EP0983568A1

EP0983568A1 - Connector with direct or indirect insertion of smart card therein

Info

Publication number: EP0983568A1
Application number: EP98925746A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Yves Office Méditerranéen LEROUX; Christophe Office Méditerranéen GENEVOIS; Philippe Office Méditerranéen GUENEBAUD
Original assignee: SCM Schneider Microsysteme Microsystemes Schneider Entwick u Vert
Current assignee: Identiv GmbH
Priority date: 1997-05-20
Filing date: 1998-05-19
Publication date: 2000-03-08
Also published as: WO1998053421A1; FR2763718A1; FR2763718B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a connector (1) designed to be plugged into an electronic device (3), such as a computer (13) PCMCIA modem (3), comprising at least a housing (6), each housing (6) enabling the insertion of a smart card (7). The invention is useful particularly for operating electronic transactions, and ensuring the security of networks such as Internet or Intranet.

Description

"Connector with direct or indirect insertion of a smart card within it"

The present invention relates to a connector intended to be plugged into an electronic unit, such as a PCMCIA modem, of a computer.

The state of the art can be defined by the document FR-A-2,735,251 which proposes cards of the PCMCIA type, pluggable into a standardized PCMCIA slot of a microcomputer. To use such a card in conjunction with a smart card with flush contacts, while the microcomputer does not have a smart card reader with flush contacts, the plug-in card is modified so that it can receive a smart card . The plug - in card has an insertion slot for the smart card. This slot is formed between an upper plate and a lower plate, substantially the same length as the plate greater and spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a card with touching contacts; one of the plates is rigid and the other is formed at least in part by a flexible or semi-rigid tab on the insertion side of the smart card. The insertion is easy and the retention in place of the smart card is ensured.

This document describes the possibility of modifying a microcomputer so that it can receive a PCMCIA card, which itself receives a smart card. In this embodiment, the smart card is completely inserted into the PCMCIA card, there is therefore a need to provide ejection means, since access to the smart card is not easy. In addition, if the PCMCIA format card does not have a slot, it will be impossible to use a chip card, which results in very insufficient functionality of said PCMCIA card.

The document EP-A-0.696.010 relates to a portable interface of one or more electronic chip card (s), the interface being pluggable into a card reader, composed of a module, intended to be housed in the card reader and comprising at one end pluggable means of electrical connection with the card reader, an end piece integral with the other end of the module comprising a slot for inserting the smart card, a housing intended to at least partially receive the smart card and at least partially passing through said tip, said housing comprising means for guiding and positioning the smart card, and means for electrical connection with the electrical contact pads of the smart card. According to this invention, a smart card can be partially housed in the card reader.

However, and this is also true for the previous document, the reader is a constituent part of the computer; therefore, the information on the smart card will be transmitted to the computer and will be easy to hack. Another drawback lies in the fact that the card reader extends significantly over the side of the computer, without there being any possibility of removing this part outside the central unit. This is inconvenient and during handling there may be a deterioration of the electronic equipment.

To avoid these problems, the present invention relates to a connector external to the computer, on which it can be inserted, which comprises at least one space for the installation and the reading of at least one smart card.

This technique can facilitate obtaining approval for electronic equipment, this approval being carried out country by country when the reader is installed in a computer.

To this end, the invention relates to a connector intended to be plugged into an electronic unit, such as a modem.

PCMCIA of a computer, characterized in that the connector comprises at least one slot, each slot allowing the insertion of a smart card.

According to a first embodiment, the connector is assigned to the connection of a telephone line intended to be plugged into an electronic unit, such as a PCMCIA modem of a computer, the connector comprising two data transmission buses, l one of the buses being assigned to the interface between the telephone line and the electronic unit, characterized in that the connector comprises a housing, for the insertion of a smart card, and an interface device between the card chip and said box, which uses the free bus, assigned to the input / output interface and connected to a smart card interface integrated into said connector.

