WO2002048977A1

WO2002048977A1 - Electronic payment terminal equipped with an energy-saving device

Info

Publication number: WO2002048977A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/003825
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Besson; Pierre Collette
Original assignee: Thales
Priority date: 2000-12-15
Filing date: 2001-12-04
Publication date: 2002-06-20
Also published as: FR2818397A1; AU2002216166A1; FR2818397B1

Abstract

The invention concerns an electronic payment terminal equipped with an energy-saving device. Therefor, the invention concerns a fixed electronic payment terminal (TPE) comprising at least: (a) a power supply (AL), whereof one input is designed to be electrically connected to a power supply network; (b) a supervisor (SUP), comprising a switch (IC), said switch being in an open position when the terminal (TPE) is in standby mode, and in a closed position when the terminal (TPE) is operating, said switch (IC) being operatively connected to at least a control device (COM, HOR, MIN, EXT) to shift from the open position to the closed position, an input of the switch (IC) being electrically connected to an output of the power supply (AL); (c) peripherals and a computing unit (PUC), electrically connected to an output of the switch (IC), and operatively connected to the switch (IC) to shift it from the closed position to the open position. In one advantageous embodiment, the terminal (TPE) shifts into an intermediate standby state between two close transactions, so as to avoid restarting the terminal between each transaction. The invention is particular applicable to fixed electronic payment terminals equipped with memory card readers or magnetic-strip card readers.

Description

ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TERMINAL PROVIDED WITH A PERMITTING DEVICE

SAVE ENERGY

The present invention relates to an electronic payment terminal equipped with a device for saving energy. It applies in particular to fixed electronic payment terminals equipped with memory card readers or magnetic stripe card readers. Electronic payment terminals have experienced rapid development with the advent of the smart card. Their use has become widespread at many points of sale. Two categories of payment terminals can be distinguished: portable payment terminals and fixed payment terminals. Portable payment terminals generally include a base continuously connected to a power supply network, also called a base, and a portable module. Fixed payment terminals generally comprise a single block connected continuously to an electrical supply network.

The Applicant has highlighted the following problem. The fleet of fixed payment terminals is large. It includes for example in France to date of the order of 500,000 units. These terminals operate continuously while they are only used for a few minutes per transaction. However, to date no one has realized the energy thus wasted on the entire park. At rest, an electronic payment terminal consumes 2.5W. On a 24-hour day, a terminal does not function usefully for more than 4 hours. There is therefore a loss of energy of 50Wh per day, or 18kWh per year. For the fleet of 500,000 units, this represents an energy loss of around 10GWh per year. Nationwide, this saving is in the order of the annual energy production of a power plant.

With regard to portable payment terminals, this problem is less crucial. Indeed, portable payment terminals having a limited energy reserve, coming from batteries for example, one naturally seeks to save it. Thus, some portable payment terminals are equipped with a standby mode.

The problem raised by the Applicant is different, because it is to save energy for ecological reasons, and not to improve the operation of the device itself. Fixed payment terminals do not run the risk of depleting the energy reserves of a country (while portable payment terminals risk depleting their own energy reserves)!

Those skilled in the art, in their approach to improve a fixed payment terminal, will not seek to add components in order to save the energy consumed, because given the low consumption (2.5W) this would not provide d significant economic advantage for the trader. On the contrary, adding components to fixed terminals for a function deemed unnecessary would only increase the cost.

An object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and in particular to reduce the energy consumption of fixed payment terminals, without excessively increasing the cost thereof.

