WO1996024942A1

WO1996024942A1 - A shield for a magnetic card apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1996024942A1
Application number: PCT/DK1996/000064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ib GRØNBJERG
Original assignee: Groenbjerg Ib
Priority date: 1995-02-10
Filing date: 1996-02-08
Publication date: 1996-08-15
Also published as: AU4619296A; DK15895A

Abstract

A shield (5) is serving the purpose of preventing a bystander undesired from being able to read the pin code of another person while the latter is keying in on the keyboard (2) of a magnetic card apparatus (1). The shield has the shape of a calotte, which arches over the keyboard with a front opening to take in the fingers of a hand in order to operate the keyboard. The side walls (6) of the calotte are opaque, while in its top wall (7) there are a number of transparent sections (14) which are limited by a grating (12) with open spaces or are formed by elevations or depressions in a transparent plate. The sections are constructed in such a way that the keyboard can be seen of a person in position for use at the machine, and only by this person. Thereby the possibility is eliminated that unauthorised persons, acting as bystanders when operation of the keyboard of the magnetic card apparatus takes place, can have knowledge of the pin code used in the operation and then abuse this knowledge in drawing money from the bank account of the holder of the magnetic card.

Description

A shield for a magnetic card apparatus

The invention relates to a shield for preventing that a bystander undesired reads another person's pin code while the latter is keying in on the keyboard of a magnetic card apparatus.

Economic transactions are to-day effected to a great extent through magnetic card apparatuses, which electronically are connected to the bank accounts of the users in question. The magnetic card apparatuses are used as payment in e.g. super markets, gas stations or post offices, and they can also release cash money from the money machine of the financial houses.

Each user has for this purpose a magnetic card with an individual magnetic pin code, which is read and identified when the user shoots the magnetic card past a reading head in the magnetic card apparatus. In order to be able to carry the transaction through, the customer furthermore then has to key in his personal pin code on the numerically divided keyboard.

The pin code consists of a number with. e.g. four figures, which the finance house has allocated to the user with a note that his has to keep the number in his mind and then destroy all written information about the figure and its relationship. The meaning with this action is to prevent other person from getting knowledge of the pin code. Such a knowledge could be abused by unauthorised persons so that they could draw money from the bank account of the magnetic card holder.

In e.g. super markets the customers are often densely queued up in front of the cashier, where the magnetic card apparatus usually also is placed. A customer, who wants to pay by magnetic card will therefore have to key in his pin code while the persons from the queue are watching.

SUBSTITUTESHEET In order to prevent that one or more of these bystanders note the pin code during this process, many magnetic card apparatuses are provided with an opaque shield along the three sides of the apparatus . In order to be able to key in the pin code correctly it is, however, necessary that the customer himself can see the keyboard, which therefore is not shielded at the top, that is in the field of vision of the customer.

Said shield has, consequently, at the top a free opening of the same size as the length of the keyboard. This large opening gives, however, rich opportunity for a bystander to see the keyboard too, and thus being able to follow the fingers of the hand while the customer operates the keyboard.

In this way unauthorised persons in many cases have been able to get knowledge of other peoples' pin code, and then abuse this knowledge to draw money from the accounts belonging, since they have been able to carry through this illegal action also by having a special magnetic card or simply by haven stolen the magnetic card going along with the pin code.

The abuse thus stated makes a serious threat to the existence of the whole electronic paying system, which to a certain degree in many cases have replaced cash payment. The owners of the magnetic cards can be justified in doubting whether the system provides the necessary security as to unauthorised persons breaking into their accounts electronically and drawing money, and the finance houses can and will be met with large claims for compensation.

There is, consequently, a need for a shield of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph, which gives full protection against unauthorised persons, as are bystanders by operation of the keyboard of a magnetic card apparatus, can get knowledge of the pin code used in this process. The new and unique according to the invention in which this is obtained is the fact that the shield has the shape of a calotte which arches across the keyboard with a front opening for leading the fingers of a hand into it in order to operate the keyboard, and that the side walls of the calotte are opaque, while there in its top wall are a number of transparent sections, which are constructed in such a way that the keyboard can be seen by a person who are placed in position for using the machine, and only by this person. A customer can therefore now safely use his magnetic card as means of payment without thereby risking that other persons will be knowing the secret pin code of the customer.

