WO2013174466A1

WO2013174466A1 - Contact-making apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013174466A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/001023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Julio Kuntz; Cyril DAMNON; Marc Norridge
Original assignee: Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-05-24
Filing date: 2013-04-06
Publication date: 2013-11-28
Also published as: CN104335225A; DE102012010294A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a card contact-making apparatus having a card holding space for holding a chip card with a cover that has a plurality of fastening means that are arranged in a mounting plane and that each form a support face for support on the mounting plane and wherein the card holding space is formed between the cover and the mounting plane, and to a flexible printed circuit board that is arranged in the card holding space and that has a plurality of contact arrays for making contact with the contact arrays on a chip card, wherein also a resilient pressure element is arranged in the card holding space such that when a chip card is inserted in the card holding space the pressure element pushes the flexible printed circuit board against the chip card.

Description

Description contacting device

The present invention relates to a contacting device for a chip card according to

Claim 1.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a card contacting device for a mini UICC card or a smart card in which there is a gap in or across the card insertion direction within the card.

Kartenkontaktiervorrichtungen of the known type do not deal or only in

Recently, with the problem that are used by newly added card types, especially Mini UICC cards, cards on the market, which are not trouble-free in the card reader or pushed out.

The present invention therefore relates to a card contacting device, the cards

can record in and out without interference.

There are different types of smart cards available on the market, including the Mini UICC card, a small rectangular sized card. The UICC card has a standard format of 15mm x 12mm x 0.76mm with a 2.5mm unmistakable edge in one corner of the card or card carrier.

In addition, those skilled in the art are the three most known on the market

Smart card standard formats common. The first format concerns the format according to the standard ISO 7816 with the dimensions 54 mm x 85 mm x 0.76 mm. This format is used for smart cards, which are mainly for communication, identification or

ATM operation are determined.

Another and the second format corresponds to the so-called plug-in UICC standard, which is essentially intended for insertion into a mobile phone, that is mobile phone or is used in mobile devices. These card bodies also have a rectangular format, but with the size of 15 mm x 25 mm x 0.76 mm and a 3 mm x 3 mm unmistakable device in a corner of the carrier of the card.

The third most widely used format is the format initially mentioned first above and corresponds to the technology developed since 2004, the so-called third generation "plug 3G" cards or UICC mini cards (called mini UICC cards). The format reduction is a consequence of the trend towards the miniaturization of the terminals in mobile applications such as mobile phones and mobile phones and other mobile devices. The UICC or plug-in UICC solutions, however, involve card adapters, where a format adapter is manually removed from a first carrier in ISO format, which is pre-punched in the format of the card or in the format of the adapter with pre-punched card. In general, such a plug-in UICC adapter is generally referred to as

Card arrangement called.

In the market, various production methods of these adapters are known, at least the widespread solution in the larger card format to integrate the plug-in UICC format and either manually separate it from the larger card format or insert it into a Karteniesevorrichtung that can accommodate the larger card size ,

However, since card assemblies having different manufacturing methods are represented on the market, the smaller mini UICC card is integrated in one of the larger card formats, preferably by injection and which is surrounded by a pre-cut edge so that it can be removed from the card assembly by breaking it out, Problems can occur depending on the manufacturer. The card body of the mini UICC card in this embodiment has bounding gaps and connecting webs to which the card is attached in the surrounding card assembly.

However, there are also other card formats without bounding gaps which, due to their smallness, have problems inserting in conventional card contactors. In particular, there is a trend in constantly reducing the height of card-contacting devices in order to find in the installed state Karteniesevorrichtungen that are only slightly larger than the card thicknesses available on the market. However, this leads to various practical problems in handling the cards at the end user. It can, for. B. happen that when inserting a smart card in the

Kartenkontaktiervorrichtungen the contact tips of the read contacts are damaged.

Either in that the card edge presses on thin cards against the contacts or one or more of the contacts when inserting the smart card in the

Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung get stuck on the boundary gap and damaged or destroyed upon further insertion of the smart card in the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung.

A common problem is that the contact tips of the read contacts of a card contactor slip into the punched-out gap between the mini UICC card and the surrounding card assembly, and upon further insertion of the card assembly or removal of the card assembly from such position, the read contacts are bent or destroyed and thus the reader in total, say z. As a cell phone, is unusable.

