Contactless smartcard bezel

Abstract

A multi media payment device includes a banknote acceptor and a RF card reader, and also may include a magnetic card reader. A bezel assembly for connection to the bill acceptor preferably includes a reader unit to read magnetic swipe cards and contactless chip cards.

1 . A multi media payment device comprising:
 a banknote acceptor; and   a RF card reader, the RF card reader including an antenna loop for reading information stored in a contactless smart card.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the card reader unit is integrated in a bezel assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  comprising a light pipe of a material with volume diffusion properties. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the display has a “chip-on-glass” construction. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  having an external form factor compatible with an industry standard footprint of approximately 86 mm×107 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  including at least one of an alpha-numeric or graphical display. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the display is at least partially within a planar outline of the antenna of the RF card reader. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the antenna is located on a printed circuit board on which are mounted components to illuminate the display. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the components to illuminate the display are located substantially inside the antenna loop area. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  including a display, wherein the display overlaps at least a portion of the antenna loop. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the antenna loop is located behind the display relative to a front face of the device. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a magnetic card reader. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the card reader unit is integrated with a bezel assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the RF card reader includes a low profile magnetic head. 
     
     
         15 . A multi media payment device according to  claim 12  wherein the antenna loop is sized to the available area of a vending machine aperture after space has been allocated for a banknote entry slot and a magnetic stripe slot. 
     
     
         16 . A multi media payment device according to  claim 15  wherein a display overlaps the antenna loop. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  comprising indicator lights to illuminate a plurality of sections of the light pipe wherein at least some of the indicator lights are operable to flash in a strobe pattern and sequence to create an optical illusion of motion. 
     
     
         18 . A bezel assembly for connection to a bill validator, the bezel assembly comprising a reader unit including an antenna loop to read information stored on a contactless chip card. 
     
     
         19 . The bezel assembly of  claim 18  wherein the reader unit also is operable to read a magnetic swipe card. 
     
     
         20 . The bezel assembly of  claim 18  connected to a bill validator. 
     
     
         21 . The bezel assembly of  claim 18  including a display, wherein the display overlaps at least a portion of the antenna loop. 
     
     
         22 . The bezel assembly of  claim 21  wherein the antenna loop is located behind the display relative to a front face of the assembly. 
     
     
         23 . The bezel assembly of  claim 18  including a first slot for insertion of a bill, a second slot for swiping a magnetic swipe card, and the antenna loop to read the contactless chip card placed in proximity to the bezel assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The bezel assembly of  claim 18  including a light pipe and indicator lights to illuminate sections of the light pipe, wherein the indicator lights are operable to flash in a strobe pattern and sequence. 
     
     
         25 . The bezel assembly of  claim 18  having an external form factor compatible with a footprint of approximately 84 mm×107 mm. 
     
     
         26 . A method of upgrading a vending machine with capability of reading contactless chip cards and magnetic swipe cards, the method comprising:
 installing a bezel assembly comprising hardware to read the contactless chip cards and magnetic swipe cards; and   connecting the bezel assembly to an input port of a data collecting module.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the bezel assembly further includes a slot for insertion of a bill, the method including connecting the bezel assembly to a bill validator, wherein the bill validator is arranged to receive a bill inserted into the slot.