The dimensions of the connector housing allow only a partial insertion of the smart card, so that part of said smart card, external to said connector, remains accessible. The connector has at least one system of identification.

The connector includes a display and / or a keyboard.

The invention also relates to a connector of a telephone line intended to be plugged into an electronic unit, such as a PCMCIA modem of a computer, the connector comprising two data transmission buses, one of the buses being assigned to the interface between the telephone line and the electronic unit, characterized in that the connector comprises a housing, for the insertion of an intermediate element which itself comprises a housing, for the insertion of a smart card , and an interface device between the smart card and said housing, via the intermediate element, which uses the free bus, assigned to the input / output interface and connected to a smart card interface integrated into said connector.

The dimensions of the connector or intermediate element housing allow only a partial insertion of said intermediate element or of the smart card, so that a part of the element or of said card, external to said connector or to said element remains accessible.

The part of the intermediate element, external to the connector, comprises a keyboard.

The part of the intermediate element, external to the connector, comprises a display. According to a second embodiment, the connector comprises two housings, the dimensions of each housing of the connector allow only a partial insertion of each smart card, so that a part of said smart card, external to said connector, remains accessible. According to a first alternative embodiment, the two housings are located in two parallel planes, each plane being parallel to the plane formed by the electronic unit.

According to a second alternative embodiment, the two housings are located in two parallel planes, each plane being in an oblique position relative to the plane formed by the electric case.

According to a third alternative embodiment, the two housings are located in two oblique planes with respect to each other, one of the planes being parallel to the plane formed by the electronic unit, the other plane being in oblique position by relative to the plane formed by said electronic unit.

In the case of two housings located in parallel planes, the insertions of the two cards in the two housings are carried out perpendicularly. Still in the case of two housings located in parallel planes, the insertions of the two cards in the two housings are carried out in identical directions.

In the same case as above, the insertions of the two cards in the two slots are made in opposite directions.

The connector has a mobile keyboard that can rotate to adapt to the position of the person using the keyboard. At least one of the housings includes a means for locking in position the smart card inserted in its housing. Whatever the embodiment of the connector, the part of the chip card, external to the connector or to the intermediate element, comprises a keyboard.

The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent several preferred embodiments according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

FIG. 1 represents a general view of a first embodiment of the invention before insertion.

FIG. 2 represents a general view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 represents a general view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a view identical to Figure 1 of the connector assembly after insertion. FIG. 5 represents a sectional view along AA of the figure 4.

FIG. 6 represents a general view of a fourth embodiment of the invention before the insertions.

FIG. 7 represents a view identical to FIG. 6 after the insertions.

FIG. 8 represents an overall view of a microcomputer equipped with a PCMCIA reader before its cooperation with a connector with two smart cards according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 represents an overall view of a microcomputer equipped with a PCMCIA reader after its cooperation with a connector with two smart cards according to the invention.

FIG. 10 represents a view in longitudinal section of a connector presented in FIGS. 8 and 9 in the absence of the two smart cards.

FIG. 11 represents a view identical to FIG. 10 just before the introduction of the two smart cards.

FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment of the present invention according to a first construction variant.

FIG. 13 represents a second variant of construction of the second embodiment.

Figure 14 is a view identical to Figure 12, the connector carrying a keyboard. Figure 15 is a view identical to Figure 13, the connector carrying a keyboard.

Figure 16 is identical to Figure 14, but the two smart cards are removed.

Figure 17 is identical to Figure 15, but the two smart cards are removed.

Figure 18 shows the construction variant of Figures 15 and 17, when the keyboard is rotated counterclockwise.

Figure 19 shows a view identical to Figure 18, when the keyboard is rotated in the direction of Clockwise.

FIG. 20 shows a side view of a last embodiment of a connector when the two smart card receiving slots, empty in this case, are parallel to each other.

Finally, FIG. 21 represents a view identical to FIG. 20, in which one of the housings has been rotated so that the two housings form an angle.

