Registers – Coded record sensors – Feed mechanisms
Patent
1993-03-18
1994-08-09
Pitts, Harold
Registers
Coded record sensors
Feed mechanisms
235441, 235482, 235483, 235484, 235485, 235492, G06K 1300
Patent
active
053368770
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a contacting device for standard chip cards (in the following referenced as "chip cards") and SIM cards widely used in the area of communications.
For example, the German Patent DE 38 04 361 discloses a value card having a semiconductor chip disposed on a removable insert portion thereof the dimensions of the insert being substantially smaller than those of the value card. The insert portion may be used in a latched position together with the surrounding value card in conventional value card applications and, when removed from said value card, it may be used as independent mini chip card (SIM card) substantially smaller devices. This arrangement is disadvantageous because of the fragility of the SIM card when used as a large chip card, and because the arrangement has a projection which is in the way and/or is irritating when the insert is used as a small card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a contacting device usable for both chip cards (being 54.times.85.6 mm in size) and SIM cards (being 15.times.25 mm in size). Both cards are used in communications and in particular in mobile telephone systems such as the telephone D network in Germany. The present invention provides a contacting device wherein according to one embodiment, the telephone user can decide which type of card he wants to use, and wherein according to other embodiments, the telephone manufacturer decides the type of card for which the telephone will be modified. In principle, it is an object of the invention to provide a contacting device for a (standard) chip card, or SIM card, respectively, such that optionally a chip card or a SIM card may be used.
Alternatively, it should be possible to easily adapt a chip card reader (i.e. a contacting device for a standard chip card) for use as SIM card reader.
To overcome one or more of the above mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a carrier or receiving means is provided which is used for the adaption of a chip card reader as a SIM card reader.
According to one embodiment of the invention this carrier is provided in the form of a card receiving means in which the SIM card is inserted, the SIM card being bonded thereto by means of an adhesive foil.
According to another embodiment of the invention the receiving means is incorporated in a chip card reader, and the SIM card may be inserted into the receiving means by being brought into contact with the contact elements of the chip card reader.
According to the invention, a basically known chip card reader (i.e. a reader for contacting a standard chip card), preferably of the kind disclosed in DE-OS 38 10 275, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,630 is used and said receiving means is inserted into the conventional chip card reader. The receiving means may be guided in a bottom side of the chip card reader or it may be inserted into the chip card reader instead of a chip card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a chip card reader according to DE-OS 38 10 275;
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the invention to convert a conventional chip card reader into a SIM card reader;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembled SIM card reader of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-B in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line C-D in FIG. 3, the insertion/removal position being shown for the SIM card application;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line C-D in FIG. 3, showing the reading position;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line E-F in FIG. 3, the SIM card being shown in its insertion/removal position;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line E-F in FIG. 3, the SIM card being shown in its reading position;
FIG. 9 is
REFERENCES:
patent: 4907257 (1990-03-01), Asano et al.
patent: 4976630 (1990-12-01), Schuder et al.
Raab Eberhard
Reichardt Manfred
Schuder Bernd
Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH
Pitts Harold
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