Privacy-enabled keypad with shield-mounted illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Privacy-enabled keypads on public access terminals face a conflict between enhancing privacy and accessibility, as shields that restrict viewing angles also reduce ambient light, making it difficult for visually impaired users to access the keypad.
Innovation Solution
A privacy-enabled keypad design featuring an opaque shield with integrated illumination sources on the shield, oriented to illuminate the keypad, ensuring adequate light for users while maintaining restricted viewing angles, and optionally including frangible or flexible components for vandalism resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an opaque shield is added around the keypad to restrict viewing angles, then privacy security is improved, but ambient light is reduced making it difficult for visually impaired users to view the keypad
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the opaque shield structure with integrated illumination sources (LEDs) mounted on the shield itself. This merging allows the shield to simultaneously perform its privacy function while providing localized lighting to the keypad area, resolving the contradiction between privacy security and ambient light availability for visually impaired users
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination sources act as an intermediary element between the opaque shield and the keypad. The LEDs mounted on the shield provide directed light to illuminate the keypad surface without compromising the shield's opacity or privacy function, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of privacy protection and visual accessibility
2Illumination intensity
If a fascia lighting system is used to illuminate the keypad, then ambient light is improved, but visually impaired users cannot access the light because they must move their eyes close to the keypad surface blocking the light
Solution Approach 1:
The opaque shield with integrated LEDs serves as an intermediary lighting system that positions the light source closer to the user's line of sight rather than requiring the user to block the fascia lighting. The shield-mounted LEDs provide direct illumination to the keypad while remaining accessible to users with visual impairments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial dimension of the lighting system by moving the light sources from the distant fascia to the closer opaque shield structure. This dimensional repositioning allows light to reach users without requiring them to block the light source with their head, improving accessibility
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 improves accessibility and privacy by allowing users to enter their PIN without blocking light, ensuring the keypad is easily usable for visually impaired individuals while maintaining security against shoulder-surfing.
Implementation Method 1
at least one illumination source disposed on a portion of the shield facing the keypad, and oriented to illuminate the keypad
Data Source
AI summary
A privacy-enabled keypad comprising: a keypad; an opaque shield upstanding around the keypad for restricting viewing of the keypad to a user of the keypad; and at least one illumination source disposed on a portion of the shield facing the keypad, and oriented to illuminate the keypad. A public access terminal incorporating the privacy-enabled keypad is also disclosed.