Currently a modem consists of the following elements. First there is the electronic unit which is connected by one of its ends to a telephone line and at the other end to the computer via a wired link.

In the case of a PCMCIA modem, there is therefore the electronic unit which comprises a PCMCIA interface with the computer and two interfaces with the telephone line, one concerning the telephone line itself and the other the input / output not used in general.

The object of the invention consists, according to a first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, to use the input / output interface to connect it to a smart card interface device integrated in the connection connector.

Therefore, the connector 1 of a telephone line 2 is intended to be plugged into an electronic unit 3 according to F2. On the other side of line 2, a telephone socket 15 allows connection to the conventional telephone network.

Such an electronic unit can consist of a PCMCIA modem 3 of a microcomputer 13.

The connector 1 comprises two data transmission buses 4 and 5 which are entirely conventional, one of the buses 5 being assigned to the interface between the telephone line 2 and the electronic unit 3.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the second bus 4 remaining free is in fact assigned to the connection to a smart card interface integrated into said connector 1. To do this, the connector 1 includes a housing 6 for the insertion of a smart card 7 with electrical contact pads

12. Of course, due to the size of the connector 1, the dimensions of the housing 6 of the connector 1 allow only a partial insertion of the chip card 7 along Fl so that a fairly large part is that is to say at least half of the smart card 7, is outside the housing 6 when the card is completely inserted into said housing 6, the part which is not inside the housing 6 remaining accessible to the user whether to remove it or to carry out the manipulations that may be envisaged, this is for example the case when the card 7 may comprise, on its most visible face, a keyboard 10, as shown in FIG. 2, or the connector can have a keyboard 14, as shown in FIG. 3.

Optionally, instead or cumulatively with the keyboard, we can have a voice recognition or fingerprint system or any other identification system, all of which may or may not be associated with a display 11. Of course, we may also provide that this recognition device (keyboard, voice recognition, display, etc.) will be mounted directly on the connector 1 itself, as shown in FIG. 3.

According to another embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the connector 1 is strictly identical to that which has just been described.

However, the housing 6 allows the introduction of an intermediate element 8, which itself comprises a housing 9 for the insertion according to F3 of a smart card 7 as defined above.

Of course, the housing 6 still allows the introduction of a smart card, as shown and described above.

It is therefore the intermediate element 8 which will be inserted according to F4 in the connector 1 and will use the free bus 4 assigned to the input / output interface and which in this case will be connected to a smart card interface integrated into said connector 1.

Of course, in the same way the dimensions of the housing 9 of the intermediate element 8 allow only a partial insertion of the smart card 7.

In the same way, the dimensions of the housing 6 of the connector 1 allow only a partial insertion of said intermediate element 8 or of the smart card 7, so that a part of the card 7 or of the element 8 remains external. said connector 1 or element 8.

Of course, in the same way as for the previous embodiment, it will be possible to provide recognition systems such as the keyboard 16, the voice recognition, the display at the level of the connector 1, of the smart card 7 but also at the intermediate element 8.

According to Figures 8 to 19, several construction variants of a second embodiment of the invention are shown.

According to this embodiment, the connector is always referenced 21 whatever its shape.

This connector 21 cooperates, as is well shown in Figures 8 and 9, with an electronic unit 3 which is constituted, in all of the figures, by a PCMCIA modem.

This PCMCIA modem 3 is incorporated into a microcomputer 13. It is not necessary, as shown in the figures, that there are elements which are external to the central unit of the microcomputer 13.

However, for the sake of understanding showing the connection well, an element external to the central unit has been shown in enlarged form.

This connection is made by inserting connector F5 according to F5 into the microcomputer 13. The connection is made at the level of buses 23 of connector 21.

According to Figures 10 and 11, the connector 21 is best shown in longitudinal section. Note that there are two slots 24 and 26 which allow the insertion of two smart cards 25 and 27.