So z. B. in DE 10 2011 100 338.3 already a Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung

which addresses the aforementioned problem. The disadvantage here is that it

it becomes difficult to further reduce the height of the card contacting device because, due to the geometry of the contact springs, the further reduction of the card height is difficult. In particular, on the premise that sufficient spring travel remains to produce sufficient contact forces with the contact pads of the smart card.

Object of the present invention is an improved

Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung provide for receiving a smart card, in particular a smart card with columns while avoiding the disadvantages described above. In other words, the object of the present invention is to provide a for

Card arrangements and chip cards safe and non-destructive

Provide contacting, which has a minimum height and is universally applicable. This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

Particular embodiments are described in the subclaims.

According to the invention the object is achieved in that a Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung is provided with a lid which has a plurality of arranged in a mounting plane fastening means, each having a support surface for support on a mounting plane z. B. form a circuit board and formed with this mounting plane a card receiving space between the lid and the mounting plane for inserting a

Chip card in the card receiving space, further comprising a flexible circuit board and a resilient pressure element in the card receiving space to which the flexible circuit board is brought directly into electrical and mechanical contact with the chip card and preferably directly or indirectly by the pressure element.

In other words, the invention makes use of that flexible

Printed circuit board is equipped with contact elements or contact fields, which are arranged corresponding to the arrangement of the contact pads of a chip card, so that a smart card, which is inserted into the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung, directly with the flexible

Can contact printed circuit board, while the resilient contact properties are provided via a resilient pressure element. The resilient pressure element presses the flexible circuit board against the chip card when inserting or inserting the chip card in the card receiving space. Since the pressure element is designed as a spring element or has a plurality of spring elements, the contact point or the points of the force introduction of the spring elements can be determined on the flexible printed circuit board by targeted arrangement of the spring elements.

Advantageously, a flexible printed circuit board is thus arranged in the card receiving space, which has a plurality of contact elements for contacting with the contact springs of a smart card, further comprising a resilient pressure element, preferably several spring elements exhibiting pressure element is arranged in the card receiving space that when inserted chip card in the card receiving space, the pressure element flexible printed circuit board presses against the chip card.

Advantageously, the resilient pressure element on several spring elements, which in the

Protruding card receiving space, and preferably to the positions to which the contact fields of a smart card are arranged spatially when a smart card is inserted into the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the spring arms are formed with spring domes to realize a local application of force to the flexible printed circuit board.

This is done with advantage such that several, preferably in the same number as contacts on the smart card existing spring elements positionally protrude into the card receiving space, that this plurality of spring elements preferably with their spring caps the flexible printed circuit board respectively in the region of a corresponding contact field on the

Press or push circuit board against the corresponding contact fields of a chip card inserted, if the smart card is inserted into the card receiving space and is completely in its reading position.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lid is designed as a metal lid and the pressure element is integrally formed from the lid. Advantageously, this is achieved in that the metal lid is formed so that

Spring arms are punched in the metal lid and so protrude from the metal cover plane that they protrude into the card receiving space.

In an alternative embodiment, the pressure element may be formed as a metal sheet separate from the lid, that in a comparable manner has a plurality of spring elements which are positionally to be arranged so that the effect described above

Contacting of the contacts with the contact fields of the printed circuit board occurs.

Advantageously, the flexible printed circuit board is arranged directly between the pressure element and the cover or between the cover (when this forms the pressure element) and the mounting plane.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board forms at least a first and a second fastening section, so that it is directly fastened or fastened to the cover, and preferably is glued to the cover. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, one of the fastening sections is through

Folded over a portion of the flexible printed circuit board by folding about 180 ° around a lid edge around, preferably around the front edge of the lid in the region of the insertion into the card receiving space. This results in a particularly favorable mounting and storage of the flexible circuit board, without the need for further components.

In a likewise advantageous embodiment of the invention

Kartenkontaktiervornchtung, the lid preferably at the rear one

Fastening tab, so that attached to this attachment tab, a mounting portion of the flexible circuit board, preferably glued.

