Payment Terminal Housing with Hinge Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic payment terminals with a half-shell assembly do not adequately prevent unauthorized access to internal components, allowing malicious individuals to tamper with the terminal for fraudulent purposes.

Innovation Solution

The terminal features a box composed of two half-shells with complementary hinge elements and locking mechanisms that require a significant angular displacement to access internal components, ensuring the case remains secure and tamper-evident.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If two half-shells are assembled with screws to form the terminal case, then the case can be easily assembled and disassembled, but malicious individuals can slightly lift one half-shell to access internal components for fraud

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidsecurity against tampering
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The case is divided into two half-shells that are assembled together, allowing easy assembly and disassembly for legitimate maintenance while incorporating security features to prevent unauthorized access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge elements and locking means are pre-installed on the half-shells during manufacturing, so that when assembled, the case automatically provides both ease of assembly and security against tampering without requiring additional security measures at the time of assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the case is made secure to prevent tampering, then unauthorized access is blocked, but the assembly process becomes more complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against tamperingVSAvoidcase structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge elements and locking means are integrated into the half-shells themselves, merging the security function with the structural components rather than adding separate security mechanisms, thereby maintaining simplicity while enhancing security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the hinge elements allow free pivoting for easy assembly, then the case can be easily assembled, but the locking mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge elements allow dynamic pivoting motion during assembly for ease of operation, while the locking means engage when the half-shells are in the closed position to provide static security, combining both dynamic and static functions in a simple integrated design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2824619B1Electronic payment terminal including an improved housing
Publication Date: 2017.09.06 COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE ET FINANCIERE D INGENIERIE INGENICO SA
  • EP2824619B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP2824619B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP2824619B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to an electronic payment terminal, comprising a housing composed of two half-shells (2, 3), one forming the upper part of the housing and the other forming the lower part of the housing, characterized in that each of said half-shells (2, 3) has complementary hinge elements allowing the pivoting assembly of the two half-shells, and in that said housing includes means for blocking the pivoting of one half-shell relative to the other, in a closed position of the housing in which the two half-shells (2, 3) are superimposed.