Alps Electric (Ireland) Limited

James Singleton

John McAuliffe

August Mievis

David McEvoy

The present invention relates to a computer keyboard console with an integral encoded device reader, which may for example be a barcode reader, a magnetic card reader or a 'smart card' reader or any generally similar device for reading encoded data, for example a personal identification number (PIN) held on the device which may be inserted into a slot defined by the console. The reader comprises an interface in communication with a dedicated microprocessor in communication with means for erasably storing or validating data such as security or user identity data, the keyboard matrix circuitry, and adapted to communicate with the host CPU via the standard keyboard port connection, and/or via a separate serial connection or interface. Preferably, separate reader interfaces are configured with the dedicated microprocessor to read a barcode device, a magnetic card device, or a smart card device. Means are preferably provided to block the communication of said data when entered via the encoded device reader and/or via keystrokes on the keyboard between the keyboard and the host CPU, and preferably to temporarily disable the host CPU--keyboard interconnection or interface until the validation and/or erasure of said data is complete.

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Banteer, Ireland

James Singleton