Abstract:
A display assembly for a point-of-sale terminal is provided. The display assembly has a liquid crystal display and a touch screen disposed overlying the liquid crystal display. The display assembly also has a viewing angle-controlled device disposed proximate to the touch screen. The viewing angle-controlled device is configured to limit the viewing angles at which said liquid crystal display may be viewed to a restricted range of viewing angles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to data-capture systems used for payment transactions, and more particularly relates to point-of-sale or point-of-service (POS) transaction terminals with viewing angle-controlled displays.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Dedicated systems for facilitating point of sale transactions are known in the art, and indeed are familiar to most consumers in industrial countries. Such systems are commonly used when a consumer (or user) pays for a purchase, or is to receive a credit back, typically in conjunction with the consumer&#39;s credit card or debit card.  FIG. 1  illustrates a point-of-sale and/or point-of-service (“POS”) transaction terminal  100  in the art. POS transaction terminal  100  typically comprises a transaction computer  102 , such as a CPU, operatively connected to a display  104 .  
         [0003]     With conventional credit cards or debit cards, at the time of purchase or credit, the card is moved through a magnetic stripe reader  106  of the POS terminal  100 , and the encoded information on the magnetic stripe is read. To promote security, the consumer typically is required to enter some sort of personal identification number (“PIN”) or a personal signature to help confirm that the consumer is indeed the authorized card owner. Entry is commonly made using display  104  of the POS terminal. Display  104  typically has a virtual (e.g., displayed) keypad interface, signature-capture interface, or other data-capture interface that is formed by the combination of a touch pad and a liquid crystal display (“LCD”). Display  104  can respond to pressure or touch from a passive style or pen  108  or from the consumer&#39;s finger, fingernail, keys or other such objects.  
         [0004]     Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 2 , the POS terminal may simply comprise a pin entry device (“PED”)  200 , which comprises a PIN entry display  202  coupled to a computer device, such as a CPU. PIN entry display  202  typically has a virtual keypad interface that is formed by the combination of a touch pad and an LCD. In this embodiment, a consumer&#39;s credit or debit card is moved through a magnetic strip reader of another device (not shown), such as a cash register, which is operably connected to PED  200 . The consumer is then prompted by PED  200 , such as via an LCD display  204 , or by a product or service provider, to enter a PIN. The consumer may enter the PIN by touching or pressing on the virtual keys of PIN entry display  202 .  
         [0005]     During entry of such personal information by the consumer, the personal information may be subjected to theft by onlookers that can view POS terminal display  14  or PIN entry display  202  at an angle.  FIG. 3  illustrates the various positions about a POS terminal, such as PIN entry device  200 , at which an onlooker may be positioned to view PIN entry display  202 . The position of the onlooker may be measured as having a position angle β about the “5” key of PIN entry display  202 . A consumer using PIN entry device  200  typically stands facing PIN entry display  202 , with position angle β being about zero degrees. An onlooker standing behind the consumer likely will not be able to view PIN entry display  202  because her view will be blocked by the consumer. However, an onlooker standing to the side of PIN entry device  200 , such as when the onlooker is at a position angle β of about 45 to 135 degrees or about 225 to 315 degrees, or an onlooker standing across from the consumer, such as when the onlooker is at a position angle β of about 135 to 225 degrees, may be able to view PIN entry display  202  when the consumer is inputting her PIN.  
         [0006]     To improve the security of POS transactions, POS terminals in the art may comprise a mechanical shield disposed about the terminal or the terminal display to limit the angles at which the terminal display may be viewed. However, such mechanical shields can increase the costs of the POS terminals. In addition, such mechanical shields may interfere with entry of data by the consumer.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a POS terminal display that limits the angles at which the display may be viewed. In addition, it is desirable to provide a POS terminal with a display having limited viewing angles. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a display assembly for a point-of-sale terminal. The display assembly comprises a liquid crystal display and a touch screen disposed overlying the liquid crystal display. A viewing angle-controlled device is disposed proximate to the touch screen. The viewing angle-controlled device is configured to limit viewing angles at which the liquid crystal display may be viewed to a restricted range of viewing angles.  
