Apparatus for accepting and retaining a memory card

• US 5,257,414 A
• Filed: 11/26/1990
• Issued: 10/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stinauer, Robert J., Rojc, John F., Trahan, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charouel, Lisa
• Application Number:
  US07/618,125
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355, 379/356, 379/357, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/63, 235/441, 235/486, 455/89, 455/90, 455/186.1, 455/185.1, 455/348
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0806 using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3818 Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a discussion of a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) chip card reader (201). In the preferred embodiment, the SIM chip card reader is integrated into and sealed to a radiotelephone. A battery (105) for the radiotelephone (103) retains the SIM chip card (401) in the SIM chip card reader (201) while the radiotelephone (103) is operating. The SIM chip card reader (201) also includes a ejector knob (405) for removing the SIM chip card (401) from the SIM chip card reader (201).

Claims

1. A memory card reader having at least a first electrical contact electrically coupled to an electronic apparatus disposed within an interior of a structural housing, the memory card reader accepting a memory card having at least a second electrical contact disposed on the memory card and information stored in the memory card, the memory card reader comprising:

a memory card chamber for aligning the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact upon loading the memory card into the memory card reader, such that the information stored on the memory card is readable, the memory card chamber comprising;

a planar first platform coupled to an interior surface of the structural housing,

a planar second platform raised from the plane of, disposed within, joined to and parallel to said planar first platform,

an opening essentially in the center of said planar second platform surrounding a first end of the first electrical contact,

a first inclined plane disposed at a first edge of said planar second platform,

a planar third platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and parallel to said planar second platform, said planar third platform being triangular in shape, disposed in a first corner formed by said first edge and a second edge of said planar second platform, said second edge adjacent to and perpendicular to said first edge,

a second inclined plane disposed at a third edge of said planar second platform, said third edge created by said planar third platform,

a fourth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to said second edge of said planar second platform,

a fifth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to a fourth edge of said planar second platform, said fourth edge opposite said second edge of said planar second platform,

a sixth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to a fifth edge of said planar second platform, said fifth edge adjacent to said second and fourth edges and opposite said first edge of said planar second platform, and

a first cover raised from the plane of and parallel to said planar first platform, interlocked to said fourth, fifth and sixth platforms;

means for retaining the alignment of the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact;

means for sealing the interior of the structural housing from the memory card reader.

2. A memory card reader in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for sealing the memory card reader further comprises said first planar platform coupled to the interior of the structural housing and the first electrical contact partially disposed within said first planar platform, the first planar platform forming a seal between the electronic apparatus within the structural housing and said memory card chamber.

3. A memory card reader in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for retaining the memory card further comprises the first electrical contact providing frictional forces against the memory card, and said memory card chamber providing an area the size and shape of the memory card for the memory card to lay.

4. A card reader integrated into a housing which contains an electronic apparatus and electrically coupling to the electronic apparatus contained within the housing, the card reader comprising:

a first electrical contact having a first end and a second end, said first end disposed within said card chamber, contacting a card, and through which information stored in said card is accessed, and said second end disposed inside the housing which contains the electronic apparatus and coupled to the electronic apparatus; and

a base having said first electrical contact partially imbedded therein, the base comprising;

a planar first platform, a planar second platform and a planar third platform, said planar first platform coupled to an interior surface of the housing and having a portion of said first electrical contact imbedded therein, said planar second platform raised from the plane of, disposed within, joined to and parallel to said planar first platform, said planar third platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and parallel to said planar second platform, said planar third platform having a triangular shape, disposed in a first corner formed by a first edge and a second edge of said planar second platform, said second edge adjacent and perpendicular to said first edge,

an opening essentially in the center of said planar second platform and surrounding said first end of said first electrical contact,

a first inclined plane disposed at a first edge of said planar second platform, and

a second inclined plane disposed at a third edge of said planar second platform, said third edge formed by said planar third platform;

a card chamber external to the housing, a cover and said base forming said card chamber; and

a sealing member securing said base to the housing which contains the electronic apparatus.

5. A card reader in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first end of said at least a first electrical contact, further comprises an arm which extends above and parallel to said planar first platform and contained within said opening, said arm coupled to an n-shaped member with a curved portion of the n-shaped member extending above the planar second platform, said arm and said n-shaped member thereby forming a sliding contact.

6. A card reader in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second end of said at least a first electrical contact further comprises an arm which extends from a first side of said planar first platform at an angle, said arm coupled to a u-shaped member, a portion of said u-shaped member being parallel to said planar first platform, said arm and said u-shaped member thereby forming a spring contact.

