WO2018026614A1

WO2018026614A1 - Card holder for electronic apparatus and electronic apparatus comprising such card holder

Info

Publication number: WO2018026614A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/044061
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yinong Liu; Guowu JIANG
Original assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc
Priority date: 2016-08-05
Filing date: 2017-07-27
Publication date: 2018-02-08
Also published as: EP3494519A1; CN107689511A

Abstract

Disclosed is a card holder (1) for an electronic apparatus, comprising: a base (2); a protrusion (3) protruding from the base, the protrusion and the base defining a first placement region for holding a first chip card (5) having a first size. The base comprises a through opening (4) that defines a second placement region for holding a second chip card (6) having a second size. The through opening is positioned so that when the card holder is placed in the electronic apparatus, the first chip card or second chip card held in the card holder is in electrical contact with one set of signal terminals (9) located in a recess (7) of the electronic apparatus. Also disclosed is an electronic apparatus, which comprises a recess, wherein the card holder is detachably placed in the recess. The card holder of the present invention has the sample structure and can be manufactured at low cost.

Description

CARD HOLDER FOR ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH CARD HOLDER

BACKGROUND

[0001] With the continuous development of communication technology, communication apparatuses such as mobile phone have been used in our daily life more widely, and become the indispensable electronic products in the daily life. A SIM card is an indispensable accessory of the mobile phone, and without it, it would be impossible for the mobile phone to achieve the communication. Currently, there mainly are three common types of SIM cards: MINI SIM card; MICRO SIM card; and NANO SIM card.

[0002] With the developing tendency of ultrathin mobile phone, the MICRO SIM card and NANO SIM card have been used in the mobile phone more widely, exhibiting a trend of replacing the MINI SIM card. According to the existing modes, the corresponding card holders are required when the user exchanges the different SIM cards, since the MINI SIM card, MICRO SIM card and NANO SIM card are different from each other in terms of the shape and size. This leads to a lot of troubles to the design and manufacture of the card holders, and inconvenience to the usage by the user.

[0003] To solve the above technical problem, there exists a card holder into which two types of SIM cards of different sizes can be loaded simultaneously. However, such a card holder has a relatively great size and complicated structure. The greater size takes up the valuable space in the phone more, and limits the design of the phone more to a certain degree. The relatively complicated structure will cause an increase in the manufacture cost, and also cause much inconvenience in the installation and usage. Further, such a card holder normally requires the phone more to have two sets of signal terminals that are electrically connected to the different SIM cards respectively, and this also complicates the circuit design of the mobile phone.

SUMMARY

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a card holder for an electronic apparatus and an electronic apparatus comprising such a card holder.

[0005] According to the first aspect of the present invention, a card holder for an electronic apparatus is provided, which comprises a base; a protrusion protruding from the base, the protrusion and the base defining a first placement region for holding a first chip card having a first size. The base comprises a through opening that defines a second placement region for holding a second chip card having a second size. The through opening is positioned so that when the card holder is placed in the electronic apparatus, the first chip card or second chip card held in the card holder is in electrical contact with one set of signal terminals located in a recess of the electronic apparatus.

[0006] The card holder of the present invention is suitable for any one of two chip cards of different sizes, and has the sample structure and can be manufactured at low cost.

[0007] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the card holder is integrally formed.

[0008] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the protrusion is formed along a peripheral edge of the base.

[0009] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the card holder further comprises: a latching portion mating with a corresponding structure arranged in the electronic apparatus.

[0010] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the latching portion is arranged at a central position in a thickness direction of the card holder.

[0011] In accordance with one optional embodiment, a thickness of the base is selected to allow the second chip card to be held in the second placement region when the card holder is placed in the electronic apparatus in an orientation of causing the base to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the protrusion.

[0012] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the first chip card and the second chip card are selected from the group consisting of MINI SIM card, MICRO SIM card, and NANO SIM card.

[0013] According to the second aspect of the present invention, an electronic apparatus is provided, which comprise a recess, wherein the card holder is detachably placed in the recess.

