Abstract:
A peripheral including a biometric reader and a card reader which require less mounting space than separate devices. An example peripheral includes a magnetic stripe reader including a housing, and a fingerprint reader in the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Kiosks, automated teller machines, and other self-service computers may have limited space for peripherals. 
         [0002]    It would be advantageous to provide a peripheral including a biometric reader and a card reader. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A peripheral including a biometric reader and a card reader is provided. 
         [0004]    An example peripheral includes a magnetic stripe reader including a housing, and a fingerprint reader in the housing. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example travel kiosk. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the example travel kiosk. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the example travel kiosk illustrating a first technique for capturing a fingerprint. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the example travel kiosk illustrating a second technique for capturing a fingerprint. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the example travel kiosk illustrating a third technique for capturing a fingerprint. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the example travel kiosk illustrating a technique for reading a magnetic stripe on a card. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an example self-service terminal  10  is illustrated. The example is a travel kiosk, though the peripheral of the present invention may be used in other types of self-service terminals, such as automated teller machines, self-service checkout stations, self-service entertainment rental kiosks, and other types of self-service kiosks. The peripheral of the present invention may also be used in other systems, for example, secure access systems for entering secured areas. 
         [0012]    Travel kiosk  10  includes processor  12 , memory  14 , storage  16 , and touch screen  18 . 
         [0013]    Processor  12  executes software  30  for displaying instructions, issuing prompts, and receiving inputs from users through touch screen  18 . Processor  12  loads software  30  from storage  16  into memory  14  during execution. 
         [0014]    Kiosk  10  may additionally include sound circuitry  17  for providing aural feedback to an operator during use of kiosk  10  and its peripherals. Sound circuitry  17  may include a tone generator and speakers. 
         [0015]    Software  30  also controls a number of peripheral modules through one or more peripheral controllers  19 . Peripheral controller  19  may include a serial controller, such as an RS232 or Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller. 
         [0016]    Kiosk  10  includes a peripheral  22 , which includes card reader  34  and biometric reader  36 . Card reader  34  reads cards such as payment cards, loyalty cards, and driver&#39;s licenses under the control of software  30 . Card reader  22  may include any of the known types of magnetic card readers, including a manual drag-through slot card reader, a motorized card reader, or an insertion type push-pull card reader. 
         [0017]    Biometric reader  36  may include a fingerprint reader. 
         [0018]    Software  30  may display a prompt asking a user to choose a method or device for identification. For example, software  30  may display choices including credit card, driver&#39;s license, or fingerprint. Software  30  records the choice via touch screen  18 . Thereafter, software  30  may activate either card reader  34  or biometric reader  36  based upon the choice selected by the user. Software  30  may deactivate or ignore input from the reader that is not activated as a result of the selected choice. 
         [0019]    Kiosk  10  may include other peripherals necessary for its purpose. For example, kiosk  10  may include printer  20 , camera  23 , barcode reader  24 , and passport reader  25 . 
         [0020]    Printer  20  prints documents related to the purpose of self-service terminal  10 , including receipts, tickets, boarding passes, and agendas under the control of software  30 . 
         [0021]    Barcode reader  24  reads barcode labels on documents related to the purpose of self-service terminal  10 , such as receipts, coupons, driver&#39;s licenses, and travel documents under the control of software  30 . Barcode reader  24  may also read barcodes displayed by portable devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and hand-held computers. 
         [0022]    Passport reader  25  obtains information from passports. Passport reader  25  may include imager  26  and RF reader  28 . 
         [0023]    Imager  26  captures an image of a machine readable zone on passports under the control of software  30 . Software  30  obtains information from the image via optical character recognition. 
         [0024]    RF reader  28  interrogates and reads data from RF chips in passports through antenna  32  and under the control of software  30 . RF reader  28  may also be used to read contactless payment cards. 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , example travel kiosk  10  is illustrated in further detail. 
         [0026]    Travel kiosk  10  includes a front surface  40  that provides a point of focus for user interaction. Front surface  40  includes top portion  42  and bottom portion  44 . 
         [0027]    Top portion  42  includes touch screen  18 . Touch screen  18  provides a point of focus for users during display of instructions and receipt of touch entered data from users. 