The transparent sections, which e.g. can be square, rectangular or hexagonal, can by an especially simple embodiment be constructed as free openings in a grating.

By a second expedient embodiment the opening in such a grating can instead be filled with a transparent material, e.g. glass or plastic, so that the top wall of the calotte will form a total plate. In this plate the grating can furthermore be limited only to be a slight dying, which advantageously only will block very little of the view to the keyboard for the customer.

A user will normally place himself closely to the magnetic card apparatus. A bystander, if any, who places himself closely to the user, will therefore have to stand a little aside for the apparatus, whereby the visual line of the bystander forms an acute angle to the upper side of the calotte. In order to prevent the bystander from seeing the keyboard, the cotangent to the angle, which the visual line of the bystander forms with the upper side of the calotte, can be equal to or bigger than the quotient of the horizontal and vertical extension, respectively, of the field. The fields in the top wall of the shield can also be formed by constructing one or both sides on a transparent plate with elevations and/or depressions which e.g. can be pyramidal or conical or have a rounded form. Due to the refraction of light the keyboard can then only be seen by an observer standing right opposite to this, while the bystander from another angle only will see a blank surface.

To a certain extent a similar effect can be obtained by constructing the top wall of the calotte as a polarised plate.

The calotte will be inclined to prevent the normal background lightening from fully being able to lighten up the keyboard. In order to see the latter easily in spite of this fact, there can under the calotte be placed a light source to enlighten the keyboard.

The invention will be explained more fully by the following description of an embodiment, which just serves as an example, with reference to the drawing, where

Fig. 1 shows, seen from above, a conventional magnetic card apparatus and in front of it stands a user operating the keyboard of the apparatus, and also a bystander watching this operation,

Fig. 2 shows the same, seen in diagonally front view in perspective,

Fig. 3 shows, seen from the end, the magnetic card apparatus shown in fig. 1 with a shield according to the invention and seen from the eye point of the user and the bystander, respectively,

Fig. 4 shows in a larger scale a fragment of a cross section through the shield shown in fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows, seen from the side, a magnetic card apparatus with a shield according to the invention,

Fig. 6 shows, seen from above, a fragment of a first embodiment of a grating for a shield according to the invention,

Fig. 7 shows, seen from above, a fragment of a second embodiment of a grating for a shield according to the invention,

Fig. 8 shows, seen from above, a fragment of a third embodiment of a grating for a shield according to the invention,

Fig. 9 shows a section through a fragment of a transparent plate with a fourth embodiment of a grating for a shield according to the invention,

Fig. 10 a section through a fragment of a transparent plate with a fifth embodiment of a grating for a shield according to the invention,

Fig. 11 shows a section through a fragment of a first embodiment for a transparent plate, which forms the top wall in a shield according to the invention, and the underside of which is provided with pyramidal elevations,

Fig. 12 shows the same, seen from above,

Fig. 13 shows a section through a fragment of a second embodiment for a transparent plate, which forms the top wall in a shield according to the invention, the lower side of which is provided with rounded elevations, and Fig. 14 shows, seen in perspective, a fragment of a transparent, polarised plate, which forms the top wall of a shield according to the invention, and a schematically shown light beam, which is polarised when passing the plate.

In fig. l and 2 a conventional magnetic card apparatus 1 is seen with a keyboard 2 for keying in a pin code. A user 3, who stands in front of the apparatus, is going to key in his pin code. Next to the user is a bystander 4, who watches this operation. As shown, the keyboard is freely visible to the user. The bystander can, however, also see the keyboard and see which one of the keys as is pressed down. Thereby the bystander can read the secret pin code.

