Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-05-22
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C361S737000, C235S448000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234845
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an IC card connector capable of accommodating an IC card (i.e., card incorporating an integrated circuit or the like) which is provided with at least one embossed data field or row. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with an IC card connector which is imparted with a function for preventing erroneous insertion of an IC card and which can be applied advantageously and profitably to an automobile-onboard terminal for an automated road toll charging/collecting system and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, IC cards incorporating an IC memory in which personal data can be readably written are widely employed for personal identification, automated monetary or other transactions and applications. The fields in which these IC cards find utilization is increasing. Such being the circumstances, the number of IC cards is increasing.
In general, the IC card of this type is adapted to be inserted into an IC card connector designed for reading data from the IC card. In the state of the art, various approaches have been made for enabling the IC card to be inserted into the IC card connector correctly with enhanced reliability. By way of example, there may be mentioned an arrow printed on the IC card for indicating the inserting direction and an erroneous insertion preventing mechanism provided for the IC card connector in order to prevent erroneous insertion of the IC card in the IC card connector.
Furthermore, there are used a variety of cards provided with embossed data row or rows having character information, such as cash cards and credit cards. Such being the case, an IC card connector is in demand with a structure that is capable of accommodating an IC card having embossed data row(s) as well. IC card having embosse data row(s) as well.
For having better understanding of the present invention, background techniques thereof will be described by reference to
FIGS. 5 and 6
which show in perspective views, respectively, a conventional IC card and a conventional IC card connector known heretofore which is provided with an erroneous insertion preventing mechanism implemented by resorting to a unique geometrical configuration, as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 266998/1990 (JP-A-2-266998).
Referring to
FIG. 5
, an IC card
1
includes a contact array
11
mounted on a top surface thereof, being exposed so as to serve as electrodes for an IC memory. One lateral edge portion of the IC card
1
is bent substantially in an L-like shape as viewed in cross section, whereby a bent edge
2
is formed.
On the other hand, an IC card connector
3
adapted for reading out information carried by the IC card
1
includes a slot
4
having a width H and a clearance W which allow the IC card
1
to be inserted therein, wherein a bent slot portion
4
a
is formed at one lateral end of the slot
4
, as can be seen in FIG.
6
.
Provided internally of the IC card connector
3
is a contact pin array (not shown) which is resiliently pressed onto the contact array
11
of the IC card
1
. When the IC card
1
is inserted into the IC card connector to a proper position, the contact pin array is brought into electric contact with the contact array
11
to thereby enable the operation for reading out information or data from the IC card
1
.
The bent slot portion
4
a
of the slot
4
is formed in a shape which coincides with that of the bent edge
2
of the IC card. By virtue of this arrangement, only the IC card
1
inserted into the IC card connector
3
in the correct orientation can be received and accommodated within the IC card connector
3
by way of the slot
4
and the bent slot portion
4
a.
By using the IC card
1
formed with the bent edge
2
in combination with the IC card connector
3
provided with the slot
4
having the bent slot portion
4
a
of the shape coinciding with that of the bent edge
2
of the IC card, as described above, it is certainly possible to prevent the erroneous insertion of the IC card
1
.
However, the IC card
1
is required to be formed in a unique geometrical configuration, as can be seen in FIG.
5
. In addition, the erroneous insertion preventing function of the IC card connector
3
is effective only for the IC card
1
with the unique geometrical configuration, as can be seen in FIG.
6
.
FIG. 7
is a side elevational view showing schematically another conventional IC card connector known heretofore in the state where an IC card
1
A having an embossed data row
5
is inserted erroneously. Referring to
FIG. 7
, the IC card connector
3
A is provided with a slot
4
which presents a relatively small clearance WA of a constant size over the whole width so that the IC card connector
3
A can handle the IC card provided with no embossed data row
5
.
In the case of the IC card and the IC card connector shown in
FIG. 7
, user tries to insert forcibly the IC card
1
A having the embossed data row
5
into the slot
4
. As a result of this, the slot
4
is partially expanded by the embossed data row
5
. Thus, distortion occurs in the IC card connector
3
A as indicated by
3
d.
In general, the clearance defined by the slot of the IC card connector is formed to be constant over the whole width of the slot. Accordingly, the IC card connector can not deal with the IC card
1
A having the embossed data row
5
. When the clearance WA is dimensioned in a small size for the purpose of implementing the IC card connector in a small size or miniaturized structure, as illustrated in
FIG. 7
, interference between the embossed data row
5
and the slot
4
will occur to make it difficult to insert the IC card
1
A due to an excessively large friction.
Furthermore, when the distortion
3
d
takes place due to the interference with the embossed data row
5
, as shown in
FIG. 7
, contact pressure between the contact pin array provided internally of the IC card connector
3
A and the contact array of the IC card
1
A becomes insufficient, incurring undesirably a contact failure.
On the other hand, in case the clearance of the slot is formed in a large size with a view to evading interference with the embossed data row
5
, the IC card connector will necessarily be realized in a large size. In that case, sufficient thickness can not be assured for a member which forms or defines the slot. This in turn means that sufficient strength can not be ensured for the IC card connector receiving portion of the IC card connector which is thus likely to undergo warp and distortion.
Additionally, when the clearance of the slot of the IC card connector is selected large, the IC card
1
A having the embossed data row
5
inserted upside down may unwantedly be received by the IC card connector without any appreciable interference. In other words, erroneous insertion of the IC card
1
A may possibly take place.
As will be appreciated from the foregoing, the conventional IC card connector
3
having the slot
4
of the unique geometrical configuration only for the purpose of preventing the erroneous insertion (see
FIG. 6
) is necessarily limited to handling only of the IC card
1
having a similar unique geometrical configuration (shown in FIG.
5
), giving rise to the problem that this IC card connector can not handle other types of cards.
On the other hand, when the clearance WA of the slot
4
of the IC card connector
3
A is designed in a small size with a view to realizing the IC card connector
3
A in a small size, as shown in
FIG. 7
, proper insertion of the IC card
1
A having the embossed data row
5
is rendered difficult or impossible, incurring occurrence of the distortion
3
d
due to interference between the embossed data row
5
and the slot
4
, as a result of which various inconveniences are involved, to another problem.
On the other hand, when the clearance of the slot of the IC card connector is enlarged with a view to avoiding interference with the embossed data row
5
, it will become difficult or imposs
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Nguyen Khiem
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Zarroli Michael C.
LandOfFree
IC card connector with a mechanism for preventing erroneous... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with IC card connector with a mechanism for preventing erroneous..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and IC card connector with a mechanism for preventing erroneous... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2521156