Registers – Coded record sensors – Holding devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-14
2001-09-04
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Holding devices
C361S737000, C439S630000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283376
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a chip or smart card reader as it is used for contacting so-called chip or a smart-cards. A smart-card reader is in substance a contacting apparatus into which a smart card is inserted such that the contacts on the smart card, i.e. card contacts, come in contact engagement with contact elements located in said contacting apparatus. The smart card can also be “SIM” card. SIM means subscriber identity module. Thus, the term SIM card relates to a card which can be used in a mobile telephone to identify a subscriber.
BACKGROUND ART
Smart card readers have been developed in many kinds of designs. Different methods are known to fixedly mount the contact elements of a smart card reader in said smart card reader and more specifically in a contact support of said smart card reader. Frequently, the contact elements of the smart card reader are fixedly mounted in the contact support of the smart card reader by surrounding the contact elements with the plastic material when injection molding the contact support.
For instance DE-38 32 588 A1 discloses the mounting of contact elements on or in a contact support by detent means.
Smart card readers are frequently built with contact elements having soldering contacts. These soldering contacts are adapted to be inserted into holes (for instance in a circuit board) and are then dipped in a supply of solder material for providing connection. In this context problems occur both with contact elements which are fixed in the contact support by molding (see
FIG. 9
) and with contact elements which are inserted into the contact support (see
FIG. 10
) and are held therein for instance by detent means. As far as the contact elements are concerned which are fixed in the contact support by molding (see FIG.
9
), a good mechanical strength of the soldering contacts is achieved. However the automatic production of larger numbers of such contact supports or contacting apparatus is costly. If the contact elements are inserted into and frictionally held in the contact support as is shown in
FIG. 10
, then a load pulling on said soldering contacts could cause a destruction of the contact elements.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a smart card reader, i.e. a smart card contacting apparatus as well as contact elements therefore, such that an automated insertion of the contact elements is easily possible.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a contacting apparatus and contact support of said contacting apparatus, respectively, wherein after insertion of the contact elements the mechanical characteristics are similar to those of contact elements mounted by the injection molding process of the smart card reader and its contact support, respectively.
It is another object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of the placement of the contact elements in the smart card reader.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a smart card reader and a contact element support which preferably adapted to be used in a smart card reader. The contact support is preferably made of a plastic material. The contact support defines a card support surface and also a plurality of chambers, each chamber being adapted to receive each one contact element. The contact element has preferably the form of a contact spring and can be mounted in said contact element support in a snap-locked or detent position. Preferably, the contact elements can be inserted into said chambers in a direction parallel to the card support surface. Both the contact element and the contact element support define stop- or abutment surfaces which define and limit the path of insertion of each contact element. Said abutment surfaces are provided such that prior to reaching the end of the insertion path a snap- or detent tongue formed on the contact element snaps into a snap lock or detent opening formed by the contact element support. Thus, securing the contact element in said contact element support such that it can not become disassembled.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention a method for manufacturing a smart card reader having a contact element support is provided. Contact elements are snapped into a snap-locked position when inserting said contact elements into said contact element support in a direction in substance parallel to the card support surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention a contact element is provided which comprises a terminal or a contact section, a fastening section, a connection section, a seat section, a contact cusp or contact bump tip section as well as a snap tongue formed in the region of the fastening section. The fastening section further forms abutment or stop surfaces that are suitable for stopping or abutting against corresponding counter-stop or counter abutment surfaces. Preferably, the snap tongue is stamped out from the fastening section and is bent out of the plane formed by the fastening section, in particular in a direction opposite to the direction in which the connection section is bent relative to the plane formed by the fastening section.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4698025 (1987-10-01), Silbernagel et al.
patent: 4780603 (1988-10-01), Hamada
patent: 4975086 (1990-12-01), Reichardt et al.
patent: 4990758 (1991-02-01), Shibana et al.
patent: 5259777 (1993-11-01), Schuder et al.
patent: 5334827 (1994-08-01), Bleier et al.
patent: 5599203 (1997-02-01), Broschard, III
patent: 5633490 (1997-05-01), Vandenengel
patent: 5667408 (1997-09-01), Broschard et al.
patent: 38 32 588 (1986-05-01), None
patent: 38 32 588 C2 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 0 200 449 (1986-05-01), None
Bleier Robert
Reichardt Manfred
Schuder Bernd
Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH
Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
Lee Diane I.
Lee Michael G.
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