JP2011210082A - Terminal device and method for controlling light emission of terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that buttons to be pushed are easily and visually recognized by surrounding persons for a device which prompts input by illuminating operation buttons, can not be used for a device for inputting a persona identification number or the like, and buttons for preventing peep at an ATM of a bank or the like cannot be applied to a small device which can be moved in the conventional manner.SOLUTION: The peep is prevented and input to an input part is prompted by constituting the terminal device having an operation part so that an operation of the operation part is hidden, has a shining shield part and a control means for controlling light of a shield, the control means lights or strongly shines the light of the shield when the light of the shield part is required to operate the operation part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal device having an input unit in consideration of security, and more particularly to a terminal device used for card payment or the like.

Conventionally, entering a PIN when making a payment using a bank automatic transaction device (ATM) or a card at a store, etc., may prevent the password from being seen by another person. Various things are used. For example, bank ATMs often use a touch panel to enter a PIN, but the number sequence displayed on the touch panel can be changed randomly each time it is entered, or entered at a cash register at a store. A simple wall made of a plastic plate or the like is formed around the numeric keypad of the terminal device used to prevent others from stealing the input of the password.
Patent Document 1 illuminates an automatic transaction apparatus by providing a vertically long light source on the left and right of the operation unit in front of the person operating the ATM, on the left and right of the booth for storing ATMs used for deposits and withdrawals of banks and the like, At the same time, when looking at the operation from the side of the operator, the light from the light source provided on the left and right of the operation unit is likely to enter the eyes, so that a password or passbook is prevented from being seen.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a technique for lowering the illumination on a customer operation unit provided with a touch panel at a predetermined timing and preventing peeping from the surroundings regardless of the standing position.
In the ATM operation / display screen, when prompting the input of a personal identification number, it is usually prompted to input the personal identification number by displaying a screen with a numeric key or different tone and brightness. It is. Further, as shown in Patent Document 3, some small devices such as cellular phones illuminate an operation button of the device to prompt an operation and prompt an input.

JP-A-7-3200113 JP 2007-237069 A JP 2009-76293 A

However, those that prompt the input by illuminating the operation buttons cannot be used for inputting a personal identification number or the like because the buttons pressed by those other than the surrounding users can be easily seen. In addition, banking ATMs, etc. that control lighting near the operation unit can be configured only if the device is not a stationary banking ATM, so there is no effect in preventing peeping. It could not be applied to possible small devices.
Further, the cited document 1 and the cited document 2 control the brightness of the display unit and the surrounding brightness in order to prevent peeping. There was a possibility of becoming difficult. In addition, the entire apparatus becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and its purpose is to prompt the operation unit to input, and at the same time, an input unit that prevents a third party from seeing even a small device that can be moved. It is providing the terminal device which has.

In order to solve such a problem, in the present application, there is a terminal device having an operation unit, which includes a shield unit that conceals the operation of the operation unit and shines, and a control unit that controls the light of the shield. The terminal device is such that when the light of the part needs to operate the operation unit, the light of the shield is turned on or strongly emitted by the control means.
With this configuration, since the shield emits light, the operator is prompted to input, and the light emitted from the shield that interferes with what is to be peeped is obstructed. It is difficult to see the movement of the operator, and the operator rarely inputs without feeling dazzling.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, of the light from the shield part, light toward the shield inside where the operation unit exists is weaker than light toward the shield outside.
With this configuration, it is possible to prevent peeping in the displayed portion and further improve the security.

  The terminal device further includes a control unit that changes the light of the shield to a strong light by a signal from another device or an operation to the terminal device. Alternatively, the terminal device having the operation unit, the shield, and the card reading unit includes a control unit that turns on the light of the shield or changes the light to strong light in conjunction with the card reading operation of the card reading unit. The terminal device according to claim 3.

  With this configuration, since the shield is lit only when necessary, it is possible to prompt the operator and prevent peeping while reducing power consumption.

The input device and the terminal device of the present invention are for solving such problems, and are highly secure terminals that are difficult to peek at those who prompt the operator to input and try to peep at the operation unit. Can be realized.

