Backlit Touchscreen Keypad for Secure PIN Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic payment terminals with PIN entry keypads are expensive and current regulations make it difficult to accept PIN numbers on touchscreens, limiting choices for secure and accessible data entry devices.
Innovation Solution
A payment device with a plurality of data entry keys and a secure controller that activates a backlight to reveal the keys for data entry, encrypts the entered data, and deactivates the backlight following entry, providing a secure and cost-effective solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional PIN entry keypads are used, then security is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display function with the keypad function into a single integrated device. The display screen shows the keypad layout, and the same screen serves as the input interface, eliminating the need for separate physical keypad components and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining security through the backlight obscuration feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The backlight acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the display and the user. When activated, it illuminates the keypad areas on the display to reveal their locations; when deactivated, it obscures the keypad areas. This intermediary mechanism provides security without requiring expensive dedicated hardware keypads.
2Ease of manufacture
If touchscreens are used for data entry, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but security and accessibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different areas of the display have different functions and visibility characteristics. The display shows both transaction information and keypad areas, but the keypad areas are selectively illuminated only when needed for input, while other areas remain visible continuously. This local differentiation provides security for sensitive input while maintaining the cost benefits of a touchscreen.
3Ease of operation
If key locations are always visible, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The backlight is activated periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. It illuminates the keypad areas only when the system detects that user input is required, and remains off during other times. This periodic activation provides security by obscuring key locations when not in use, while still allowing easy operation when needed through immediate illumination upon request.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution offers a secure and cost-effective method for data entry during transactions, ensuring the security of sensitive information like PINs while maintaining accessibility, without the high costs associated with traditional PIN entry keypads.
Implementation Method 1
a backlight for illuminating the data entry keys
Implementation Method 2
receive and encrypt entered data from the data entry keys
Data Source
AI summary
A payment device with data entry keys which are obscured from view when not in use. An example payment device includes a plurality of data entry keys for recording data during a transaction, and a backlight for illuminating the data entry keys. A secure controller is configured to activate the backlight to reveal locations of the data entry keys for data entry, receive and encrypt entered data from the data entry keys, and to deactivate the backlight following the data entry.