Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2001-06-12
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
43
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244902
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus that electrically connects an integrated circuit (IC) card to a printed circuit board (PCB). More particularly, the present invention is directed to a smart card connector affixed at an elevation to a PCB wherein the connector supports a plurality of contacts in a top portion thereof. In this configuration, the connector not only preserves valuable PCB space for placement of additional components therebeneath but also obviates the requirement for an intermediate connector portion for support of electrical contacts thereinside.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In correlation with an increasing demand for diminutive electronic devices capable of multipurpose performance, the electronic industry has seen growth in the use of flat plastic cards incorporating computer chips therein. These chip or IC cards are also commonly referred to as “smart cards” and incorporate at least one electronic component to which electrical connection must be made. Smart cards, which often have compact size and shape corresponding to conventional credit and money-access cards, also include at least one contact pad defined on a surface thereof that establishes electrical connection to the electronic components of a printed circuit board (PCB). Smart cards are particularly adapted for use in industries requiring strict billing control and convenient access to money and information. Such applications include public phones, vending machines, copy machines, laundromat machines and portable devices such as mobile phones, pagers, laptop computers and similar electronic devices. Such cards can also be used in applications relating to health services, ticketing, security access and machine controls. In this disclosure, the terms “IC card”, “chip card” and “smart card” will be used interchangeably to denote integrated circuit cards of this type.
In order to effect electrical connection between a smart card and a PCB, an electrical connector or smart card reader is employed such that the connector securably accommodates the smart card therein. The connector serves as an interface between a smart card and a reading system that interprets the information contained in the card.
The art has utilized numerous electrical connectors specifically designed for use in removably connecting various types of smart cards. An illustrative example of a conventional smart card reader is provided in
FIG. 1
, wherein a smart card connector
10
includes a housing
12
fabricated from an insulative plastic and having a top portion
12
a
and a bottom portion
12
b
having dimensions circumscribed by a peripheral side wall
12
c
. Top portion
12
a
and bottom portion
12
b
together define a linear card insertion slot
14
having ingress
14
a
through which a smart card enters connector
10
. Ingress
14
a
is generally sized and shaped to correspond to a smart card that is inserted therethrough.
Bottom portion
12
b
supports a plurality of electrical contacts
16
for electrical engagement with a contact pad of a smart card inserted thereagainst. Contacts
16
lie outwardly from a mid-section of bottom portion
12
b
and have tail portions
16
a
that extend normally relative to peripheral wall
12
c
. Bottom portion
12
b
further includes one or more securement members
18
protruding from a bottom surface thereof for alignment and securement of connector
10
with a PCB. In order to ensure sufficient termination of contacts
16
to the PCB, bottom portion
12
b
is positioned flush therewith.
Although the aforedescribed connector effectively establishes electrical contact between a smart card and a PCB, its use may not be desirable in configurations where conservation of materials and space is essential. The above design requires at least two housing portions wherein one portion must provide enough space for support of a requisite number of electrical contacts therein. Such configuration minimizes the amount of open space between the connector and the PCB, thereby sacrificing the ability to place additional components therebeneath. This configuration further limits the selection of card orientation during insertion thereof into the connector. Such limitations inhibit the use of the device within crowded PCB configurations, thereby contributing to increased costs associated with the manufacture of such reading devices.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a smart card connector that establishes electrical communication between a smart card and a PCB while optimizing the available PCB space for placement of multiple components thereon. It is further desirable to provide a smart card connector that implements a contact configuration so as to effect a satisfactory electrical connection and enable visualization of a proper card insertion orientation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a smart card connector for insertable accommodation of a smart card therein.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a smart card connector that supports a smart card for movement into mechanical and electrical communication with contacts supported by the connector.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a smart card connector that optimizes available PCB space by enabling placement of additional components beneath the connector.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a smart card connector that enables a card reading operation to commence from a top portion of the connector wherein all electrical contacts are supported from a common termination side.
It is still another object of the present invention to enable visualization of the proper orientation of a smart card prior to insertion of the card into the connector.
In the efficient attainment of these and other objects, the present invention provides an electrical connector for connecting a contact pad of an IC card to a printed circuit board. The present invention is based on the problem of creating a reader for chip cards in which available PCB real estate is minimized by placing a card reading device directly adjacent a PCB. The present invention is also directed to the related problem of electrical apparatus packaging, wherein it is desirable to optimize use of available space to accommodate more functions, and thereby more components, in the apparatus. The present invention addresses the need to increase the available packaging space in the device to accommodate improvements thereof.
By means of the present invention, a reader for smart cards is provided for connecting one or more contact pads of an IC card to the conductive elements of a PCB. In particular, a smart card connector is provided which elevates the connector above the PCB for placement of additional components therebeneath. The smart card connector of the present invention includes a housing having a lid and a base affixed thereto wherein the lid and base together define a card insertion ingress at a front portion of the connector. The ingress is sized and shaped to accommodate linear sliding insertion of a smart card along a card insertion plane defined along a card insertion slot that is circumscribed by the lid and base.
The connector lid supports a plurality of electrical contacts therein wherein each contact includes an inner extent having a spring-like undulation at a freely deflectable interior extent positioned in the card insertion plane. Upon card insertion, at least one contact pad on the card engages the interior extent such that the undulation deflects into a corresponding recess defined within the connector lid. Upon retraction of the card from the connector, the undulation resiliently returns to its original position in the card insertion plane. Each contact further includes an outer extent that protrudes normally from the connector lid for termination to the PCB. The contacts are desirably distributed in even and aligned rows that enable placement of all contacts in the connector lid.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4548452 (1985-10-01), Gillett
patent: 47
McDowell Jennifer L.
McDowell Ronald W.
Meister Douglas L.
Hoffmann & Baron , LLP
Le Thanh-Tam
Sircus Brian
Thomas & Betts International Inc.
LandOfFree
Smart card reader for elevated placement relative to a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Smart card reader for elevated placement relative to a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Smart card reader for elevated placement relative to a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2491268