WO1999031619A1 - Lecteur pour carte a puce - Google Patents

Lecteur pour carte a puce Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999031619A1
WO1999031619A1 PCT/NL1997/000684 NL9700684W WO9931619A1 WO 1999031619 A1 WO1999031619 A1 WO 1999031619A1 NL 9700684 W NL9700684 W NL 9700684W WO 9931619 A1 WO9931619 A1 WO 9931619A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
card
slot
reading device
contact elements
range
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL1997/000684
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robertus Everardus Wilmer
René Johan Van Geer
Roberto Manuelo Heilbron
Original Assignee
Logismart B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Logismart B.V. filed Critical Logismart B.V.
Priority to PCT/NL1997/000684 priority Critical patent/WO1999031619A1/fr
Publication of WO1999031619A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999031619A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/0013—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers
    • G06K7/0021—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a reading device according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • a card of the type suitable to be used in combination with such a reading device is often referred to as a "chip card".
  • Such a card can be suitable for making payments and in general for the debiting and possibly crediting of units of account such as currency and numbers of times of use permitted, from or to a balance of such units which is stored in a memory of a microelectronic circuit of the card.
  • a reading device for that purpose is therefore, in particular, a portable, cordless device which can be used by the person carrying it, for example when shopping.
  • a reading device of. the type mentioned at the outset can be stationary and can be fitted in another apparatus such as a telephone set.
  • a reading device of the type mentioned at the outset is known in practice.
  • the length of the opening of the insertion slot thereof is of the same size as a side of the card which has to be inserted into the slot to allow a connection to be established between contact pads of the microelectronic circuit of the card and contact elements of the reading device.
  • the largest dimension of the reading device is larger than that side of the card. Consequently the device is relatively bulky and can therefore not conveniently be carried in, for example, a pocket of a garment or, if it is of stationary design, it may take up an undesirable amount of space.
  • the contact pads of a known card are generally arranged in an orthogonal matrix of which one side is parallel to that side or edge of the card which is to be inserted into the slot.
  • the resilient contact elements, disposed in the slot, of the reading device, whether the latter be stationary or not, are arranged correspondingly. This means that, while the card is being inserted and withdrawn, at least those contact elements which are disposed closest to the mouth of the slot move across more contact pads than the contact pads they touch when the card is inserted as far as possible, as a result of which the first-mentioned contact pads will be subject to considerably more wear than the other contact pads.
  • Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a known reading device with a partly inserted known chip card
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic section of the device of
  • Figure 3 shows in perspective a view of a portion of the card and of resilient contact elements of the reading device of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the reading device according to the invention with a partly inserted card;
  • Figure 5 shows a schematic section of the device of Figure 1 along V-V;
  • Figure 6 shows in perspective a view of a portion of the card and of resilient contact elements of the device of Figure 4 ;
  • Figure 7 shows in perspective a view of alternative resilient contact elements for the device of Figure 4.
  • Figure 1 shows, in perspective, a known reading device 10 for a chip card 11, disposed within which is a microelectronic circuit ("chip").
  • a principal surface of the card 11 has a connection area 12 within which a number of contact pads are disposed which can be touched from outside the card and which are connected to terminals of the microelectronic circuit.
  • the connection area 12, in the example shown, has an orthogonal matrix of two rows of four contact pads 13 each ( Figure 2) , said rows being parallel to a side or edge 14 of the card 11.
  • the reading device 10 has a slot 15 having a mouth 16 via which a portion of the card 11 can be inserted, with its side 14, into the slot 15.
  • the reading device 10 has an electronic circuit of which only a display window 17 is shown schematically.
  • the card 11 can be moved into and out of the slot 15 only in a direction parallel to that indicated by the double arrow 18.
  • resilient contact elements disposed in the slot such as the elements 20, touch opposite contact pads 13 of the card 11.
  • two rows of three contact elements 20 are often disposed in the slot 15.
  • only one contact element 20 of each such row is shown in Figures 2 and 3.
  • These contact elements 20, in the sectional view of Figure 2, would not really be visible, they are nevertheless shown for the sake of clarity.
  • the contact elements 20 are electrically connected to the electronic circuit of the reading device 10.
  • the contact elements 20 can be moved resiliently in a direction perpendicular to a principal surface of the card 11, and their arrangement in the reading device 10 is such that, while the card 11 is being inserted into the slot 15, they slide across the principal surface of the card 11 with the connection area 12 while extending in the direction 18.
  • the contact elements 20 are, for example, torsional springs, such as are shown in Figure 3, but may alternatively be of different design, for example as elongate tongues .
  • the contact element 20a closest to the slot mouth 16 will slide not only across the corresponding contact pad 13a but also across the adjacent contact pad 13b of the row of contact pads 13 which is located closest to the edge 14 of the card 11.
