WO2009130532A1 - Connecteur électrique pour connexion d'une carte à un lecteur de carte - Google Patents

Connecteur électrique pour connexion d'une carte à un lecteur de carte Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009130532A1
WO2009130532A1 PCT/IB2008/002338 IB2008002338W WO2009130532A1 WO 2009130532 A1 WO2009130532 A1 WO 2009130532A1 IB 2008002338 W IB2008002338 W IB 2008002338W WO 2009130532 A1 WO2009130532 A1 WO 2009130532A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
card
connector
electrical
holder
fixation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2008/002338
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michel Fonteneau
Kumar P. K. Ramesh
Original Assignee
Fci
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 Fci filed Critical Fci
Priority to PCT/IB2008/002338 priority Critical patent/WO2009130532A1/fr
Publication of WO2009130532A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009130532A1/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
    • 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
    • G06K7/0026—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 the galvanic contacts of the connector adapted for landing on the contacts of the card upon card insertion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
    • H01R12/714—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/7005—Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors
    • H01R12/7011—Locking or fixing a connector to a PCB
    • H01R12/7017—Snap means
    • H01R12/7029—Snap means not integral with the coupling device
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/79—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures

Definitions

  • the invention relates to electrical connectors for connection of a card to a card-reader, electrical systems comprising such connectors, and methods of assembly of such electrical systems.
  • Integrated circuit cards such as, for example, credit cards, are used in every day life. Upon use, data is exchanged between the card and an electronic device in which the card is inserted.
  • electronic devices have an internal card reader and an internal card connector which is placed in electrical contact with electrical pads of the card to enable data transfer between the card and the card reader.
  • the electronic device and the card connector are manufactured by separate companies. They are later assembled.
  • an electrical connector for connection of a card to an electrical card reader of an electrical device.
  • the connector is adapted to be mounted to a base plate.
  • the connector comprises:
  • a holder for instance a thin sheet-like insulating holder, comprising a top face disposed to face said card and an opposite bottom face, - electrical transmission portions held in the holder, for transmitting electrical signals between the card and the card-reader, a fixation device, such as a snap-lock device, carried by the holder and having a fixation portion adapted to mechanically lock the connector to the base plate.
  • a fixation device such as a snap-lock device
  • a connector system comprising a flexible printed circuit and a card connector the card connector comprising: a holder having a top face adapted to receive said card, electrical transmission portions for transmitting electrical signals between the card and an electrical device, a card detecting device comprising at least an electrical contact element adapted to be in a first condition when a card is absent from the connector and to be moved in a second condition by the card upon presence of the card in the connector, the flexible printed circuit comprising: a conducting portion electrically connected to the electrical transmission portions of the connector, and adapted to be electrically connected to the electrical device, a cover portion having a first end fixed to the insulating holder and a second end fixed to the conducting portion, and extending between the electrical contact element of the card detecting device and the card upon presence of the card in the connector.
  • Advantages of some of the embodiments of the invention might comprise a robust mechanical lock of the card connector onto the electrical device and/or a reduced bulk of the moving parts.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of an electrical device on a card
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a system comprising a base plate and a connector according to a first embodiment
  • Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the system of Fig. 2
  • Fig. 4 is a detailed frontal view of part IV identified on Fig. 3
  • - Fig. 5 is a schematic top view of a second embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a third embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a fourth embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 8 is a partial perspective top view of a fifth embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 9 is a sectional view along line IX- IX on Fig. 8 in a first condition of the card detecting device
  • Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 in a second condition of the card detecting device.
  • Fig. 1 is a partial view showing a part of an electrical device 1.
  • a device comprises a front face 2 having an introduction aperture, such as a longitudinal slit (not shown) for insertion into the electrical device of an integrated circuit card 3, for example a memory card of the ISO format.
  • the IC card 3 has electrically conductive contact elements 4 on its bottom face, which are electrically connected to an integrated circuit, such as a chip embedded in the card (not shown) .
  • the bottom face of the card 3 may also comprise a pressing portion such as an edge 38 mechanically cooperating with a card detection device.
  • the electrical device 1 comprises a frame 5 carrying a base plate 6 which is shown on Fig. 1 in straight lines in a first position suitable for card insertion/extraction into/from the device.
  • a driving device schematically shown as 7, of any suitable type is adapted to displace the base plate 6 relatively to the frame 5 from its first position shown in straight lines on Fig. 1, to a card reading/writing position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 1.
  • the driving device comprises a toothed wheel which is made to rotate around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 1 by manual actuation or by an electrical motor, the teeth of the toothed wheel cooperating with complementary teeth of the base plate 6 in order to impart a translation movement of the base plate between its first and second positions.
  • the base plate 6 might further comprise an abutting portion for providing an abutment of the card 3, in order to prevent a further movement of the card 3 relative to the base plate 6 along the card insertion direction X.
  • the base plate 6 receives an electrical connector 9, which will be described in more details below, which is placed to electrically interact with the card 3 when the card abuts on the abutting portion of the base plate 6.
  • the electrical connector 9 comprises electrical transmission portions or terminals 10 which, on the first hand, are designed to be in electrical communication with the contact elements of the card 3, and, on the second hand, are electrically connected to the card reader 20 of the electrical device 1 through a flat flexible printed circuit (FPC) 11 or any other flexible conductive strip.
  • FPC flat flexible printed circuit
  • the base plate 6 comprises a through aperture 12 sized to receive the electrical connector 9.
  • the base plate 6 further comprises locking apertures 13 on both sides of the through aperture 12.
  • the connector 9 is a thin sheet-like insulating contact-holder 14 comprising a signal transmission portion 15 and a card detection portion 16.
  • the holder 14 comprises a top face 17 designed to face the bottom face of the IC card 3, an opposite bottom face 18, and lateral faces 19 joining the top face 17 to the bottom face 18.
  • the connector 9 essentially consists in a plate in which a thin sheet-like insulating contact-holder is integrated.
  • Electrical contact elements 10 are held by the holder 14 and are isolated electrically from one another. They each comprise a first portion 21 performed as a spring contact element protruding above the top face 17 of the holder 14, and a second portion 22 (See Fig. 3) protruding below the bottom face 18 of the holder 14.
