Dual Interface SIM Card Adapter with Detachable Antenna

• US 20080099559A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lo, Ying-Che, Luo, Huan-Chin
• Application Number:
  US11/554,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20080099559A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/441
• 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 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07775 the antenna being on-chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device

Abstract

A dual interface SIM card adaptor is described for use with an existing SIM card slot that provides a dual interface electronic information storage card. The dual interface SIM card carrier comprises a flexible printed circuit board, a mini-sized SIM card, a housing to house the mini-sized SIM card, and a cap to affix the mini-sized SIM card in place. The mini-sized SIM card has dimensions that are less than the dimensions for a typical SIM card. The mini-sized SIM card is separable from a carrier that holds the mini-sized SIM card and an antenna. The adaptor is inserted into the SIM card slot in a mobile handset for contact electronic communication, such as wireless telecom, and for contactless electronic communication, such as public transportation, payment and RFID. Contactless communication can be carried out by RFID, Near Field Communication or bar codes.

Claims

1. A dual interface card carrier, comprising:

a circuit board having first and second principal surfaces, the first principal surface having a plurality of contacts operating as a first interface for contact communication, the second principal surface having a second plurality of contacts operating as a second interface for contactless communication;

a chip card having an inwardly-facing surface with a plurality of contact pads electrically contacting with the second plurality of contacts in the second principal surfaces; and

a chip housing that houses the chip card.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of contacts in the first principal surface of the circuit board comprises six contacts (C1-C6) that face a chip card slot and make electrical contacts in the chip card slot.

3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of contacts in the second principal surface of the circuit board comprises eight contacts for electrically connecting to eight contact pads (C1-C8) of the first chip, the two contact pads (C4 and C8) operating as RF signal pads and connecting to two contacts in the second principal surface of the circuit board, the two contacts in the second principal surface connecting to a connector of a detachable antenna.

4. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the chip card has dimensions of about 15 mm long, 12 mm wide and less than 1 mm thick.

5. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the chip card comprises a mini-sized dual interface SIM card that has dimensions less than a SIM card.

6. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible printed circuit board.

7. A mobile handset, comprising:

a card carrier, including;

a circuit board having first and second principal surfaces, the first principal surface having a first plurality of contacts operating as a first interface for contact communication, the second principal surface having a second plurality of contacts operating as a second interface for contactless communication;

a chip card having an inwardly-facing surface with a plurality of contact pads for making electrical contact with the second plurality of contacts in the second principal surfaces; and

a chip housing that houses the chip card.

8. The handset of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of contacts in the first principal surface of the circuit board comprises six contacts that face a chip card slot and make electrical contact in the chip card slot.

9. The handset of claim 7, wherein the second plurality of contacts on the second principal surface of the circuit board comprises eight contacts for electrically connecting to eight contact pads (C1-C8) of the first chip card, the two contact pads (C4 and C8) operating as RF signal pads and connecting to two contacts in the second principal surface of the circuit board, the two contacts in the second principal surface connecting to a port of a detachable antenna.

10. The handset of claim 9, wherein the circuit card comprises a pair of wires that are sufficiently long to bypass blockage to the chip card during contactless communication, the pair of wires being electrically connected to the two contacts in the second plurality of contacts on the second principal surface of the circuit board which are connected to the two contact pads (C4 and C8) of the first chip card.

11. The handset of claim 10, wherein the detachable antenna has an input connector for connecting to the pair of wires of the circuit card, and receives RF signals.

12. The handset of claim 11, further comprising a battery disposed between the first chip card and the antenna, the battery having a back side surface with a recess area for placement of the antenna.

13. The handset of claim 11, further comprising a cap for placement over an outwardly-facing surface of the chip card, the cap having a through-hole for passing the pair of wires from the circuit board through the cap and to the detachable antenna.

14. The handset of claim 7, wherein the chip card has dimensions of about 15 mm long, 12 mm wide and less than 1 mm thick.

15. The handset of claim 7, wherein the chip card comprises a mini-sized dual interface SIM card that has dimensions less than a SIM card.

16. The handset of claim 7, wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible printed circuit board.

17. The handset of claim 7, wherein the chip card comprises a first antenna contact pad (A1) and a second antenna contact pad (A2), the first and second antenna contact pads operating as RF signal pads for connecting to a connector of a detachable antenna.

18. The handset of claim 7, wherein the chip card comprises a first antenna contact pad (A1) and a second antenna contact pad (A2), the first antenna contact pad formed a first geometric shape with uninterrupted lines on the inwardly-facing surface of the chip card, the second antenna contact pad formed a second geometric shape with uninterrupted lines on the inwardly-facing surface of the chip card.