The figure which shows the external appearance of the terminal device in Example 1 of this invention The figure which shows the position of the LED light source of the terminal device in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the AA 'cross section shown in FIG. 2 of the terminal device in Example 1 of this invention The figure which shows the structure of Example 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the range which can see the operation part in all the Examples of this invention The figure which shows the external appearance of the terminal device in Example 2 of this invention The figure which shows the external appearance of the terminal device in Example 3 of this invention The figure which shows the cross section of the terminal device in Example 3 of this invention The figure which shows the external appearance of the terminal device in the form 4 of the Example of this invention.

 An embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

 In this example, a terminal device that can be used on a desk or can be input by hand is used to describe a terminal device with reference to FIGS.

  First, the external appearance of the terminal device 4 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the casing 1 of the terminal device 4 includes an upper casing and a lower casing. An operation unit 2 for inputting a personal identification number or the like is provided in a portion close to the operator of the terminal device 4. A shield 6 is provided around the operation unit 2 to illuminate the LEDs 41A and 41B as light sources and to prompt the operator to input keys on the operation unit 2 with light and to prevent a third person from peeping. The operator performs the input operation by placing the portable terminal (pin pad) 4 on the table or holding it with one hand.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the terminal device of this embodiment. The terminal device is a small device used for inputting a personal identification number or the like at the time of card payment. The terminal device is connected to a storage unit 81 for storing data and programs in the housing 51 and to an external communication network 86 to communicate with the payment server 87. The external communication unit 82 to be performed, the input unit 2 and the card communication unit 5 installed on the surface of the housing, the display unit 3 that can be confirmed by the operator, the display unit is covered, and the LED 41A and the LED 41B receive light from the terminal device and the operation unit. It has a shield 6 that illuminates. The shield 6 includes a left side surface 6L, a right side surface 6R, and an upper surface 6. The display unit 3 is easy to check from the operator, and the IC card communication unit 5 that reads / writes from / to the IC card is easy to check even while holding the card. Section 3 IC card communication section is arranged in this order. The LED 41 serving as a light source for shining the shield is arranged in the vicinity of the shield so that the shadow of the finger is not reflected on the shield. In the position shown in FIG. 2, the center of the optical axis of the light is directed slightly inward of the end face 21 and the end face 22 of the shield. The positions of other LEDs are preferably near the shield at the edge of the operation unit. The control unit 83 controls the LED 41 that is the shield illumination to emit light to the shield 3. Here, it is assumed that the control unit 83 appropriately controls the brightness to prevent peeping, the brightness to prompt input, and the brightness suitable for operation. These control programs and information necessary for control and communication are stored in the storage unit 81. The control unit controls all the configurations of the terminal device 4.
Further, the terminal device 4 receives the sales amount to be settled with a card from the point of sale register (POS) 85, which is a cash register, through the second external communication unit 84. When the terminal device 4 receives the payment amount from the POS and, if necessary, the card information to be used, the terminal device 4 displays the information on the display unit 3. The user confirms the settlement amount displayed on the display unit 3 and, if the amount is equal, holds the contactless IC card (not shown) over the card communication unit 5. The terminal device 4 reads information necessary for payment from the IC card and communicates with the payment center 87 via the communication network 86 to make payment, but communication with the payment center 87 or storage is a card that can be settled. If the settlement is possible by collating with the black list in the section 81, the display section is prompted to input a password.
At this time, illumination of the shield 6 may be started in conjunction with a display requesting input of a password. Further, it is preferable to display “*” on the display unit 3 every time the key of the operation unit 2 is pressed to indicate to the operator that the input is accepted.

  The operation of the terminal will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, when the terminal 4 is turned on, the inside of the apparatus is initialized (ST1). At this time, the light of the shield is off (OFF), but the shield may be weakly lit here. Is turned off or weakly lit (ST2). The power-off is an operation at the end of the work or at the time of closing the store (ST3), and normally a standby mode for waiting for the IC card is entered. At this time, standby of the IC card may be started by a signal from the POS 85 (ST13) ( ST4). When the IC card is held over and communication is performed with the IC card (ST4), an operation for inputting a personal identification number is required depending on the IC card (ST5). When the operation becomes necessary, the control unit 83 lights the shield 6. If the shield 6 is already weakly lit, the illumination of the shield 6 is increased (ST6). When all the input digits of the personal identification number are input, the control unit 83 determines that the input is complete (ST8), and turns off the light of the shield 6. In addition to this, the determination of the completion of the key input may be performed using a signal from the POS that the execution key has been pressed.