  • the second portions are electrically connected, for example soldered, to electrical tracks (not shown) of the flexible printed circuit 11. Further, abutting portions 23 protrude laterally from the lateral face 19 (See Fig. 2) .
  • the card detection portion 16 may for example comprise a base electrical contact 24 extending between the top and the bottom faces of the connector, and a mobile electrical contact 25 which comprises an activation portion 26 which protrudes above the top face 17, and a contacting portion 27.
  • the mobile contact 25 is adapted to be bent from a first condition shown on Fig. 2, in which it is electrically isolated from the base electrical contact 24, to a second condition, in which its contacting portion 27 contacts the base electrical contact 24.
  • the insertion of the card 3 into the device 1 will cause this bending movement, which will enable detecting the presence of the card inside the device 1.
  • the ends 24a, 25a of the respective contacts will be connected to a power supply to the card reader 20, in order to allow card reading/writing only in case of detected card insertion.
  • the holder 14 further carries a snap lock device 28, an example of which is described below by relation to Figs. 2-4.
  • the snap lock device comprises a metallic bar 29 fixed to the bottom face 18 of the holder along the whole signal transmission portion 15 and having, on both ends, fixation portions 30 as shown in details on Fig. 4.
  • each fixation portion is elastically deformable upon insertion into a complementary locking aperture 13, until it springs back in a rest position, after having been moved through the aperture 13, in which they lock the connector on the base plate.
  • the fixation portion 30 is symmetrically shaped with respect to a connector insertion axis Y and comprises, on each side, an elastic leg 31, a slanted activation surface 32 and a locking surface 33 extending substantially parallel to the top face of the base plate 6.
  • the height of the fixation portion 30 is lower than the overall thickness of the holder 14, so as not to protrude over the top face of the holder 14, and thus not hinder the electrical connection of the pads of the card to the electrical contact elements.
  • the fixation portion 30 will be introduced in the locking aperture 13.
  • the leg 31 will be bent upon reaction on the activation surface 32 onto the bottom face of the base plate 6 neighbouring the locking aperture 13 until it reaches a connector inserted position in which the activation surface 32 has entirely entirely entered the locking aperture 13, which allows the leg 31 to spring back into a locking position in which the locking surface 33 engages with the top surface of an appropriate flat made in the opening 13 of the base plate 6 neighbouring in order to prevent any downward movement of the connector with respect to the base plate 6.
  • the locking surface can engage with the upper surface of the base plate neighbouring the locking aperture 13.
  • abutting portions 23 abutting on complementary portions on the bottom face of the base plate 6.
  • the abutting portions 23 are placed at a suitable height along the Y axis on the lateral face 19, so as to define a suitable elastic bending of the spring contact elements 10 upon card insertion.
  • Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment, in which the snap lock device 28 might comprise another locking bar 34 extending perpendicularly to the first locking bar 29 between two rows of electrical contacts 10.
  • the locking bar 34 may also comprise, on both ends, fixation portions 30 similar to the one carried by the locking bar 29.
  • the insulating holder comprises stepped shoulders, the top portion of which is sized to receive a complementary protrusion 40 of the base plate. The top face of the broader bottom portion of the shoulders abuts on the bottom face of the protrusion 40 upon the connector insertion into the base plate.
  • the base plate 6 comprises snap-lock fixation portions 48 similar to those carried by the locking bar of the first embodiment and so that corresponding locking apertures 49 are formed in the insulating holder.
  • a fourth embodiment shown on Fig. 7, the embodiment of Fig. 2 to 4 is modified in that it does not anymore include a locking bar. It includes, on one side of the connector, a press fit device 41 which is made as a recess in the top face 17 of the holder. A press fit pin 43 protrudes in the Y direction from the recess.
  • a snap lock device 44 is formed integrally with the holder. It comprises two elastic arms 45 which extend away from the lateral face 19 of the holder, then upward, and are adapted to be elastically pressed toward each other.
  • the fixation portion 39 is made of two horizontal half disk portions which extend from the end of the elastic arms.
  • a complementary aperture 13 is formed through the base plate 6.
  • a protrusion 46 comprises a through hole 47 for press fit reception of the pin 43.
  • the pin 43 Upon insertion of the connector into the base plate, the pin 43 will be introduced and frictionally retained into the corresponding hole 47, and the elastic arms 45 will be elastically deformed toward one another upon movement of the fixation portion 39 through the aperture 13. After said movement, the fixation portion will elastically be brought back to its equilibrium position in which its bottom face cooperates with the top face of the base plate to lock the connector to the base plate.
  • the number and location of locking bars, of apertures, and of fixation portions, as well as their shape and arrangements are only exemplary and are not in any case limiting the scope of the invention.
  • the flexible printed circuit 11 (FPC) to which the terminals or contacts 10 of the connector 9 are connected comprises both a conducting portion 35 and a cover portion 36 which will be described in more details below.
  • the conducting portion 35 comprises electric tracks
  • the cover portion 36 having a strip shape comprises a first end 36a which is fixed, for example taped or glued to the conducting portion 35, and a second end 36b which is folded back so as to cover the card detection portion 16 and is fixed to the holder 14.
  • the second end 36b of the cover portion is fixed on the top face 17 of the holder 14.
  • the cover portion 36 will therefore pass between a lateral face 19 of the connector and a facing lateral face 37 of the base plate at the through aperture 12.
  • the cover portion 36 may be directly coming from a portion of the insulative support member of the FPC 11.
  • the pressing portion 38 of the card presses the electrical contact 25 downward as shown on Fig. 10.
  • the cover portion 36 of the flexible printed circuit 11 will be folded and remain between the card 3 and the mobile electrical contact 25, however without preventing bending of the electrical contact 25 to come into contact with the base electrical contact 24.
  • the cover 36 thus prevents any dust or grit, or any other material, which may be present on the card, to be deposited on the card detection portion 16 of the connector, which might prevent its proper operation.
  • the shape, arrangement, and/or way the cover portion 36 is fixed over the electrical contact 25 is exemplary only.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un connecteur électrique (9) pour connexion d'une carte de circuit intégré (3) à un lecteur de carte (20) d'un dispositif électrique (1), le connecteur comprenant : un support isolant de type feuille mince (14) comprenant une face supérieure (17) agencée pour faire face à ladite carte et une face inférieure opposée (18), des parties de transmission électrique (10) tenues par le support, pour transmettre des signaux électriques entre la carte et le lecteur de carte, un dispositif d'encliquetage (28, 44) porté par le support et ayant une partie de fixation (30, 39) conçue pour verrouiller mécaniquement le connecteur sur la plaque de base.
PCT/IB2008/002338 2008-04-24 2008-04-24 Connecteur électrique pour connexion d'une carte à un lecteur de carte WO2009130532A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2008/002338 WO2009130532A1 (fr) 2008-04-24 2008-04-24 Connecteur électrique pour connexion d'une carte à un lecteur de carte