According to this construction variant, the two housings 24 and 26 are in an oblique position with respect to each other, that is to say that there is an angle α which is substantially 35 ° in FIG. 10 , this angle α existing between the plane passing through the first housing 24 and the plane passing through the second housing 26.

The first plane is in fact in the same plane as the electronic unit 3 or 22. The second plane is it, positioned obliquely. In addition, there are several wire connections 29 within the connector 21.

This is not at all the case of the embodiment of the connector 21 according to Figures 12 to 19 since in this case, the planes of the two housings 24 and 26 are in position parallel to each other.

According to Figure 12, the two cards 25 and 27 are inserted perpendicularly to each other, one of the cards 25 being inserted in the same axis as the insertion along F5 of the connector 21 in the microphone -computer 13. Of course, the other card 27 is perpendicular.

According to Figure 13, the two cards 25 and 27 are inserted in opposite directions. The two cards 25 and 27 are then perpendicular in their insertion to the insertion according to F5, seen previously.

The embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 13 are found in FIGS. 14 and 15.

Nevertheless, an important difference exists. At the connector 21, there is a keyboard 28. This keyboard 28 is also well represented in FIGS. 16 to 19.

However, in Figures 18 to 19, another function of the keyboard 28 is shown.

According to FIG. 18, it is possible to animate the keyboard 28 with a rotation movement in the anti-clockwise direction, according to F6. According to FIG. 19, the keyboard 28 is rotated clockwise, according to F7.

In fact, one of the main interests of this type of connector 21 with a mobile keyboard 28 in rotation 28, is the use of said connector 21 with the laptop or not of a doctor.

Thus, it will be possible in future years, for the doctor, to insert his personal card in order to initialize the computer on the work to be accomplished. Then, depending on the patient who will be in front of him and who will have a treatment card himself, it will be possible to insert the patient card at one of the two slots remaining free. The keyboard 28 is rotated, either according to F6, or according to F7, depending on the implantation side of the connector 21 on the electronic box or PCMCIA modem 3. Thus the doctor or the patient can type in his confidential code while having the numbers in front of him .

Of course, the present invention also relates to a connector combining the characteristics of the first and second embodiments, that is to say corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 7, on the one hand, and 8 to 19, on the other hand.

According to Figures 20 and 21, the two housings 24 and 26, intended to receive the smart cards 25 and 27, have another configuration. They constitute two physically independent elements separated one from the other 26 by a hinge pin 30. By pivoting the housing 26 along F8, it is possible to vary the position of the two housings 24 and 26 ad infinitum , there is therefore an infinity of value for α in this embodiment. REFERENCES

1. Connector

2. Telephone line cord

3. Electronic unit or PCMCIA modem 4. Bus assigned to the input / output interface

5. Bus assigned to the interface between line 2 and box 3

6. Slot for connector 1

7. Smart card

8. Intermediate element 9. Element housing 8

10. Card keyboard

11. Map display 7

12. Electrical contact ranges

13. Microcomputer 14. Connector keyboard

15. Telephone socket

16. Element 8 keyboard 21. Connector

23. Bus of connector 21 24. First housing

25. First smart card cooperating with slot 24

26. Second accommodation

27. Second smart card cooperating with the housing 26

28. Mobile rotary keyboard 29. Wired connection within connector 21

30. Axis of articulation between the two housings 24 and 26 α. Angle between the planes formed by housings 24 and 26 FI. Insertion of card 7 in connector 1 F2. Insertion of connector 1 in microcomputer 13 F3. Insertion of card 7 in element 8

F4. Insertion of element 8 in box 3 F5. Insertion of connector 21 in microcomputer 13 F6. Keyboard rotation 28 clockwise F7. Keyboard rotation counterclockwise an F8 watch. Rotation of one of the two housings 26 relative to the axis 30

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. Connector (1 or 21) intended to be plugged into an electronic unit (3 or 22), such as a PCMCIA modem (3 or 22) of a computer (13), characterized in that the connector (1 or 21) comprises at least one slot (6, 24 and / or 26), each slot (6, 24 or 26) allowing the insertion of a smart card (7, 25 or 27).