  • the contact elements 20 sliding across the contact pads 13 cause wear to the surface of the contact pads 13, as indicated by scratches 22. Since both the contact element 20a and the contact element 20b slide across the contact pad 13b, the wear at the surface of the contact pad 13b is considerably greater than that of the contact pad 13a.
  • the card 11 could also be inserted, in a direction parallel to the side 14 of the card 11, into a slot of the device, the resilient contact elements 20 which are able to extend in the direction 18 would cause unacceptable wear of the contact pads 13.
  • the invention provides a reading device which is of smaller dimensions than the known device and whose contact elements cause less wear to the contact pads of the card.
  • Figures 4 to 6 inclusive show an embodiment of a reading device 40 according to the invention.
  • the reading device 40 has an electronic circuit of which only a display screen 41 is shown.
  • the reading device 40 has a slot 42 having a mouth 43.
  • the slot 42 and the slot mouth 43 are such, that the card 11 can be inserted into the slot 42 not only in a direction parallel to that of the double arrow 18 (the insertion direction of the known reading device 10) , but also, for a rectangular chip card, in a direction 44 perpendicular thereto and any direction inbetween. This makes it possible for the reading device 40 to be of smaller dimensions.
  • connection area 12 It is sufficient for a corner portion of the card 11, with the connection area 12, to be able to be inserted sufficiently far into the slot 42 for the contact pads 13 of the card 11 to be in contact with resilient contact elements 46 which are disposed in the slot 42 and which are connected to the electronic circuit of the reading device 40, like the two contact elements 46a and 46b shown by way of example.
  • the contact pads 13 of the card 11 are situated, exactly as in the case of the known device, opposite to and in contact with corresponding resilient contacts 46.
  • the resilient contact elements 46 of the reading device 40 are disposed in such a way that they, while the card 11 is being inserted, extend in a direction contained within an insertion direction range 47 delimited by the directions 18 and 44.
  • the direction in which the contact elements 46 are able to extend is in the centre of the range 47, as indicated by the direction 48.
  • the contact elements 46 are preferably displaced in such a way that their extension directions form an angle of 45° with the directions 18 and 44.
  • the contact elements 46 in particular their lateral edges, will cause less wear than in the case of the known device 10, since marks or scratches caused by the various contact elements 46 on the contact pads 13 will not coincide or do so to a lesser extent than in the case of the known device 10.
  • the contact element 46a will not then touch the contact pad 13b, so that it will not cause any wear there, this being in contrast to the contact element 26a of the known reading device.
  • the contact elements 46 will admittedly cause wear to the contact pads 13 , but to a considerably lesser extent than if it were possible for the contact pads 13 to be moved perpendicular to the extension direction of contact elements.
  • the card 11 Since it is possible for the card 11 to be inserted in various orientations parallel to a principal surface thereof and according to various directions within the range 47 into the slot 42 and a user will most probably not always insert the card 13 with the same orientation and in the same direction into the slot 42, traces of wear caused by the contact elements 46 on the contact pads 13 will be more scattered, so that more even wear to the contact pads 13 is produced, as a result of which the reliability of electrical connections between the contact pads 13 and the contact elements 46 can be ensured over a longer period.
  • Figure 7 shows an arrangement of alternative resilient contact elements for the reading device 40 of Figure 4, in particular elongate tongues 51 which, when the card 11 is inserted into the device 40, preferentially extend in the direction 48, whereas the slightly recurved ends 52 of the tongues 51 glide across the card 11.
  • the rectangular blocks 53 are mounting pieces, shown schematically, for the tongues 51. If the extension direction of the tongues 51 were to be identical to the direction 18, the lateral edge of the card 11, when the card 11 is inserted in the direction 44, would butt against the ends 52c, 52d of the first-encountered tongues 51c, 51d. The tongues 51c, 51d, the card 11 and the contact pads 13 thereof would then suffer serious damage.
  • the extension direction of the resilient contact elements 46, 51 therefore preferably is at an angle, in the examples of Figures 4 to 7 inclusive, of 45°, to the outermost directions of the range 47 of insertion directions.
  • the reading device according to the invention can be an independent device, for example positioned on a counter, a portable device and a device fitted within another piece of equipment such as a telephone set.
  • the wear of the contact pads of the card is reduced and is more even than before, so that good electrical connection between the contact springs of the reading device and the contact pads of the card can be ensured over a longer period.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un lecteur (40) pour carte (11) présentant un premier circuit micro-électronique, qui est connecté à des pastilles de contact (13) dans une zone de connexion (12) située dans une surface principale de la carte (11). Le lecteur comprend un second circuit électronique et une fente (42) d'insertion avec une plage (42) de directions d'insertion pour la carte (11), des éléments de contact (46, 51) élastiques étant disposés dans la fente (42) qui, une fois la carte insérée, s'étendent parallèles à une direction dans la plage de directions d'insertion et touchent les pastilles de contact (13) correspondantes de la carte (11) lorsque la carte (11) a été insérée de manière suffisamment profonde dans la fente (42). La direction d'extension (48) des éléments de contact (46,. 51) est au centre de la plage (47) de directions d'insertion.
PCT/NL1997/000684 1997-12-12 1997-12-12 Lecteur pour carte a puce WO1999031619A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/NL1997/000684 WO1999031619A1 (fr) 1997-12-12 1997-12-12 Lecteur pour carte a puce