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2008/002338 WO2009130532A1 (fr) 2008-04-24 2008-04-24 Connecteur électrique pour connexion d'une carte à un lecteur de carte

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009130532A1 true WO2009130532A1 (fr) 2009-10-29

Family

ID=40192982

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2008/002338 WO2009130532A1 (fr) 2008-04-24 2008-04-24 Connecteur électrique pour connexion d'une carte à un lecteur de carte

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2009130532A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4009921A (en) * 1975-07-31 1977-03-01 Thomas & Betts Corporation Electrical contact and support means therefor
US5771156A (en) * 1995-11-22 1998-06-23 Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. I/O card and method making the same
US6015311A (en) * 1996-12-17 2000-01-18 The Whitaker Corporation Contact configuration for smart card reader
US6354881B1 (en) * 1997-05-13 2002-03-12 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Smart card connector with landing contacts
US20050130506A1 (en) * 2003-12-01 2005-06-16 Masato Kato Connector

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4009921A (en) * 1975-07-31 1977-03-01 Thomas & Betts Corporation Electrical contact and support means therefor
US5771156A (en) * 1995-11-22 1998-06-23 Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. I/O card and method making the same
US6015311A (en) * 1996-12-17 2000-01-18 The Whitaker Corporation Contact configuration for smart card reader
US6354881B1 (en) * 1997-05-13 2002-03-12 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Smart card connector with landing contacts
US20050130506A1 (en) * 2003-12-01 2005-06-16 Masato Kato Connector

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