Registers – Records – Conductive
Patent
1992-05-04
1994-08-02
Hajec, Donald
Registers
Records
Conductive
235380, 235382, 235441, G06K 1906
Patent
active
053348273
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a chip card reader in general, into which a chip card can be inserted into a reading position in which contact elements provided in said chip card reader engage or contact contact zones provided on said chip card. The invention relates specifically to a chip card reader having contact elements adapted for soldering.
In known chip card readers frequently a downward movement is provided between the chip card and the chip card reader when the chip card is inserted into the reading position so as to provide a good engagement between the contact elements of the chip card reader and the contact zones of the chip card. Such chip card readers require mechanical means to provide for said downward movement. For other applications a chip card reader might be sufficient which does not use such a downward movement but uses sliding contact elements so that for instance said mechanical means for providing the downward movement for the chipcard is no longer required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a chip card reader which operates without such a mechanical means for providing the downward movement and which uses contact elements sliding on the chip card.
Chip card readers of this type typically use a contact support within which reading contact elements (reading contacts) are provided for the engagement with the contact zones on the chip card when the chip card is located in its reading position. Further such chip card readers commonly use an end position switch which is either closed or open so as to supply that the reading position of the chip card is reached.
So as to obtain a chip card reader which can be manufactured at favourable cost but also functions safely the present invention provides an end position switch which is designed and arranged in the contact support such that it acts in its actuated condition, which indicates the reading position of the chip card, approximately perpendicular with respect to the direction of insertion of the chip card. I.e. the end position switch does not generate a force component which acts in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion of the chip card.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the end position switch comprises two identical contact springs (switching contacts) which can be arranged as opening means (the end position is indicated by the switching contacts being opened) or closing means (the end position is indicated by the switching contacts being closed). The contacting forces are then acting perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the chip card. The frictional force resulting from the perpendicularly acting forces supports the holding force exerted onto the card located in the card slot of the chip card reader.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention the switching contacts of the end position switch as well as the reading contacts are provided in the form of contact springs and are located in the contact support in a biased manner and by means of detent or locking means. The contact springs can be provided with soldering pins or with SMT-soldering elements. The bias of the springs provides for the presence of the required contact force even for a small available spring path or path of resiliency. Thus there is a minimal amount of wear at the cusps formed by the reading contacts and the switching contacts. Due to the flat spring characteristic of the biased contacts there is only a small influence of the tolerances of the card and the slot on the contact force.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention a resilient (springy) arm is provided in the card slot to act upon the edge of the card. Preferably said resilient or springy arm is injection molded with with the contact support so as to provide for an increased dynamic load.
The reading contacts of the invention are held or fixed in the contact support by means of suitable resilient detent or locking means. Preferably, the switching contacts are pro
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Bleier Robert
Reichardt Manfred
Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH
Hajec Donald
Young Adrian
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