To this end, the invention relates to an electronic payment terminal comprising at least:

(a) a power supply (AL), one input of which is intended to be electrically connected to a power supply network;

(b) a supervision module (SUP), comprising a switch (IC), said switch being in an open position when the terminal (TPE) is in standby, and in a closed position when the terminal (TPE) is in operation, said switch (IC) being functionally connected to at least one control device (COM, HOR, MIN, EXT) to pass from the open position to the closed position, an input of the switch (IC) being electrically connected to an output food (AL);

(c) peripherals and a computing unit (PUC), electrically connected to an output of the switch (IC), and functionally connected to the switch (IC) to move it from the closed position to the open position.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the TPE terminal goes into an intermediate standby state between two close transactions, so as to avoid restarting the terminal between each transaction.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent:

• Figure 1, a block diagram of an example of payment terminal according to the invention;

• Figure 2, an example of a timing diagram of electrical signals generated by elements of the terminal shown in Figure 1; FIG. 3, an example according to an advantageous variant of a timing diagram of electrical signals generated by elements of the terminal shown in FIG. 1; Figure 4, a detailed block diagram of an example of control devices (MIN, HOR, COM) shown in Figure 1; Figure 5, a detailed block diagram of part of the supervisor

(SUP) shown in Figure 1; FIG. 6, a detailed block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the supervisor part (SUP) represented in FIG. 5.

Reference is now made to the block diagram presented in FIG. 1. An example of a TPE electronic payment terminal is shown there. This TPE terminal notably includes an AL power supply, a SUP supervision module, peripherals and a PUC calculation unit. Peripherals include, for example, a memory card reader, a magnetic stripe card reader, a display, a keyboard, a printer and a PIN-Pad.

An input of the power supply AL is intended to be connected to a power supply network. The electricity supply network is also called the sector. The power supply AL delivers a low voltage electric current to the supervision module SUP. The energy required to produce this electric current comes from the sector. The supervision module enables the TPE terminal to go from a standby state to a working state. The supervision module is connected to the peripherals and to the PUC calculation unit. When the TPE terminal is on, the low-voltage current delivered by the power supply AL supplies the peripherals and the calculation unit PUC. When the TPE terminal is in standby, the low voltage current delivered by the supply AL no longer supplies the peripherals and the calculation unit PUC.

The supervision module SUP comprises a switch IC controlled by at least one control device, said device being internal MIN, HOR, COM or external EXT. The MIN, HOR, COM internal control devices are an integral part of the SUP supervision module, while the EXT external control devices are not part of the SUP supervision module. The IC switch is used to open or close the power supply circuit for the peripherals and the PUC computing unit. In in other words, when the IC switch is open the TPE terminal is on standby, and when the IC switch is closed the TPE terminal is on.

The EXT, MIN, HOR, COM control devices emit EV1, EV2, EV3, EV4 control signals to act on the switch IC. These signals are wake-up signals from the TPE terminal, that is to say passing the TPE terminal from the standby state to the operating state. The control signals EV1, EV2, EV3, EV4 can be grouped functionally at a concentration point PC. A single command to close the IC switch then enables the TPE terminal to start up. In other words, the control signals EV1, EV2, EV3, EV4 can be grouped with an OR function to control the switch IC. This OR function can be performed analogically.

The peripherals and the PUC calculation unit are functionally connected to the switch IC to move it from the closed position to the open position.

