WO1998034218A2

WO1998034218A2 - Smartcard electromechanical acceptor device

Info

Publication number: WO1998034218A2
Application number: PCT/IL1998/000050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Esther Russo; Igal Shustari
Original assignee: Esther Russo
Priority date: 1997-02-04
Filing date: 1998-02-03
Publication date: 1998-08-06
Also published as: AU5778898A; WO1998034218A3

Abstract

A Smart Card electromechanical acceptor device (10) for insertion into an electronic information system, provided as a sealed plastic case having a printed circuit board (20) seated therein and an arrangement of spring-loaded balls (28) providing electrical connection between the Smart Card (15) and the printed circuit board (20), without the need for soldering, by point pressure contact of the balls (28) on contact pads (25) of the Smart Card (15).

Description

SMARTCARD ELECTROMECHANICAL ACCEPTOR DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to microprocessor chip-based electronic information cards, known as Smartcards, and more particularly, to a Reader/Writer for Smartcards to allow long-life and multiple insertions of the Smartcard into electronic information systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of Smartcards has become prevalent in all parts of the world. The quantities of Smartcards being used have reached close to one billion pieces per year. Smartcard technology is based on electromechanical contact using at least 6 electrical contact pads. By this electromechanical contact, any electronic system can communicate with the microprocessor chip of the Smartcard.

With repeated insertion and removal of the Smartcards, the reliability of the electromechanical contact becomes a serious problem in this technology. The existing electromechanical systems can only accept Smartcard insertion between 50,000 and 200,000 times due to damage to the contacts. Therefore, in a public device such as a public telephone, in a short time people will find that the system is not accepting their Smartcard. The telephone company needs to change the reader/writer system every few months. This is because the systems available on the market today are based on the technology of metal springs soldered to a printed circuit board (PCB). In addition to the problems which exist with the short life of the contacts there are also problems with friction and dust entering the system and affecting the contacts. This constant need for replacement is both bothersome and costly. Thus it would be desirable to provide a highly reliable, long-lasting and self- cleaning system for Smartcard insertion which would be of high quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages associated with current Smartcard reader/writer technology and provide a system for millions of Smartcard insertions with long-life contacts at a high quality level.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a Smartcard electromechanical acceptor device for insertion into an electronic information system, said device comprising: a housing having formed therein a slot for insertion of a Smartcard; a connector support means removably insertable within said housing, said connector support means having formed therein a plurality of boreholes extending between the Smartcard and an oppositely facing circuit board; and connector means comprising a spring and ball arrangement seated within selected ones of said boreholes for providing electrical connection between the Smartcard and said circuit board upon insertion of the Smartcard into said housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the acceptor device is provided as a sealed plastic case with a slot for insertion of the Smartcard. The case has seated therein a PCB and a brush is disposed in front of the slot in order to prevent any entry of dirt or dust. The case is provided with a bridge containing boreholes formed in the plastic of the case. Electromechanical contacts are supplied as gold plated balls inserted into the boreholes. A gold plated spring is provided within each borehole

above the ball. The bridge is covered by a PCB with gold plated pads which are located above each spring contact. Each of the springs is locked in the borehole between the ball and the PCB under pressure so that the electric contact is made,

without need for soldering, through the point pressure contact of the ball on the

contact pads of the Smartcard which is inserted into the acceptor device. A stopper for the balls is provided as a part of the borehole so as to prevent the ball and spring from falling out of the borehole when no Smartcard is inserted.

The contact organization on the acceptor device is provided according to the ISO standard, with the option to add many more contacts for use in any application which requires more contacts. These additional contacts can be added from any direction of the Smartcard.

The thickness of the acceptor device can be varied depending on the angle of the borehole and the orientation of the spring connection seated therein. The borehole can be provided, for example, at a 90° angle for maximal thickness and a 45° angle for reduced thickness. Any angle is possible.

In the preferred embodiment, the acceptor device is provided with an additional contact, making an electrical short which completes the connection to the ground pad of the Smartcard. By this electrical short the PCB receives an indicator signal that the Smartcard is inserted or removed (as required by the ISO 7816 standard) The provision of a contact for use as an ON/OFF automatic card indication eliminates the need to have an extra individual mechanical switch ih every acceptor device.