         [0009]     According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a display device for a point-of-sale terminal, the display device having a periphery. The display device comprises a liquid crystal display and a touch screen disposed overlying the liquid crystal display. A viewing angle-controlled device is disposed overlying the liquid crystal display. The viewing angle-controlled device is configured to limit about at least a portion of the periphery of the display device the angles at which the liquid crystal display may be viewed.  
         [0010]     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a point-of-sale transaction terminal. The point-of-sale transaction terminal comprises a computer device and a display assembly operably connected to the computer device. The display assembly is configured to permit entry of data into the computer device by touching the display assembly. The display assembly is further configured to limit to a restricted range of viewing angles the angles at which the display assembly may be viewed.  
         [0011]     According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for fabricating a display assembly for a point-of-sale terminal. The method comprises providing a liquid crystal display and positioning a touch screen overlying the liquid crystal display. A viewing angle-controlled device is disposed overlying the liquid crystal display. The viewing angle-controlled device limits viewing angles at which the liquid crystal display may be viewed to a restricted range of viewing angles. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a POS transaction terminal in the art;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of another POS transaction terminal in the art;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the possible positions of a viewer about the periphery of the POS transaction terminal of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the viewing angle of a viewer of a POS transaction terminal relative to the plane of the display of the POS transaction terminal;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a display assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of the viewing angle of a viewer relative to various positions of the viewer about the periphery of a POS transaction terminal in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.  
         [0020]     The various embodiments of the present invention relate to a display for a POS transaction terminal that controls or limits the viewing angles at which the display can be viewed.  FIG. 4  illustrates a POS terminal  400  having a viewing angle-controlled display  402  in accordance with any of the various embodiments of the present invention. A viewer  404  may be positioned about viewing angle-controlled display  402  at any position angle β, as described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , and may be able to view display  402  along a line of sight  406 . The viewer&#39;s line of sight  406  is at a viewing angle α measured from the plane of display  402 . As described in more detail below, viewing angle-controlled display  402  may control or restrict the viewing angles α at which viewer  404  may view display  402 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a viewing angle-controlled display  500  for a POS transaction terminal in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Viewing angle-controlled display  500  comprises an LCD  502 . LCD  502  may comprise any suitable LCD device that is known in the payment transaction industry. LCD  502  preferably has a substantially uniform thickness and may have any suitable shape. In one exemplary embodiment, LCD  502  may have at least one front surface or boundary  510 , at least two side surfaces or boundaries  508 , and at least one back surface or boundary  512 . Viewing angle-controlled display  500  also comprises a touch screen  504  that overlies LCD  502 . Touch screen  504  may comprise any suitable pressure-sensitive or touch-sensitive pad or film known in the industry, such as, for example, 4-wire resistive touch screens, 5-wire resistive touch screens, capacitive touch screens, and ultrasonic touch screens. Examples of touch screens available in the industry include Fine Touch® touch screens manufactured by Nissha Company of Kyoto City, Japan, 4-Wire and 5-Wire touch screens manufactured by ITM, Inc. of Kyunggi-Do, Korea, and capacitive and resistive touch screens, such as the TouchPad™, available from Synaptics, Inc. of San Jose, Calif.  
         [0022]     Viewing angle-controlled display  500  further comprises a viewing angle-controlled device  506 . Viewing angle-controlled device  506  may be interposed between LCD  502  and touch screen  504 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , or, alternatively, may overlie touch screen  504 . Viewing angle-controlled device  506  may comprise any suitable type of film, layer or other mechanism that restricts or limits the range of viewing angles α at which LCD  502 , and hence viewing angle-controlled display  500 , may be viewed by an onlooker when the onlooker is positioned at a point about the periphery of viewing angle-controlled display  500 . In one exemplary embodiment, the viewing angle-controlled device  506  may limit the viewing angles to a restricted range when the viewing angle controlled-display  500  is viewed from approximately one of the side surfaces  508  of LCD  502 . In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, viewing angle-controlled device  506  may limit the viewing range at which LCD  502  may be viewed to a restricted range when the viewing angle-controlled display  500  is viewed from approximately a back surface  512  of LCD  502 . In a further, preferred, exemplary embodiment of the invention, viewing angle-controlled device  506  may limit the viewing angles at which LCD  502  may be viewed to a restricted range when the viewing angle-controlled display  500  is viewed from approximately one of the side surfaces  508  and approximately one of the back surfaces  512  of LCD  502 .  
