U.S. patent application number 09/726034 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-31 for smart card reader.
Invention is credited to Reichardt, Manfred, Schuder, Bernd.
Application Number | 20010002034 09/726034 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7853239 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010002034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reichardt, Manfred ; et
al. |
May 31, 2001 |
Smart card reader
Abstract
A smart-card reader that includes a base, a first group of
contact elements, a cover, a second group of contact elements and
connecting means is disclosed. The smart-card reader can be readily
soldered into a printed circuit board of a customer to be used in
an apparatus in which the smart card reader is located.
Inventors: |
Reichardt, Manfred;
(Weinsberg, DE) ; Schuder, Bernd; (Schwaigern,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME COMISKY & MCCAULEY LLP
THE FARRAGUT BUILDING
SUITE 1000
900 17TH STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
7853239 |
Appl. No.: |
09/726034 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09726034 |
Nov 30, 2000 |
|
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09217618 |
Dec 22, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/441 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/0021 20130101;
G06K 7/0034 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/441 |
International
Class: |
G06K 007/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 1997 |
DE |
197 57 626.5 |
Claims
1. Smart-card reader comprising: a base portion (4), a first group
of contact elements (6, 66) fixedly mounted in said base (4), a
cover (3) placed on top of said base (4), and a second group of
contact elements (5, 55) fixedly mounted in said cover (3).
2. Smart-card reader of claim 1, wherein each of the contact
elements of each of said groups comprises a termination end adapted
to be connected to an electrical circuit and a contacting end
adapted to contact one of the card contacts formed by said smart
card, and wherein the contacting ends of both groups face towards
each other.
3. Smart-card reader of claim 2 wherein the base (4) is fixed to
the cover (3) forming a card receiving slot (8) in the area in
which said contacting ends face each other, and into which a smart
card (2) can be selectively inserted for either contacting the
contact elements mounted in the cover and/or the contact elements
mounted in the base (4).
4. Smart-card reader of claim 3, wherein connecting means (7) are
provided for the termination ends of the contact elements in the
cover and the base, respectively.
5. Smart-card reader of claim 3, wherein the termination ends of
the contact elements in the cover are extended by said connecting
means (7) to a level of the termination ends of the contact
elements in the base 4.
6. Smart card reader of claim 4, wherein the connecting means
comprise a printed circuit board (7) having a front end and a rear
end and extending from a front end to a rear end of the cover an
beyond the rear end of the cover, wherein the termination ends of
the contact elements of the first group extend upwardly while the
termination ends of the contact elements of the second group extend
downwardly, wherein said upwardly extending termination ends are
connected to conductive paths of said printed circuit board (7)
which lead to said printed circuit board rear end which extends
beyond said cover portion rear end, and wherein pins (71) connected
to said conductive path and extend downwardly to the level of the
termination ends of said contact elements of the base portion.
7. Smart-card reader of claim 1, wherein an end position switch (9)
is located in the cover or the base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] I. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a smart-card reader and in
particular to a smart-card reader which is useful for different
applications.
[0003] II. Description of the Related Art
[0004] DE-39 31 501 A1 discloses a smart card or chip card reader,
i.e. a contacting apparatus comprising a contact element support or
frame within which contact elements are fixedly mounted. A cover
can be mounted on said contact element support, so as to form
together with said frame an insert slot into which a smart card can
be inserted into a card reading position. The cover is not required
if a surface is provided by the apparatus in which the smart-card
reader is used, a surface which assumes the function of the cover.
In the card reading position the contact elements of the smart-card
reader, which are also sometimes called reading contact elements,
engage or contact so-called card contacts which are formed on at
least one surface of said smart card. When a smart card is inserted
into its reading position in the smart-card reader, then
information stored in a chip located in the smart card can be
read-out. Smart card readers can be installed into certain
apparatuses, for instance a television set so as to he used
together with a smart card for the control of the operation of such
an apparatus.
[0005] If different applications or usages are to be provided by an
apparatus, for instance by a television set, then it is presently
the common practice to assign to each of the applications or usages
a dedicated smart-card reader. That is, a separate smart-card
readers with smart card receiving means are provided for each
card.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
smart-card reader which allows its use for at least two
applications or usages for the apparatus in which the smart-card
reader is installed. Thus, space in the apparatus in which the
smart-card reader is used, is saved, and the cost of installing
readers is reduced.
[0007] It is another object of the invention to allow for a less
expensive production of a smart-card reader.
[0008] In accordance with another object of the invention a
smart-card reader is provided which can be readily soldered into a
printed circuit board of a customer to be used in an apparatus in
which the smart card reader is to be based.