The switch IC can be controlled for example by two different types of signals, one of opening, the other of closing. In this case, the switch remains in its position (either closed or open) when there is no control signal. In other words, the switch IC has at least two stable states. The IC switch can also be controlled by a single type of signal, for example closing. In this case, the switch is closed in the presence of a signal, open otherwise. In other words, the switch IC has a stable state in the open position, and an unstable state in the closed position. The closing signal can be an electrical voltage greater than a determined threshold, for example. This signal keeps the switch in the closed position. This example of operation of the switch IC will be used in the following description. The switches operating according to this principle are known under the name of “Shut Down” switches in the Anglo-Saxon literature. Advantageously, the switch IC can be integrated into a series regulator or a switching power supply.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, on which is shown an example of a timing diagram of electrical signals illustrating the passage of the terminal TPE of FIG. 1 from a standby state to a working state, then its return to the state of standby. The TPE terminal is assumed to be on standby. A control signal EV, such as the signal EV1, EV2, EV3 or EV4, is sent at an instant t ₂₀ from a control device to the concentration point PC. This signal EV can be a rectangular pulse of width τ ₂ o for example. This EV signal is instantly transmitted from the concentration point PC to the switch IC, which causes the closure of said switch. The switch IC then closes the supply circuit of the peripherals and of the PUC calculation unit. A DC continuous supply current flows through the switch IC. The computing unit, then supplied, starts up and executes its first instructions. Among these instructions, an instruction triggers the transmission of an MA signal via the functional link between the peripherals and the PUC calculation unit on the one hand, and the concentration point PC on the other hand. This signal keeps the IC switch closed while the computer unit is occupied. The signal MA is sent from an instant t ₂ ι, shortly after the instant t ₂ o- The duration separating t ₂₀ and t ₂ ι corresponds to a latency time of the calculation unit. This latency time is less than the width τ ₂ o of the pulse. If the TPE terminal is switched on to carry out a transaction, the MA signal is sent at least until the end of the transaction. Advantageously, the signal MA can be sent a few minutes after the end of the transaction to allow one or more other transactions to be carried out in succession. At an instant t ₂₂ corresponding to the end of the last transaction, the signal MA is no longer transmitted. In the absence of another closing signal (EV1, EV2, EV3 or EV4), this causes the IC switch to open. In other words, the signal MA is an On / Off type signal emitted by the computing unit. Of course, this signal can only be transmitted when the computing unit is supplied. At the instant t ₂₂ when the switch opens, the DC continuous supply is cut off, which corresponds to a standby state of the TPE terminal.

According to an advantageous alternative embodiment, an intermediate standby state can be added. When the TPE terminal is in this intermediate standby state, the computing unit remains supplied. On the other hand, certain peripherals consuming a lot of energy, such as the display (and more particularly its backlight) and the PIN-Pad, are switched off. An advantage is that it is possible to switch to a working state of the TPE terminal more quickly. The calculation unit does not restart, which saves the initialization time of the TPE terminal. Then the awakening can be done with software commands. The TPE payment terminal can enter this intermediate standby mode as soon as a transaction is completed. If no transaction is carried out within a few minutes, the TPE terminal can go into total standby (excluding the module _, of course supervision).

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 on which is represented a timing diagram of electrical signals corresponding to this advantageous alternative embodiment. Three signals are represented on this timing diagram:

• an EV control signal, such as the EV1, EV2, EV3 or EV4 signal; • the DC continuous supply current flowing through the switch IC;

• the continuous supply current AFF of the backlight (known as “backlight” in the English literature) of the display.

The TPE terminal is assumed to be on standby. A first command signal 30 is sent at an instant t ₃₀ which activates the terminal TPE. The direct supply current DG therefore flows through the switch IC. The peripherals and the PUC computing unit are supplied with power. The display in particular is supplied with current AFF from time t ₃₀ . The TPE terminal performs a first operation, such as a transaction. At the end 31 of this operation, at time t ₃ ι, the TPE terminal does not immediately go to sleep. In other words, the signal MA is still transmitted after the instant t ₃₁ , while the terminal TPE is no longer used. By cons, from time t ₃₁ , some devices consuming a lot of energy, such as the display (and in particular its backlight) and the PIN-Pad are off. Thus, the supply current AFF is cut at the instant t ₃₁ . The TPE terminal is then in an intermediate standby state. In this intermediate standby state, the computing unit remains powered.

Shortly after the first operation, at time t ₃₂ , the TPE terminal is used to perform another operation. A second control signal 32 can be sent at the start of this operation. Unlike the first control signal 30, during the second control signal 32 the TPE terminal is not in standby state but in intermediate standby state. The TPE terminal switches from the intermediate standby state to the operating state at time t ₃₂ . This transition is faster than if it had been on standby. Furthermore, the calculation unit being supplied, this transition can be controlled by the calculation unit in software without using the supervision module SUP. In our example, a control signal 32 from the supervision module SUP is used to switch on the terminal TPE. Of course, any other signal from the peripherals and from the PUC calculation unit could have been used because the calculation unit is supplied when the TPE terminal is in the intermediate standby state.