  If the operator forgets the password, it is forcibly returned to the standby mode when a predetermined time elapses with a timer (ST11). The terminal that has obtained the password is encrypted and sent from the external communication unit 82 to the settlement center 87 via the communication network 86. If the password is correct, the settlement center 87 performs a settlement process and sends the result to the terminal 4 via the communication network 86. Is returned (ST9). Communication with the server is not indispensable for each settlement, and the control unit 83 reads the balance recorded on the card with the card communication unit 5, refers to the list of cards that cannot be traded in the storage unit 81, and settles from the read balance The amount may be subtracted, written to the card from the card communication unit 5 to complete the settlement, and transmitted to the settlement center 87 when the day's business is completed. At the end of the business, a standby mode (turns off the power from ST29 (turns OFF) so that the settlement is not interrupted).

  Here, details of the shield will be described. The shield 6 is translucent and has an interior (the surface of the operation unit is treated with frosted glass. LEDs 41A and 41B for illuminating the shield are provided at the positions shown in FIGS. The strong part is directed to the vicinity of the end faces 21 and 22 on the front side of the shield (on the operator side, the left side in FIG. 1).

Further, vertical irregularities are provided on the inner surface of the shield 6 so that light is diffusely reflected to the operation unit so that the operation unit is evenly illuminated.
For this reason, the light incident on the shield is scattered and emitted from the frosted glass surface, so that the outside of the shield is uniformly brightened. Furthermore, it is more effective if the inside of the shield is processed into a full-nel lens strip so that the vicinity of the end of the shield becomes brighter in combination with the arrangement of the LEDs 41A and 41B. The shield upper portion 6c is made of a transparent member so that the light entering the first shield side surface 6R and the second shield side surface 6L is guided to the upper portion by reflection within the shield so that the shield upper portion 6c shines. Although not shown in the drawing, the same LED 41A and LED 41B may be provided at the base of the shield upper portion 6c.

  The shield configured in this manner cannot see the operation unit from below the visible range shown in FIG. 6 and has an effect of preventing peeping. The visible range 10 has a shape raised to the operator side because it is preferable to pay particular attention to peeping from the left and right.

  The operation unit 2 existing inside the shield 6 is lightly reflected by the LED 41A, 41B on the outer surface of the frosted glass-like shield 6 and indirectly illuminated. Since it illuminates the hand, it is suitable for the operator. The inner part of the shield that receives the light from the LED preferably has a saw-tooth shape that reduces the incident angle of light from the LED so that total reflection of light does not occur. Moreover, since the LED is directed outward from the front, light that is relatively stronger than the operator's hand is radiated to the outside of the shield, and when looking at a relatively dark hand, a shield that is brighter than the inside will be visible. I have to. For this reason, the iris of the person who is looking through is narrowed down and the operation unit looks dark, making it difficult to see the operation.

  Since the shield hides the finger to be operated from the line of sight from the outside, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surfaces constituting the shield are the end faces 21, 22, and 23 of each shield in the direction of the operator's eyes. Suitable for. For this reason, the light of the LED reflected by the shield does not go in the direction of the operator's line of sight, and the operator feels no glare.

  As shown in this embodiment, the brightness of the shield of the operation unit is controlled to make a difference between the brightness of the narrow area covered with the brightness of the shield, so that the entire apparatus can be made compact and portable. It can also be installed in equipment. Since the brighter shield is compactly packed near the operation unit, it can be expected to have a higher effect of preventing peeping than the conventional one, and the operation unit is shown to the operation unit with the illumination of the shield. You can also prompt for input.

  In Example 2, the display unit 3B is also installed inside the shield 6, and the appearance of the terminal device in this case is shown in FIG. The configuration other than the display unit is the same as that of the first embodiment. In this case, since the display unit 3B is installed at the back of the shield, even if the entered password is displayed, it cannot be seen, so information such as the entered password is displayed on the display unit 3B and erroneously entered. It is also possible for the operator to determine the input after confirming whether there is any error, and this configuration can reduce input mistakes.