         [0023]     In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewing angle-controlled device  506  may comprise a light control film that is interposed between LCD  502  and touch screen  504  and that does not interfere with the operation of touch screen  504 . Examples of films or materials that may be suitable for forming a viewing angle-controlled film include, but are not limited to, Vikuiti® Light Control Film manufactured by 3M Corporation of St. Paul, Minn., and light control film and blur film available from VisionTek Systems, Ltd. of West Midlands, United Kingdom.  
         [0024]     In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewing angle-controlled device  506  may comprise a half-mirror coating that is disposed overlying touch screen  504 . Examples of half-mirror coatings that may be suitable for forming viewing angle-controlled device  506  include, but are not limited to, half-mirror coatings available from ITM, Inc. of Kyunggi-Do, Korea.  
         [0025]     Viewing angle-controlled device  506  may have any thickness  514  suitable to restrict or limit the range of angles at which LCD  502  may be viewed. In another embodiment of the present invention, viewing angle-controlled device  506  may have a width  516  and a length  518  that is at least as great as the width and length of LCD  502 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, viewing angle-controlled device  506  has a width  516  and length  518  that are approximately the same as the width and length of LCD  502 .  
         [0026]     LCD  502 , viewing angle-controlled device  506  and/or touch screen  504  may be assembled using any suitable chemical or mechanical method. For example, in one exemplary embodiment LCD  502 , viewing angle-controlled device  506  and touch screen  504  may be suitably aligned, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and may be restricted in movement relative to each other by a fastening device, such as screws, brackets, clamps and the like. In another exemplary embodiment, LCD  502  and/or touch screen  504  may be affixed to viewing angle-controlled device  506  using a suitable adhesive or adhesive tape. In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, viewing angle-controlled device  506  may be deposited as a coating, such as a half mirror coating, on LCD  502  and/or touch screen  504 . Further, it will be appreciated that, while viewing angle-controlled device  506  is shown as an element separate from LCD  502  and touch screen  504 , viewing angle-controlled device  506  may be an integral portion of LCD  502  or touch screen  504 .  
         [0027]     As described above, viewing angle-controlled device  506  may restrict or limit the range of angles at which LCD  502  may be viewed by an onlooker depending on the position of the onlooker relative to the POS terminal. Referring to  FIG. 6 , an onlooker  602  may be disposed about the periphery of a POS terminal  600  having a viewing angle-controlled display  604  in accordance with the various embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a point along the periphery of POS terminal  600 , and hence, viewing angle-controlled display  604 , may be measured as a position at a position angle β that is measured in the plane of display  604 , which for purposes of illustration may be the x-y plane, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Position angle β is measured about an axis perpendicular to the plane of display  604 , which for purposes of illustration may be the z-axis. Position angle β is measured from a position β=0, which may lie along an axis that intersects the “5” and “8” keys of viewing angle-controlled display  604 . Onlooker  602  may view display  604  along a line of sight  606  that is at a viewing angle α from the plane of display  604 .  
         [0028]     Preferably, when the onlooker is positioned at a position angle in the range of about 315°≦β≦45°, that is, when the onlooker is viewing display  604  from approximately the front boundary or surface of display  604 , the viewing angle is not restricted, that is, the onlooker may view display  604  at any viewing angle in the range of 0≦α≦90°. However, it will be appreciated that the viewing angle may be restricted to any suitable range when the onlooker is positioned at a position angle in the range of about 315°≦β≦45°. In one embodiment of the invention, when the onlooker is positioned at a position angle in the range of about 45°≦β≦315°, the onlooker&#39;s viewing angle may be restricted to the range of about 25°&gt;α≦90°. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, when the onlooker is positioned at a position angle in the range of about 45°≦β≦315°, the onlooker&#39;s viewing angle may be restricted to the range of about 35°≦α≦90°. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, when the onlooker is positioned at a position angle in the range of about 45°≦β≦90° or in the range of about 270°≦α≦315°, the onlooker&#39;s viewing angle may be restricted to the range of about 35°≦α≦90° and when the onlooker is positioned at a position angle in the range of about 90°≦β≦270°, the onlooker&#39;s viewing angle may be restricted to the range of about 40°≦α−90°.  
         [0029]     While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.