Abstract:
A self-service terminal (SST), such as an ATM includes apparatus for producing images containing instructions for users of the terminal, and an arrangement for projecting the images onto a screen forming part of a terminal user interface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a self-service terminal (SST), such as automated teller machine (ATM) and in particular to an SST provided with an improved display. 
   Conventional self-service terminals (SSTs) such as automated teller machines (ATMs) interact with users via a user panel which conventionally includes a display screen, for displaying instructions, prompts and other outputs, and a keypad spaced from the screen and additional keys disposed to the sides of the screen for user inputs. 
   The screen may be a CRT, which is generally relatively heavy and bulky, or an LCD panel, which is more compact but relatively expensive. Further, to minimize expense and bulk, and also to accommodate the keypad and other user accessible features, such as a slot for a card reader, a cash dispense slot and a receipt printer slot, the screens tend to be relatively small, such that many users, particularly visually impaired users, may experience difficulties in using such machines. Also, for security reasons, the screen will normally be covered by relatively thick glass, and this may introduce parallax problems for users of different heights when the screen displays preset functions to be selected by pressing one of the keys disposed to the sides of the screen in alignment with a respective function. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is among the objectives of embodiments of the invention to provide an SST with an improved display. 
   According to the present invention there is provided a self-service terminal (SST) comprising:
         means for producing images containing instructions for users of the terminal;   means for projecting said images; and   display means for displaying said projected images.       

   According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a self-service terminal (SST), the method comprising:
         producing images containing terminal operating instructions for users of the terminal;   projecting said images; and   displaying said projected images in front of a user location.       

   The use of the projected images permits a significant departure from existing SST configurations, in that images may be produced and projected from locations spaced from the display means. This contrasts with terminals utilizing CRTs or LCD screens, in which the means for generating the display images is conventionally located directly behind the display screen. 
   As used herein, the term “terminal operating instructions” is intended to encompass terminal outputs including instructions, prompts, and information relating to a transaction or operation, and also information which may be unrelated to a current transaction or operation, such as advertising material or images. 
   Preferably, the image producing means includes a suitably programmed computer or other device which may produce one or more of a plurality of pre-selected images, or which may generate one or more of a plurality of unique images. The images may be static or animated, and may comprise one or more of numerals, text or graphical images. 
   Preferably also, the display means includes a screen. The screen may be flat, or may take any suitable non-planar form; for example, by utilizing a mirrored concave screen it may be possible to produce real images in space. The screen may incorporate a keypad. Alternatively, or in addition, the screen may incorporate a touch sensitive surface. The function of individual keys or touch sensitive screen areas may be projected onto the screen and thus, operating in conjunction with processor means for controlling the terminal, the key functions may be varied as desired to suit a particular function, allowing greater flexibility in the operation of the terminal: for example in one mode keys may designate a natural sequence of numerals (0, 1, 2, 3 . . . 9), and in a subsequent mode may designate currency amounts (10, 20, 50, . . . 200), letters, symbols or cursor controls. The screen surface may also incorporate or encompass other functional elements, such as a card reader slot, a cash dispenser slot and receipt printer slot, and these elements may be highlighted at appropriate points during a transaction or operation, for example, by displaying an image of a hand pointing to the element or by differential lighting. 
   The area extent of screen displaying an image or instructions may be varied during the course of a transaction or operation, for example the extent of the displayed instructions may be reduced during a security sensitive part of a transaction, for example when the terminal is prompting the user to input their personal identification number (PIN) for user verification purposes, or displaying an account balance. 
   Further, a plurality of different image elements may be projected at any one time, for example a smaller area containing terminal operating instructions may be surrounded by images made up of a pattern of a financial institution&#39;s logos, or simply an attractive design or image. 
   Conveniently, the image projecting means is located above a user location and projects images onto display means in front of the user location. Such image projecting means may be incorporated into a roof structure extending over the user location. Of course, the image projection means may be positioned at other locations relative to the user location and display means, and a plurality of projection locations may be provided to, for example, minimize the possibility of a user&#39;s hand or head casting a shadow over the display means. The image projection means may also project images onto the display means via one or more mirrors, lenses or other optical devices. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic representation of a self-service terminal in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in the form of an ATM; and 
       FIG. 2  is a view from above of a display screen of the terminal of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference is first made to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, which illustrates an SST in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in the form of an ATM  10 . The ATM  10  includes a collection of substantially conventional ATM modules  12 , as are currently commercially available, however the manner in which the ATM  10  displays information and instructions for the user  14  differs from a conventional ATM, as described below. 
   Rather than the conventional interface means, comprising a user panel including, for example, a keypad and a relatively small CRT screen, the ATM  10  of this embodiment of the invention features a planar display screen  16  which incorporates all of the conventional user panel features within the screen  16 . As may be seen from  FIG. 2  of the drawings, the screen  16  incorporates a card reader slot  18 , a keypad  20 , a cash dispenser slot  22 , and a receipt printer slot  24 . 
   The image generation module  30  can be incorporated into the roof structure  42  extending over the user location. 
   The screen  16  itself is normally blank and carries no information or symbols; these are projected onto the screen  16  as required. Thus, initially the blank screen  16  may have projected thereon the message: 
   “Please insert card here”, 
   with a projected image of an arrow or pointing hand directing the user&#39;s attention to the card reader slot  18 . The remainder of the screen  16  may be filled with any desired projected image or backdrop. 
   Once the user&#39;s identification card has been inserted in the slot  18 , the screen image changes, with further instructions being displayed, for example: 
   “Please enter your personal identification number here”, 
   with a projected image of an arrow or pointing hand directed towards the keypad  20 , on which are projected the appropriate numerals corresponding to the individual key functions. 
   In this manner the user is directed through a transaction with the projected image on the screen  16  changing as appropriate. The projected images may be static or animated, for example as the user is waiting for banknotes to be dispensed the screen  16  may carry an image of the appropriate banknotes being counted out, and when the banknotes are ready to be dispensed from the slot  22 , the displayed image changes to highlight the slot  22 , and carries an appropriate instruction, such as: 
   “Please take your money now”, 
   again possibly with an arrow or pointing hand directing the user to the location of the slot  22 . 
   The projected image may extend over all or part of the screen, and where a particular feature, such as the keypad, is not in use, that feature may be obscured or carry an image unrelated to the function of the feature. 
   It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the above-described embodiment allows provision of a self-service terminal without the requirement to incorporate a bulky and heavy CRT or an expensive LCD screen. Further, the use of projected images to provide interaction with the user provides for far greater flexibility in display presentation, the extent of the display no longer being limited to a relatively small screen, and potentially extending the display area to encompass the entire area of a user interface panel, and incorporating the other elements of the panel. 
   In other embodiments, the screen may incorporate touch sensitive areas, which are highlighted as appropriate during a transaction. 
   Also, certain embodiments may have an area for displaying images which is distinct and separate from other user panel features, such as one or more of the card reader slot, key pad, cash dispenser slot and receipt printer slot, however even in this configuration the present invention facilitates provision of a relatively large screen area.