[0014] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the card holder is placed in the recess in an orientation of causing the base to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the protrusion, so as to hold the first chip card.

[0015] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the card holder is placed in the recess in an orientation of causing the protrusion to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the base, so as to hold the second chip card.

[0016] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the signal terminal has elasticity, and the card holder is placed in the recess in an orientation of causing the base to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the protrusion, so as to hold the first chip card or the second chip card.

[0017] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the signal terminal has elasticity, and the card holder is placed in the recess in an orientation of causing the protrusion to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the base, so as to hold the first chip card or the second chip card.

[0018] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the electronic apparatus further comprises a pressing device for pressing the first chip card or the second chip card held in the card holder toward the signal terminals.

[0019] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the pressing device is a pivotal pressing device.

[0020] In accordance with one optional embodiment, the card holder is placed into the electronic apparatus in a pluggable mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The principles, characteristics and advantageous of the present invention can be better understood hereinafter by illustrating the present invention in more details hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The drawings include:

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates a card holder according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention and SIM cards having two sizes suitable for being loaded in the card holder;

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates an interior structure of the mobile phone for housing the card holder;

[0024] Figure 3A illustrates a loading state of the card holder where the SIM card having the first size needs to be loaded; [0025] Figure 3B illustrates a state where the SIM card having the first size has been loaded;

[0026] Figure 3C illustrates in a cross-sectional view an assembling state where the SIM card having the first size has been loaded;

[0027] Figure 4A illustrates a loading state of the card holder where the SIM card having the second size needs to be loaded;

[0028] Figure 4B illustrates a state where the SFM card having the second size has been loaded;

[0029] Figure 4C illustrates in a cross-sectional view an assembling state where the SIM card having the second size has been loaded;

[0030] Figure 5 A illustrates a latching portion arranged on the card holder; and

[0031] Figure 5B illustrates a locking means provided in the recess of the mobile phone, which locking means mates with the latching portion on the card holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] The present invention discloses a card holder suitable for any one of chip cards of different sizes, as well as an electronic apparatus comprising such a card holder. The card holder is not only suitable for SIM cards in communication apparatuses such as mobile phone, but also for chip cards in other electronic apparatuses that possibly need to be replaced. That is to say, the present invention is not limited to application fields of the mobile phones, but also can be applied to occasions where the chip cards of different sizes need to be replaced. As desired, the chip card having the desired size can be replaced conveniently by means of the card holder of the present invention.

[0033] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more details by taking application of the SIM cards in the mobile phones as an example, but for one skilled in the art, this is intended to be exemplary, rather than restrictive.

[0034] Figure 1 illustrates a card holder according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention and SIM cards having two sizes suitable for being loaded in the card holder. As shown in Fig. 1, the card holder 1 comprises a base 2, a protrusion 3 protruding from the base 2, and a through opening 4 formed in the base 2.

[0035] The base 2 preferably is in the shape of a flat plate. The protrusion 3 preferably protrudes along the whole peripheral edge of the base 2 to form a closed retaining structure. The protrusion 3 and the base 2 define a first placement region, which is used for holding a SIM card 5 having a first size, such as MINI SIM card.

[0036] It is preferable that the contour of the first placement region matches with the shape of the SIM card 5 having the first size, so as to enable the SIM card 5 having the first size to be stably held within the first placement region, as shown in Fig. 1. In this case, the peripheral edge of the SIM card 5 having the first size when being loaded into the first placement region contacts snugly with an inner wall of the protrusion 3, and whereby the SIM card 5 having the first size is stably held within the first placement region.

[0037] A plurality of protrusions that are spaced apart from each other also may be provided. For example, each side of the base 2 is provided with at least one protrusion, and these protrusions and the base define the first placement region that is used for holding the SIM card 5 having the first size. That is, the edges of the SIM card 5 having the first size are caught by the plurality of protrusions that are spaced apart from each other, so as to stably hold the SFM card 5 having the first size within the first placement region. Such a structure further reduces the required material amount, and also can accommodate to the manufacturing tolerance of the SFM card having the first size.