7. A portable radio telephone including a transceiver having a housing and obtaining subscriber information from a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) chip card coupled to an electronic apparatus contained within the transceiver, the portable radio telephone comprising;

a SIM chip card reader integrally disposed in and sealed to a first side of the housing of the transceiver, said SIM chip card reader comprising;

a SIM chip card chamber having an opening external to the housing of the transceiver,

at least a first electrical contact partially imbedded in said SIM chip card reader, the first electrical contact having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first electrical contact disposed within said SIM chip card chamber and coupled to the SIM chip card, said second end of said first electrical contact coupled to the electronic apparatus contained within the transceiver,

a planar first platform, a planar second platform and a planar third platform, said planar first platform coupled to the interior of the transceiver housing, said planar second platform raised from the plane of, disposed within, joined to and parallel to said planar first platform, said planar third platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and parallel to said planar second platform, said planar third platform having a triangular shape and disposed in a first corner formed by a first edge and a second edge of said planar second platform, said second edge adjacent and perpendicular to said first edge,

an opening essentially in the center of said planar second platform and surrounding said first end of said first electrical contact,

a first inclined plane disposed at a first edge of said planar second platform,

a second inclined plane disposed at a third edge of said planar second platform, said third edge formed by said planar third platform,

a fourth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to said second edge of said planar second platform,

a fifth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to fourth edge of said planar second platform, said fourth edge opposite said second edge of said planar second platform,

a sixth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to a fifth edge of said planar second platform, said fifth edge adjacent to said second and fourth edges and opposite said first edge of said planar second platform, and

a first cover raised from the plane of and parallel to said planar first platform, interlocked to said fourth, fifth and sixth platforms; and

a removeable battery pack coupled to said first side of the housing of the transceiver, sheltering said SIM chip card chamber and confining the SIM chip card within the portable radio telephone.

8. A portable radio telephone in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first end of the first electrical contact further comprises an arm which extends above and parallel to said first planar platform and contained within an opening essentially in the center of said planar second platform, said arm coupled to an n-shaped member with a curved portion of said n-shaped member extending above said planar second platform, said arm and said n-shaped member thereby forming a sliding contact.

9. A portable radio telephone in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second end of each of the first electrical contact further comprises an arm which extends from a first side of said planar first platform at an angle, said arm coupled to a u-shaped member, a portion of said u-shaped member being parallel to said planar first platform, said arm and said u-shaped member thereby forming a spring contact.

10. A memory card reader having at least a first electrical contact electrically coupled to an electronic apparatus disposed within an interior of a structural housing, the memory card reader accepting a memory card having at least a second electrical contact disposed on the memory card and information stored in the memory card, the memory card reader comprising:

a memory card chamber for aligning the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact upon loading the memory card into the memory card reader, such that the information stored on the memory card is readable, the memory card chamber comprising;

a planar first platform coupled to an interior surface of the structural housing,

a planar second platform raised from the plane of, disposed within, joined to and parallel to said planar first platform,

an opening essentially in the center of said planar second platform surrounding a first end of the first electrical contact,

a first inclined plane disposed at a first edge of said planar second platform,

a planar third platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and parallel to said planar second platform, said planar third platform being triangular in shape, disposed in a first corner formed by said first edge and a second edge of said planar second platform, said second edge adjacent to and perpendicular to said first edge,

a second inclined plane disposed at a third edge of said planar second platform, said third edge created by said planar third platform,

a fourth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to said second edge of said planar second platform,

a fifth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to a fourth edge of said planar second platform, said fourth edge opposite said second edge of said planar second platform,

a sixth platform raised from the plane of, joined to, and perpendicular to said planar first platform, disposed parallel to a fifth edge of said planar second platform, said fifth edge adjacent to said second and fourth edges and opposite said first edge of said planar second platform, and

a first cover having an oblong slot, said cover raised from the plane of and parallel to said planar first platform, interlocked to said fourth, fifth and sixth platforms, thereby forming said card chamber;

means for retaining said alignment of the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact;

means for sealing the interior of the structural housing from the memory card reader; and

means for ejecting the memory card from the memory card reader.

11. A memory card reader in accordance with claim 10 wherein said means for sealing the memory card reader further comprises said first planar platform coupled to the interior of the structural housing and the first electrical contact partially disposed within said first planar platform, the first planar platform forming a seal between the electronic apparatus within the structural housing and said memory card chamber.

12. A memory card reader in accordance with claim 10 wherein said means for retaining the memory card further comprises the first electrical contact providing frictional forces against the memory card, and said memory card chamber providing an area the size and shape of the memory card for the memory card to lay.

13. A memory card reader in accordance with claim 10 wherein said means for ejecting further comprises:

a base joined to a shoulder which protrudes from said oblong slot of said first cover and restricted in motion to a first and a second direction, said first direction towards said sixth platform and opposite said second direction;

sliding said base joined to said shoulder along said second platform in said first direction upon loading the memory card into the memory card reader; and

moving said shoulder which protrudes from said oblong slot of said first cover in said second direction causing said base to move the memory card in said second direction.