At the end of this second operation 33, at time t ₃₃ , the terminal again enters the intermediate standby state. After a waiting time τ ₃₃ determined, the calculation unit stops transmitting the signal MA, which puts the terminal TPE in standby state. In other words, after a determined waiting time τ ₃₃ , at an instant t ₃₄ , the terminal TPE goes from the intermediate standby state to the standby state. DC current no longer powers the computing unit. In this example, the duration τ ₃₁ between the end of the first operation t ₃ ι and the start of the second operation t ₃₂ is less than the waiting time τ ₃₃ . This is why the TPE terminal did not enter the standby state after the first operation. Advantageously, the transition from the intermediate standby state to the standby state can be controlled by the computing unit, using its internal clock to determine the waiting time from the end of the last operation.

The transition to the intermediate standby state can be controlled by a signal of the same type as MA controlling the switching on and off of the device (s) concerned. This switching on or off can be carried out by a switch of the same type as IC, dedicated to supplying the peripheral (s) concerned.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 in which an example of MIN, HOR, COM control devices illustrated in FIG. 1 is illustrated. The first MIN device comprises a timer 45. This control device emits a wake-up signal EV2 periodically. It can include a battery or a battery 44 supplying the timer 45. The timer 45 can emit a wake-up signal every 10 minutes for example. Such a control device allows the TPE terminal to carry out operations such as a call to a remote collection center. Each time you wake up, a program from the calculation unit can test whether it is necessary to call the remote collection center, for example. An advantage of this control device is that it uses non-programmed components, which is economical, and which saves energy. The second HOR device transmits an EV3 wake-up signal at a determined time. This device comprises for example a battery or a battery 42 supplying a clock 43. In other words, the HOR control device acts as an alarm programmed at a fixed time. It allows the TPE terminal to perform operations such as a call to a remote collection center. An advantage of this control device is that it allows the terminal to start at a specific time.

The third COM device comprises a switch actuated by a mechanical force, such as the pressing force on a key 41 of the keyboard, or the insertion of a card in the memory card reader for example. The energy used to produce the wake-up signal EV4 can come from the power supply AL for example. The COM control device may include a limiting resistor 40 to limit the energy consumption. An advantage of this control device is that it makes it possible to put the TPE terminal into operation following an action by a user.

The control device can be external to the TPE terminal. This EXT device, illustrated in FIG. 1, can be included in a peripheral connected to the TPE terminal by an input / output link L1 such as a serial link of the RS232 type. This device can be a check reader, a cash register, or a modem for example. The wake-up signal EV1 passes via the input / output link L1 of the peripheral to the terminal TPE. This signal can be the modem call indicator for example.