If the two mounting portions of the flexible printed circuit board, preferably arranged diametrically opposite the cover of the card reader, results in a particularly favorable mounting and attachment of the flexible circuit board in the Kartenkontaktiervornchtung. In an equally preferred embodiment, the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung adjacent to the corners of the lid each have a fastening means which is formed with a support surface and the bearing surfaces of the fastening means span a common to the cover substantially parallel or parallel oriented mounting plane.

If the lid is thus placed by means of its bearing surfaces on a mounting surface, for. As an external circuit board, it is formed between this and the lid of the card receiving space of Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung.

The solution according to the invention therefore requires no further components or aids in order to fasten the card-contacting device to a printed circuit board or a mounting plane to form a cable receiving space.

Further particular features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following exemplary and non-limiting description of two exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures, in which: Fig. 1 is a partial perspective and full view of an inventive

Contacting device, in which the individual parts of the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung are shown around the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung invention with and without a card, wherein in the right view of Figure 2, a mounting plane is indicated.

Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view through the inventive

Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 without inserted card; Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment similar to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the second embodiment similar to Fig. 2;

6 is a schematic sectional view through the embodiment of FIG .. 4

and FIG. 5. In Fig. 1, the first embodiment of an inventive

Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung 1 shown. Around the card-contacting device 1, the component parts of the card-contacting device 1 are shown in more detail.

Visible at the top left, the cover 10 is provided with an integrated pressure element 20, from which several spring elements 21 protrude. The cover 10 forms, as shown in Fig. 2, with a mounting plane 101 a card receiving space 11. The lid 10 has two

Cover side edges 16a, 16b on, as well as a front edge 17 and a trailing edge 18. As the leading edge 17, the edge is designated, at which the insertion opening for

Card receiving space 11 for a chip card 100 is located.

As can be seen further in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 10 has fastening means 13. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, fastening means 13 with a bearing surface 14 are respectively formed adjacent to the corners. The bearing surfaces 14 span a common mounting plane 101, so that as shown in Fig. 2, the lid 10 on a z. B. external circuit board can be mounted and so between the lid 10 and between the

Cover bottom 19 and the mounting plane 101 of the card receiving space 11 is formed.

As can be seen in Fig. 2 in the left view, a smart card 100 in the

Card receiving space 11 are inserted.

Furthermore, the card contacting device 1 has a planar contacting element 30, preferably a flexible printed circuit board 30. This is shown by way of example in FIG. 1 at the top right in a mold to be mounted. The flexible printed circuit board 30 has printed conductors, not shown, which is provided with contact fields 33 or contact elements 33. The flexible printed circuit board 30 has an upper side 34 and a lower side 35. Further, located on the flexible circuit board 30, a first and a second

Attachment portion 32, wherein the first attachment portion 32 is formed by folding the flexible circuit board, preferably by folding around the front edge 17 of the lid 10, while at the second attachment portion 32, which on the

is arranged opposite side edge of the flexible printed circuit board 30, a stepped mounting portion 32 is formed. The stepped attachment portion 32 is attached to a mounting tab 40 of the lid 10, preferably glued by means of an adhesive film. In the alternative, instead of a

Adhesive films and a double-sided adhesive strip 102 may be used. At the trailing edge 18 of the lid 10, a card stop 15 is further attached to define the insertion depth of a chip card 100 in the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung 1.

As shown schematically in Fig. 3, press the spring elements 21 which in the

Card receiving space 11 protrude on the top 34 of the flexible printed circuit board 30 and tension the circuit board between its mounting portions 32. Now, when a smart card 100 is inserted into the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung 1, a smart card 100 along the flexible circuit board 30 to slide without the risk that the card or card column with mechanical spring elements within the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung 1 can get caught or in column in the chip card 100 can penetrate.