         [0028]    Bottom portion  44  includes peripheral  22 , barcode reader  24 , and passport reader  25 . 
         [0029]    Components in bottom portion  44  and organized into a work area  46  that provides a point of focus for users during printing of travel documents, reading of magnetic and contactless cards, reading of passports, scanning of barcodes on travel documents, and reading of biometric data. 
         [0030]    Work area  46  includes shelf  50 , passport tunnel  52 , printer exit shoot  54 , and overhang  56 . 
         [0031]    Shelf  50  includes guide edges  60  for aligning passport  40  with passport tunnel  52 . Passport  40  is illustrated in a position aligned within guide edges  60 . 
         [0032]    Passport tunnel  52  retains passport  40  with travel kiosk  10  for capturing of information from machine readable zone by imager  26  and from an RF chip in passport  40  by RF reader  28 . 
         [0033]    Printer exit shoot  54  provides a location in work area  46  for depositing travel documents for user pickup. 
         [0034]    Overhang  56  contains barcode reader  24  underneath. Barcode reader  24  is aimed in a generally downward direction in order to read barcode labels oriented upwards on travel documents placed in work area  46 . 
         [0035]    Adjacent work area  46  is an example peripheral  22 , which includes an example magnetic stripe reader  62  and example fingerprint reader  64 . Example magnetic stripe reader  62  includes an insertion type card reader. Because peripheral  22  combines magnetic stripe reader  62  and fingerprint reader  64 , less area of surface  40  is required and a user&#39;s focus is directed to limited locations as with work area  46 . 
         [0036]    Example peripheral  22  includes housing portions  66  and  68 , which extend from front surface  40 . Housing portion  66  includes a substantially horizontal top surface  70 , which contains an aperture exposing fingerprint reader  64 . Housing portion  66  includes a bottom surface  71  which may be used for gripping during fingerprint reading. Housing  66  may further include recesses  70  on both sides, which may also be used for gripping housing  66  during fingerprint reading. Housing portion narrows from top surface  70  to upper track  76 . The Housing  66  may further include a light  74  for indicating successful and/or unsuccessful reading of fingerprints. 
         [0037]    Housing portion  68 , together with housing portion  66 , define upper and lower tracks  76  and  78  for constraining motion of a card when the card is inserted and removed for reading. 
         [0038]    Example magnetic stripe reader  62  and fingerprint reader  64  may or may not share a common printed circuit board or control circuitry. 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a first technique of capturing a fingerprint using peripheral  22  is illustrated. In response to a prompt displayed by software  30 , a user grasps housing portion  66  with fingers below and the thumb on top. Some of the fingers engage one or both of recesses  72 . With the tip of the thumb on fingerprint sensor  64 , peripheral  22  captures an image of the tip of the thumb under the control of software  30 . Peripheral  22  provides an indication of a successful read via light  74  under the control of software  30 . 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , a second technique of capturing a fingerprint using peripheral  22  is illustrated. In response to a prompt displayed by software  30 , a user partially grasps the leading portion of housing portion  66  with the index finger below and the thumb on top. With the tip of the thumb on fingerprint sensor  64 , peripheral  22  captures an image of the tip of the thumb under the control of software  30 . Peripheral  22  provides an indication of a successful read via light  74  under the control of software  30 . 
         [0041]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , a third technique of capturing a fingerprint using peripheral  22  is illustrated. In response to a prompt displayed by software  30 , a user places the tip of the index finger on fingerprint sensor  64 . Peripheral  22  captures an image of the tip of the index finger under the control of software  30 . Peripheral  22  provides an indication of a successful read via light  74  under the control of software  30 . 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , a technique of reading a magnetic stripe  80  on a card  82 , such as a driver&#39;s license using peripheral  22  is illustrated. In response to a prompt displayed by software  30 , a user aligns card  82  with tracks  76  and  78 , fully inserts card  82 , and quickly removes card  82 . Peripheral  22  reads the information on magnetic stripe  80  under the control of software  30 . 
         [0043]    Advantageously, the features of housing  66  provide a positive group for stabilizing the thumb for reading. Stabilizing the thumb improves read accuracy. 
         [0044]    Although particular reference has been made to certain embodiments, variations and modifications are also envisioned within the spirit and scope of the following claims.