In Example 3, a shield 6 provided with a light guide plate 61 is shown in FIGS. The light guide plate 61 uses the total reflection of light to allow the light of the LEDs 41C and 41D to reach the end of the shield, and is effective in brightly illuminating the vicinity of the end faces 21 and 22 of the shield 6 where light is difficult to reach. Further, since the light from the LEDs 41C and 41D enters substantially perpendicular to the end face of the light guide plate 61, total reflection is hardly caused at the light entrance, and the shield 6 can be efficiently illuminated.
8 and 9, the configuration other than the shield 6 having the light guide plate 61 is the same as that of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a top view of a cross section taken along the cutting plane BB ′ shown in FIG.
Here, the light guide plate 61 is widened in the vertical direction toward the end of the shield 6 (the end on the operator side) in accordance with the radiation angle of the light from the LED, and the guided light is near the end. A slope as shown in FIG. 6 is provided so as to diverge toward the outside of the shield 6, and the entire surface is mirror-finished so that light is easily totally reflected.

  The light guide plate 61 and the inside of the shield 6 (on the operation unit side) are mirror-finished so that light is totally reflected, but the outside of the shield 6 is processed into a frosted glass so that total reflection does not occur. Since a part of the guided light is emitted to the outside, the entire shield is emitted to the far end from the light source, so that the light guided by total reflection is emitted and uniformly radiates to the end of the shield 6. Effectively prevent. Illumination on the operation unit side is moderately illuminated by light leaking from the external frosted glass surface, but if part of the light guide plate is processed into frosted glass, the light will be totally reflected at that part. Because it leaks out, it can be used as a local illumination.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, the case where the electroluminescent light-emitting body (EL light-emitting body) is stuck inside the shield and the whole shield is made to shine is shown. Since the EL light emitters 62 and 63 emit light with a uniform light amount, an arbitrary place can be illuminated with arbitrary brightness. Further, since the amount of light can be easily controlled by the applied voltage and frequency, it is possible to obtain a shield having a simple structure and easily adapted to ambient brightness. In FIG. 10, shields such as an EL light emitter 81 that emits light toward the outside of the shield 6 and an EL light emitter 82 that emits light toward the inside are provided, and the point that the light is increased or decreased by a signal from the control unit is as described above. This is the same as the LED shown in the example. Except for the configuration other than the EL light emitter, the configuration is the same as that of Example 1.
In addition to the above, it is also preferable that the shield itself emits light by applying a blue light emitting diode, an ultraviolet light emitting diode or the like to the shield charged with a fluorescent material.

  As described above, the input device and the terminal device according to the present invention can provide an input device used for card payment in consideration of security or a terminal device for performing payment in order to effectively prevent peeping.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Operation part 3 Display part 4 Terminal device 5 IC car communication part 6 Shield 41A LED
41B LED
10 Visible Range Limit 21 Shield End Face 22 Shield End Face 61 Light Guide Plate 62 Electroluminescence Light Emitter 63 Electroluminescence Light Emitter

Claims (5)

A terminal device having an operation unit, comprising a shield part that shines around the operation part and a control unit that controls the light of the shield,
The terminal device, wherein when the light of the shield part needs to operate the operation part, the light of the shield is turned on or strongly emitted by the control means. 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, of the light from the shield part, light toward the inside of the shield where the operation unit exists is weaker than light toward the outside of the shield. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that turns on the light of the shield or changes the light to a strong light by a signal from another device or an operation to the terminal device. In the terminal device having the operation unit, the shield, and the card reading unit,
The said terminal device of Claim 3 which has a control means to which the light of the said shield is lighted in connection with the card reading operation of the said card reading part, or changes to a strong light. A method for controlling lighting of the shield light used in a terminal device having an operation unit and having a shining shield covering the operation unit, wherein the lighting of the shield is started by a signal from another device or a predetermined operation. The light emission control method of the terminal device, wherein the light of the shield is stopped or dimmed by at least one of a signal from another device, a predetermined operation to the terminal device, or a lapse of a predetermined time.

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