DE20017332U1 - Smart card reader - Google Patents

Description

REBLE & KLOSE
LAWYERS · PATENT ATTORNEYS

Patent attorneys Lawyers phone Patents and trademarks DIPL-PHYS. HANS KLOSE DR. GERHARD REBLE fax PO Box 12 15 19 DIPL-ING. MEINRAD SCHMITT CHRISTIAN SCHULTZE e-mail D-68066 Mannheim DR. JOHANN OSSING 0621 -41977-50/-54 DR. HELMUT-THOMAS KILPPER 0621 -41977-88 DR. RALF-DIETMAR HÄRER info@rebleklose.de ROLAND STORM DR. CLAUS WEBER (Dipl.-Betriebswirt BA)

Applicant: .

KOBIL Computer GmbH Weinsheimer Strasse 71

D-67547 Worms

Chip card reader

The invention relates to a chip card reader according to the features specified in the claim.

Description: Previous procedure:

Conventional card readers are designed to accommodate standard chip cards (ID1 size 54 x 85 mm). If small cards (IC-OOO. GSM cards 25 x 15 mm) are to be read, a holder for these cards is required so that they can be inserted into the card reader. This holder must not exceed the thickness of a standard card. This makes it difficult to securely attach the small card: the small retaining lugs on these cards break off easily, the card does not hold properly and falls through. Because it is a separate part, it is easy to lose or has to be searched for again and again when necessary.

New chip card reader:

The solution to the problem outlined is achieved according to the features specified in claim 1.

-2-

With a specially shaped drawer for the new card reader, both large standard cards and small SIM cards can be processed. The top and bottom of the drawer are shaped differently: One side has a recess the width of the standard cards so that standard cards can be inserted directly into the reader. If the drawer is removed and inserted rotated by 180° (rotation axis in the direction of insertion), small cards can be read: On this side, the drawer has a shape into which the small card can be inserted when the drawer is half open and brought into the reading position by pushing the drawer in.

Advantages:

The advantage of our solution is that the drawer for each card type is in the reader and therefore cannot be lost.

Handling the small cards is made much easier with this drawer. The drawer is much more stable than a plastic card, which improves the reliability of the entire device.

Drawings:

In Fig. 1, 2 a first embodiment of the chip card reader with drawer guide and drawer is shown.

Fig. 3, 4, 5 show another embodiment of the chip card reader or chip card terminal, which is referred to as "KAAN TWIN".

Functionality:

Fig. 3 shows the complete housing of the KAAN Twin with the drawer inserted. Fig. 4, 5 show the drawer from both sides. Fig. 4 with the side for inserting chip cards in ID-1 format with a clearly visible recess for any embossing that may be applied to the card and Fig. 5 with the recess for inserting chip cards in ID-OOO format.

To read chip cards in ID-1 format, insert the drawer into the chip card terminal with side A facing upwards (see Fig. 4). Then, as with standard chip card terminals, you can insert the chip card as usual with the contacts facing first and upwards. The card limit switch, which indicates to the chip card terminal that a card is inserted, is in this case activated by the inserted card.

If you want to use chip cards in ID-OOO format, you have to remove the drawer from the chip card terminal. You put the chip card in the recess on side B (there is only one way to do this because of the beveled corner) and insert the drawer into the chip card terminal with side B facing upwards. In this case, the card limit switch is activated by the drawer. The design of the drawer prevents the user from inserting an additional card in ID-1 format when the drawer is in the chip card terminal with side B facing upwards.

The new feature of this system is that it uses a double-sided drawer, which eliminates the cumbersome handling of chip cards in ID-OOO format with plug-in adapters. In addition, the drawer is essential for the correct operation of the chip card terminal and therefore cannot be lost.

By replacing the insert in the chip card terminal "KAAN Twin" it is also possible to process memory cards such as Smartmedia, Multimediacard, CompactFlash or Memory Stick.

Claims (6)

1. Chip card reader, containing a receiving device for chip cards, characterized in that a drawer is provided which has differently shaped upper and lower sides for receiving differently designed chip cards. 2. Chip card reader according to claim 1, characterized in that the drawer has a recess on the upper side with a width corresponding to a first type of chip card, in particular standard chip card, and has a shape corresponding to another type of chip card on the lower side. 3. Chip card reader according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drawer can be inserted into the chip card reader optionally rotated by 180°. 4. Chip card reader according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drawer has a recess on the top and/or on the bottom. 5. Chip card reader according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a card limit switch can be actuated either by the chip card inserted in the drawer or by the drawer itself. 6. Chip card reader according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drawer has a particularly exchangeable insert which is designed according to the dimensions of different memory cards or chip cards.