Visual indicator support and corresponding payment device
20210407326 · 2021-12-30
Inventors
Cpc classification
G09F7/22
PHYSICS
International classification
Abstract
A visual indicator support which is intended to be irreversibly assembled on an outer face of a payment device and is configured to assume an orientation position, in which, when assembled with the payment device, it is mobile in rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer face of the payment device.
Claims
1. A visual indicator support configured to be assembled irreversibly on an outer face of a payment device and configured to assume an orientation position wherein, when assembled with said payment device, the visual indicator support is mobile in rotation, independently of said payment device, about an axis substantially perpendicular to said face of said payment device.
2. The visual indicator support according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator support comprises at least one irreversible assembly element to cooperate with at least one corresponding irreversible receiving element on said payment device.
3. The visual indicator support according to claim 1, wherein said support is configured to assume a locking position, when assembled with said payment device, wherein said support is not mobile in rotation about said axis.
4. The visual indicator support according to claim 2, wherein the visual indicator support further comprises at least one locking element ensuring a locking position assumed by the support when assembled with said payment device and in which said support is not mobile in rotation about said axis.
5. The visual indicator support according to claim 1, wherein the support has a non-circular shape substantially identical to a shape of a receiving location provided on said outer face of said payment device and, in said orientation position, said support is positioned above said receiving location.
6. The visual indicator support according to claim 1, wherein said support is assembled to said payment device in a receiving location formed by a light guide provided on said outer face of said payment device and said support is mobile in rotation independently of said light guide, in said orientation position.
7. The visual indicator support according to claim 2, wherein said support has an outer face carrying a visual indicator and an inner face and wherein said support comprises a rod extending from said inner face of said support, said rod comprising at least two branches spaced by a clearance and each having at least one of said irreversible assembly elements.
8. The visual indicator support according to claim 7, wherein said branches each have at least one of locking element ensuring a locking position assumed by the support when assembled with said payment device and in which said support is not mobile in rotation about said axis.
9. The visual indicator support according to claim 2, wherein the support has a substantially circular shape and said support has an outer face carrying said visual indicator and an inner face and said support comprises at least a portion of a ring extending substantially perpendicularly from said inner face of said support, said at least one portion having at least one of said irreversible assembly elements.
10. The visual indicator support according to claim 1, wherein the support has on its outer face a gripping element.
11. A payment device comprising: an outer face; aa receiving location on the outer face for a visual indicator support to be assembled irreversibly on the outer face of said payment device; and a receiver for receiving said visual indicator support and configured so that said visual indicator support assumes an orientation position wherein, when assembled with said payment device, the visual indicator support is mobile in rotation, independently of said payment device, about an axis substantially perpendicular to said outer face of said payment device.
12. The payment device according to claim 11, wherein the payment device comprises at least one irreversible receiving element to cooperate with at least one irreversible assembly element of said support.
13. The payment device according to claim 11, wherein the payment device comprises at least one locking receiving element to cooperate with at least one locking element of said support.
14. The payment device according to claim 11, wherein said receiving location is formed by a light guide preventing access to an interior of said payment device.
15. (canceled)
16. An apparatus comprising: a payment device comprising: an outer face; a receiving location on the outer face for assembly of a visual indicator support; and a receiver for receiving said visual indicator support and configured so that said visual indicator support assumes an orientation position; and the visual indicator support, which comprises: an assembly structure that cooperates with the receiver of the payment device to irreversibly assemble the support on the outer face of the payment device, wherein the visual indicator support is mobile in rotation, independently of said payment device, about an axis substantially perpendicular to said outer face of said payment device.
Description
4. LIST OF FIGURES
[0054] These features, as well as others, will appear more clearly upon reading the following description of an embodiment, given by way of simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended figures, among which:
[0055]
[0056]
[0057]
[0058]
[0065]
[0066]
[0071]
5. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
5.1. General Principle
[0075] The general principle of the present technique lies in the possibility of orienting a visual indicator on a payment device, in order to make it visible to users, regardless of the position of the payment device and without requiring constraints on the architecture/the design of the payment device itself. A visual indicator within the meaning of this technique corresponds, for example, to a contactless payment logo, an advertising logo, or even a warning related to the use of the payment device.
[0076] For this purpose, the technique provides an orientable visual indicator support when it is assembled to the payment device.
[0077] In addition, the present technique allows to comply with the security constraints of payment devices, thanks to a particular configuration of the payment device and more particularly of the location provided for receiving the visual indicator support, via a light guide. The security of the payment device having such a visual indicator support is also ensured by the irreversible nature of the assembly provided by this technique. Indeed, as described below, the visual indicator support cannot be removed from the payment device without damaging both of them. However, if the payment device is damaged, the known intrusion detection techniques are therefore activated, then preventing the use of the payment device.
