Chip card reader

• US 7,051,931 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SCM Microsystems GmbH (Identive Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SCM Microsystems GmbH (Identive Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sowa, Jochem, Neifer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US10/350,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 235/441, 235/486, 235/492, 235/479, 235/439, 710/301, 361/737, 361743-745
• US Class Current: 235/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier

Abstract

A chip card reader is disclosed having a plug-in-socket, an insertion slot for a chip card, and a housing according to a PCMCIA format. The housing includes a base plate and a cover plate extending between the plug-in socket and the insertion slot. The base plate and the cover plate include a plastic part and a metallic part and the metallic part of the base plate is directly welded to the metallic part of the cover plate.

Claims

1. A chip card reader, comprising:

a plug-in-socket;

an insertion slot for a chip card; and

a housing according to a PCMCIA format, the housing including;

a base plate and a cover plate extending between the plug-in socket and the insertion slot, and

wherein the base plate and the cover plate include a plastic part and a metallic part and the metallic part of the base plate is directly welded to the metallic part of the cover plate,

wherein at least one of the base plate and cover plate is formed by inserting the metallic part in a casting mold and the plastic part is molded around the metallic part.

2. The chip card reader according to claim 1, wherein the metallic part of the base plate and cover plate is exposed along lateral edges of both plates.

3. The chip card reader according to claim 2, wherein the metallic part of at least one of the base plate and the cover plate includes at least one bent side strip directly welded to an opposing exposed lateral edge of an opposing plate.

4. The chip card reader according to claim 1, wherein the metallic part of the base plate and the cover plate includes exposed end pieces covering the plug-in socket.

5. The chip card reader according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the base plate and cover plate includes:

an internal card guiding structure comprising a pair of parallel guide bars extending along opposite longitudinal edges of the plate and having exposed guiding surfaces defining a common plane, and wherein the insertion slot for the chip card includes a narrow portion and a wide portion, the wide portion being defined by a stepped interior surface area of the plate, and one of the guide bars having an end with a ramp face extending between the stepped surface area and the exposed guiding surface.

6. The chip card reader according to claim 1, further comprising:

a matching pair of codings associated to a particular operating voltage of the chip card reader.

7. A chip card reader, comprising:

a plug-in-socket;

an insertion slot for a chip card; and

a housing according to a PCMCIA format, the housing including;

a base plate and a cover plate extending between the plug-in socket and the insertion slot, wherein the base plate and the cover plate include a plastic part and a metallic part and the metallic part of the base plate is directly welded to the metallic part of the cover plate, and

a printed circuit board arranged between the base plate and the cover plate, the printed circuit board including a grounding clip which is in contact with at least one of the metallic part of the base plate and cover plate in an assembled state for the chip card reader.

8. The chip card reader according to claim 7, wherein the grounding clip contacts an interior metal surface portion of at least one of the base plate and the cover plate.

9. The chip card reader according to claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board further includes a chip card contacting unit comprising contacting elements, and wherein the chip card reader further comprises an intermediate plate arranged between the base plate and the cover plate.

10. The chip card reader according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate plate and the printed circuit board are of similar size and shape.

11. The chip card reader according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate plate includes plastic.

12. The chip card reader according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate plate covers a side of the printed circuit board from which the contacting elements of the chip card contacting unit protrude.

13. The chip card reader according to claim 9, further comprising:

an accommodation channel for the chip card, the accommodation channel being formed between the intermediate plate and at least one of the base plate and cover plate.

14. The chip card reader according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate plate includes a cut-out portion through which the contacting elements of the chip card contacting unit protrude.

15. The chip card reader according to claim 7, wherein the housing is provided with a physical coding matching with a corresponding physical coding of the printed circuit board.

16. The chip card reader according to claim 15, wherein the housing is provided with a projection or a recess matching with a corresponding recess or projection, respectively, of the printed circuit board.

17. A chip card reader, comprising:

a housing according to a PCMCIA format, the housing including;

a base plate and a cover plate to define an insertion slot for receiving a chip card, and wherein the base plate and the cover plate include a plastic part and a metallic part and at least one of the metallic parts of the base plate and cover plate include protrusions used to connect the metallic part of the base plate with the metallic part of the cover plate,

wherein the plastic part of at least one of the base plate and cover plate is molded around the metallic part of the respective cover plate and base plate; and

a plug-in-socket connected with an end of the housing.

18. The chip card reader of claim 17, wherein the metallic part is exposed along lateral edges of at least one of the base plate and cover plate.

19. The chip card reader of claim 17, wherein the metallic part of at least one of the base plate and cover plate includes at least one bent side strip directly welded to an opposing exposed lateral edge of an opposing plate.

20. The chip card reader of claim 17, wherein the metallic part of the base plate and the cover plate includes exposed end pieces covering the plug-in socket.

21. The chip card reader of claim 17, wherein at least one of the base plate and cover plate includes:

an internal card guiding structure comprising a pair of parallel guide bars extending along opposite longitudinal edges of the plate and having exposed guiding surfaces defining a common plane, and wherein the insertion slot for the chip card includes a narrow portion and a wide portion, the wide portion being defined by a stepped interior surface area of the plate, and one of the guide bars having an end with a ramp face extending between the stepped surface area and the exposed guiding surface.

22. The chip card reader of claim 21, wherein the housing is provided with a projection or a recess matching with a corresponding recess or projection, respectively, of the printed circuit board.

23. The chips card reader of claim 17, further comprising:

a matching pair of codings associated to a particular operating voltage of the chip card reader.

24. A chip card reader, comprising:

a housing according to a PCMCIA format, the housing including;

a base plate and a cover plate to define an insertion slot for receiving a chip card, and wherein the base plate and the cover plate include a plastic part and a metallic part and at least one of the metallic parts of the base plate and cover plate include protrusions used to connect the metallic part of the base plate with the metallic part of the cover plate, and

a printed circuit board arranged between the base plate and the cover plate, the printed circuit board including a grounding clip which is in contact with at least one of the metallic part of the base plate and cover plate in an assembled state for the chip card reader

a plug-in-socket connected with an end of the housing.

25. The chip card reader of claim 24, wherein the grounding clip contacts an interior metal surface portion of at least one of the base plate and the cover plate.

26. The chip card reader of claim 24, wherein the printed circuit board further includes a chip card contacting unit comprising contacting elements, and wherein the chip card reader further comprises an intermediate plate arranged between the base plate and the cover plate.

27. The chip card reader of claim 26, wherein the intermediate plate and the printed circuit board are of similar size and shape.

28. The chip card reader of claim 27, wherein the intermediate plate includes plastic.

29. The chip card reader of claim 26, wherein the intermediate plate covers a side of the printed circuit board from which the contacting elements of the chip card contacting unit protrude.

30. The chip card reader of claim 26, further comprising:

an accommodation channel for the chip card, the accommodation channel being formed between the intermediate plate and at least one of the base plate and cover plate.

31. The chip card reader of claim 26, wherein the intermediate plate includes a cut-out portion through which the contacting elements of the chip card contacting unit protrude.

32. The chip card reader of claim 26, wherein the housing is provided with a physical coding matching with a corresponding physical coding of the printed circuit board.