - a detached position in which the first locking means (1230) are not integral with the second locking means (21).