IC card connector

Details IC card connector IC card connector

1999-06-10

2001-01-23

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move...

Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...

C439S331000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06176721

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an IC card connector for connecting an IC card, especially a SIM card, in an IC card reader system in a cellular phone or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
IC cards have been developed and contain IC's (integrated circuits) including memory circuits, such as rams (random access memories), and control circuits, such as CPUs (central processing units). A special type of IC card, called a SIM card (subscriber identification module card) is of increasing interest and used in cellular phones as an identification and storage unit for subscriber related data. SIM cards normally include a terminal array for connection through a card reader system to the external equipment. The connector usually includes some form of IC card socket and a plurality of electrodes or contacts exposed in the socket for engaging the terminal array of the IC card. The card is inserted and removed from the socket, and the connector contacts are resilient or comprise springy contacts for yieldably engaging the terminal array of the card when the card is inserted into the socket.
With the ever-increasing miniaturization of IC cards and their respective connectors, various problems continue to arise. For instance, the very handling of the miniature IC cards is difficult, and proper positioning of the cards in the connector presents corresponding problems when the card is inserted into and removed from the card-receiving cavity or other receptacle means of the connector. In addition, the terminal array on the card can become contaminated or soiled which can result in incomplete connections between the terminal array on the card and the contacts of the connector which, in turn, results in incomplete or intermittent connections to the external equipment.
For improving contact between a SIM card and further electronic circuitry, prior art EP 0 633 633 B1 recommends to provide electrical contact elements for mounting and contacting the connector which extend beyond at least one edge of the base of the connector. Such space-consuming terminals appear to be necessary for this type of connector since opening of the cover takes place by deformation of the cover tending also to deform the base member or to loosen the base member of the connector from the underlying electronic circuitry. However, this relatively long terminal is fragile daring transportation and handling, susceptible to damage and consumes unnecessary mounting space on a printed circuit board. Obviously, there is a deleterious influence on the SIM card during opening and closing of the cover if deformations are introduced by the deformed cover into the card. U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,552 teaches a contacting apparatus for an integrated IC chip card having a rotatable cover accommodating a chip card. The cover is movable relative to the chip card which is accommodated in the cover. It is intended to prevent any relative movement between the chip card and the contact elements of a base member when the cover is moved to the locking position. However, any contamination on the contacts of the base member or the chip card, e.g. as occurring during normal use from dirt, contaminants, oxidation or due to touching the contacts by the user, may cause a deterioration of the electrical properties of the contacts.
This invention is directed to solving the above problems in a miniature SIM card connector which is simple to manufacture and assemble.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved IC card connector for connecting an IC card having a terminal array, in an IC card reader system or the like.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the IC card connector includes a base member having a plurality of electrically conductive contacts exposed on one side thereof. A cover is hinged to the base member for movement toward and away from the one side. The cover has receptacle means for securing the IC card thereon for movement therewith, whereby closing the cover onto the base member effects engagement of the IC card terminals with the contacts on the base member.
According to the invention, the cover is mounted pivotally and slidably on the base member, whereby in a position of the cover rotated toward said one side of said base member a sliding movement of the cover relative to the base member causes engagement or disengagement of locking elements of the cover and the base member and causes a movement of the IC card relative to the base member.
According to the invention there is no deformation of the cover necessary for opening or closing the connector. As a consequence thereof, forces for opening and closing the cover are well defined so that any terminals for making contact with electronic circuitry of a card reader are relatively shorter and lie within the dimensions of the base member.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the IC card is moved relative to the base member due to the sliding movement during opening and closing of the cover wiping away any contamination on the contacts. Thus a reliable and undisturbed contact is ensured over an extended time of use.
Moreover, based on the sliding movement an indication can he provided to the external circuitry whether the connector is closed correctly. By using additional contacts held in the cover and further contacts mounted on the base member, a signal is provided due to a bridging of said additional contacts at the base member by means of the contacts of the cover. According to the invention, bridging only takes place in the finally closed position of the cover.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover and the base member, respectively, are provided as a unitarily molded component of dielectric material such as plastic or the like. The cover has flanges providing means for slidably receiving the IC card in an edge-wise fashion.
The card reader system may include a printed circuit board and, in such an application, the base member is illustrated herein as including means, i.e. mounting pegs, for mounting the base member to the printed circuit board with the contacts engageable with circuit traces on the board. The contacts have resilient portions exposed on the one side of the base member for engaging the terminal array of the IC card.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5226826 (1993-07-01), Nillson et al.
patent: 5320552 (1994-06-01), Reichardt et al.
patent: 5603629 (1997-02-01), DeFrasne et al.
patent: 5813878 (1998-09-01), Kuwata et al.
patent: 5996891 (1999-12-01), Braun

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