Vertical mount smart card reader assembly

• US 20080121706A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Fedder, James Lee, Hamner, Richard Elof, Defibaugh, George Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/08 Feeding or discharging cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a card reader for mounting onto a printed circuit board and for selectively receiving a data card therein is provided. The card reader includes a base; at least a side wall extending from the base; and a receiving slot defined by at least the base and the side wall and being configured and dimensioned to selectively receive the data card therein. The receiving slot defines a plane that is substantially orthogonal to a plane of the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A card reader for mounting onto a printed circuit board and for selectively receiving a data card therein, the card reader comprising:

a base;

at least a side wall extending upwardly from the base;

a lip extending downwardly from a front edge of the base and configured to engage an edge of the circuit board; and

a receiving slot defined by at least the base and the side wall and being configured and dimensioned to selectively receive the data card therein as the data card is moved in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the printed circuit board, and wherein the receiving slot defines a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the printed circuit board.

2. The card reader according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical contact configured to electrically interconnect the data card and the printed circuit board when the data card is inserted into the receiving slot of the card reader.

3. The card reader according to claim 2, wherein the receiving slot of the card reader is oriented such that when the data card is inserted into the receiving slot a plane of the data card is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the printed circuit board.

4. The card reader according to claim 2, further comprising at least one guide provided near a front end of the receiving slot for guiding an insertion end of the data card into the receiving slot.

5. The card reader according to claim 2, further comprising at least one retaining tab at least partially extending into the receiving slot for frictionally engaging the data card when the data card is inserted into the receiving slot.

6. The card reader according to claim 2, further comprising a presence switch at least partially extending into the receiving slot for indicating when the data card is inserted into the receiving slot.

7. The card reader according to claim 2, further comprising a top wall extending from an upper end of the at least one side wall, wherein the top wall and the base define ends of the receiving slot.

8. The card reader according to claim 7, further comprising at least one lower guide extending from the base and at least one upper guide extending from the top wall, wherein each of said guides is provided near a front end of the receiving slot for guiding an insertion end of the data card into the receiving slot.

9. The card reader according to claim 2, wherein said at least one electrical contact includes a portion configured to engage the PCB and a portion configured to selectively engage the data card.

10. The card reader according to claim 9, wherein the portion of said at least one electrical contact configured to engage the data card extends at least partially into the receiving slot.

11. The card reader according to claim 6, wherein the presence switch includes a first electrical lead and a second electrical lead selectively contactable with the first electrical lead, wherein the second electrical lead is movable between a first position in contact with the first electrical lead and a second position separated from the first electrical lead.

12. The card reader according to claim 11, wherein the second electrical lead of the presence switch includes a finger extending into the receiving slot, wherein the finger is engageable by the data card to move the second electrical lead from the first position to the second position.

13. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the card reader has a minimized footprint.

21. The card reader according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of feet extending laterally from respective opposite sides of the base to provide stability to the card reader when mounted to the printed circuit board.

14. A card reader comprising:

a base;

at least one side wall extending upwardly from the base, wherein the base and the at least one side wall define a data card receiving slot having an orientation substantially orthogonal to a plane of a printed circuit board on which the card reader is mounted, wherein the data card receiving slot is configured to receive a data card that is moved in a direction parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board; and

a pair of feet extending laterally from respective opposite sides of the base to provide stability to the card reader when mounted to the printed circuit board.

16. The card reader according to claim 14, further comprising at least one electrical contact configured to electrically interconnect the data card and the printed circuit board when the data card is inserted into the receiving slot of the card reader.

17. The card reader according to claim 14, further comprising at least one guide provided near a front end of the receiving slot for guiding an insertion end of the data card into the receiving slot.

18. The card reader according to claim 14, further comprising at least one retaining tab at least partially extending into the receiving slot for frictionally engaging the data card when the data card is inserted into the receiving slot.

19. The card reader according to claim 14, further comprising a presence switch at least partially extending into the receiving slot for indicating when the data card is inserted into the receiving slot.

15. (canceled)

20. A card reader comprising:

a base;

a pair of feet extending laterally from respective opposite sides of the base;

a lip extending downwardly from a front edge of the base; and

at least one side wall extending upwardly from the base;

wherein the base and the at least one side wall define a data card receiving slot, the data card receiving slot defining a plane that has an orientation which is substantially orthogonal to a plane of a substrate on which the card reader is mounted, the data card receiving slot being configured to receive a data card that is moved in a direction parallel to the plane of the substrate, wherein the card reader has a minimized footprint as compared to a card reader having a receiving slot which is oriented parallel to the plane of the substrate.