Data device including ofn functionality

Abstract

A data entry device including a housing, data entry circuitry located within the housing, a keypad mounted in the housing and having a plurality of movable key elements which, when depressed, are displaced to at least a predetermined extent from a first location within the housing to a second location within the housing and Optical Finger Navigation (OFN) circuitry mounted inside the housing, being operative for sensing at least some of the plurality of movable key elements when depressed and displaced to at least the predetermined extent from the first location within the housing to the second location within the housing and providing a key displacement output indicating key displacement to the data entry circuitry.

1 . A data entry device comprising:
 a housing;   data entry circuitry located within said housing;   a keypad mounted in said housing and having a plurality of movable key elements which, when depressed, are displaced to at least a predetermined extent from a first location within said housing to a second location within said housing; and   Optical Finger Navigation (OFN) circuitry mounted inside said housing, being operative for sensing at least some of said plurality of movable key elements when depressed and displaced to at least said predetermined extent from said first location within said housing to said second location within said housing and providing a key displacement output indicating key displacement to said data entry circuitry.   
     
     
         2 . A data entry device according to  claim 1  and wherein said OFN circuitry is mounted on an electrical circuit board spaced from said movable key elements. 
     
     
         3 . A data entry device according to  claim 2  and also comprising a spacer mounted between said electrical circuit board and said keypad. 
     
     
         4 . A data entry device according to  claim 2  and wherein said electrical circuit board is arranged such that displacement of a key from a first location within the housing to a second location within the housing by the finger of a user is detected and identified by said OFN circuitry. 
     
     
         5 . A data entry device according to  claim 1  and wherein said OFN circuitry is incorporated within an OFN module which includes an illuminator and optics. 
     
     
         6 . A data entry device according to  claim 5  and wherein said OFN module is generally centered with respect to said plurality of movable key elements and lies therebelow so as to be in a line of sight with all of said plurality of movable key elements. 
     
     
         7 . A data entry device according to  claim 6  and wherein said OFN module is also in a line of sight with other regions within the housing. 
     
     
         8 . A data entry device according to  claim 6  and wherein said OFN module views optically identifiable markings on said plurality of movable key elements as well as other objects which provide a background useful in detecting tampering. 
     
     
         9 . A data entry device according to  claim 6  and wherein a background output of said OFN module is employed as a reference against which an output of said OFN module indicating possible tampering is compared. 
     
     
         10 . A data entry device according to  claim 6  and wherein at least one of the following events produces a tampering indication:
 creating a hole in the data entry device using a tool, said tool being seen by said OFN module; and 
 removal of said tool, allowing light to enter the housing, said light being seen by said OFN module. 
 
     
     
         11 . A data entry device comprising:
 a housing;   data entry circuitry located within said housing;   tamper detection circuitry located within said housing;   a keypad mounted in said housing and having a plurality of movable key elements; and   OFN circuitry mounted inside said housing, being operative for sensing displacement of said plurality of movable key elements and tampering with said device and providing a key displacement output indicating key displacement to at least a predetermined extent to said data entry circuitry and a tamper indication output to said tamper detection circuitry.   
     
     
         12 . A data entry device according to  claim 11  and wherein said OFN circuitry is mounted on an electrical circuit board spaced from said movable key elements. 
     
     
         13 . A data entry device according to  claim 12  and also comprising a spacer mounted between said electrical circuit board and said keypad. 
     
     
         14 . A data entry device according to  claim 11  and wherein said electrical circuit board is arranged such that displacement of a key from a first location within the housing to a second location within the housing by the finger of a user is detected and identified by said OFN circuitry. 
     
     
         15 . A data entry device according to  claim 11  and wherein said OFN circuitry is incorporated within an OFN module which includes an illuminator and optics. 
     
     
         16 . A data entry device according to  claim 15  and wherein said OFN module is generally centered with respect to said plurality of movable key elements and lies therebelow so as to be in a line of sight with all of said plurality of movable key elements. 
     
     
         17 . A data entry device according to  claim 16  and wherein said OFN module is also in a line of sight with other regions within the housing. 
     
     
         18 . A data entry device according to  claim 16  and wherein said OFN module views optically identifiable markings on said plurality of movable key elements as well as other objects which provide a background useful in detecting tampering. 
     
     
         19 . A data entry device according to  claim 16  and wherein a background output of said OFN module is employed as a reference against which an output of said OFN module indicating possible tampering is compared. 
     
     
         20 . A data entry device according to  claim 16  and wherein at least one of the following events produce a tampering indication:
 creating a hole in the data entry device using a tool, said tool being seen by said OFN module; and 
 removal of said tool, allowing light to enter the housing, said light being seen by said OFN module. 
 
     
     
         21 . A sensitive data device comprising:
 a housing;   sensitive data handling circuitry located within said housing;   tamper detection circuitry located within said housing; and   OFN circuitry mounted inside said housing, being operative for sensing tampering with said device and providing a tamper indication output to said tamper detection circuitry.   
     
     
         22 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 21  and wherein said OFN circuitry is mounted on an electrical circuit board spaced from a plurality of movable key elements. 
     
     
         23 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 22  and also comprising a spacer mounted between said electrical circuit board and a keypad mounted in said housing and having said plurality of movable key elements. 
     
     
         24 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 22  and wherein said electrical circuit board is arranged such that displacement of a key from a first location within the housing to a second location within the housing by the finger of a user is detected and identified by said OFN circuitry. 
     
     
         25 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 22  and wherein said OFN circuitry is incorporated within an OFN module which includes an illuminator and optics. 
     
     
         26 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 25  and wherein said OFN module is generally centered with respect to said plurality of movable key elements and lies therebelow so as to be in a line of sight with all of said plurality of movable key elements. 
     
     
         27 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 26  and wherein said OFN module is also in a line of sight with other regions within the housing. 
     
     
         28 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 26  and wherein said OFN module views optically identifiable markings on said plurality of movable key elements as well as other objects which provide a background useful in detecting tampering. 
     
     
         29 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 26  and wherein a background output of said OFN module is employed as a reference against which an output of said OFN module indicating possible tampering is compared. 
     
     
         30 . A sensitive data device according to  claim 26  and wherein at least one of the following events produce a tampering indication:
 creating a hole in the data entry device using a tool, said tool being seen by said OFN module; and 
 removal of said tool, allowing light to enter the housing, said light being seen by said OFN module.