Smart card reader terminal, including payment terminal, with improved sealing.

Abstract

Title: Smart card reader terminal, in particular a payment terminal, with improved sealing. The invention relates to a smart card reader 1 characterized in that it comprises a chassis, a chip reading head housed in the chassis, this chassis comprising a front frame 16 forming an opening 17 for inserting the smart card, the reader further comprising a front panel 8 and also a peripheral seal 6 mounted pinched between the frame 16 and the front panel 8, around a passage for the smart card between a slot 18 of the front panel 8 and the opening 17. Figure for the abstract: Figure 5.

Description

Title of the invention: Smart card reader terminal, in particular payment terminal, with improved sealing.

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of portable electronic devices and in particular to that of payment card readers of the smart card type. More specifically, it relates to readers that must comply with the European standard EN 60529 and have an IP65 rating for protection against the intrusion of solid objects and liquids, that is to say: - for the first index, value 6: totally protected against dust; and, - for the second index, value 5: protected against water jets from all directions using a hose (6.3 mm nozzle, distance 2.5 to 3 m, flow rate 12.5 l / min ±5%); and, water projected in jets from all directions onto the casing must not have harmful effects

[0002] A reader with a limited thickness is preferred. However, such a reader generally consists of a vertical stack of various components, including covers, housings, electronic boards, and seals. It is also equipped with a front opening through which a smart card is inserted to be read by the reader. Due to the thinness of the various components, the assembly is so flexible that it is difficult to ensure sufficient sealing to achieve an IP65 rating.

[0003] One object of the invention is to propose means which make it possible to achieve IP65 sealing for a smart card reader, in particular for a thin reader.

[0004] The invention relates to a smart card reader which includes a housing, a reading head for the chip, housed in the housing, this housing including a front frame forming an opening for inserting, at least partially, the smart card, the reader further including a front panel including a slot for inserting the card into the reader and also including a peripheral seal mounted pinched between the front frame and the front panel, around a passage for the smart card between the slot and the opening.

[0005] The housing preferably comprises a chassis of which the front frame is an integral part, a base and a chassis seal to ensure a seal of the chassis around the reading head.

[0006] The facade joint may include a gripping tab comprising gripping means with complementary gripping means of a gripping edge corresponding to the front frame. The means of gripping the tongue can be holes; the additional means of gripping can be studs.

[0007] The front joint may also include at least one retaining tab arranged opposite the gripping tab, bearing against an edge of the front frame so as to ensure mutual gripping of the gripping tab and the gripping edge.

[0008] Embodiments and variants will be described below by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] [Fig-1] is a schematic, three-quarter front elevation and perspective view right to a payment terminal according to the invention;

[0010] [Fig.2] is a schematic view, in elevation in vertical longitudinal section and in three-quarter rear right perspective of the terminal of the [Fig.l];

[0011] [Fig.3] is a detail view of the front of the [Fig.2];

[0012] [Fig.4] is an exploded view of the terminal of [Fig.1], seen from below and three-quarters front right;

[0013] [Fig.5] is an exploded view of the terminal of [Fig.1], seen from above and of three-quarters front right;

[0014] [Fig.6] is a representation of a facade joint for the terminal of the [Fig.1], seen from above and three-quarters front right; and,

[0015] [Fig.7] is a representation of the facade joint of [Fig.6], seen from above and of right three-quarter back.

[0016] Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a smart card reader which is here a payment terminal 1. This terminal 1 comprises: - a chassis 2; - a card 3 carrying a printed circuit board and in particular a read head 12; - a card seal 4; - a flexible circuit 5; - a facade joint 6; - a security shutter 7; - a facade 8; - a sealing gasket 9; and, - a base 11.

[0017] In this description, the terms "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "horizontal," "vertical," "left," and "right," as well as other terms of the same type, may be used arbitrarily and generally refer to the positions illustrated in the figures, without having any limiting meaning. Arbitrarily, the front of the payment terminal is considered to be on the left in the figures and the rear on the right.

[0018] The head 12 is designed for reading the electronic chip of a smart card inserted into the terminal 1. In the illustrated example, the card 3 is positioned horizontally, and the components 3A are arranged on top of the card 3. The chassis is positioned above the card so as to protect the components 3A on the card. The card gasket 4 is held compressed between the card and the chassis, thus forming a seal around the components 3A. The base 11 is positioned below the card; the card is held clamped between the base and the chassis. The circuit 5 is a flexible printed circuit board. It extends over and behind the chassis. Thus arranged, the base 11, the chassis 2, the card 3, the gasket 4, and the flexible circuit board together form a card reader housing 13.

[0019] The payment card is intended to be inserted from the front and horizontally into the case 13, in a DC direction, until this chip is in position to be read by the head 12. The chassis 2 forms a front frame 16 which defines an opening 17 in a vertical plane, perpendicular to the DC direction of insertion of the payment card; this opening 17 allows at least partial insertion of the smart card into the case.

[0020] The security flap 7 is an anti-vandalism and anti-intrusion flap. In particular, it prevents the intrusion of tickets or other waste that could damage the reader or interfere with its operation.