The acceptor device is built so as to provide contact with minimum friction by using a step before the card reaches the end and stops. This provides smooth contact between the card and the balls because the step lifts the Smartcard up during insertion and maintains an even pressure between the contact pads and the balls. Thus a strong contact with minimum friction and minimum damage is attained. In addition, use of the device maintains a vibration-resistant electrical connection between the Smartcard and the device making it suitable for use in systems where shaking is a problem, such as moving vehicles.

The acceptor device is made to be used, for example, in any electronic product incorporated in an electronic information system such as a computer, keyboard, cash register, electronic money wallet, game machine, digital camera, personal organizer, voice recorder or telephone. For use in a digital watch, only part of the card is inserted and the watch can read/write with the card. In addition, the invention can be used as a portable unit based on the same contact invention as an easy plug in/out unit or as a connection with any other system. Maximum contact can be provided on all surfaces of the card as needed for any purpose of use such as flash IC cards with many pad contacts.

In an alternative embodiment, the acceptor may be provided with the balls embedded in boreholes made directly on the PCB. The holes are conical in shape so as to hold the bails from falling out. The spring is provided as a flat spring covering the balls and making contact with the PCB at its ends which are soldered directly to the PCB.

The total integration of the boreholes and the plastic case, the spring and gold balls in contact with the PCB make the Smartcard electromechanical acceptor reliable and heavy duty.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, with regard to the embodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding elements or sections throughout, and in which:

Figs, la-b are, respectively, a top view and a side elevational view of a lower portion of the acceptor device constructed in accordance with the principles of he present invention;

Figs. 2a-b are, respectively, a cross-sectional view of the acceptor device and an enlarged detailed view of a bridge area thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bridge of the acceptor device;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the bridge of the acceptor device;

Figs. Sa-b show respectively, an alternative arrangement of the acceptor device shown with a reduced profile and a cross-sectional view thereof; and

Fig. 6 shows another alternative arrangement of the acceptor device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In Fig. la, a top view of a lower portion 8 of acceptor device 10 is shown.

Acceptor device 10 is formed with grooves 12 which become engaged with tabs 36

(see Fig. 3) formed on a bridge 16 to allow push-fit insertion of bridge 16. A slot 14 formed in lower portion 8 allows sliding insertion of a Smartcard IS. Slot 14 is provided with a brush 13 to prevent dirt and dust from entering therein. In Fig. lb a side elevational view is shown of acceptor device 10 in which bridge 16 has been inserted. A step 18 formed in lower portion 8 minimizes friction and damage to

Smartcard IS by lifting it upon insertion via slot 14.

In Fig. 2a, a cross-sectional view of acceptor device 10 is shown with bridge 16

inserted. Printed circuit board 20 is retained in device 10 and attached to bridge 16 using pins 22. Bridge 16 is provided with a plurality of boreholes 24, selected ones having a gold-plated spring 26 inserted therein. Gold-plated balls 28 are held in boreholes 24 below springs 26. Each of boreholes 24 is conically shaped at its open end to prevent ball 28 from falling out. Smartcard 15 is inserted at an angle via slot 14 and follows the slope of step 18 while it is pushed forward until its end reaches stop

32. Step 18 ensures that friction is minimized by angling Smartcard 15 away from balls 28 until the slope of step 18 lifts Smartcard 15. At this point, a good electrical connection is made from contact pads 25 on Smartcard 15 through balls 28 and springs

26 to PCB 20 via contact pads 33 typically provided as gold pads on PCB 20. This is seen clearly in the enlarged detailed view in Fig. 2b.

PCB 20 is provided with integrated circuits and electronic components 21 which connect externally to an electronic information system via a plug-in type connector 23, typically mounted on lower portion 8 of device 10.

In Fig. 3 a perspective view of bridge 16 is shown with numerous boreholes 24 provided. Pins 22 hold PCB 20 in place above boreholes 24 so that contact pads 33 become aligned with selected ones of boreholes 24 which in turn align with Smartcard contact pads 25 (See Figs. 2a-b). Tabs 36 allow push-fit insertion of bridge 16 into grooves 12 of lower portion 8 of acceptor device 10. This push-fit insertion of bridge

16 allows replacement of bridge 16 so that the number and arrangement of boreholes

24 being used to make contact between Smartcard 15 and PCB 20 can be varied as needed for different applications.

