Smart card reader having angled smart card holder
First Claim
1. A smart card reader, comprising:
- a PCMCIA card disposed in a first plane, said PCMCIA card having a leading end and a trailing end;
a smart card holder disposed in a second plane substantially normal to said first plane;
said smart card holder having a leading end connected to said PCMCIA card adjacent said trailing end of said PCMCIA card and said smart card holder having a free trailing end adapted to slidingly receive a smart card;
said smart card holder including electrical contact means adapted to conductively contact a smart card received within said smart card holder;
a printed circuit board housed within said PCMCIA card; and
flexible conductor means extending from said electrical contact means in said smart card holder to said printed circuit board;
whereby connector means may be attached to an adjacent PCMCIA card without physical blockage by said smart card reader;
whereby insertion of a smart card into said smart card holder is facilitated; and
whereby a modem may be housed within said PCMCIA card at the same time a smart card is positioned within said smart card holder.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A smart card reader includes a smart card holder that is mounted to a PCMCIA card at a ninety-degree angle. The upstanding position of the smart card holder makes it easier for users to insert smart cards into it. Moreover, the position of the smart card holder enables connectors for cellular telephones, modems, network cards and the like to be connected in an adjacent PCMCIA slot without interfering with the operation of the smart card reader. Moreover, the provision of a separate smart card holder frees space within the PCMCIA card for housing a modem or other device performing electrical functions. In this way, a single smart card reader provides two or more separate functions, neither of which interferes physically with adjacent PCMCIA cards. As such, electronics for cellular telephones, modems, network connections and the like may be incorporated into the PCMCIA portion of the reader with connectors for these applications being on the trailing end of a smart card reader'"'"'s PCMCIA card. In a second embodiment, the connection between the smart card holder and the PCMCIA card is hinged so that the smart card holder may lie flat atop the PCMCIA card.
70 Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A smart card reader, comprising:
-
a PCMCIA card disposed in a first plane, said PCMCIA card having a leading end and a trailing end; a smart card holder disposed in a second plane substantially normal to said first plane; said smart card holder having a leading end connected to said PCMCIA card adjacent said trailing end of said PCMCIA card and said smart card holder having a free trailing end adapted to slidingly receive a smart card; said smart card holder including electrical contact means adapted to conductively contact a smart card received within said smart card holder; a printed circuit board housed within said PCMCIA card; and flexible conductor means extending from said electrical contact means in said smart card holder to said printed circuit board; whereby connector means may be attached to an adjacent PCMCIA card without physical blockage by said smart card reader; whereby insertion of a smart card into said smart card holder is facilitated; and whereby a modem may be housed within said PCMCIA card at the same time a smart card is positioned within said smart card holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
Specification