In order to avoid that other persons in this way are having a knowledge which could be abused to draw money from the bank account of the user, the magnetic card apparatus, as shown in fig. 3, is provided with a calotte-shaped shield 5 with opaque side walls 6 and a top wall 7. Furthermore, one can see, schematically, the user's eye point 8, whose vision line 9 mainly is at right angles to the top wall 7 and the keyboard 2, together with the eye point 10 of the bystander, whose vision line 11 forms an angle v to the top wall 7. This angle v is a function of the geometrical room around the magnetic card apparatus, especially the roomy area of the persons. The user 3 is obviously an obstacle to the bystander 4 being able to come quite close to the magnetic card apparatus and watch perpendicularly down onto the keyboard of the apparatus .

This fact is used, as it can best be seen from fig. 4, which shows a fragment in a larger scale of the top wall 7 shown in fig. 3, to prevent the bystander from watching undesired when the user is keying in his pin code. With the shown embodiment the top wall 7 consists of an open grating 12, which consists of strips 13 of e.g. plastic or metal with a comparatively small thickness of material . The strips are crossing each other, and thereby they limit a number of open sections 14.

The strips 13 has a height h and a mutual distance a . The bystander can from his position at the eye point 10 not see what is going on under the grating 12, when

l. cot (v) > a/h

By means of this formula the grating can be dimensioned, since v in practice can be set to 25°.

Contrary to the bystander the user can from his eye point 8 without difficulty see the whole keyboard and easily key in his pin code without fearing that it will be intercepted by unauthorised persons.

The sections form combined a wanted pattern. In fig. 4 with squares 15, in fig. 7 with non-linear limited sections 6, and in fig. 7 with hexagonal sections 17.

The sides of the strips can be mat so that they will not reflect the light from the keyboard, but they can also be shining so that the bystander from his eye point 10 will see a reflection of the keyboard and the fingers of the hand. The reflection is, however, very much distorted and thus the bystander will have false information about the figures of the pin code. The distortion is especially significant in the patterns shown in fig.. 7 and 8.

The shield can to some extent be inclined to give shade for the background lightening, so that the keyboard will be partly in the dark. In order to relief this disadvantage there is, as shown in fig. 5, placed a light source 18 under the shield to enlighten the keyboard. The light source can by means of a photo cell ( not shown) advantageously be constructed to be lightened when the user puts his hand into the machine, and shot off when his hand is withdrawn.

Fig. 9 shows in cross section a fragment of a variant of an top wall 19 for a shield according to the invention. In this case the top wall consists of a transparent plate of e.g. plastic, in which in all directions are made a number of tracks 20, which limit a number of prisms 21. The sides of these prisms are made opaque with e.g. a colour coating. This construction works in the same way as the grating construction shown in fig. 3 - 8. The user can see the keyboard through the ends of the prisms, while this is impossible to the bystander, when v fulfils the formula 1.

Fig 10 shows also in cross section a fragment of a second variant of an top wall 19 for a shield according to the invention in the shape of a transparent plate 22 with an inlaid or dyed grating 23, which can form any pattern as wanted, e.g. one of these shown in fig. 6, 7 and 8.

When the grating is dyed it can be made very thin, and in this way it will deprive the user from his view to the keyboard. The grating will also in this case limit a number of prisms 24 which permit the user to see the keyboard, but not the bystander. For this purpose it is sufficient that the grating or the side walls of the prisms are opaque or mat. Such a mat character can be obtained by transilluminating for instance a transparent plastic plate with a laser or X-ray beam in the wanted pattern.

Fig. 11 and 12 show in cross section a fragment of another variant of a top wall 25 for a shield according to the invention in the shape of a transparent plate. On the lower side this plate has a number of pyramids 26, which divide the plate into its fields. The pyramids have such a top angle and the used material such a refractive index in relation to the air that a total reflection arises, as illustrated with the schematically shown air beam, when v fulfils the formula 1. From his eye point 10 the bystander will therefore only see a shining area, while the user very well can se the keyboard from his eye point 8.

In fig. 11 the pyramids are shown in a very large scale to illustrate the phenomenon in question. With such large pyramids the user's picture perception will to some degree be destroyed. In practice, the pyramids will therefore be very small so that the eye will not perceive the disorder but collect the single details to an overall picture.

