Smartcard connector

• US 8,723,675 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Identity Stronghold, LLC
• Original Assignee: Identity Stronghold, LLC
• Inventors: Augustinowicz, Walt
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/758,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/540, 340/686.1, 340/686.6, 340/1.1, 340 101- 106, 3405721-5729, 235/492, 235/380
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/005 the record carrier comprising an arrangement to facilitate insertion into a holding device, e.g. an arrangement that makes the record carrier fit into an etui or a casing ticket holders A45C11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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

Abstract

A smartcard connector for connecting a smartcard within a card holder to an electronic device. The smartcard connector includes a card holder having a card holding space, a contact pad integral with the card holder and in communicative contact with the card holding space, and an external adapter integral with the card holder and in electrical contact with the contact pad. The adapter is for communicatively connecting a smartcard received and held within the card holding space and in electrical contact with the contact pad to an external data cable. The data cable is also connected to an electrical device, such as a computer, so that the smartcard may be accessed by the computer without removing the smartcard from the card holder. The card holder may also include a battery, display screen, read/write memory, security unit, notification unit, amplification unit, and/or a light.

Claims

1. A smartcard connector system, comprising:

a card holder having a card holding space, wherein said card holding space is adapted to receive an entire smartcard within said card holder;

wherein said card holder is comprised of a shielding card holder to shield wireless transmissions from a smartcard within said card holder;

a first signal transfer means connected to said card holder, wherein said first signal transfer means is in contact with said card holding space; and

a second signal transfer means connected to said card holder, wherein said second signal transfer means is in communicative contact with said first signal transfer means;

wherein said second signal transfer means is accessible from an exterior of said card holder and wherein said second signal transfer means is adapted to communicatively connect a smartcard received and held within said card holding space and in communicative contact with said first signal transfer means to an external data cable;

wherein said external data cable includes a first end connector to connect to said second signal transfer means and a second end connector to connect to an electronic device, wherein said second end connector is comprised of an auxiliary smartcard.

2. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes a rechargeable battery.

3. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes read/write memory.

4. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes a security unit.

5. The smartcard connector system of claim 4, wherein said security unit is comprised of a biometric sensor.

6. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes a notification unit to alert a presence of an auxiliary radio frequency carrier.

7. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes an amplification unit to amplify a transmitted wireless signal from a held smartcard.

8. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, including a display screen upon said card holder for displaying smartcard data.

9. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes a light.

15. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said second signal transfer means is comprised of an amplification unit for providing increased range reading and sending of data from a smartcard within said card holder.

16. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes a first panel and a second panel that define said card holding space between thereof, wherein at least one of said first panel and said second panel include shielding materials for shielding a wireless transmission of data.

17. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes a transparent window.

18. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes a notification unit that notifies a user that a smartcard within said card holder is being accessed.

19. The smartcard connector system of claim 1, wherein said card holder includes a notification unit.

10. A smartcard connector system, comprising:

a card holder having a card holding space, wherein said card holding space is adapted to receive an entire smartcard within said card holder;

wherein said card holder is comprised of a shielding card holder to shield wireless transmissions from a smartcard within said card holder;

a contact pad integral with said card holder and in communicative contact with said card holding space; and

an adapter integral with said card holder and in electrical contact with said contact pad, wherein said adapter is accessible from an exterior of said card holder;

wherein said adapter is for communicatively connecting a smartcard received and held within said card holding space and in electrical contact with said contact pad to an external data cable via connection of said data cable to said adapter;

wherein said data cable includes a first end connector to connect to said adapter and a second end connector to connect to an electronic device, wherein said second end connector is comprised of an auxiliary smartcard.

11. A smartcard connector system, comprising:

a smartcard adapted to store data and having a first contact pad;

a card holder having a card holding space, wherein said smartcard is removably positioned within said card holding space;

wherein said card holding space is adapted to receive all of said smartcard within said card holder;

wherein said card holder is comprised of a shielding card holder to shield wireless transmissions from said smartcard within said card holder;

a second contact pad connected to said card holder and in communicative contact with said card holding space and wherein said second contact pad is in electrical contact with said first contact pad;

an adapter connected to said card holder and in electrical contact with said second contact pad, wherein said adapter is accessible from an exterior of said card holder; and

a data cable having a first end connector and a second end connector;

wherein said first end connector is removably connected to said adapter;

wherein said second end connector is adapted to removably connect to an electronic device to access data from said smartcard within said card holding space of said card holder, wherein said second end connector is comprised of an auxiliary smartcard.

12. The smartcard connector system of claim 11, wherein said first end connector is comprised of a USB connector.

13. The smartcard connector system of claim 11, wherein said auxiliary smartcard is fixedly connected to said data cable.

14. The smartcard connector system of claim 11, wherein said electronic device is comprised of a computer.

20. The smartcard connector system of claim 11, wherein said first contact pad of said smartcard is connected to said second contact pad.

21. The smartcard connector system of claim 11, wherein said card holder includes a first panel and a second panel that define said card holding space between thereof, wherein at least one of said first panel and said second panel include shielding materials for shielding a wireless transmission of data.

22. The smartcard connector system of claim 11, wherein said card holder includes a first panel and a second panel that define said card holding space between thereof, wherein both said first panel and said second panel include shielding materials for shielding a wireless transmission of data.

23. The smartcard connector system of claim 11, wherein said card holder includes a notification unit that notifies a user that said smartcard is being accessed.

24. The smartcard connector system of claim 11, wherein said card holder includes a notification unit.