[0009] It is a still further object of the invention to provide a
duplex smart-card reader into which smart cards can be inserted
with at least two different orientations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In accordance with the present invention a smart-card reader
comprises a base portion or base, a first group of contact elements
fixedly mounted in said base portion, a cover portion or cover
placed on top of said base portion and a second group of contact
elements fixedly mounted in said cover portion.
[0011] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention the
contact elements of each of said groups of contact elements
comprise a termination end or portion adapted to be connected to an
electrical circuit and a contacting end adapted to contact one of
the card contacts formed by said smart card, and wherein the
contacting ends of both groups face towards each other.
[0012] In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention the
base is fixed to the cover forming a card receiving or card insert
slot in the area in which said contacting ends face each other A
smart card is adapted to be selectively inserted into said insert
slot for contacting either the contact elements mounted in the
cover and/or the contact elements mounted in the base.
[0013] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention
connecting means are provided for the termination ends or portions
of the contact elements either in the cover or in the base.
[0014] Preferably, the termination ends of the contact elements in
the cover are extended by said connecting means to a level of the
termination ends of the contact elements in the base.
[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention the connecting
means comprises a printed circuit board having a front end and a
rear end and extending from a front end of the cover to a rear end
of the cover and beyond said rear end of the cover forming an
overhanging portion. The termination ends of the contact elements
of the first group extend upwardly from an upper surface of the
cover, while the termination ends of the contact elements of the
second group extend downwardly from a bottom surface of the base.
The upwardly extending termination ends of the contact elements in
the cover are connected to conductive paths of said printed circuit
board. Said conductive paths lead to the rear end of the printed
circuit board, i.e. the overhanging portion in which pins are
provided which are connected with their one ends to said conductive
paths and extend downwardly with their other ends to the level of
the termination ends of the contact elements in the base.
[0016] In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention an
end position switch is located in the cover or the base, preferably
in the cover. Said end position switch comprises two contact
elements fixedly mounted in the base or cover.
[0017] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention a
smart-card reader is provided which comprises a base with contact
elements having termination ends forming soldering contacts adapted
to be soldered into a printed circuit board and projecting away
from the bottom surface of said base. The bottom surface is
opposite to an upper surface of the base adjacent to which the
contacting ends or portions of the contact elements are located.
The smart-card reader further comprises a cover in substance
similar to said base and also carrying contact elements with
termination ends forming soldering contacts and projecting away
from an upper surface of the cover which is opposite to a bottom
surface of the cover adjacent to which the contacting ends or
portions of the contact elements are located. The cover is placed
on the base such that the bottom surface of the cover and the upper
surface of the base (close to which the contacting ends of the
contact elements are located) face towards each other thus forming
said card insert slot.
[0018] Means are provided to connect the termination ends of all
the contact elements including the contact elements forming the end
position switch such that the entire smart-card reader can be
readily connected with a customer circuit board. Said connecting
means electrically connect all contact element termination ends of
said first or said second group, such that all terminations of said
contact elements are one side of the smart-card reader.
[0019] Generally speaking, any kind of galvanic connection can be
provided between the contact elements in the cover and/or base, so
that they can be readily connected to the customer circuit board.
Instead of connecting means in the form of a rigid circuit board
with a pin arrangement as described, also a polyflex connection can
be provided between the contact elements in the cover and the
customer circuit board.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The features, objects, and advantages of the invention will
become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below
when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a smart-card reader of an
embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the smart-card reader of
FIG. 1 from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the smart-card reader
of FIG. 1 from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view in substance
along line V-V in FIG. 1, however, with the circuit board being
deleted;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a customer circuit board into
which the smart-card reader of the invention can be soldered.
[0026] FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the smart-card reader 1 in
accordance with the invention. In FIG. 1 a smart card 2 is shown
schematically as being inserted into said chip-card reader 1 in the
direction of arrow B (FIG. 1).
[0027] FIG. 2 shows that the smart-card reader 1 comprises a first
or upper portion 3 and a second or lower portion 4. The upper
portion 3 will be called below a cover 3 and the lower portion 4
will be called below a base 4. Preferably, the cover 3 is identical
or very similar to the base 4 and is just turned by 180.degree. and
placed on top of the base 4.
[0028] FIG. 2 and 5 show a first group of two times four, i.e.
eight reading contact elements 5, 55 is fixedly mounted in the
cover 3. In FIG. 2 the contact elements 55 are behind (left in FIG.
4) the contact elements 5. Similarly, in the base 4 there are also
eight contact elements 6, 66 fixedly mounted forming a second group
of contact elements. The contact elements of each group are
arranged in two sub groups of each four contact elements.
