US 7,479,946 B2
Ergonomically designed multifunctional transaction terminal
Timothy R. Fitch, Syracuse, N.Y. (US); Eric C. Coleman, Liverpool, N.Y. (US); Donna M. Fletcher, Auburn, N.Y. (US); James Gresko, Rochester, N.Y. (US); Garrison Gomez, Marietta, N.Y. (US); Paul Higgins, Fayetteville, N.Y. (US); Paul Klock, Rochester, N.Y. (US); David A. Mangicaro, Syracuse, N.Y. (US); Melvin D. McCall, Homer, N.Y. (US); Russ A. Meseroll, Camillus, N.Y. (US); James F. O'Donnell, Camillus, N.Y. (US); James B. Rosetti, Auburn, N.Y. (US); Joseph B. Sakal, Skaneateles, N.Y. (US); Thomas A. Siegler, Charlotte, N.C. (US); George S. Smith, II, Manlius, N.Y. (US); and David Sperduti, Auburn, N.Y. (US)
Assigned to Hand Held Products, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/44,119.
Prior Publication US 2003/0132918 A1, Jul. 17, 2003
Int. Cl. G06F 3/041 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 345—173  [345/169; 345/179] 64 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transaction terminal for reading information from a credit card in a retail point of sale transaction, said transaction terminal comprising:
a card reader unit for reading said credit card, said card reader unit including a slot for receiving said credit card, at least one magnetic stripe reader for reading magnetic stripe encoded data, and a smart card reader for reading encoded data of an integrated circuit disposed on said credit card;
a control circuit coupled to said card reader unit, said control circuit configured to receive information read from said credit card by said card reader unit;
a touch screen including a display and a touch screen overlay, said transaction terminal configured so that signature information can be entered into said touch screen utilizing a stylus; and
a housing encapsulating said control circuit and components of said card reader unit for reading said credit card, said housing further supporting said touch screen, wherein said housing further includes a base and a top surface, said touch screen being disposed at said top surface, said housing further defining said slot of said card reader unit and further including a circumferential lip extending at least one of outwardly sideward or outwardly forward from said base, said circumferential lip extending about a perimeter of said housing, wherein said housing further has disposed thereon a holder apparatus for holding a stylus for use in entering data into said transaction terminal.