IC card reading/writing device

• US 5,923,082 A
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takemura, Hisao
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/168,289
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 257/679, 235/492
• US Class Current: 257/679
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/006 the housing being a portable casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0273 having extensions for peripherals, e.g. LAN, antennas details of antennas H01Q1/2275
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0282 Adapters for connecting cards having a first standard in receptacles having a second standard

Abstract

An IC card reading/writing device comprises a main body and a conductive cover member. The main body includes a first and a second member which define space for storing an IC card, and can be removably inserted into that storage section of an information processing device which is intended to store a standard card and which has earthing members. The first and second members of the main body and the IC card inserted in the space constitutes a unit having a size and an outer shape which are substantially identical to those of the standard card. The conductive cover member covers the entire outer peripheral portion of the first member, and contacts the earthing members when the main body is located in the storage section.

Claims

1. An IC card reading/writing device comprising:

a main body including a first member and a second member which are located opposite to each other, defining space for storing an IC card, the first and second members and the IC card inserted in the space constituting a unit having a size and an outer shape which are substantially identical to a size and an outer shape of a standard card, and the main body capable of being removably inserted into that storage section of an information processing apparatus which is provided for storing the standard card and which has earthing members; and

a conductive cover member covering an entire outer peripheral portion of the first member, and contacting the earthing members as long as the main body remains inserted in the storage section.

2. An IC card reading/writing device comprising:

a main body capable of being removably inserted into that storage section of an information processing apparatus which is provided for storing a standard card and which has projections, the main body including a first member, a second member, and a step portion which is put into contact with the projections of the storage section of the information processing apparatus when the main body is removed from the storage section, the first and second members being located opposite to each other, with the step portion interposed between end portions of the first and second members on an insertion side of the main body from which the main body is inserted into the storage section, the first and second members and the step portion defining space for storing an IC card, and the first and second members and the IC card inserted in the space constituting a unit having a size and an outer shape which are substantially identical to a size and an outer shape of the standard card; and

guide surfaces formed on the step portion of the main body such that the guide surfaces are inclined, the guide surfaces guiding the projections in a direction where the projections are detached from the step portion, when the main body is removed from the storage section and the step portion is put into contact with the projections.

3. The IC card reading/writing device according to claim 2, wherein the guide surfaces are formed on a bottom portion of the step portion, and inclined downwards in an insertion direction where the main body is inserted into the storage section of the information processing apparatus.

4. The IC card reading/writing device according to claim 2, wherein the guide surfaces are formed on left and right side portions of the step portion, and the guide surface formed the left side portion is inclined leftwards and the guide surface formed on the right side portion is inclined rightwards in an insertion direction where the main body is inserted into the storage section of the information processing apparatus.

5. The IC card reading/writing device according to claim 2, wherein the guide surfaces are formed on a bottom portion and left and right side portions of the step portion, and the guide surfaces formed on the bottom portion are inclined downwards, the guide surface formed on the left side portion is inclined leftwards and the guide surface formed on the right side portion is inclined rightwards, in an insertion direction where the main body is inserted into the storage section of the information processing apparatus, such that a left one of the guide surfaces formed on the bottom portion is continuous with the guide surface formed on the left side portion, and a right one of the guide surfaces formed on the bottom portion is continuous with the guide surface formed on the right side portion.

6. An IC card reading/writing device comprising:

a main body capable of being removably inserted into that storage section of an information processing apparatus which is for storing a standard card and which has earthing members, the main body including a first member, a second member, and a step portion which is put into contact with the earthing members of the storage section of the information processing apparatus when the main body is removed from the storage section, the first and second members being located opposite to each other, with the step portion interposed between end portions of the first and second members on an insertion side of the main body from which the main body is inserted into the storage section, the first and second members and the step portion defining space for storing an IC card, and the first and second members and the IC card inserted in the space constituting a unit having a size and an outer shape which are substantially identical to a size and an outer shape of the standard card;

a conductive cover member covering an entire outer peripheral portion of the first member, and contacting the earthing members as long as the main body remains inserted in the storage section; and

guide surfaces formed on the step portion of the main body such that the guide surfaces are inclined, the guide surfaces guiding the earthing members in a direction where the earthing members are detached from the step portion, when the main body is removed from the storing section and the step portion is put into contact with the earthing members.

7. An IC card reading/writing device comprising:

a main body capable of being removably inserted into that storage section of an information processing apparatus which is provided for storing a standard card and has earthing members, the main body including a first member and a second member which are located opposite to each other, defining space for storing an IC card, and the first and second members and the IC card inserted in the space constituting a unit having a size and an outer shape which are substantially identical to a size and an outer shape of the standard card; and

a conductive cover member contacting the earthing members as long as the main body remains inserted in the storing section.

8. An IC card reading/writing device having a contact block to be electrically connected to a connector of that storage section of an information processing apparatus which is provided for storing a standard card, the contact block being to be electrically connected to terminals provided on a surface of an IC card, the IC card reading/writing device comprising:

a main body including a connector portion, a first member and a second member, the connector portion being to be electrically connected to the connector of the storage section of the information processing apparatus, the connector portion having stepped portions each of which is connected to the first member and has a thickness greater than a thickness of the first member and gradually decreasing in a direction opposite to an insertion direction where the IC card reading/writing device is inserted into the information processing apparatus, the first member and the second member being located opposite to each other, defining space for storing the IC card, and having side end opening portions which are provided on both sides of the first and second members, the first member having a width equal to a width of the connector portion, and the second member having a width smaller than the width of the connector portion; and

a projection portion located opposite to the connector portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the first and second members, the projection portion being projected from the storage section of the information processing apparatus when the IC card reading/writing device is inserted in the information processing apparatus, and the projection portion connecting the first and second members.