[0021] The front panel 8 forms a slot 18 for inserting the payment card into the terminal 1. The slot is defined by a peripheral lip 19 that projects forward from a front wall 21 of the front panel 8. The slot 18 is substantially adjusted to the transverse dimensions of a payment card. The lips provide guidance for the card and are configured to ensure that the card is inserted between them substantially in the DC direction of insertion.

[0022] The front panel includes a retrograde peripheral wall 22 extending rearward from an outer edge of the front wall 21. The retrograde wall forms a recess at the rear of the peripheral wall to functionally receive the safety shutter 7. The front panel 8 further includes four mounting brackets 23 extending horizontally rearward from each of the corners of the retrograde wall. Each bracket includes a passage for a hook for attaching the front panel to the frame 2.

[0023] The sealing gasket 9 has a substantially flat and rectangular shape. It is pressed against the front wall 21 of the facade. It is provided with an opening 29 into which the lip 19 fits.

[0024] The front joint 6 has the shape of a substantially rectangular cord. It thus forms a peripheral joint, designed to fit and be compressed between a peripheral edge 26 of the retrograde wall 22 of the front 8 and the front frame 16 of the chassis 2.

[0025] The front frame 16 comprises three pins 30 extending downwards from a lower edge 31 of the frame 16. One of the pins 30 is near a right end of the edge 31, another is symmetrically near a left end, and the third pin is equidistant between the first two. The front seal 6 comprises a lower tab 32 extending horizontally backwards along a lower edge 33 of this seal 6. The tab comprises three holes 34, which are provided to mesh with the pins 30 of the front frame 16.

[0026] In the illustrated example, the front panel seal 6 also includes four upper tabs 36 and two lateral tabs 37. The upper tabs 36 extend horizontally backward from an upper edge 38 of the front panel seal 6. In the mounting position, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the upper tabs rest against an upper edge 39 of the front frame 16, opposite the lower tab 32. Thus, the upper tabs act as retaining tabs, i.e., they ensure that the lower tab remains engaged with the pins 30, at least for the duration of the front panel 8 assembly. In the mounted position, the lateral tabs 37 rest laterally against a respective lateral edge 40 of the front frame 16. They also allow for the lateral positioning of the front panel seal 6 during its assembly, pending the assembly of the front panel 8.

[0027] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the following claims.

[0028] It will indeed appear to the person skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in the light of the teaching which has just been disclosed to him.

[0029] Thus, the front panel can be fixed by snapping it into the front frame of the chassis, rather than by screwing it in.

[0030] Other pre-positioning methods can also be used to position the seal on the front frame. Alternatively, the front seal can be pre-positioned on the front panel and, together with the front panel, fixed to the frame.

[0031] The features of the invention are particularly advantageous. In particular, the use of a peripheral front seal between the front panel and the front frame of the chassis, ensuring a continuous seal around the opening formed by the card reader, guarantees improved protection against dust and water splashes. Specifically, it allows for expansion in height and / or width over time and with use of the reader.

[0032] The object of the invention is not limited to payment terminals; it applies to any type of card reader, for example to an access card reader.

[0033] List of references: 1: Payment terminal according to the invention 2: Terminal chassis 3: Printed circuit board 4: Seal for chassis 2 5: Flexible printed circuit board 6: facade joint 7: Security shutter 8: facade 9: Sealing joint for the facade 8 11: base 12: Head for reading a smart card 13: reading box 16: Front frame of chassis 2 17: opening defined by the previous frame 18: Slot in the front panel 8 for inserting a smart card 19: peripheral lip of the cleft 18 21: Front wall of facade 8 22: Retrograde peripheral wall of the facade 8 23: Fixing brackets for the front panel 8 to the chassis 2 26: peripheral edge of the retrograde wall 22 29: Opening of the sealing joint 9 for the passage of the lip 19 30: lower edge studs 31 of the front frame 16 31: lower edge of the front frame 16 32: lower tab of the facade joint 6 33: lower edge of the facade joint 6 34: hole in the lower tab 32 36: upper tab of the facade joint 6 37: Side tab of the facade joint 6 38: upper edge of the facade joint 39: upper edge of the front frame 16 40: Lateral edge of the anterior frame 16

Claims

Demands

1. Smart card reader (1) characterized in that it comprises a housing (13), a read head (12) for said chip, housed in said housing, said housing comprising a front frame (16) forming an opening (17) for introducing, at least partially, the smart card into said housing, said reader further comprising a front face (8) comprising a slot (18) for inserting said card into the reader (1) and also a peripheral seal (6) mounted pinched between the front frame (16) and the front face (8), around a passage for the smart card between the slot (18) and the opening (17).

2. Reader according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises a chassis (2) of which the front frame (16) is an integral part, a base (11) and a chassis seal (4) to ensure a seal of said chassis around the reading head (12).

3. Reader according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the front joint (6) includes a gripping tongue (32) which includes gripping means (34) engaging with complementary gripping means (30) of a corresponding gripping edge (31) of the front frame.

4. Reader according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for gripping the tongue are holes (34) and in that the complementary gripping means are pins (30).

5. Reader according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the front joint (6) comprises at least one retaining tab (36) arranged opposite the gripping tab (32), bearing against an edge (39) of the front frame (16) so as to ensure mutual gripping of the gripping tab and the gripping edge.