Contact configuration for smart card reader

• US 6,015,311 A
• Filed: 10/20/1997
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Consoli, John Joseph, Benjamin, Karen Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kheim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US08/954,720
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 439/188, 439/267, 439/260, 235/492, 235/441, 235/443, 235/483, 235/475
• US Class Current: 439/267
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0026 the galvanic contacts of the connector adapted for landing on the contacts of the card upon card insertion
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/003 means for pressing the connector contacts in the direction of the card contacts to assure trustworthy electrical connection between card and connector

Abstract

A landing type smart card reader 10 is provided having a base 14, a cover 12, and a contact carrier 50. Spring arms 22 formed in the cover 12 cooperate with the contact carrier 50 to bias the contacts 18 away from an inserted smart card 102. Upon insertion of a smart card 102, the spring arms 22 will disengage the contact carrier 50 and the contacts 18 will land on and make electrical connection with pads of the smart card 102.

Claims

1. A smart card reader having a base, a cover secured to the base over a card receiving area, a contact carrier being pivotally attached to the base, a plurality of contacts secured to the base and extending into contact receiving areas of the contact carrier, the cover being characterized by:

a top wall having a first edge proximate a mating end of the base, a pair of side edges proximate side walls of the base, and a rear edge extending between the side edges; and

at least one spring arm having a free end and extending from the top wall into the card receiving area; and

wherein the spring arm and the contact carrier cooperate such that, when a card is not occupying the card receiving area, the free end urges the contact carrier away from the card receiving area, and, when a card is inserted into the card receiving area, the card contacts a portion of the spring arm extending into the card receiving area thereby urging the spring arm to facilitate movement of the contact carrier toward the card receiving area such that the contacts contact the card.

2. The smart card reader as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

at least one securing member extending from a side edge generally perpendicular to the top wall and along a side wall of the base into a complementary securing area.

3. The smart card reader as recited in claim 1 wherein the cover further comprises at least one depression which extends into the card receiving area for exerting a contact enhancing force on a top surface of a card.

4. The smart card reader as recited in claim 1 wherein the cover further comprises a switch actuator extending from the top wall into the card receiving area.

5. The smart card reader as recited in claim 4 wherein the switch actuator comprises a cantilever arm having a lead in surface facing the first edge.

6. The smart card reader as recited in claim 5 wherein the switch actuator further comprises a projection along the cantilever arm proximate its free end for engaging a microswitch.

7. The smart card reader as recited in claim 1 wherein the spring arm is stamped and formed from the top wall, the spring arm having a main body section attached to the top wall, an intermediate section extending from the main body section and being bent slightly toward the card receiving area, and a free end section extending from the intermediate section and being bent toward the top wall.

8. The smart card reader as recited in claim 2 wherein the securing member comprises an extension arm attached to the top wall and a securing arm attached to the extension arm.

9. The smart card reader as recited in claim 8 wherein the securing arm is disposed perpendicular to the extension arm, the securing arm being profiled to be received in a recess disposed in the complementary securing area of the base.

10. A smart card reader having an insulative base and a plurality of cantilevered electrical contacts extending from ends of the base toward a center comprising:

a contact carrier having a contact receiving area disposed proximate the center of the insulative base and on a first side of a pivot joint, a cam surface disposed on a second side of the pivot joint, and a switch actuator disposed adjacent the cam surface;

the contact carrier being pivotably attached to the insulative base and in engagement with free ends of the cantilevered electrical contacts,

whereby the electrical contacts and the contact receiving area are biased toward the insulative base until a card is inserted into the smart card reader and urged against the cam surface to pivot the carrier toward the card such that the electrical contacts engage pads of the inserted card.

11. A card reader having a base and a cover to define a card receiving area, the card reader comprising:

a contact carrier being pivotally attached to the base and connected to one or more contacts;

at least one spring arm having a free end and extending from the cover into the card receiving area;

wherein the spring arm and the contact carrier cooperate such that, when a card is not occupying the card receiving area, the free end urges the contact carrier away from the card receiving area, and, when a card is inserted into the card receiving area, the card contacts a portion of the spring arm extending into the card receiving area thereby urging the spring arm away to facilitate movement of the contact carrier toward the card receiving area such that the contacts contact the card;

a switch located in the base adjacent the card receiving area; and

a switch actuator located in the base so as to be in communication with the switch.

12. The card reader as recited in claim 11 wherein the switch actuator is a ball.

13. The card reader as recited in claim 11 wherein the switch is a microswitch having a button which is biased to a normally open position.

14. The card reader as recited in claim 12 wherein the housing has an aperture profiled to have a tapered section for engaging the ball.

15. The card reader as recited in claim 14 wherein the ball is positioned between the aperture and the switch.

16. The card reader as recited in claim 15 wherein the switch has a button which engages the ball to bias the ball toward the aperture.

17. The card reader as recited in claim 11 wherein the switch actuator engages a card inserted into the card receiving area to cause actuation of the switch.

18. A card reader comprising:

a housing defining a card receiving area;

a contact carrier in the housing and operatively connected to one or more contacts;

a contact carrier actuator having a contact portion that extends into the card receiving area when there is no card occupying the card receiving area;

wherein the contact carrier actuator and the contact carrier are configured and cooperate such that, when a card is not occupying the card receiving area, the contact carrier is disposed away from the card receiving area, and, when a card is inserted into the card receiving area, the card contacts the contact portion causing the contact carrier actuator to move thereby effecting the movement of the contact carrier toward the card receiving area such that the contacts contact the card.

19. The card reader of claim 18, wherein the contact carrier actuator comprises a spring arm having a free end and the contact portion, and the contact carrier is biased toward the card receiving area such that, when the card receiving area is unoccupied, the free end operatively urges the contact carrier away from the card receiving area, and, when a card is inserted into the card receiving area, the card contacts the contact portion causing the free end to move such that the contact carrier is able to move toward the card receiving area.

20. The card reader of claim 18, wherein the contact carrier actuator is operatively connected to the contact carrier and pivotally mounted such that the contact carrier is on one side of the pivot and the contact portion is on the other side of the pivot, and the contact carrier is biased away from the card receiving area such that, when the card receiving area is unoccupied, the actuator exerts no substantial force against the contact carrier and thus the contact carrier remains biased away from the card receiving area, and, when a card is inserted into the card receiving area, the card contacts the contact portion causing the contact carrier actuator to pivot thereby effecting movement of the contact carrier toward the card receiving area.