Abstract: A transaction terminal includes a housing, an elongated finger recess defined by the housing, and a finger scanner sensor disposed in the recess. The elongated finger recess may include a length of at least approximately a two knuckle distance. An outer surface region of the housing and the finger recess may define a web receiving area adapted to receive a web of a hand. The transaction terminal can include a card cavity formed integral with the elongated finger recess.

Abstract: An optical reader with at least two variable definition soft keys positioned adjacent the display and externally labeled with permanent down and up arrow indicia. Variable definition soft keys are highly versatile an allow the user to change or alter the function of the soft keys based on a user program. Soft keys positioned adjacent the display and labeled with down and up arrows graphically reinforce a wide range of text and graphic combinations shown on the display.

Abstract: A transaction terminal including a motherboard and a display coupled to the motherboard. The transaction terminal further includes a removable data carrier reader coupled to the motherboard and an optical reader coupled to the motherboard, the optical reader having a field of view. The transaction terminal further includes a user interface coupled to the motherboard and a shroud disposed proximate to the optical reader, the shroud emitting light.

Abstract: A body portion of an optical reader has an elastomeric skirt surrounding the lateral edges thereof. The laterally spaced front edges of the skirt, which are on either side of a window through which the light is emitted and received along an optical axis, are angled rearwardly from a plane normal to said axis. The front edges extend downwardly and forwardly from a front edge of the bottom wall of a body, and also extend forwardly from a front edge of the top wall of the body. These features allow the lower ends of the front edges of the skirt to be placed on a surface near the target to act as a fulcrum in rotating the handle of the scanner to selectively place the reader in close proximity to the target, while at the same time allowing the operator to view the target.

Abstract: A transaction terminal including a display, a housing, an imaging module assembly wherein the imaging module assembly comprises a control and decode circuit, an imaging module, and a light pipe disposed optically forward of the imaging module. The light pipe may be in a tubular configuration and may include a first end disposed inside the housing and a second end extending to an exterior of the housing. The transaction terminal may include a motion detector generating a motion detection signal that serves as a trigger signal. When a motion detection signal changes state from OFF to ON, light sources of the LEDs are actuated so that a user is notified of a decoding function of the terminal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a space saving design for an optical reader with keyboard and display wherein the reader is configured so that a reader trigger provides function in addition to the actuation of scanning. When an alphanumeric key is depressed the trigger is pulled and released to cycle through and select the available characters assigned to that particular key. The current character selection is shown at the cursor location on the display. When the key is released the current character selection is accepted and the cursor advances. This arrangement provides efficient, low cost access to alpha and punctuation-characters by reducing the number of keys and keystrokes required to enter data. The trigger may also be configured to operate in other user defined modes such as macro initiation or display scrolling.

Abstract: A transaction terminal includes a touch screen and a control circuit. In a signature entry mode, the control circuit displays a signature entry area and monitors data input into the touch screen. If the input data corresponds to the signature capture area, the control circuit displays a data point corresponding to the valid input data. If the input data does not correspond to the signature capture area the control circuit, in one embodiment superimposes a prompt message on displayed signature data until the control circuit receives valid data.

Abstract: A transaction terminal includes a housing, an elongated finger recess defined by the housing, and a finger scanner sensor disposed in the recess. The elongated finger recess may include a length of at least approximately a two knuckle distance. An outer surface region of the housing and the finger recess may define a web receiving area adapted to receive a web of a hand. The transaction terminal can include a card cavity formed integral with the elongated finger recess.

Abstract: A transaction terminal includes a housing, a touch screen, a card reader, an imaging module, and a decode circuit coupled to the imaging module. The imaging module in one embodiment is disposed in the housing so that an imaging axis extends rearward of the housing. In a typical use of the terminal a store clerk can easily move objects into a field of view of the terminal. The transaction terminal can be coupled to a POS network which remotely sends a trigger signal actuating the imaging module when an age-proof-require product is being purchased.

Abstract: A transaction terminal including a housing, and a touch screen, wherein the housing includes a raised surface defined peripherally about at least one edge of the touch screen. The raised surface reduces the likelihood of a hand contacting the touch screen outside of a signature capture area during signature capture. The raised surface can be defined in a detachable frame with a housing main body. A replaceable window, defining a touch screen receipt surface can be interposed between the frame and the housing main body.

Abstract: The invention is a transaction terminal having an encryption mode apparatus comprising a secure information entry circuit and a secure mode indicator. The secure information entry circuit is operable to execute an encryption routine including steps that involve application of an encryption algorithm. Further included in the secure mode information entry circuit is cryptographic firmware which adapts the secure information entry circuit so that an encryption mode signal is caused to change state when an encryption routine is called. The indicator of the encryption mode apparatus is made responsive to the encryption mode signal so that the indicator indicates to a user as to whether data entered into the terminal will be encrypted by the terminal.

Abstract: An ergonomically designed transactional terminal according to the invention in one embodiment includes a housing having a top portion partially defined by a touch screen, a base, and an enlarged head portion extending forwardly from the base to define a lip. An insert style card reader having horizontally oriented feed slot opening toward the front of the housing is disposed in the lip of the housing. The feed slot may be angled downward slightly to reduce build up in the slot and to encourage a sweeping action by a card during card removal. The touch screen may be angled downward in coplanar relationship with the feed slot to improve visibility of the touch screen and to improve simultaneous observation of touch screen and card indicia.

Abstract: The present invention to provide an optical reader with at least two variable definition soft keys positioned adjacent the display and externally labeled with permanent down and up arrow indicia. Variable definition soft keys are highly versatile and allow the user to change or alter the function of the soft keys based on a user program. Soft keys positioned adjacent the display and labeled with down and up arrows graphically reinforce a wide range of text and graphic combinations shown on the display.

Abstract: The invention is an optical reader which in one embodiment includes reader head having both a top status condition indicator and a rear status condition indicator. A control circuit is adapted to control both of the top and read status condition indicators simultaneously so that an operator is provided with an easily viewed status indicator at the extremes of normal reader viewing angles expected during reader operation. The top status condition indicator may be a keyboard integrated indicator comprising a translucent key and a light source bank disposed to emit light through the translucent key under the control of the control circuit. The rear status condition indicator may be provided by a bank of LEDs operating in combination with a light pipe disposed in the reader to conduct light from the LED bank to the rear of the reader head.