Terminal apparatus with removable memory device

• US 5,136,146 A
• Filed: 02/22/1991
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verifone, Inc. (Verifone Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anglin, Noah L., Hludzinski, Stanley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEINBERG, RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US07/659,502
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 235/441, 235/444, 235/453, 369/200
• US Class Current: 235/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0216 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/08 Feeding or discharging cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0831 the ejection arrangement comprising a slide, carriage or drawer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/085 using an arrangement for locking the inserted card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0047 for reading/sensing record carriers having edge contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0069 including means for detecting correct insertion of the card, e.g. end detection switches notifying that the card has been inserted completely and correctly
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0091 the circuit comprising an arrangement for avoiding intrusions and unwanted access to data inside of the connector

Abstract

Electronic circuit apparatus in the form of a transaction terminal and including a removable circuit component in the form of a portable memory cartridge. The terminal has a housing with a wall defining an opening for inserting the removable circuit component. A switch is mounted within the housing means substantially in the vicinity of the opening and is connected between a source of electric power and the removable circuit component to control application of power to the removable circuit component. A carrier arrangement carries the removable circuit component between a connected position within the housing and a disconnected position for removal from the housing through the opening. The carrier including a switch actuator and a cooperative interlock means. The switch actuator operates the switch to be ON and simultaneously locks the carrier within the housing. The switch actuator also functions to turn the switch OFF and simultaneously unlock the carrier for removal from the housing.

Claims

1. Electronic circuit apparatus, including a removable circuit component having a connector on one end thereof, comprising:

housing means including a wall defining an opening for inserting said removable circuit component;

connector means mounted within said opposite said opening for receiving said connector on said removable circuit component;

switch means mounted on the interior of said housing means substantially in the vicinity of said opening and being connected between a source of electric power and said removable circuit component to control application of electric power to said removable circuit component through said connector means;

carrier means for carrying said removable circuit component between a connected position and a disconnected position for removal from said housing through said opening and including a switch actuator means manually movable between respective ON and OFF positions and operable when said removable circuit component is in said connected position in said housing to close said switch means and apply power to said connector means when moved from said OFF position to said ON position and to open said switch means and disconnect power from said connector means when moved from said ON position to said OFF position; and

cooperative interlock means on said housing and said carrier means and operatively associated with said switch actuator means when said carrier means is in said connected position to lock said carrier means within said housing when said switch actuator means is in said ON position and to unlock said carrier means for removal from said housing when said switch actuator means is in said OFF position;

said switch means being mounted adjacent one side of said opening and including a switch closure element facing toward said opening;

said switch actuator means comprising a first member accessable to the outside of said housing means when said carrier means is in a connected position and slidable between ON and OFF positions and a second member positioned within said housing when said carrier means is in said connected position and operably coupled to said first member for movement between first and second positions respectively associated with said ON and OFF positions of said first member and operating said switch closure element to close said switch means when in said first position;

said cooperative interlock means comprising an edge portion of said wall in said housing defining said opening and an edge portion of said second member which abutts said edge portion of said wall when said second member is in said first position to prevent said carrier means being withdrawn from said housing when said first member is in said ON position with power applied to said removable circuit component;

said removable circuit component being a portable memory cartridge having a connector on one end thereof;

said carrier means comprising a tray member for carrying said portable memory cartridge with said connector adjacent one end of said tray member and a handle member on the opposite end of said tray member including a first portion extending outside said opening of said housing in said connected position and a second portion located inside said housing in said connected position;

said housing including tray guide means mounted opposite the edges of said opening for guiding said tray member as said carrier means is inserted into said housing and connector means on one end of said tray guide means for connecting said connector on said portable memory cartridge to other circuitry within said housing; and

said second portion of said handle member having a channel therein extending parallel the plane of said opening defined in said wall of said housing and positioned immediately adjacent an inner surface of said wall, said second member comprising a bar carried in said channel with said first position comprising one end of said bar being entirely within said channel and said second position comprising said one end of said bar being positioned a short distance outside of said channel, said switch means being mounted adjacent said inner surface of said wall facing said channel and having said switch closure element actuated by said one end of said bar when in said second position, an edge portion of said bar abutting said inner surface of said wall when in said second position to thereby prevent said carrier means from being withdrawn from said housing until said first member of said switch actuator means is moved to an OFF position to thereby withdraw said bar within said channel and deactuate said switch means to remove electrical power from a portable memory cartridge carried on said tray member.

2. A transaction terminal apparatus comprising:

a housing having a sidewall defining a generally rectangular opening;

a tray member adapted for carrying a portable memory cartridge and being insertable in said opening in said sidewall, said portable memory cartridge having a connector on one end thereof and being carried in said tray with said connector facing a direction opposite to said opening in said sidewall;

guide means disposed within housing for guiding said tray member as it is being inserted;

connector means mounted in said housing at one end of said guide means and facing said opening for engaging said connector on said portable memory cartridge to connect said portable memory cartridge with circuitry of said transaction terminal;

a power supply means for supplying power to circuits of said transaction terminal including supplying power to said portable memory cartridge through said connector means;

switch means in circuit with said power supply means for controlling the supply of power to at least connector means for said portable memory cartridge, said switch means being mounted within said housing adjacent said opening in said sidewall;

switch actuator means carried on said tray member including a first member accessable outside said housing when said tray member is inserted therein and being movable between ON and OFF positions and a second member positioned within said housing when said tray member is inserted and being moved by said first member between first and second positions respectively associated with said ON and OFF positions, said second member being operative when in said first position to turn said switch means ON and also to engage a portion of said sidewall to preclude removal of said tray from said housing while said switch means is ON and power is applied to a portable memory cartridge carried on said tray.

3. Apparatus as claim in claim 2, wherein

said tray member includes a handle member including a first handle portion positioned outside said housing when said tray is fully inserted and a second handle portion positioned within said housing when said tray is fully inserted;

said first handle portion having a bottom surface defining a recessed area with said first member of said switch actuator means carried therewithin and slidable in a plane transverse to said sidewall of said housing between said ON and OFF positions;

said second handle portion having a channel formed therein and extending parallel to said sidewall of said housing and positioned immediately adjacent thereto when said tray member is fully inserted within said housing with said second member of said switch actuator means carried within said channel and slidable between said first and second positions in response to sliding of said first member between said ON and OFF positions thereof.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein

said first member of said switch actuator means is mounted within said recessed area to slide in a direction parallel to said sidewall;

said recessed area in said first handle portion communicates with said channel in said second handle portion; and

said second member of said switch actuator means is rigidly connected to said first member thereof for conjoint movement therewith.