Search

EP-4736269-A1 - ANTENNA FOR ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TERMINAL

EP4736269A1EP 4736269 A1EP4736269 A1EP 4736269A1EP-4736269-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna for an electronic payment terminal (2), which includes: - a support member (4) comprising a plurality of support elements (10), in the general shape of a straight cylinder with a concave base, articulated pairwise at axial ends about pivot connections (12) having parallel axes of rotation, each support element (10) having a receiving cavity; and - an electrically conductive member (6) configured to be accommodated in the receiving cavities.

Inventors

  • HERNANDEZ, VINCENT

Assignees

  • Banks and Acquirers International Holding

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240628

Claims (12)

  1. Antenna for electronic payment terminal (2), characterized in that it comprises: - a support member (4) comprising several support elements (10), generally in the shape of a right cylinder with a concave base, articulated two by two at axial ends according to pivot connections (12) having parallel axes of rotation (13), each support element (10) having a receiving housing (14), and - an electrically conductive member (6) configured to be housed in the receiving housings (14).
  2. Antenna (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the pivot links (12) are distributed in the support member (4) so as to allow the support elements (10) to be organized by forming the edges of a closed contour.
  3. Antenna (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support member (4) comprises a number n greater than or equal to 4 of support elements (10), among which n-2 central support elements (10a), each articulated to two support elements (10), and two end support elements (10b), each articulated to a single support element (10).
  4. Antenna (2) according to claim 3, in which the central support elements (10a) each have a receiving housing (14) in the form of a rectilinear groove.
  5. Antenna (2) according to claim 3 or 4, in which the end support elements (10b) each have a groove-shaped receiving housing (14) having an open angled end.
  6. Antenna (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support elements (10) are bevelled on either side of the pivot links (12).
  7. Antenna (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the pivot connections (12) are made in the support member (4) by areas of smaller cross-section, so that the support member (4) is in one piece.
  8. Antenna (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support member (4) comprises material recesses (20) on either side of the pivot connections (12).
  9. Antenna (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the concave base of the support elements (10) has a general U shape so as to form a guide (16) for receiving a complementary member.
  10. Antenna (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising, for each pivot connection (12), fixing means (22) configured to secure the two support elements (10) adjacent to said pivot connection (12).
  11. Method of assembling an antenna (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the following steps are implemented: - the support elements (10) of the support member (4) are arranged so that the main axes of each of the support elements (10) are parallel, - the electrically conductive member (6) is inserted into the receiving housings (14), and - the support member (4) is folded by means of the pivot links (12) to give a predetermined shape to the antenna (2).
  12. Electronic payment terminal (1) comprising an antenna (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Description

Antenna for electronic payment terminal The invention relates to the technical field of electronic payment terminals. More particularly, the invention relates to an antenna for an electronic payment terminal, a method of assembling such an antenna and an electronic payment terminal comprising such an antenna. The prior art is known to provide an electronic payment terminal equipped with an antenna enabling the transmission and reception of waves required for the operation of the electronic payment terminal. Generally speaking, such an antenna is produced by manufacturing an electrically conductive member from a cut metal sheet cooperating with a support member enabling its integration into a housing of the payment terminal. The sheet metal is cut into a predetermined shape to adapt to the geometry of the housing of the payment terminal. This method of producing the antenna can pose certain problems. In fact, the cutting is generally carried out starting from a large sheet metal, so that if the shape of the antenna is relatively complex, the cutting generates waste constituting material losses that can be significant, which is preferable to avoid. In addition, fixing the electrically conductive member in the support member generally involves steps of folding, fixing by punching and cutting of fixing means that are rendered useless after fixing, which constitute time-consuming operations, thus generating additional costs in the manufacture of the antenna. Furthermore, the general method of producing the antenna in the form of a cut sheet metal and a support member does not easily allow antennas of more or less complex shapes to be produced, which can be a hindrance in the design of the architecture of the payment terminal. The invention aims in particular to remedy these problems by proposing an antenna for an electronic payment terminal, the manufacture of which generates less unused waste and allows the production of more elaborate shapes than those of the prior art, in an inexpensive manner. For this purpose, the invention relates to an antenna for an electronic payment terminal, comprising: - a support member comprising several support elements, generally in the shape of a straight cylinder with a concave base, articulated two by two at axial ends according to pivot connections having parallel axes of rotation, each support element having a receiving housing, and - an electrically conductive organ configured to be housed in the receiving housings. Thus, an electrically conductive member is manufactured in a simple shape to be inserted into the receiving housings of the support elements, then the support member is folded using the pivot connections in order to give the antenna the desired shape. It is understood that producing the electrically conductive member in a simple shape makes it possible to limit material waste if it is manufactured by cutting a sheet metal, so that material losses linked to the shape of the antenna are limited compared to the situation of the prior art. In addition, thanks to the flexibility provided by the pivot connections and the modular nature of the support member, it is possible to give a large number of shapes to the antenna by as many folds as necessary, whether these shapes are complex or not. Finally, the antenna according to the invention only uses elements that are simple to produce and arrange, which makes it inexpensive. Advantageously, the pivot connections are distributed in the support member so as to allow the support elements to be organized by forming the edges of a closed contour. The support organ thus has a simple shape which can accommodate a complementary organ inside the closed contour. Advantageously, the support member comprises a number n greater than or equal to 4 of support elements, among which n -2 central support elements, each articulated to two support elements, and two end support elements, each articulated to a single support element. The support member thus comprises support elements which are generally not very different from each other, so that it is of simple design. Preferably, the central support elements each have a receiving housing in the form of a rectilinear groove. The receiving housings are thus simple to produce and allow the electrically conductive organ to be housed efficiently. Preferably, the end support members each have a groove-shaped receiving housing having an open angled end. This allows the support member to provide an input and an output, located respectively on the end support elements, to facilitate the connection of the electrically conductive member to other components of the payment terminal in which the antenna will be installed. In other words, the integration capacity of the antenna is improved. Advantageously, the support elements are beveled on either side of the pivot connections. This facilitates the folding of the support member at the pivot connections. In addition, by dimensioning the bevel angle, it i