Keyboard for secure data entry
AssigneeMicrochip Technology Incorporated
InventorEric Huang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keyboard for secure data entry is provided. The keyboard comprises at least one or more of data entry buttons that can be depressed by a user. For each of the data entry buttons, a button actuator is provided that is movable upon the user depressing the respective data entry button and a primary capacitive sensor is provided that is arranged to determine movement of the button actuator of the respective data entry button by capacitance sampling. The button actuator is at least partly made from a conductive material. The button actuator is coupled to a defined electric potential at least during the capacitance sampling to shield the primary capacitive sensor from eavesdropping.
Claims18
A keyboard for secure data entry, comprising at least
- one or more of data entry buttons that can be depressed by a user;
- and
- for each of the data entry buttons
- a button actuator, movable upon the user depressing the respective data entry button;
- and
- a primary capacitive sensor, arranged to determine movement of the button actuator of the respective data entry button by capacitance sampling;
- wherein
- the button actuator is at least partly made from a conductive material;
- and
- the button actuator is coupled to a defined electric potential at least during the capacitance sampling to shield the primary capacitive sensor from eavesdropping.
A point-of-sale device comprising at least
- a point-of-sale transaction processor;
- one or more of data entry buttons that can be depressed by a user;
- and
- for each of the data entry buttons
- a button actuator, movable upon the user depressing the respective button;
- and
- a primary capacitive sensor, arranged to determine movement of the button actuator of the respective data entry button by capacitance sampling;
- wherein
- the button actuator is at least partly made from a conductive material;
- and
- the button actuator is coupled to a defined electric potential at least during the capacitance sampling to shield the primary capacitive sensor from eavesdropping.
A method of secure data entry with a keyboard having one or more of data entry buttons that can be depressed by a user;
- and for each of the data entry buttons, a button actuator, movable upon the user depressing the respective data entry button and being at least partly made from a conductive material;
- and a primary capacitive sensor;
- wherein the method comprises sampling of the primary capacitive sensor to determine movement of the button actuator;
- and
- at least during the sampling, coupling the button actuator to a defined electric potential to shield the primary capacitive sensor from eavesdropping.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.