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/NL1997/000684 WO1999031619A1 (fr) 1997-12-12 1997-12-12 Lecteur pour carte a puce

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999031619A1 true WO1999031619A1 (fr) 1999-06-24

Family

ID=19866223

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NL1997/000684 WO1999031619A1 (fr) 1997-12-12 1997-12-12 Lecteur pour carte a puce

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1999031619A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2805671A1 (fr) * 2000-02-25 2001-08-31 Sagem Connecteur pour cartes a puce

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0329557A1 (fr) * 1988-02-19 1989-08-23 STMicroelectronics S.A. Dispositif portable pour l'interrogation, la lecture et l'enregistrement d'une carte du type à composant électronique et/ou à enregistrement magnétique
FR2638552A1 (fr) * 1988-10-28 1990-05-04 Crouzet Sa Lecteur anti-fraude de cartes a puce

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0329557A1 (fr) * 1988-02-19 1989-08-23 STMicroelectronics S.A. Dispositif portable pour l'interrogation, la lecture et l'enregistrement d'une carte du type à composant électronique et/ou à enregistrement magnétique
FR2638552A1 (fr) * 1988-10-28 1990-05-04 Crouzet Sa Lecteur anti-fraude de cartes a puce

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2805671A1 (fr) * 2000-02-25 2001-08-31 Sagem Connecteur pour cartes a puce

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP3689528B2 (ja) コンビチップカード用の接触ユニット
US6241557B1 (en) Smart card connector
EP0702315B1 (fr) Lecteur de cartes à chip portable étanche à la poussière
US6402529B2 (en) Card connector
TW421899B (en) Very thin electrical connector for connecting a smart card
US5726432A (en) Contacting system or reader for chip cards
US5739515A (en) IC card reader/writer
JP2957174B1 (ja) Ｉｃカードコネクタ
US4826445A (en) Card reader holder
EP0275091A1 (fr) Moyen pour mémoriser des informations sous forme de cartes
US6761320B1 (en) Connector structure for multi-storage media
US6835100B1 (en) Multi-in-one connector structure
US6244902B1 (en) Smart card reader for elevated placement relative to a printed circuit board
EP1181849B1 (fr) Carte enfichable pour equipement electronique
TWM260835U (en) Multi-card connector with single card insertion
EP1538710B1 (fr) Connecteur à carte à mémoire
WO1999031619A1 (fr) Lecteur pour carte a puce
US5969330A (en) Smart card reader with hinged cover and cover actuating surface
US5926365A (en) Device for the exchange of information with an electronic memory card, and car radio provided with such a device
JP2001135385A (ja) カードコネクタ構造
WO1998034218A2 (fr) Dispositif electromecanique accepteur de carte a memoire
US6070797A (en) Positioning device for a smart card reader
US5894121A (en) Reading apparatus for chip cards having reduced contact friction
CN100416929C (zh) 电子卡连接器
JP3819153B2 (ja) Ｉｃカードデータ表示装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase