Integrated circuit card and connector arrangement using same

• US 4,780,603 A
• Filed: 12/04/1985
• Issued: 10/25/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Card Professionals Ltd.
• Original Assignee: MIPS Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hamada, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAFTON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/804,477
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 339/75 M, 339/75 MP, 235/441, 235/485, 235/492, 235/495, 235/487, 361/399, 361/413
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0047 for reading/sensing record carriers having edge contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/026 having standardized interfaces flash memory cards G06K19/077
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0286 Receptacles therefor, e.g. card slots, module sockets, card groundings

Abstract

In an IC card and electronic equipment using an IC card inserted in its connector slot, a specially-shaped member is provided relatively at both the IC card and the card insertion connector on the electronic equipment. The member allows the IC card to be inserted into the insertion end on the insertion connector only when the IC card is inserted into the card slot in the correct direction with the correct face orientation with respect to the card insertion connector. The member stops the card from being inserted into the connector slot so that the card edge does not reach the terminals on the connector if the card is inserted in the opposite direction or with the card face oriented incorrectly.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit card for use in an electronic arrangement when inserted into a receiving slot of the arrangement, comprising:

a card body having a flat and rectangular shape; and

an integrated circuit chip carried on a primary surface of said card body;

said card body having a plurality of connecting terminals which are arranged along an edge of the rectangular shape of said card body in two rows in a staggered form between the rows for establishing electrical connections of electronic circuitry of said integrated circuit chip with mating connecting terminals of a receiving slot of the electronic arrangement, into which slot said card body is inserted;

said card body having an unsymmetrical portion in a cross section which is perpendicular to the primary surface of said card body and parallel to a direction in which said card body is inserted into the receiving slot;

the unsymmetrical portion allowing said card body to be inserted into the receiving slot to the extent that the electrical connections are established between the plurality of connecting terminals only when said card body is inserted into the receiving slot in an appropriate direction with the primary surface of said card body in a predetermined orientation;

the unsymmetrical portion preventing insertion of said card body into the receiving slot when said card body is not inserted in the appropriate direction and predetermined orientation.

2. An integrated circuit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said unsymmetrical portion comprises a cam face of slant cross-sectional shape which is formed on the edge of the rectangular shape so as to move a spring member projecting into the receiving slot to be pressed by said cam face only when said card body is inserted into the slot in the appropriate direction and predetermined surface orientation.

3. An integrated circuit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said unsymmetrical portion comprises a cam face of arc cross-sectional shape which is formed on the edge of the rectangular shape so as to move a spring member projecting in the receiving slot to be pressed by said cam face only when said card body is inserted into the receiving slot in the appropriate direction and predetermined surface orientation.

4. An integrated circuit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein said card body comprises a bevelled face which is formed on one side edge of the rectangular face so as to mate with a groove formed in the receiving slot only when said card body is inserted into the receiving slot in the appropriate direction and predetermined surface orientation.

5. A connector arrangement for receiving an integrated circuit card which comprises a card body having a flat and rectangular shape, and an integrated circuit chip carried on a primary surface of the card body, the card body having a flat and rectangular shape, and an integrated circuit chip carried on a primary surface of the card body, the card body having a plurality of connecting terminals which are arranged along an edge of the rectangular shape of the card body in two rows in a staggered form between the rows to be interconnected to electronic circuitry of the integrated circuit chip, said card boy having an unsymmetrical portion in a cross section which is perpendicular to the primary surface of said card body and parallel to a direction in which said card body is inserted into a receiving slot, said connector arrangement comprising:

a connector having the receiving slot formed to receive the card body therein;

a plurality of connecting terminals provided on the inside of the receiving slot so as to establish electrical connections of said plurality of connecting terminals of said arrangement with the connecting terminals of the card when the card body is inserted into said receiving slot; and

means, operative in response to the symmetrical portion of the card body, for allowing the card body to be inserted into the slot to the extent that the electrical connections are established between said plurality of connecting terminals of said arrangement and the connecting terminals of the card body only when the card body is inserted into the slot in an appropriate direction with the primary surface of the card body in a predetermined orientation;

said means being inoperative to portions of the card body other than the unsymmetrical portion to prevent the card body from being inserted into the receiving slot if the card body is not inserted in the appropriate direction and predetermined orientation.

6. A connector arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein the unsymmetrical portion comprises a cam face of a slant cross-sectional shape which is formed on the edge of the rectangular shape,

said means comprising a spring member which is formed to project into the receiving slot so as to be pressed by the cam face only when the card body is inserted into the receiving slot in the appropriate direction and predetermined surface orientation.

7. A connector arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein the unsymmetrical portion comprises a cam face of arc cross-sectional shape which is formed on the edge of the rectangular shape,

said means comprises a spring member which is formed to project into the receiving slot so as to be pressed by the cam face only when the card body is inserted into the receiving slot in the appropriate direction and predetermined surface orientation.

8. A connector arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein said card body comprises a bevelled face which is formed on one side edge of the rectangular shape,

said means comprising a groove formed in the receiving slot so as to mate with the bevelled face only when the card body is inserted into the slot in the appropriate direction and predetermined surface orientation.