Capsule for guiding light and associated contactless payment device

Abstract

A capsule is provided that aligns with at least one light source. The capsule includes a rim having its opaqueness interrupted to as to form at least four transparent portions. The capsule is capable of being oriented according to at least two positions: a first position in which two of the at least four portions, simultaneously let through light coming from the at least one light source; and a second position in which the rim blocks light coming from the at least one light source.

Claims

1. A contactless payment device comprising: a capsule comprising a rim having an opaque periphery, which is interrupted so as to form at least four transparent portions; a support bearing a printed circuit and at least two light-emitting diodes disposed before a circular cavity made in said support; a ring having at least one recess on an inner periphery of the ring; at least one pin disposed on the periphery of said rim, within said at least one recess of said ring; said capsule being centered on said cavity of said support so as to be aligned with said at least two light-emitting diodes and said ring being positioned above said capsule which is kept free in rotation, said capsule being rotatable between at least two positions: a first position in which at least one pin disposed on a peripheral surface of said capsule is in contact with a first end of said at least one recess of said ring, and two of said at least four portions of said rim of said capsule simultaneously let through light coming from said at least two light-emitting diodes; and a second position in which said at least one pin of said capsule is not in contact with the first end of said at least one recess, and said rim of said capsule blocks the light coming from said at least two light-emitting diodes.

2. The contactless payment device according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is cylindrical and comprises a base in its lower part, said rim being situated on a periphery of said base.

3. The contactless payment device according to claim 2, wherein said rim is formed of a film or paint applied to the periphery of said base.

4. The contactless payment device according to claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises gripping means on its surface.

5. The contactless payment device according to claim 4, said gripping means comprise protrusions arranged in the vicinity of edges of said capsule.

6. The contactless payment device according to claim 1, wherein said recess runs along the inner periphery of said ring over 180.

7. The contactless payment device according to claim 1, wherein said rim is a micro-etched or in-mould labeling ring.

8. The contactless payment device according to claim 1, wherein said contactless payment device comprises a plug to be inserted in a USB port.

9. The contactless payment device according to claim 8, comprising a payment logo placed on the surface of said capsule.

Description

4. LIST OF FIGURES

(1) These characteristics as well as others shall appear more clearly from the following description of one embodiment, given by way of a simple illustratory and non-exhaustive example and from the appended figures, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the capsule;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a payment terminal of a general shape that implements the capsule;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the ring;

(5) FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B and 6 present a contactless payment device according to one particular embodiment:

(6) FIG. 4A: device in a top view;

(7) FIG. 4B: device in a side view;

(8) FIG. 5A: sectional view of FIG. 4A;

(9) FIG. 5B: section along A-A of FIG. 5A;

(10) FIG. 6: exploded view.

(11) FIGS. 7A and 7B show two correct positions of the capsule in which it gets illuminated according to this same particular embodiment.

5. DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE DISCLOSURE

5.1. General Principle

(12) FIG. 1 illustrates a capsule 11 enabling the guidance of the light coming from one or two light-emitting diodes 12, 13 with which it is aligned. The proposed technique can be implemented with an unspecified number of these light-emitting diodes or with light sources of any other type. The capsule 11 comprises a base 14 in its lower part. This base 14 bears a rim 15 on its periphery. The periphery of the rim 15 is interrupted so as to form four transparent portions 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d.

(13) Besides, a pin 17 is positioned above the base 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Advantageously, the capsule has projecting portions or protrusions 18 arranged on its surface, enabling the user's finger to get a grasp thereon and to make the capsule rotate easily. These protrusions can if necessary be replaced by other gripping means such as grooves or picots.

(14) The capsule 11 can be oriented by a user along at least two positions: a first position in which two of the four portions 16a, 16b, 16c, 16 simultaneously let through the light coming from the two light-emitting diodes 12, 13; a second position in which the rim 15 of the capsule 11 at least partially blocks the light coming from the two light-emitting diodes 12, 13.

(15) The rim 15 can be opaque or reflective so as to stop light from being scattered in the capsule. This rim can be made in any unspecified way by the application of a film or paint to the periphery of the base, by micro-etching or by in-mould labeling (IML).