We now refer to FIG. 5 in which is represented a detailed block diagram of a part of the SUP supervisor represented in FIG. 1. This diagram makes it possible to illustrate an example of a PC concentration point enabling an analog OR of the various signals to be produced. EV1, EV2, EV3, EV4 and MA signal control. The PC concentration point includes field effect transistors (known as “Field Effect Transistor” in the Ango-Saxon literature) FET1, FET2, FET3, FET4, FET5 used in switching. These transistors are on when a signal such as EV1, EV2, EV3, EV4 or MA is applied to their gates, connected for this to the corresponding control devices. The gates of these transistors FET1, FET2, FET3, FET4, FET5 are also connected to ground via resistors PD1, PD2, PD3, PD4, PD5. These resistors are called “Pull Down” resistors in the Anglo-Saxon literature. The drains of these transistors are connected to an input 50 for controlling the switch IC. The sources of these transistors are connected to ground. The switch IC can comprise a resistance PU called resistance "Pull Up" in the English literature, connecting for example the input 51 of the switch connected to the power supply AL to the input 50. In this way, in no signal, input 50 is at a high potential. In the presence of a signal, this potential is lowered by grounding the input 50 via one of the resistors PD1, PD2, PD3, PD4 or PD5. This arrangement makes it possible to combine the signals EV1, EV2, EV3, EV4 and MA by an analog OR function. This arrangement uses several field effect transistors placed in parallel, which can be replaced by other electronic components allowing switching to be carried out. An advantage of this arrangement is that the control devices are isolated from each other. In other words, the signal from one control device does not disturb another control device. Another advantage of this arrangement is that it does not consume energy in the absence of a signal.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 in which a variant of the assembly shown in FIG. 5 is represented. According to this variant, a single FET field effect transistor is used, the gate of which is connected to all of the control devices, and to ground via a PD resistor on the other hand. The source of this FET transistor is connected to ground, and the drain makes it possible to control the switch IC in the same way. This arrangement makes it possible to carry out the same function, that is to say to combine the signals EV1, EV2, EV3, EV4 and MA by an analog OR function. It uses a single field effect transistor, the gate of which is connected to the cascaded control devices. The field effect transistor can be replaced by another electronic component enabling switching to be carried out. This assembly does not consume energy in the absence of signal, on the other hand it does not make it possible to isolate the control devices between them

Of course, it is possible to combine the two preceding arrangements by placing certain control devices in cascade when this is possible, and by adding field effect transistors in parallel for the control devices which it is desired to isolate.

The invention saves energy by putting the TPE terminal on standby. Advantageously, the TPE terminal can be placed in intermediate standby between each transaction. When the terminal is in standby, only the SUP supervision module consumes energy. However, most of the components of this SUP module do not consume energy at rest. Even the other components, such as the analog IC switch, have a very low consumption, of the order of a few micro amps.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to these examples. There are many alternative embodiments.

Claims

1. Fixed electronic payment terminal (TPE) characterized in that it comprises at least:

(a) a power supply (AL), one input of which is intended to be electrically connected to a power supply network; (b) a supervision module (SUP), comprising a switch (IC), said switch being in an open position when the terminal (TPE) is in standby, and in a closed position when the terminal (TPE) is in operation, said switch (IC) being functionally connected to at least one control device (COM, HOR, MIN, EXT) to pass from the open position to the closed position, an input of the switch (IC) being electrically connected to an output food (AL);

2. Electronic payment terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for putting the payment terminal in an intermediate standby state, state in which the computing unit remains supplied, and certain peripherals among the peripherals of the payment terminal (TPE) are switched off.

3. Electronic payment terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that the transition from the intermediate standby state to the standby state is controlled by the calculation unit.

4. Electronic payment terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that the calculation unit comprises means for determining the waiting time before the transition from the intermediate standby state to the standby state, said means comprising its internal clock.

5. Electronic payment terminal according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises another switch controlled by a signal for switching on or off the devices concerned by the intermediate watch.

6. Electronic payment terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the control devices (COM) is included in the supervision module (SUP), and that it is actuated by a mechanical force , which force closes a circuit supplied by the power supply (AL), to produce a wake-up signal (EV4) acting on the switch (IC).

7. Electronic payment terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the control devices (MIN) is included in the supervision module (SUP), and that it includes a timer (45) to produce a wake-up signal (EV2) periodically acting on the switch (IC).

8. Electronic payment terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the control devices (HOR) is included in the supervision module (SUP), and that it comprises a clock (43) to generate a wake-up signal (EV3) at a specific time.

9. Electronic payment terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the control devices (EXT), is included in a peripheral external to the terminal (TPE), functionally connected to the switch (IC) to transmit a wake-up signal (EV1) from the control device (EXT) to the switch (IC), which wake-up signal (EV1) acts on the switch (IC).

10. Payment terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a concentration point (PC) for grouping the alarm signals of several control devices (COM, HOR, MIN, EXT) of one on the one hand, and the standby signal of the peripherals and of the computing unit (PUC) on the other.