Secure smart card and tool for removing same

• US 6,247,950 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.), The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.), NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siegel, Philip I., Hallam, Toby
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/271,698
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 235/441, 235/492, 235/482, 294/1.1, 294/15, 294/26, 439/267
• US Class Current: 439/267
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/08 Feeding or discharging cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0806 using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for removing a card from an opening in an electrical device. The apparatus comprises: a card including a semiconductor chip capable of making electrical connection with a contact in the opening and wherein the cards fits into the opening with substantially no part protruding therefrom and a tool that is adapted to effect removal of the card from the opening. This has the advantage that the card makes the appropriate internal contacts and can only be removed by authorized users. This stops theft of the card from retail outlets. In addition, the invention also prevents children and animals removing the card and damaging it in the home environment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing a card from an opening in an electrical device comprising:

a card including a semiconductor chip capable of making electrical connection with a contact in the opening and wherein the cards fits in to the opening with substantially no part protruding therefrom; and

a card shaped slot engaging tool that is adapted to effect removal of the card from the opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening tool cooperates with the card to effect removal of the card from the opening.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tool cooperates directly with the card.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool is inserted into the opening to effect removal of the card.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tool includes at least one member capable of connecting the tool to the card, such that removal of the tool effects removal of the card from the opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the card includes a slot and one or more members include an extension that is engageable with the slot to thereby connect the tool to the card.

7. The apparatus of claim 5;

wherein the card and the tool include cooperating keying members that are engageable with each other to connect the tool to the card.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an actuator for mechanically effecting the connection between the tool and the card.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an actuator for mechanically effecting the connection between the tool and the card.

10. A card capable of being inserted into an opening in an electrical device wherein the card fits into the opening with substantially no part protruding therefrom, that is capable of being removed from the opening by a card shaped slot engaging tool adapted for that purpose.

11. The card of claim 10, wherein the card includes a semiconductor chip capable of making electrical connection with a contact in the opening.

12. The card of claim 11, further comprising a slot engageable by a tool to effect removal of the card from the opening.

13. The card of claim 12, wherein the computer tool includes at least one member capable of connecting the tool to the card, such that removal of the tool effects removal of the card from the opening.

14. A card shaped slot engaging tool that is adapted to remove a card from an opening in an electrical device, wherein the card fits in the opening with substantially no part protruding therefrom.

15. The tool of claim 14, wherein the tool cooperates with the card to effect removal of the card from the opening.

16. The tool of claim 14, wherein the tool is inserted into the opening to effect removal of the card.

17. The tool of claim 14, further comprising at least one member capable of connecting the tool to the card, such that removal of the tool effects the removal of the card from the opening.

18. The tool of claim 14, wherein the card includes a slot and the members include an extension that is engageable with the slot to thereby connect the tool to the card.

19. A method of removing a card from an opening in an electrical device comprising providing a card that includes a semiconductor chip capable of making electrical connection with a contact in the opening and that fits into the opening with substantially no part protruding therefrom and using a card shaped slot engaging tool to effect the removal of the card from the opening.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the card comprises a slot and the tool comprises at least one member capable of connecting the tool to the card, and step of using the tool to effect removal of the card from the opening comprises the steps of:

inserting the tool into the opening so as to engage the member with the slot; and

removing the tool from the opening.