[0078] Thus, the proposed technique, according to its various embodiments illustrated by the various figures described below, proposes a visual indicator support 10 intended to be assembled irreversibly on an outer face of a payment device 11, the support 10 being configured to assume an orientation position wherein, when assembled with the payment device 11, it is mobile in rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the face of the payment device 11. In this way, the visual indicator can always be oriented so as to be visible to users, regardless of the orientation of the payment device itself, since the visual indicator support is orientable independently of the payment device to which it is assembled.
[0079] In relation to
[0080]
[0081] Thus, the visual indicator support and the payment device according to this first embodiment allow to orient the visual indicator, or the logo, in an ergonomic manner for the user, regardless of the position of the payment device.
[0082] In addition, a light guide 12, present in the payment device, allows the backlighting of the visual indicator, for example over its entire perimeter, thus optimising ergonomics for the user, while ensuring the security of the interior of the payment device, as described in more detail below.
[0083] These
[0084]
5.2 Description of a First Embodiment
[0085] A visual indicator support 10 is now presented in more detail according to the first embodiment described above, as illustrated in
[0086] This
[0087] The assembly of the visual indicator support to the payment device is ensured by assembly means 100 cooperating with receiving means 110 of the payment device (not shown in
[0088] In the particular variant illustrated in
[0089] In addition, as already indicated, the proposed technique provides for the assembly of the visual indicator support to the payment device to be irreversible, thanks to at least one irreversible assembly element 1001, carried by the assembly means 100. In order to ensure the irreversible assembly, this irreversible assembly element 1001 is intended to cooperate with at least one corresponding irreversible receiving element 1101 on the payment device (not illustrated in
[0090] According to this variant illustrated in
[0091] Finally, such a visual indicator support is configured to assume the following two positions: [0092] an orientation position, wherein it is mobile in rotation about an axis formed for example by the rod 100, when it is held above the receiving location provided in the payment device, and [0093] a locking position wherein it is no longer mobile in rotation, therefore no longer orientable, because it is pressed into this location of the payment device.
[0094] This locking position requires specific means formed by at least one locking element 1002, illustrated for example in
[0095] As illustrated in
[0096] The various positions of the visual indicator support, as well as the interactions between the elements of the visual indicator support and the payment device, are illustrated in particular by
[0097]
[0098] This implementation of the light guide 12 as a receiving location 14 of the visual indicator support 10 allows the implementation of the invention while complying with the constraints of securing a payment device. Indeed, the implementation of a visual indicator support which can assume in particular an orientation position wherein it is above its location could generate a security breach, if this allowed access to the inside of the payment device, which is not the case according to the proposed technique.
[0099]
[0100] This
[0101] Then, when these two branches 101 and 102 continue their engagement to arrive at the orientation position of the visual indicator support 10 illustrated, in section, in
[0102] Thus, in this orientation position illustrated in
[0103] Due to the substantially square shape of both the visual indicator support 10 and the receiving location 14, the visual indicator support 10 can assume four different positions, as illustrated in
[0104]
[0105] This orientation position therefore allows in particular the merchant who wishes to use the payment device, or the installer of the payment device, to position the visual indicator so that it is visible to users, once the position of the payment device itself is determined. For example, when the payment device corresponds to a contactless payment terminal fixed to a wall, the installer is forced to take into account in particular the cable outlet 13 to determine the position of the payment device 11, in order to ensure connections optimally. Once the position of the payment device 11 is determined, they can then orient the visual indicator support 10 so that the visual indicator corresponding to the contactless payment logo is in the right direction for users. According to another example, when the payment device 11 is fixed on a counter of a merchant, the latter also determines the position of the payment device 11 according to the outlet of the cables and the connections to be made. Here again, once the payment device 11 is positioned correctly to ensure these connections, the merchant can then orient the visual indicator support 10 so that the visual indicator corresponding to the contactless payment logo is in the right direction for the users.
[0106] In the two examples described above, once the optimum orientation is chosen for the visual indicator support 10, the latter must no longer be mobile during the operation of the payment device 11. The visual indicator support 10 must therefore be able to assume a locking position in the payment device 11, as illustrated by the sectional view of
[0107] As illustrated in
[0108] The present technique also provides means allowing the visual indicator support 10 to switch from this locking position, corresponding to the use of the payment device 11, to the orientation position already described, for example when the payment device 11 must be moved and this results in the need to orient the visual indicator to a different position.
[0109] For this purpose, a first variant consists in providing an unlocking area 15 formed on the outer surface of the payment device 11 opposite to that receiving the visual indicator support 10, that is to say at the back of the payment device 11, as illustrated in
[0110] In this way, it suffices to exert pressure, indicated by the thick black line arrow, on the end of the two branches 101 and 102 so that they come closer to one another, thanks to the displacement made possible by the clearance 103, and that the two locking elements 1002 thus cross the narrowing 1101. This pressure can be exerted for example by a finger of the installer or the merchant. Switching from the locked position to the orientation position thus does not require any specific tool, while being secure in the sense that this switching cannot be carried out accidentally by simply touching the back of the payment device or even by a simple handling of the payment device. A specific pressure action, precisely at the unlocking area, is necessary.
