Payment Device Anti-Intrusion Circuit Board Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic payment terminals face challenges in providing nomadic wireless communication while minimizing costs, as they often require expensive GPRS subscriptions or are limited by WiFi network coverage, and lack effective protection against fraudulent devices.

Innovation Solution

A paired payment device with a communication device, featuring a modular interface, a magnetic reading head slot, and a security daughterboard with integrated circuits for secure communication and protection, including Bluetooth, WiFi, and contactless communication means, along with an anti-intrusion device to prevent unauthorized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a payment terminal uses GPRS wireless communication for nomadic applications, then communication capability is improved, but implementation cost increases due to expensive subscriptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenomadic communication capabilityVSAvoidimplementation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the payment terminal into two separate modules: a payment device and a communication device. The communication device handles all wireless communication functions (GPRS, WiFi, Bluetooth) while the payment device focuses on payment processing. This segmentation allows the payment device to be simpler and cheaper, while communication capabilities are provided by the paired communication device, resolving the contradiction between nomadic capability and implementation cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a payment terminal uses WiFi network for communication, then communication cost is reduced, but usage is limited to WiFi coverage zone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication costVSAvoidusage range
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The communication device is designed with multi-functionality, supporting multiple communication protocols including GPRS for wide-area nomadic communication and WiFi for local low-cost communication. This allows the system to automatically select the appropriate communication mode based on availability and cost requirements, providing both cost-effectiveness and broad usage range without contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If a payment terminal has a slot for magnetic card insertion, then card reading functionality is enabled, but fraudulent devices can be introduced through the slot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecard reading functionalityVSAvoidsecurity against fraudulent devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a protective plate as an intermediary element between the magnetic card slot and the internal magnetic reading head. This plate can be selectively positioned to either allow card insertion for legitimate reading operations or block access to prevent fraudulent device introduction. The intermediary maintains ease of operation for authorized users while providing security against unauthorized access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If a protective plate is added to block fraudulent access through the slot, then security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity protectionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective plate is merged with existing structural elements of the payment terminal, such as the housing or the slot mechanism itself, rather than being a completely separate component. This integration approach provides the necessary security function while minimizing additional structural complexity and maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2649777B1Electronic payment device
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE ET FINANCIERE D INGENIERIE INGENICO SA
  • EP2649777B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2649777B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2649777B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D

AI summary

The invention relates to a payment device (20) to be paired with a communication device (30) in order to form an electronic payment terminal (10). According to the invention, the payment device (20) includes an upper half-shell (21-3), and a lower half-shell (21-4) which includes a surface (22) for attaching a modular interface (60) for pairing the communication device (30) and which includes a longitudinally extending slot (21-42), said lower half-shell (21-4) further including, within said slot, an opening (23-1) which enables a magnetic reading head (24) to pass therethrough, said payment device (20) being further characterized in that, beneath the attachment surface (22), an electronic circuit card (26) is arranged laterally relative to said magnetic reading head (26) such that said electronic circuit card (26) prevents the insertion of a fraudulent device into said payment device (20).