[0029] For instance FIG. 4 shows each of the identical contact
elements 5, 55; 6, 66 as comprising a termination end or portion
56, 57; 67, 68 which is angled by about 90.degree. with respect to
a substantially longitudinal portion 84. The longitudinal portion
84 forms a contacting portion or end in the form of a cusp 82. The
cusp 82 continues and ends in an abutment portion 88 which can abut
at an abutment surface 86, 87 formed by said cover and base,
respectively. The contact element forms detent means in the form of
a snap arm 85 stamped out of the material of the contact element.
Said snap arm 84 co-operates with respective detent means of the
base and cover, respectively, for instance with a snap in surface
95 shown in FIG. 4 for the contact element 5.
[0030] Of the first group of contact elements 5, 55 termination
ends 56, 57 are bent upwardly (FIG. 2 and 4). The contact elements
5, of which the termination ends 56 are shown, from a first sub
group 52 and the contact elements 55 of which the termination ends
57 are shown from a second sub group 53 of the first group (FIG.
1).
[0031] Of the second group of contact elements 6, 66 the
termination ends 67, 68 are bent downwardly (FIG. 2 and 4) The
contact elements 6 of which the termination ends 67 are shown from
a first sub group 62 (FIG. 2) and the contact elements 66 of which
the termination ends 68 are shown form a second sub group 63 of the
second group of contact elements.
[0032] A connecting means 7 in the form of a printed circuit board
having a front end and a rear end extends from a front end of the
cover 3 to a rear end of the cover 3 and beyond the rear end of the
cover 3 forming an overhanging portion 79 (FIG. 3).
[0033] The termination ends 56, 57 of the contact elements of the
first group extend upwardly, while the termination ends 67, 68 of
the contact elements of the second group extend downwardly. The
upwardly extending termination ends 56, 57 of the contact elements
are connected to conductive paths 105 of the printed circuit board
7. Said conductive paths 105 lead to the overhang portion 79 which
extends beyond said cover portion rear end. There, pins 71 are
connected to said conductive paths 105 and extend downwardly to the
level of the termination ends 67, 68 of the contact elements 6, 66
of the base 4. Thus, the termination of all the contact elements
(including the contact elements of an end position switch if
present) end at substantially the same level so that they all can
be soldered at the same time into a customer circuit board 10 shown
in FIG. 5.
[0034] FIG. 5 discloses a top plan view of the customer circuit
board 10 without a smart card reader yet being mounted thereon Pins
71 in the overhanging portion 79 of the circuit board 7 are adapted
to be inserted into holes C1 through C8 of the customer circuit
board 10. This group of holes C1 through C8 is referred to by
reference numeral 51 in FIG. 5. Thus, the first group of contact
elements 5, 55 are connected to the circuit board 10.
[0035] The termination ends of the contact elements 6, 61 mounted
in the base 4 extend downwardly like the soldering pins 71 in FIG.
1 and 2 and are adapted to extend through the holes of a group of
holes 61. Group 61 forms sub groups 62' and 63' as shown in FIG. 5
corresponding to the sub groups 62, 63 of the contact elements 6,
66. Into the holes 101 of the customer circuit board 10 respective
mounting pins 106 of the base 4 can be inserted as is shown in FIG.
5 to fixedly mount the base 4 on board 10.
[0036] The cover 3 has an upper surface 31 and a lower surface 32
beyond which the cusps 82 of the contact elements 5, 55 extend. The
base 4 has an upper surface 41 and a lower surface 42. The cusps 82
of the contact elements 6, 66 in the base 4 extend beyond said
upper surface 41. The lower surface 32 and the upper surface 41
form a card insert slot 8.
[0037] Both the cover and the base (see FIG. 2) have U-shaped side
walls 34 and 44, respectively forming U-shaped surfaces 33, 43
which face towards each other and are preferably adhesively bonded
together.
[0038] FIG. 1 shows an end position switch having two contact
elements located in the base 4.
[0039] Both the cover and base have cut out portions 111 as is
shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] In FIG. 1 reference numerals 21 and 22 refer to each one
smart card contact out of two groups of card contacts of the smart
card 2. These contacts 21, 22 can actually not be seen in the
situation of FIG. 1. A smart card has typically its card contacts
(like 21 or 22) on only one surface. If such a smart card is
assumed to have been inserted in FIG. 1, then e.g. the card
contacts 21 face upwardly. if the card is turned by 180.degree.
then the card contacts would face downwardly, i.e the card contacts
would be there referred to by 22. Thus, the card contacts 22 are
those which would be for instance contacted by the contact elements
located in the base 4 if the smart card 2 is inserted with the card
contacts 22 facing (see FIG. 2) downwardly.
[0041] For reasons of simplicity only four card contacts 21, 22 are
shown for each group of contact elements, even though in the
embodiments shown there are eight contact elements in each the base
and the cover.
* * * * *