[0111] According to another variant, illustrated by
5.3 Description of a Second Embodiment
[0112] A visual indicator support 10 is now presented in more detail according to the second embodiment already mentioned in relation to
[0113] According to this second embodiment, the visual indicator support has a substantially circular shape, as does the receiving location 14 provided on the payment device 11.
[0114] As for the first embodiment, the visual indicator support 10 has an outer face 10a carrying said visual indicator and an inner face 10b.
[0115] On the other hand, the assembly means 100 are different from those described according to the first embodiment. This difference is explained in particular by the fact that the circular shape of the visual indicator support causes a different operation.
[0116] Thus, due to this shape which is substantially circular and substantially identical to that of the receiving location 14 provided in the payment device 11, the visual indicator support 10 can assume a plurality of positions and can be oriented without requiring to be maintained above this location 14. Thus, the orientation position also corresponds to the locking position. This second embodiment therefore no longer requires separate irreversible assembly and locking means. In addition, this second embodiment allows the visual indicator support 10 to no longer pass through the payment device 11, reinforcing the security of the payment device 11 and allowing the implantation of components in the payment device 11, under the visual indicator support 10 (see below).
[0117] Thus, according to this second embodiment, the assembly means 100 are formed by one or more portions of a ring extending substantially perpendicularly from the inner face 10b of the visual indicator support 10, as can be seen more particularly in
[0118] This implementation of the assembly means 100 allows in particular, as illustrated in the sectional view of
[0119] According to this second embodiment, the assembly means 100 also have at least one irreversible assembly element 1001, also implemented in a different manner compared to the first embodiment.
[0120] Thus, as illustrated in the sectional view of
[0123] This is indicated in
[0124] According to this second embodiment, the assembly means 100 therefore rotate at the same time as the visual indicator support 10 when it is oriented.
[0125] Therefore, according to another variant, provision is also made of braking means, for example by friction, so as to prevent the visual indicator support 10 from rotating without this being intended (for example when a user touches the payment device, and therefore the visual indicator support, during its use, by placing their payment card for example).
[0126] These braking means are shown in the thick black line circle, in
[0127] Moreover, in order to ensure the proper functioning of this second embodiment, gripping means 104 are provided on the outer face 10a of the visual indicator support 10, so as to facilitate its orientation. Indeed, the visual indicator support 10 being fitted in the receiving location 14 provided in the payment device 11, these gripping means 104 make it easier to rotate it in this location 14, in particular when braking means as described above are implemented. These gripping means 104 may correspond, for example, to raised attachment points for the finger of the installer or the merchant who wishes to orient the visual indicator support 10 once the payment device 11 is positioned for use. These attachment points can take any shape that allows a user to rotate the visual indicator support into place.
[0128] It should be noted that these gripping means 104 can also be provided on the visual indicator support 10 described in relation to the first embodiment, even if their usefulness is less important due to the obligation to maintain the visual indicator support 10 above the receiving location 14 to orient it.
5.4 Description of a Third Embodiment
[0129] Finally, according to a third embodiment, illustrated in
[0130] In order to limit the number of figures,
[0131] Thus, in
[0132]
[0136] Finally, to each type of indexing corresponds an equivalent element on the payment device 11, or more advantageously on the light guide 12, as illustrated in
[0137] Thus, a plurality of holes 1203a in the light guide 12 corresponds to the indexing finger 1003a in the visual indicator support 10, and a finger 1203b of the light guide 12 corresponds to the plurality of holes 1003b, as illustrated in
[0138]
[0139] Other types of indexing can of course be implemented to allow stability of the orientation of the visual indicator support when assembled to the payment device.
5.5 Payment Device
[0140] The proposed technique also relates, as already described above, to a payment device 11 configured/adapted to receive a visual indicator support 10 as described above according to the various embodiments and their variants.
[0141] Thus, such a payment device 11 has in particular a location 14 for receiving the visual indicator support 10, on its upper face, and, in certain cases, an unlocking area 15 on its lower face.
[0142] According to the proposed technique, such a payment device 11 can be designed without taking into account the positioning of a visual indicator, of the contactless payment logo or usage warning type, and can thus be optimised in terms of compactness. Indeed, the arrangement of the components and in particular of the connectors, inside the payment device 11, can be optimised without worrying about the orientation of the visual indicator, this orientation being able to be obtained thanks to the visual indicator support 10 described above (according to the various embodiments of the proposed technique).
[0143] Finally, the proposed technique also allows to comply with the security constraints related to payment devices, by providing, according to the different embodiments: [0144] that the light guide 12 (provided in particular for the backlighting of the visual indicator) completely isolates the interior of the payment device 11 and thus prevents any access to the interior of the payment device 11, even when the visual indicator support 10 is not assembled, and [0145] that the visual indicator support 10 is irreversibly assembled to the payment device 11.
5.6 System
[0146] The proposed technique also relates, as already described above, to a system comprising a visual indicator support 10 assembled to a payment device 11 as described above according to the various embodiments and their variants.