IC card connector

Details IC card connector IC card connector

1999-06-21

2001-01-16

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Coupling part for receiving edge of planar board moving...

C439S331000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06174188

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. 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.
From EP 0 515 897 a chip card connector is known comprising means for locating the chip card in the inserted position and further locking means for holding the chip card in a locked reading position oriented parallel to a base member carrying contact elements for contacting the chip card. The connector is relatively simple to manufacture as there is no cover and generally only one base element securing the contact elements and accommodating the inserted chip card, but, as the locking means extend along the forward edge of the inserted chip card, it is difficult to grip and remove the inserted chip card from the connector. This invention is directed to solving the above problems in a miniature SIM card connector which is providing a reliable contact between IC card and connector and 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. 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, 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, said receptacle means hold the IC card for pivotal movement therewith and for sliding movement of the IC card relative to the cover in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A sliding movement of the IC card relative to the cover is apt to lock and unlock the IC card together with said cover in the closed position of the connector.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the IC card is moved relative to the contacts of 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.
In a further preferred embodiment, the connector comprises locking elements formed at the base member and extends in the closed position of the connector over a portion of a forward edge of an inserted IC card, whereby the major part of the forward edge of the inserted IC card is not covered by the locking elements. Thus, a user easily may grip the remaining uncovered part of the forward edge of the IC card and force the IC card to an unlocked position.
The locking elements may be wedge-type providing a snap-in locking mechanism in cooperation with said forward edge of the IC card, which also permits closure of the connector. It only is necessary to close the cover with the inserted IC card until a click is heard or a tactile signal is encountered indicating the closed position of the connector.
In a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises means for applying an elastic force to the IC card generally in the direction of said sliding movement of the IC card and said means comprise an arm formed at the cover extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation.
The IC card connector further may include a friction device providing an increased mechanical tilt resistance in the closed position of the cover, so that the cover may be held in the closed position, even without an inserted and locked IC card. Advantageously, said friction device comprises a lateral projection formed at the base member and, in the closed position, engages a lateral flange portion of the cover.
The IC card connector may also include integrally formed snap-in hinge means for pivotally mounting said cover relative to said base member.
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.

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