(16) Thus, in the first position, the capsule is lit up; in the second position it remains at least partially extinguished. Such a capsule is intended for insertion into a contactless payment terminal. An example of a contactless payment terminal 19 of any unspecified shape implementing a capsule 11 as described hereinabove is presented in FIG. 2. Such a payment device comprises mainly a support 20. The support 20 bears a printed circuit 21 and one or two light-emitting diodes 12, 13, and has a circular cavity 22 pierced through it. The transparent capsule 11 is centered on the circular cavity 22 and aligned with the light-emitting diodes 12, 13 so that it can guide the light that they diffuse when they are lit up. A ring 23 as represented in FIG. 3, comprising a recess 24 made along the internal edges, is positioned above the capsule. This ring is mounted tightly in a protective hood (not shown).

(17) When a user makes the capsule rotate (in the motion indicated by the arrow A), its pin 17 is guided in the recess 24 made in the ring 23 until it abuts one of the two ends 241,242 of the recess. The rotational motion is interrupted and the capsule 11 is positioned in such a way that two of its four portions 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d of the rim 15 are simultaneously facing the two light-emitting diodes 12, 13. The user then knows that the capsule is situated in a position that enables it to be lit up.

5.2 Description of One Embodiment

(18) FIGS. 4A and 4B, 5A and 5B, 6 and 7A and 7B, show a contactless payment device according to one particular embodiment, the payment device being a contactless payment USB stick.

(19) FIGS. 4A and 4B present a contactless payment USB stick 25 about 107 mm long and about 12 mm thick. It has a plug 26 to be inserted into the USB port of a computer or a mobile terminal or again a tablet by a user wishing to make payment by means of a payment means compliant with the contactless standard.

(20) Such a USB stick also integrates a capsule 11 with a diameter of 38 mm, preferably transparent and equipped with a gripping projection 18. On its surface, a contactless payment logo 27 is placed. The user can make the capsule 11 pivot (in the movement indicated by the arrow A) in order to orient the contactless payment logo 27 in a correct position, i.e. a position in which the logo is situated so as to be aligned with the plug 26 and the terminal (not shown) as can be seen in FIG. 4A. According to the proposed technique, the contactless payment logo can be placed in two correct positions of use, the second correct position being reached after a rotation of the capsule by 180, starting from the first correct position.

(21) The capsule 11 is positioned on a support 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6, also comprising a printed circuit 11, a row of diodes 28, and two light-emitting diodes 12, 13. These light-emitting diodes 12, 13 are about 4 mm wide, disposed at 120 relative to each other and facing the capsule 11. A ring 23 is positioned above the capsule, leaving it free in rotation as represented in FIG. 6. According to one preferred embodiment, this ring has a recess 24 running along its internal surface over 180. The ring 23 can for example be made out of POM (polyoxymethylene).

(22) When the capsule is correctly oriented, and when the logo is aligned with the USB stick, the two portions 16a, 16b or the two portions 16c, 16d of the rim 15 of the capsule 11 simultaneously face two light-emitting diodes 12, 13. These two portions 16a, 16b or 16c, 16d thus diverge from each other by 120 and are about 4 mm wide. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, a first correct position of the logo 27 is reached when the pin 17 of the capsule 11 abuts a first end 241 of the recess 24 made on the internal surface of the ring 23, thus placing the portions 16a, 16b in a position such that they face the diodes 12, 13. A second correct position of the logo, presented in FIG. 7B, is reached when the capsule 11 undergoes a 180 rotation and when the pin 17 abuts a second end 242 of the recess 24, this time placing the portions 16c, 16d in a position such that they face the diodes 12, 13.

(23) When the capsule 11 is not correctly oriented, and when the logo is not aligned with the USB stick, the light-emitting diodes 12, 13 face the rim 15 of the capsule. The light emitted by the light-emitting diodes 12, 13 therefore cannot be diffused or scattered in the capsule.

(24) Thus, when the user has to make payment, the capsule is lit up if the logo is correctly positioned, at the same time as the row of diodes 28. This gives the user a clearer view of the instant at which he must bring his card closer to the contactless payment logo.

(25) Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the disclosure and/or the appended claims.