Fig. 13 shows an equal transparent plate 27 as in fig. 4, but in this case the pyramids are replaced by rounded elevations 28, which better than the pyramids are able to reduce the picture disorder for the user.

In fig. 11 and 12 as well as in fig. 13 the elevations are shown on the lower side of the plate in question. The elevations may just as well be placed on the upper side, or there can be elevations on both sides. The two types of elevations can also be combined, just as many other types of elevations can be imagined within the scope of the invention, and these elevations would be able to provide the shield with the wanted effect of protection.

Fig. 14 shows a fragment, seen in perspective, of an top wall for a shield according to the invention in the shape of a polarised plate 29. A light beam 30, which is thrown towards the plate, will come out at the other side as polarised light, which with difficulty or not at all can be seen from an eye point, whose vision line forms an adequately large angle to the propagating direction of the polarised light beam. In the above described and on the drawing shown embodiments the top wall of the shield has in all cases been plane. This is only to be understood as an example, since the top wall just as well can be arched, whereby the user would get more space for his hand to operate the keyboard of the magnetic card apparatus.

Claims

1. A shield for preventing that a bystander undesired reads the pin code of another person when this latter is keying in on the keyboard of a magnetic card apparatus, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the shield has the shape of a calotte which arches across the keyboard with a front opening for leading the fingers of a hand into it in order to operate the keyboard, and that the side walls of the calotte are opaque, while there in its top wall are a number of transparent sections, which are constructed in such a way that the keyboard can be seen by a person who are placed in position for using the machine, and only by this person

2. A shield according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the sections being limited by a grating.

3. A shield according to claim l or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the sections being square, unregularly shaped or hexagonal.

4. A shield according to claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the top wall of the shield is consisting of a transparent plate, and that the grating is laid into or coloured into this plate.

5. A shield according to each of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the fact, the cotangent to the angle, which the visual line of the bystander forms with the upper side of the calotte, can be equal to or bigger than the quotient of the horizontal and vertical extension, respectively, of the field.

6. A shield according to each of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the top wall of the shield consisting of a transparent plate with sections in the shape of elevations and/or depressions.

7. A shield according to each of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the elevations and/or depressions being pyramidal or conical .

8. A shield according to each of the previous claims, c a r a c t e r i z e d in the elevations and/or depressions having a rounded form.

9. A shield according to each of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the top wall of the shield is consisting of a transparent plate, which is polarised.

10. A shield according to each of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in the fact that under the shield a light source has been placed.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 09 July 1996 (09.07.96); original claims 1-10 replaced by amended claims 1-10 (2 pages)]

l. Screen for preventing that a bystander undesired reads the pin code of another person when this latter is keying in on the keyboard of a magnetic card apparatus, wherein the screen has the shape of a calotte which arches across the keyboard and comprises a front opening for putting the fingers of a hand into it in order to operate the keyboard, opaque sides, and a topplate which are formed in such a way that the keyboard can be seen of a person in position for operating the keyboard, and only by this person, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the topplate is massive and has a number of transparent sections.

2. Screen according to claim l, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the transparent sections of the topplate is separated by opaque zones extending transversely to the plate.

3. Screen according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the opaque zones consist of material which has been made opaque by irradiation with a laser or X-ray beam.

4. Screen according to claim l, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the upper and/or lower surface of the transparent sections of each topplate has the shape of elevations and/or depressions.

5. Screen according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the elevations and/or depressions are pyramidal or conical .

6. Screen according to claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the elevations and/or depressions have a rounded form.

5 7. Screen according to claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the material of the transparent sections of the topplate is polarised.

8. Screen according to each of the previous claims, c h a r a lO c t e r i z e d in that the sections are square, unregularly shaped or hexagonal.

9. Screen according to each of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that cotangent to the angle, which the line

15 of vision of a bystander being close to the using position forms with the upper side of the calotte is equal to or larger than the quotient of the sections horizontal and vertical area, respectively.

20 10. Screen according to each of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a light source has been placed under the screen.

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