Electrical connectors – Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move... – Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...
Patent
1998-03-16
1999-11-30
Bradley, Paula
Electrical connectors
Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move...
Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...
439260, 439261, 439262, 439267, H01R 1315
Patent
active
059932325
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an IC (integrated circuit) card connection unit used in electronic equipment into which an IC card with an integrated circuit mounted therein is inserted, and to a method for connecting contacts of the IC card with contacts of the equipment.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
In a conventional connection unit for an IC card (memory card included) used in electronic equipment, for example, portable electronic equipment used for electronic commercial transactions, contacts of the equipment are disposed so as to protrude in an insertion path for the IC card and come into contact with contacts of the IC card inserted into the insertion path.
The conventional IC card connection unit, wherein the contacts of the equipment are disposed so as to protrude in the insertion path for the IC card, has a drawback in that when the IC card is inserted into the insertion path, the contacts of the equipment come into contact with resin material composing the IC card before they come into contact with the contacts of the IC card. This shaves off the resin material, with the result that generated shavings of the resin material adhere to the contacts, causing faulty contact and leading to poor reliability.
Furthermore, there has been a likelihood that a high voltage developed when the contacts of the IC card are disengaged from the contacts of the equipment may destroy the circuit of the IC card.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an IC card connection unit wherein generation of shavings of resin composing the IC card does not occur when bringing the contacts of the IC card into contact with the contacts of the equipment, enhancing reliability of contact between the contacts, and preventing a high voltage from being developed when the contacts are disengaged from each other, eliminating a risk of the IC card circuit being destroyed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An IC card connection unit according to the invention comprises a body provided with a card butting part movable when pressed by the tip of an IC card, and contacting means for contacts wherein a pressing force applied to the card butting part is converted into a force acting in the direction crossing the direction of the IC card insertion, causing contacts of equipment to be shifted and come in contact with contacts of the IC card, and a card supporter for retaining the IC card pressed down by the contacts of the equipment, the contacts of the equipment being able to be in or out of contact with the contacts of the IC card without touching resin composing the IC card so that shavings of the resin are not generated, improving reliability of contact between the contacts.
Furthermore, in the IC card connection unit according to the invention, a switch for applying a voltage to the circuit of the IC card is installed on the body such that the switch is turned on, applying the voltage after the contacts of the equipment come in contact with the contacts of the IC card, and the same is turned off, terminating application of the voltage before the contacts of the equipment are separated from the contacts of the IC card. Consequently, a high voltage is not developed upon separation of the contacts from each other, eliminating a risk of the circuit of the IC card being destroyed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the main part of an IC card connection unit according to a first embodiment of the invention, cut in the middle thereof along the direction of an IC card insertion path;
FIG. 2 a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 when the IC card is inserted;
FIG. 3 a partially exploded perspective view of the main part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 a sectional view showing contacts in an initial connection condition;
FIG. 5 a sectional view showing contacts in a complete connection condition;
FIG. 6 is a chart showing the relationship between a contact gap and a travel distance of a guide arm;
FIG. 7 a sectional view of the main part of an IC card connection unit according to
REFERENCES:
patent: 4236667 (1980-12-01), Crowley et al.
patent: 4795897 (1989-01-01), Chalendard
patent: 4932889 (1990-06-01), Bleier et al.
patent: 4940418 (1990-07-01), Shimizu et al.
patent: 5000694 (1991-03-01), Komatsu
patent: 5813877 (1998-09-01), Nakamura
Bradley Paula
Nguyen Truc
OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
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