[0038] Thus, it can be seen that the protrusion may be continuous or incontinuous, so long as it can stably hold the SFM card 5 having the first size to prevent it from significantly moving in a direction parallel to the base 2. Thus, there is no need to restrict the specific form of the protrusion.

[0039] The through opening 4 defines a second placement region, which is used for holding a SFM card 6 having a second size, such as MICRO SFM cards or NANO SFM cards.

[0040] Preferably, the second placement region matches with the shape of the SIM card 6 having the second size, so as to stably hold the SIM card 6 having the second size within the second placement region. In this case, the peripheral edge of the SIM card 6 having the second size when being loaded into the second placement region contact snugly with an edge of the through opening 4, and whereby the SFM card 6 having the second size is stably held within the second placement region.

[0041] It is not necessary for the shape of the through opening 4 to match with the shape of the SIM card 6 having the second size, so long as it can stably hold the SIM card 6 having the second size to prevent it from significantly moving in a direction parallel to the base 2. Thus, there is no need to restrict the specific form of the through opening 4.

[0042] Apparently, the card holder 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 just is exemplary, which also may be configured to be of other structural forms in the case of achieving the above functions, depending on the specific requirement.

[0043] In terms of manufacturing, it is preferred that the card holder 1 of the present invention is integrally manufactured, to further save the cost and simplify the structure and design of the card holder.

[0044] Figure 2 illustrates an interior structure of the mobile phone for housing the card holder. As illustrated in Figure 2, the mobile phone has a recess 7 therein, in which one set of signal terminals 9 extending from a terminal tray 8 of the mobile phone are provided. The set of signal terminals 9 may comprise six terminals (as illustrated in Figure 2), but other amounts of the terminals also are allowable based on the specific conditions and requirements.

[0045] Figure 3A illustrates a loading state of the card holder where the SFM card 5 having the first size needs to be loaded. Specifically, the card holder is mounted in the recess of the mobile phone in such an orientation of causing its base 2 to abut against the bottom of the recess.

[0046] Figure 3B illustrates a state where the SFM card 5 having the first size has been loaded. Specifically, the SFM card 5 having the first size is loaded within the first placement region of the card holder in such an orientation of causing its electrical contacts to face the signal terminals 9. In this case, the electrical contacts of the SIM card 5 having the first size comes into contact with the signal terminals 9 across the through opening 4, and whereby the SFM card 5 having the first size establishes electrical connection with the signal terminals 9.

[0047] Obviously, the SIM card 5 having the first size also can be loaded within the first placement region of the card holder 1 at first, and the card holder loaded with the SIM card 5 having the first size is then mounted in the recess of the mobile phone.

[0048] Figure 3C illustrates in a cross-sectional view an assembling state where the SIM card 5 having the first size has been loaded. As can be seen from Figure 3C, the base 2 of the card holder 1 is closer to the bottom of the recess than the protrusion 3, and the electrical contacts of the SIM card 5 having the first size face and are in electrical contact with the signal terminals 9.

[0049] Figure 4A illustrates a loading state of the card holder where the SFM card 6 having the second size needs to be loaded. As illustrated in Figure 4A, the card holder is placed in the recess of the mobile phone in such an orientation of causing its protrusion 3 to abut against the bottom of the recess.

[0050] Figure 4B illustrates a state where the SIM card 6 having the second size has been loaded. Specifically, the SFM card 6 having the second size is loaded within the second placement region of the card holder in such an orientation of causing its electrical contacts to face the signal terminals 9. In this case, the signal terminals 9 are in electrical contact with the SIM card 6 having the second size located within the second placement region, and thus the SIM card 6 having the second size establishes electrical connection with the signal terminals 9.

[0051] Obviously, the SIM card 6 having the second size also can be loaded within the second placement region of the card holder at first, and the card holder loaded with the SFM card 6 having the second size is then mounted in the recess of the mobile phone.

