Payment Terminal Housing Locking Pin and Seal Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic payment terminals are vulnerable to unauthorized access and tampering, as the existing assembly method does not effectively prevent the opening of the case, allowing potential fraud by unscrupulous individuals.
Innovation Solution
The terminal is designed with superimposed half-shells featuring locking openings and a locking pin, secured by a screw with a countersink and control seal, which requires removal of the seal to access the internal components, ensuring secure assembly and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the case is assembled using superimposed half-shells secured with screws, then the assembly is simple and inexpensive, but the terminal can still be opened by slightly lifting one half-shell after removing screws
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into multiple components: locking protrusions on one half-shell, corresponding locking openings on the other half-shell, and control seals that cover the locking openings. This segmentation ensures that each component has a specific function and that the overall system provides robust security while remaining simple to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The control seals are pre-installed on the locking openings before the half-shells are assembled. This preliminary action ensures that the locking mechanism is already secured with tamper-evident seals before the assembly process begins, preventing any post-assembly tampering without requiring complex additional security measures.
2Reliability
If control seals are added to the locking mechanism, then unauthorized access is prevented, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control seals are applied locally only at the critical locking openings where tampering would occur, rather than requiring comprehensive sealing or locking mechanisms throughout the entire case. This localized approach provides maximum security at the most vulnerable points while keeping the overall device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The control seals are designed as simple, inexpensive, disposable components that are struck into place and destroyed if tampering is attempted. Their low cost allows them to be used as a effective security measure without significantly increasing the overall complexity or cost of the terminal assembly.
3Reliability
If multiple locking openings are provided, then security is enhanced, but the risk of misalignment during assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking protrusions and locking openings are designed with asymmetric features that provide built-in alignment guidance. The unique shape and orientation of each locking feature ensure that the half-shells can only be assembled in the correct position, eliminating misalignment issues while maintaining high security through multiple locking points.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-aligning during assembly. The geometric features of the locking protrusions and openings automatically guide the half-shells into the correct relative position, eliminating the need for precise external alignment tools or complex adjustment procedures during assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic payment terminal comprising a housing formed of two half-shells (2, 3) superimposed one on the other, characterized in that each of said half-shells (2, 3) has a wall element (34) in which a locking opening is drilled, the locking openings of each of said half-shells being superimposed one on the other, and in that said housing comprises a locking pin (4), inserted in said two superimposed locking openings in order to prevent the relative movement of said rings, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pin.