GB2299696A

GB2299696A - Connectors for IC cards

Info

Publication number: GB2299696A
Application number: GB9507259A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheuk Fai Ho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-07
Filing date: 1995-04-07
Publication date: 1996-10-09
Also published as: GB9507259D0

Abstract

A time clock (10) has a reader/write device 14 for receipt of an IC card. A top cover (16) closes a card receiving slot (12) in the reader/write device (14) when access thereto is not required. This prevents ingress of dirt. The cover (16) may be slidable or hinged. The slot (12) incorportes electrical connectors for contacting the IC card; these connectors are connected to further connectors which are plugged into a printed circuit board. A card for cleaning the connectors has a linen surface impregnated with solvent.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONNECTORS FOR IC CARDS The present invention relates to connectors for IC cards.

IC cards, that is, cards carrying an integrated circuit, are used increasingly commonly. Any device which is to communicate with the card, either to read information from the circuit on the card or to write data thereto, requires a connector. In general, such a connector has a slot in which the card can be inserted and in which contacts are provided for connection with the contact surface of the IC card. The connector may be provided in a separate reader/write device electrically connected to other apparatus, or may be physically arranged in other apparatus such as a computer, a telephone, a facsimile apparatus, a time clock or the like.

A number of proposals have been made for the use of apparatus incorporating IC card reader/write devices for use in an industrial environment. There is therefore the possible problem of the ingress of dirt into the slot of the connector.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector for making surface electrical connections to IC cards, said connector comprising a card receiving slot, and electrical connectors arranged to contact a card in the card receiving slot, and said connector further comprises closure means arranged to cover the card receiving slot when access to the slot is not required.

In a preferred embodiment, said closure means is a manually openable cover member. Preferably, the cover member is openable against the force of biasing means.

The present invention also extends to a cleaning card for use in a connector for IC cards, said cleaning card comprising a card substantially of the same shape and configuration as an IC card, and said cleaning card carrying means for cleaning connector contacts.

In an embodiment, the cleaning means may comprise a cleaning material on one surface of the card.

Where it is required to incorporate a reader/write device for an IC card within an apparatus such as a computer, telephone, facsimile apparatus and the like, a simple way to incorporate an IC card connector is preferred.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector for making surface electrical connection to IC cards, said connector comprising a housing in which a card receiving slot is defined, first connectors in said slot for electrical contact with an IC card inserted therein, and second connectors, protruding with respect to said housing, and in electrical connection with said first connector.

In an embodiment, said connector comprises a printed circuit board configured for receipt in an electrical apparatus, said circuit board having corresponding connections to receive said second protruding connectors.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a time clock apparatus having a protectable card reader/write device, Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a time clock apparatus with a protectable card reader/write device, Figure 3 shows a connector for receipt in an electrical apparatus, and Figure 4 shows a cleaning card.

Figures 1 and 2 show two alternative embodiments of a time clock 10 having a reader/write device 14 therein for receipt of an IC card. Because a time clock is generally used in the public area of an office or other work place, there is clearly a risk of ingress of dirt.

It would be possible to use an automatic shutter, for example, as is commonly used in a floppy disc drive of a computer, which swings within the card receiving slot 12 during insertion of the IC card. However, dust on the surface of the shutter can be carried into the connector.

The situation is even worse if there is no shutter.

Figures 1 and 2 show two embodiments in which a top cover 16 is provided to close the slot 12 in the reader/write device 14 when access thereto is not required.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the cover 16 is slidable whereas in the embodiment of Figure 2, the cover 16 is hinged.

The covers 16 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are opened manually. It may be provided that an automatic closing device is provided, for example by requiring manual opening against the force of a spring (not shown). Additionally and/or alternatively, a warning signal may be generated to remind the user to close the cover after the IC card is removed from the slot 12.

The warning device may also be arranged to record to an IC card or to the reader/write device 14 when closure of the cover 16 is omitted.

If a reader/write device for an IC card is to be inserted into apparatus, for example as a time clock, a telephone, or computer it is helpful if the construction thereof is simple and aids connection. Figure 3 shows a connector for an IC card which is constructed as an I/O card such as is commonly used in computers so that it can be easily fitted, and easily changed, without having to disassemble the whole apparatus. The IC card connector comprises a housing 20 in which the IC receiving slot 12 is formed. This slot 12 incorporates the necessary electrical connectors for contacting the integrated circuit on the IC card. The connectors which contact the IC card are electrically connected to one or more sets of further connectors 22 which protrude with respect to the housing 20.

A printed circuit board (PCB) 24 is shaped and sized as an I/O card and has a connector 26 arranged to be plugged into a conventional cable connector 28. The PCB 24 is provided with connector holes 28 in which the protruding connectors 22 can be plugged. Thus, the board 24 and the connector housing 20 can be assembled together as a single apparatus which can be easily plugged into, or removed from, an existing apparatus.

Even though steps are taken to guard against the ingress of dirt into the IC connector slot 12, dust will gain entrance, for example, on the IC cards which are inserted. Accumulation of dust in the IC connector slot can cause bad contact between the IC card and its connector. Figure 4 shows a cleaning card arranged to enable cleaning of the IC connector contacts without disassembly of the connector.

The cleaning card 30 is generally of the same size and configuration as an IC card. Thus, it has the same peripheral shape and area and is the same thickness as an IC card. A cleaning material, indicated at 32, is provided on at least one surface of the card 30. For example, this cleaning material 32 may be a special linen. An appropriate solvent can be impregnated into the linen or placed thereon before the cleaning card 30 is used for cleaning. The connector slot is then cleaned by inserting and removing the cleaning card 30 therein a number of times. The reciprocating action of the cleaner card 30 in the slot is effective to clean the contacts.

It will be appreciated that modifications to, and variations of, the preferred embodiments as described and illustrated above may be made within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A connector for making surface electrical connections to IC cards, said connector comprising a card receiving slot, and electrical connectors arranged to contact a card in the card receiving slot, and said connector further comprising closure means arranged to cover the card receiving slot when access to the slot is not required.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said closure means is a manually openable cover member.

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2, the cover member is openable against the force of biasing means.

4. A connector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, and further comprising a housing in which said card receiving slot is defined.

5. A time clock having a reader/write device therein for receipt of an IC card, wherein said reader/write device comprises a connector for making surface electrical connections to IC cards as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3.

6. A time clock as claimed in Claim 5, having a housing in which the card receiving slot of the connector is defined, and wherein a manually operable cover member is carried by said housing to selectively close said card receiving slot.

7. A time clock as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said cover member is slidable relative to said housing.

8. A time clock as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said cover member is hingedly connected to said housing.

9. A connector for making surface electrical connections to IC cards, said connector comprising a housing in which a card receiving slot is defined, first connectors in said slot for electrical contact with an IC card inserted therein, and second connectors, protruding with respect to said housing, and in electrical connection with said first connector.

10. A connector as claimed in Claim 9, further comprising a printed circuit board configured for receipt in an electrical apparatus, said circuit board having corresponding connections to receive said second protruding connectors.

11. A connector as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, further comprising a manually operable cover member for selectively closing said card receiving slot.

12. An electrical apparatus comprising a connector as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 11.

13. A cleaning card for use in a connector for IC cards, said cleaning card comprising a card substantially of the same shape and configuration as an IC card, and said cleaning card carrying means for cleaning connector contacts.

14. A cleaning card as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said cleaning means comprises a cleaning material on one surface of the card.

15. A connector for making surface electrical connections to IC cards substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. An electrical apparatus comprising a connector as claimed in Claim 15.

17. A cleaning card for use in a connector for IC cards substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.