ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TERMINAL WITH ACTIVE COVER

摘要

An apparatus 10 useful in facilitating commercial transaction payments as a secured electronic payment terminal 12 and a thin keyboard cover 14. The keyboard cover 14 is adjustably attached to the electronic payment terminal 12 so that the keyboard cover 14 can alternatively serve to cover the keyboard 18 or to swing away from the keyboard 18 to provide a security panel. In one embodiment of the invention, the keyboard cover 14 is "active," in that it incorporates a data communicator 26, 50 for transmitting or receiving data from an outside source. In one embodiment, the data communicator 26, 50 includes a signature pad. The keyboard cover 14 is removable from the electronic payment terminal 12 for maintenance and/or replacement without having to access the internals of the electronic payment terminal 12, including its electronic circuitry.