HARDWARE
Hardware
An ATM is
typically made up of the following devices:
- CPU (to control
the user interface and transaction devices)
- Magnetic and/or Chip card reader
(to identify the customer)
- PIN Pad (similar
in layout to a Touch tone or Calculator keypad),
often manufactured as part of a secure enclosure.
- Secure
crypto processor, generally within a secure enclosure.
- Display
(used by the customer for performing the transaction)
- Function key buttons
(usually close to the display) or a Touchscreen (used
to select the various aspects of the transaction)
- Record
Printer (to provide the customer with a record of their transaction)
- Vault (to
sto re the parts of the machinery requiring restricted access)
- Housing
(for aesthetics and to attach signage to)
Recently,
due to heavier computing demands and the falling price of computer-like
architectures, ATMs have moved away from custom hardware architectures
using microcontrollers and/or application-specific integrated circuits to
adopting the hardware architecture of a personal computer,
such as, USB connections for peripherals, Ethernet and IP communications, and
use personal computer operating systems. Although it is undoubtedly cheaper to
use commercial off-the-shelf hardware, it
does make ATMs potentially vulnerable to the same sort of problems exhibited by
conventional computers. Business owners often lease ATM terminals from ATM
service providers.
The
vault of an ATM is within the footprint of the device itself and is where items
of value are kept. Scrip cash
dispensers do not incorporate a vault.
Mechanisms found
inside the vault may include:
- Dispensing
mechanism (to provide cash or
other items of value)
- Deposit
mechanism including a Cheque Processing Module and Bulk Note Acceptor (to allow
the customer to make deposits)
- Security
sensors (Magnetic, Thermal, Seismic, gas)
- Locks:
(to ensure controlled access to the contents of the vault)
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