2. Connector (1), according to claim 1, of a telephone line (2) intended to be plugged into an electronic unit (3), such as a PCMCIA modem (3) of a computer, the connector (1 ) comprising two data transmission buses (4 and 5), one of the buses (5) being assigned to the interface between the telephone line (2) and the electronic unit (3), characterized in that the connector (1) comprises a housing (6), for the insertion of a smart card (7), and an interface device between the smart card (7) and said housing (3), which uses the bus ( 4) free, assigned to the input / output interface and connected to a smart card interface integrated into said connector (1).

3. Connector according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the dimensions of the housing (6) of the connector (1) allow only a partial insertion of the smart card (7), so that part of said smart card (7), external to said connector, remains accessible.

4. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connector comprises at least one identification system.

5. Connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connector comprises a display and / or a keyboard.

6. Connector (1) according to claim 1, of a telephone line (2) intended to be plugged into a housing electronic (3), such as a PCMCIA modem (3) of a computer, the connector (1) comprising two buses (4 and 5) for data transmission, one of the buses (5) being assigned to the interface between the telephone line (2) and the electronic unit (3), characterized in that the connector (1) comprises a housing (6), for the insertion of an intermediate element (8) which itself a housing (9), for the insertion of a smart card (7), and an interface device between the smart card (7) and said housing (3), via the intermediate element (8), which uses the free bus (4), assigned to the input / output interface and connected to a smart card interface integrated into said connector (1).

7. Connector according to any one of claims 1 or 6, characterized in that the dimensions of the housing (6 or 9) of the connector (1) or of the intermediate element (8) allow only partial insertion of said intermediate element (8) or of the smart card (7), so that part of the element (8) or of said card (7), external to said connector (1) or to said element (8) remains accessible.

8. Connector according to any one of claims 1, 6 or 7, characterized in that the part of the intermediate element (8), external to the connector (1), comprises a keyboard (10).

9. Connector according to any one of claims 1, 6 to 8, characterized in that the part of the intermediate element (8), external to the connector (1), comprises a display (11).

10. Connector according to claim 1, which comprises two housings (24 or 26), characterized in that the dimensions of each housing (24 or 26) of the connector (21) allow only a partial insertion of each card to chip (25 or 27), so that part of said smart card (25 or 27), external to said connector (21), remains accessible.

11. Connector according to any one of claims 1 or 10, characterized in that the two housings (24 and 26) are located in two parallel planes, each plane being parallel to the plane formed by the electronic unit (22).

12. Connector according to any one of claims 1 or 10, characterized in that the two housings are located in two parallel planes, each plane being in an oblique position relative to the plane formed by the electronic unit.

13. Connector according to any one of claims

I or 10, characterized in that the two housings (24 and 26) are located in two oblique planes with respect to each other, one of the planes being parallel to the plane formed by the electronic unit (22) , the other plane being in an oblique position relative to the plane formed by said electronic unit (22).

14. Connector according to any one of claims

II or 12, characterized in that the insertions of the two cards (25 and 27) in the two housings (24 and 26) take place perpendicularly.

15. Connector according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the insertions of the two cards (25 and 27) in the two housings (24 and 26) take place in identical directions.

16. Connector according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the insertions of the two cards (25 and 27) in the two housings (24 and 26) take place in opposite directions.

17. Connector according to any one of claims 1 or 10 to 16, characterized in that the connector (21) comprises a mobile keyboard in rotation (28) to adapt to the position of the person who use the keyboard (28).

18. Connector according to any one of claims 1 or 10 to 17, characterized in that at least one of the housings (24 and / or 26) comprises a locking means in position of the smart card ( 25 or 27) inserted in its housing (24 or 26).

19. Connector according to any one of claims 3, 7 or 10, characterized in that the part of the smart card, external to the connector or to the intermediate element, comprises a keyboard.