Fig. 4 shows an underside view of bridge 16. Indicated schematically at 38 are switching contacts used to make an electrical short which completes the connection to

Smartcard contact pads 25 on Smartcard 15. By this electrical short PCB 20 receives an indication signal that Smartcard 15 has been inserted into acceptor device 10. In use, Smartcard 15 is inserted via slot 14 and pushed within device 10 to guide the card over step 18 to stop 32. The insertion of Smartcard 15 causes point

pressure on Smartcard contact pads 25 via balls 28 under pressure from springs 26 depressed against PCB 20 contact pads 33. Indicated contacts 38 cause a short circuit indicating that Smartcard 15 has been inserted.

Fig. 5a-b show an alternative arrangement of boreholes 44 oriented at a reduced angle so as to reduce the thickness of acceptor device 10. As described previously, step 18 (Fig. 5a) ensures that friction is minimized during insertion of Smartcard 15 until the slope of step 18 lifts Smartcard 15 during the last 2mm of its insertion. When Smartcard 15 is fully inserted into device 10, Smartcard 15 contact pads 25 are aligned with bridge 39 to allow a connection from Smartcard contact pads 25 to balls 28. As described with respect to Fig. 4, schematically indicated switching contacts 38 provide an electrical short completing connection to Smartcard 15 contact pads 25. In Fig. Sb a cross-section of a bridge 39 is shown showing boreholes 44 formed at a 45° angle so as to reduce the thickness of acceptor device 1 .

In Fig. 6 an additional alternative arrangement of boreholes 54 is shown in which boreholes 54 are formed on PCB 20 with a height lower than the diameter of balls 28, and are conically shaped so as to prevent balls 28 from falling out. Balls 28 protrude from boreholes 54 in PCB 20. Springs 24 are replaced by a flat spring 40 resting above balls 28 and soldered to PCB 20.

Having described the invention with regard to specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation, since further modifications may now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is intended

to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A Smartcard electromechanical acceptor device for insertion into an electronic

information system, said device comprising: a housing having formed therein a slot for insertion of a Smartcard; a connector support means removably insertable within said housing, said connector support means having formed therein a plurality of boreholes extending between the Smartcard and an oppositely facing circuit board; and connector means comprising a spring and ball arrangement seated within selected ones of said boreholes for providing electrical connection between the Smartcard and said circuit board upon insertion of the Smartcard into said housing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said spring and ball arrangement maintains vibration-resistant point contact between each ball and a contact pad on the Smartcard.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said boreholes are formed with a conical portion for retaining said bails therein.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said slot for insertion of the Smartcard is formed with a step so as to minimize friction during insertion and for lifting the Smartcard after insertion and maintaining contact between it and said ball and spring arrangement.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said connector support means is formed with a stop to properly position the Smartcard within said slot.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein an additional contact is provided for use in causing an electrical short to indicate that the Smartcard is inserted or removed.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said spring and ball arrangement is held in said borehole under pressure between the Smartcard and said circuit board without

soldered electrical connections.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said boreholes are formed on said circuit board such that said balls partially protrude therefrom and said spring is provided as a flat

spring and soldered to said circuit board on a side thereof.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said slot is provided with a brush for prevention of entry of dust and dirt therein.

10. The device of claim 1 for use as a portable unit containing the Smartcard for insertion into electronic information systems.

11. The device of claim 1 for use as a fixed unit within an electronic information system for insertion therein of the Smartcard.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing and said connector support means are constructed of plastic material.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said balls and said springs are gold-plated.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said connector means is arranged for providing electrical connection on more than one side of the Smartcard.

15. A method of inserting a Smartcard electromechanical acceptor device for use in an electronic information system, said method comprising the steps of: inserting the Smartcard into a housing having formed therein a slot for insertion of the Smartcard, said housing comprising: a removably insertable connector support means within said housing, said connector support means having formed therein a plurality of boreholes extending between the Smartcard and an oppositely facing circuit board; connector means comprising a spring and ball arrangement seated within selected ones of said boreholes for providing electrical connection

between the Smartcard and said circuit board; and inserting said housing means into an electronic information system.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said housing means is fixedly inserted into an electronic information system prior to insertion of the Smartcard therein.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said housing means is provided as a portable unit and said Smartcard is inserted therein prior to insertion into an electronic information system.