Contacts carrier

Details Contacts carrier Contacts carrier

1999-06-30

2001-05-15

Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C439S862000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06231394

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention refers to a contacts carrier having several contacts, as being used, for example, within a smart card reader.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Usually, the contacts are formed having one end for contacting associated conducting paths of a printed circuit associated to the contacts carrier and having their other free end projecting beyond the surface of the contacts carrier, facing an associated smart card.
Such contacts carriers as well as associated smart card readers and smart cards are known from the prior art (DE 41 18 312 C2; DE 44 11 345 C1).
Here, the contacts are designed like a leaf spring and are deformed in a bridge-like fashion at their contact end facing the smart card.
Smart card readers are intended to contact the contacts of the electronic chip disposed on an associated smart card in a given (end) position of the card within the reader, in order to make “reading” the information of the chip, but also, optionally, inputting information into the chip card thus possible.
Smart card readers of the said type are used, for example, in stationary chip-card telephones, mobile phones, automatic cash dispensers or the like.
Usually, only very little space is provided for the contacts carrier and the associated contacts in those applications. That applies especially for such contacts carriers which are contacted by very small cards, for example so-called SIM cards.
In the DE 94 07 499 U1 (corresponding to US 5,527,192 A) an electrical contact element is proposed, the contact portion of which is formed having an arched shape in two directions, a “spoon-like” geometry resulting thereby for the contact portion, because of which those contacts are also called “spoon contacts”. That geometrical design of the contact zones of the contacts provides an increased reliability of contact. But it is of disadvantage that the contact portions having a convex shape in two directions form the free contact ends and insofar have a certain stability in the axial direction of the respective joined guide portion, at most.
However, the geometric conditions mentioned at the beginning in the use of such contacts carriers require from case to case to move an associated smart card not only in the axial direction of the guide portions of the contacts but also in other directions, for example offset by 90° or 180°.
Insofar, it is an object of the invention to provide a contacts carrier of the type mentioned at the beginning, which, having a small structural shape, makes a high reliability of contact possible, even in different supply positions of a smart card.
The invention starts out from the reflection that the “spoon contacts” described above are basically suitable for that with respect to their contact portions having a double convex shape, because those contacts provide run-on surfaces “all around” for an associated smart card and its contacts.
However, starting out from the object mentioned above it is necessary to fabricate the contacts in the contacts carrier in such a manner that they are movable substantially in the orthogonal direction only, with respect to the plane, along which the smart card is supplied. This direction may also be defined by the orientation of an axis which extends through the respective vertex of the spoon-shaped contact portions of the contacts.
In that respect, the invention has furthermore recognized that a corresponding guide of the other contact portions is necessary within the contacts carrier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it its most general embodiment, the invention refers to a contacts carrier having several contacts, each of which having a spoon-like arched contact portion projecting beyond a first surface of the contacts carrier, wherein at least one guide portion of each contact, joined to the respective contact portion is shaped and guided in the contacts carrier in such a manner that the contacts are movable along an (imaginary) axis only, extending substantially in a vertical direction through a vertex of the respective contact portion.
Concretely, this may be effected according to an embodiment in that the contacts are formed at one side of the contact portion having a first guide portion being positioned within a first guide seat of the contacts carrier, which guides the corresponding contact in a direction extending orthogonally to the axis extending through the vertex of the contact portion, and are formed in a prolongation of the first guide portion and at the opposite side of the contact portion having a second guide portion positioned within a second guide seat of the contacts carrier, which guides the corresponding contact in a direction orthogonal to the guiding direction of the first guide portion but in the same plane.
From that and starting out from a system of coordinates x, y, z, a guiding (fixing) in the x- and the y-direction of the respective guide portions substantially without play but a movability (springiness) in the z-direction of the contacts (contact portions) result.
Thereby, it becomes possible to supply a smart card in any direction with respect to the arrangement of contacts without there being a risk that the contacts are moved (displaced) in a plane in parallel to the orientation of the smart card. Rather, the direction of movement of the contacts (contact portions) is limited to a direction extending orthogonally (normally) to the surface of the contacts carrier or the smart card.
The guide portion formed at the free end of the contacts may extend orthogonally to the guide portion formed on the other side of the contact portion, for example, so that the respective contact, at its contact end, is essentially T-shaped in plan view.
Correspondingly, recesses or guiding slots are formed in the contacts carrier for the respective contacts (guide portions). The contacts may in addition be slidably guided or fixed mechanically outside their contact and guide portions to provide an additional distortion and removal safety.
Furthermore, the upper surface of the transversal free (second) guide portion, for example biassed (in the direction towards the smart card), may be positioned against corresponding stops in the housing in the contacts carrier.
Such an embodiment is shown in the description of the figures below.
Said bias of the contacts in the region of the contact portions, in addition to the geometric design of the contact portions and the guide portions joined thereto, provides a high functional reliability of a contacts carrier designed accordingly.
That bias can be adjusted in a particularly simple way, if the contacts have a meander-like shape starting from their end having the contact portion. In assembly, they may then be inserted in the contacts carrier in such a manner that the contacts having a meander-shaped portion at the end may be pressed into a corresponding seat of the contacts carrier and a bias is effected at the same time, for example by biassing the second guide portion disposed at the free end of the contacts along corresponding portions of the contacts carrier.
The contacts may also be positioned in the contacts carrier outside their contact and guide portions through catch means. In this case, the contacts are subsequently inserted mechanically into the contacts carrier. But it is also possible to insert (to injection-mould) the contacts (all around) in producing the contacts carrier usually consisting of an (electrically insulating) synthetic material.
Between the connecting region of the contact portion and the opposite second end, the contacts may be widened, the lifetime, distortion safety and force gradient being improved thereby.
That design can be realized to advantage in all U-shaped contacts. Then, the joining leg is wider with respect to the two free legs, and the width of the free legs may taper again from the connecting leg towards the free ends, the free legs having thus a trapezoidal shape in plan view, at least in portions.
For the opposite, second contact end which usually is adhered or soldered to an associated circuit board, for example the f

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