[0052] Figure 4C illustrates in a cross-sectional view an assembling state where the SIM card 6 having the second size has been loaded. As can be seen from Figure 4C, the protrusion 3 of the card holder 1 is closer to the bottom of the recess than the base 2, and the electrical contacts of the SFM card 6 having the second size face the signal terminals 9 and are in electrical contact with the signal terminals 9.

[0053] Thus, according to the present invention, the SIM card 5 having the first size and the SIM card 6 having the second size in the loaded state are electrically connected with the same set of signal terminals 9, eliminating the need of providing two sets of signal terminals.

[0054] To enable the card holder to be stably fitted in the recess of the mobile phone, a fixing structure such as a latching portion may be provided on the card holder, so as to mate with a corresponding fixing structure at the recess, such as a latching notch. Preferably, the card holder 1 is detachably placed in the recess of the mobile phone.

[0055] As illustrated in Figure 5A, the card holder 1 is provided with latching portions 10 thereon, which preferably are latching lugs.

[0056] As illustrated in Figure 5B, a locking means 11 mating with the latching portion of the card holder is arranged in the recess of the mobile phone. When the card holder is placed in the recess of the mobile phone, the latching portions 10 mate with the locking means in the recess so as to stably hold the card holder in the recess of the mobile phone.

[0057] The latching portions 10 are preferably arranged at the central position in a thickness direction of the card holder, so that the card holder can be held in the recess by the latching portions 10 regardless of loading the SFM cards with different sizes.

[0058] Apparently, the latching portion may have the various proper structural forms, so long as it can secure the card holder in the recess of the mobile phone.

[0059] In some circumstances, the card holder also may be configured to be press-fitted into the recess of the mobile phone, thereby allowing of omitting the special fixing structure.

[0060] To enable the SIM card to be stably held in the card holder in place to electrically contact with the signal terminals all the time, the mobile phone preferably is provided with a pressing device 12. As shown in Figure 2, the pressing device 12 preferably is pivotally mounted on the mobile phone, that is, the pressing device 12 is configured to be a pivotal pressing device. After the card holder and the SIM card are properly installed, the pressing device 12 may be rotated to make it pressed on the SIM card, thereby ensuring that the SFM card always is in electrical contact with the signal terminals. The pressing device 12 mates with a corresponding structure on the mobile phone by a snap-fit structure on the pressing device 12 such as latching notch, so as to be maintained in the pressed state. Figure 3C and Figure 4C illustrate the pressed state of the pressing device 12.

[0061] Obviously, the pressing device is not limited to the above form, for example, it may be a structure arranged at an inner side of a rear lid of the mobile phone. When the rear lid is installed in place, the structure presses the SIM card within the card holder towards the signal terminals.

[0062] According to a further embodiment, in a case where the signal terminals are elastic, there will be no need to turn the card holder for achieving holding and installation of the SIM card having the second size if the base is configured to have a relatively great thickness to allow the SIM card having the second size to be stably held within the through opening. Specifically, when the card holder still is placed in the recess of the mobile phone in such an orientation of causing its base to abut against the bottom of the recess, the SIM card having the first size held within the first placement region still can be in electrical contact with the signal terminals, since the signal terminals are elastic and yet extend from the through opening in the natural state. At the same time, as the signal terminals are elastic and the through opening is relatively deeper, there is no need to up and down turn the card holder any more, but the SIM card having the second size can be directly placed within the through opening when the SIM card having the second size needs to be loaded. Certainly, in this case, the shape of the through opening possibly needs to be adjusted properly so as to allow placement of the SIM card having the second size, since there is no need to turn the card holder when loading the SIM card having the second size. Here, the height of the protrusion may be properly reduced, in order to maintain the total thickness of the card holder unchanged.