In this way, a smart card 100 safely in the inventive

Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung 1 are introduced until the front edge of the card chip card 100 abuts against the card stop 15 of the lid 10. In this position (reading position) of the chip card, the spring elements 21 of the pressure element 20 press spring-loaded against the top 34 of the flexible printed circuit board 30 and this in turn with their

Contact fields 33 against the contact fields of a smart card 100th

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a second exemplary embodiment similar to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In this embodiment, the pressing member 20 is not integrally provided by the lid 10, but arranged as a separate component in the Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung 1. The pressure element 20 is formed as a substantially flat sheet metal, by also spring elements 21 are punched out of the plane of the metal sheet

are bent out so that they protrude as spring elements in the card receiving space 11. In this embodiment, the pressure element 20 has a plurality of fastening elements 22 which are bent down in the direction of the mounting plane 101 to be mounted with the cover 10 on a common mounting plane.

Here is located between the lid bottom 19 and the pressure element 20, as shown in Fig. 4, bottom left, flexible circuit board 30. Same features or elements were provided in the second embodiment with the same reference numerals, provided that in their basic function with those from the above match the first embodiment described.

As can be seen in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 4, the spring elements 21 are so in

Card receiving room 11 arranged to move from its fixed end to its free

End substantially parallel to one of the cover side edges 16a, 16b extend in such a way that their free end is directed towards the trailing edge 18 of the lid 10 or are. In the sectional view of Fig. 6 it can be seen that a card is to be inserted over the top 34 of the flexible printed circuit board 30 in the card receiving space 11 so that it is disposed between the lid bottom 19 and the top 34 of the flexible printed circuit board 30.

Reference numeral Contacting device Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung

cover

Card receiving space

13 fasteners

14 bearing surfaces

15 card stop

16a, 16b cover side edges

17 leading edge

18 trailing edge

19 lid underside

20 pressure element

21 spring elements (spring arms)

22 fasteners

23 spring arms

30 flat contacting element (flexible printed circuit board)

31 tracks

32 fixing sections

33 contact fields (contact elements)

34 top

35 bottom

40 fastening strap

100 chip card

101 mounting level

102 adhesive strips

Claims

claims

A card contactor (1) having a card receiving space (11) for receiving a smart card (100), comprising:

a cover (10) which has a plurality of fastening means (13) arranged in a mounting plane (101), each forming a bearing surface (14) for resting on the assembly plane (101), and wherein the card receiving space (11) is between the Cover (10) and the mounting plane (101) is formed and

- In the card receiving space (11) arranged flexible printed circuit board (30), the plurality of contact pads (33) for contacting with the contact pads of a

Chip card (101), wherein further

- A resilient pressure element (20) is arranged in the card receiving space (11) that when inserted chip card (100) in the card receiving space (11) the pressure element (20) presses the flexible printed circuit board (30) against the smart card.

2. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the resilient pressure element (20) comprises a plurality of spring elements (21), preferably spring arms which protrude into the card receiving space (11).

3. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring elements (21) are designed as spring arms with Federarmkuppen (23) which are adjacent to the free end of the spring arms.

4. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of spring elements (21) positionally protrude into the card receiving space (11), that the plurality of spring elements (21), the flexible printed circuit board (30) respectively in the region of corresponding

Press the contact field (33) of the printed circuit board (30) against the contact fields of the chip card (101).

5. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (10) is a metal lid and the pressure element (20) is formed integrally with the lid.

6. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pressure element (20) is formed as a from the lid (10) separate element made of metal, which has a plurality of spring elements (21).

7. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the flexible printed circuit board (30) between the pressure element (20) and the lid (10) is arranged.

8. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized

in that the spring elements (21) extend into the card receiving space (11) in the direction of the lid underside (19).

9. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to one or more of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the flexible printed circuit board (30) has at least a first and a second fastening portion (32) which are fixed to the lid (10), preferably glued to the lid (10).

A card contacting apparatus (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that one of the fixing portions (32) is folded by folding over a part of the flexible one

Circuit board (30), preferably around a lid edge (16a, 16b, 17, 18) extends around and is attached to the top of the lid (10).

1 1. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to one or more of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the cover (10) has a fastening tab (40) on the trailing edge (18) of the lid (10) to which the flexible printed circuit board (30) is attached.

12. Kartenkontaktiervorrichtung (1) according to one or more of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that adjacent to the corners of the lid (10) each have a fastening means (13) is arranged with a respective bearing surface (14) and these bearing surfaces (14) a common to the cover (10) substantially parallel oriented mounting plane (101 ) span.