[0063] According to a further embodiment, in a case where the signal terminals are elastic, it will be possible to enable the card holder in the case of turning and loading to hold both the SIM card having the first size and the SIM card having the second size if the protrusion is configured to have a relatively greater height. Specifically, in this case, when the SIM card having the first size needs to be loaded, the SIM card having the first size first is loaded within the first placement region of the card holder in such an orientation of causing its electrical contacts to face away from the through opening, and then the card holder loaded with the SIM card having the first size is placed into the recess of the mobile phone in such an orientation of causing its protrusion to abut against the bottom of the recess. When there is a need to load the SIM card having the second size, the card holder still can be placed into the recess of the mobile phone in such an orientation of causing its protrusion to abut against the bottom of the recess since the signal terminals have elasticity, and in this case the SIM card having the second size can be directly placed in the through opening. Certainly, in that case, the shape of the first placement region possibly needs to be adjusted properly, since the SIM card having the first size is loaded within the first placement region in an orientation different from the above-described orientation. Here, the thickness of the base may be properly reduced, in order to maintain the total thickness of the card holder unchanged.

[0064] Although the application for the SIM cards of the mobile phone is described as an example above, the card holder of the present invention obviously can be applied to other types of chip cards in any electronic apparatuses.

[0065] According to the present invention, an electronic apparatus comprising the above card holder also is provided. The electronic apparatus comprises a recess for receiving the card holder. Signal terminals extending from the terminal tray are provided in the recess. The electronic apparatus preferably comprises a pressing device, which functions to press the chip card held in the card holder towards the signal terminals.

[0066] To facilitate the detachment, the card holder may be configured to be loaded into the electronic apparatus in a pluggable mode. The pluggable configuration can be designed based on the existing plug-in mode, and here it will not be discussed.

[0067] Further, for one skilled in the art, other advantages and alternative embodiments of the present invention are obvious. The present invention in term of the broader sense therefore is not limited to the described and illustrated details, representative structures and exemplary embodiments. Instead, one skilled in the art can make the various modifications and replacements without departing from the basic spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A card holder for an electronic apparatus, comprising:

a base;

a protrusion protruding from the base, the protrusion and the base defining a first placement region for holding a first chip card having a first size;

the base comprising a through opening that defines a second placement region for holding a second chip card having a second size,

wherein the through opening is positioned so that when the card holder is placed in the electronic apparatus, the first chip card or second chip card held in the card holder is in electrical contact with one set of signal terminals located in a recess of the electronic apparatus.

2. The card holder according to claim 1, wherein:

the card holder is integrally formed.

3. The card holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the protrusion is formed along a peripheral edge of the base.

4. The card holder according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a latching portion mating with a corresponding structure arranged in the electronic apparatus.

5. The card holder according to claim 4, wherein:

the latching portion is arranged at a central position in a thickness direction of the card holder.

6. The card holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

a thickness of the base is selected to allow the second chip card to be held in the second placement region when the card holder is placed in the electronic apparatus in an orientation of causing the base to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the protrusion.

7. The card holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the first chip card and the second chip card are selected from the group consisting of MINI SIM card, MICRO SIM card, and NANO SIM card.

8. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a recess, a card holder as claimed in any one of claims 1-7;

wherein the card holder is detachably placed in the recess.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the card holder is placed in the recess in an orientation of causing the base to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the protrusion, so as to hold the first chip card.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the card holder is placed in the recess in an orientation of causing the protrusion to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the base, so as to hold the second chip card.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the signal terminal has elasticity, and the card holder is placed in the recess in an orientation of causing the base to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the protrusion, so as to hold the first chip card or the second chip card.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the signal terminal has elasticity, and the card holder is placed in the recess in an orientation of causing the protrusion to be closer to the bottom of the recess than the base, so as to hold the first chip card or the second chip card.

13. The electronic apparatus according to any one of claims 8-12, wherein:

the electronic apparatus further comprises a pressing device for pressing the first chip card or the second chip card held in the card holder toward the signal terminals.

14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein:

the pressing device is a pivotal pressing device.

15. The electronic apparatus according to any one of claims 8-12, wherein:

the card holder is placed into the electronic apparatus in a pluggable mode.