Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
  • G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
  • G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
  • G06K13/085—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for locking the inserted card
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/0013—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers
  • G06K7/0021—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/0013—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers
  • G06K7/0021—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
  • G06K7/003—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts means for pressing the connector contacts in the direction of the card contacts to assure trustworthy electrical connection between card and connector

Definitions

• This invention is related to electrical connectors and more particularly to an electrical connector for receiving a planar electronic identification module.
• SIMs Subscriber identification modules
• the SIMs are well known in the communications industry. They are small electronic cards, approximately 25 x 15 mm, which contain information to specifically identify a subscriber, for example a telephone subscriber. The SIMs are read by electronic devices such as telephones and allow a particular user to access the device.
• the object of the invention has been achieved by providing an electrical connector for receiving a planar electronic module, for example a SIM, having an insulative housing with an initial insertion slot at a first end to receive the card edge at an acute angle to the mating face and locking tabs at a second end remote from the first end to hold the card in a parallel orientation with respect to the mating face, whereby the module is first inserted into the first end then rotated toward the mating face, then transveresly slid along the mating face towards the locking tabs so as to achieve a wiping action and lock the module under the locking tabs.
• a planar electronic module for example a SIM
• Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of the electrical connector according to this invention.
• Figure 2 shows a top view of the electrical connector of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.
• Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view similar to that of Figure 3 taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and having a module inserted and rotated into a read position.
• Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of the electrical connector taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and having a module rotated into the read position and translated to the locked position.
• Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of an alternate embodiment of the electrical connector.
• Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of a second alternate embodiment of the electrical connector according to this invention.
• Figure 8 shows a top view of the electrical connector shown in Figure 7 with a module inserted.
• Figure 9 shows a cross sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8 as the slide bar makes initial contact with an inserted module.
• Figure 10 shows a cross sectional view similar to Figure 9 with the module in the read position and the bar in the locked position.
• Figure 11 shows a three dimensional view of a third alternate electrical connector according to this invention.
• Figure 12 shows a three dimensional view similar to that of Figure 11 with the slide bar in the module release position.
• the electrical connector 10 is formed from an insulative housing 12 having electrical contacts 14 inserted therein by conventional means.
• the insulative housing 12 is profiled to have two projections 24 extending from a stop wall 26.
• the electrical contacts 14 are mounted in the housing 12 in openings along the mating face 16.
• a module receiving slot 20 (Fig. 5) is formed by the space between the projection 24 and the mating face 16.
• Sidewalls 28 extend upwardly from the mating face 16 to form a module receiving cavity 30 in the connector 10.
• Locking tabs 18 are located at an end opposite from the projections 24 and extend from each of the sidewalls 28 towards the center of the housing 12.
• the contacts 14 are designed for surface mounting to a board and therefore are provided with surface mount tails 22.
• a module 32 such as a SIM is first inserted into the card receiving slot 20 at an acute angle to the mating face 16. It should be noted at this point that the module 32 is captive against the stop wall 26, the projections 24, and the mating face 16. It should also be noted that there is sufficient clearance for the module 32 to enter the card receiving cavity 30 without touching the locking tabs 18. At this point, the module 32 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow marked R towards its read position. The rotating motion causes the projections 24 to flex away from the mating face 16.
• Figure 4 shows the module 32 after rotation and in the read position being captivated between the projection 24, the mating face 16 and the stop wall 20.
• the module 32 may then be simply depressed along its top surface and transversely slid in the direction marked by the arrow T in Figure 4 towards the locking tabs 18 thus allowing the projections 24 to return to their relaxed position.
• Figure 5 shows the module 32 in its fully locked read position such that the module 32 is captivated by dimples 27 on the inner surface of the projections 24, locking tabs 18, and the mating face 16. It should also be noted that a wiping action has occurred along the pads of the module 32 as it was transversely slid in the direction of the arrow T.
• FIG. 6 shows a first alternate embodiment of the electrical connector 10' having the same housing 12 with the addition of a slide assist spring 40 which is disposed at an end of the connector adjacent to the projections 24.
• the slide assist spring 40 serves to aid in insertion of a module 32 into the connector. It should be recalled from Figure 5 that insertion of the module 32 into the connector 10 requires a simple transverse sliding motion of the module 32 towards the locking tabs 18.
• the slide assist spring 40 serves to bias the module 32 towards the locking tabs 24 in order to overcome the initial frictional force which holds the it in contact with the mating face 16.
• the alternate insulative housing 112 features a wall 120 at one end of a module receiving cavity 130 and similar projections 24 at the opposite end of the card receiving cavity 130.
• a slide bar 50 is also provided which extends over the open side of the module receiving cavity 130 and around the sidewalls 128 of the insulative housing 112.
• the slide bar 50 is profiled to grip the side walls 128 with arms 53 each having dimples 54 (Fig. 8) formed on inner surfaces thereof.
• a depression 51 is formed in the center of the slide bar approximately half way between each of the side walls
• the slide bar 50 is designed to slidably engage the side walls and be movable along a desired length of the side walls 128. As best seen in Figure 8, the slide bar 50 is in its open position when dimples 54 are engaged into detents 52 of the side walls 128. At this point, a module 32 may be inserted under the projection 24 at an acute angle to the mating face 16 (Fig. 9) . The slide bar 50 is then urged in the direction of the arrow T' until it engages the module 32 (Fig. 9) and then is further urged in the direction T' such that it presses the module 32 into engagement with electrical contacts 14 and the mating face 16 (Fig. 10) .
• Dimples 55 will engage detents 56 of the side walls 128 in order to lock the slide bar 50 into a fully mated position (Fig. 10) .
• the depression 51 is now located in the center of the module 32 in order to depress its pads on to the electrical contacts 14 for a better electrical connection.
• this embodiment of the connector 110 is more suitable for applications where less wipe is desired between the contacts and the module in order to minimize the wear of the pads. A minimized wiping action will occur as the slide bar 50 is urged to the locked position.
• Figure 11 shows a third alternate embodiment of the electrical connector 10 ' ' having a slide bar 50'' to assist releasing the module (not shown here) from the latching mechanism 100.
• the slide bar 50' ' is equipped with a pair of release projections 101 disposed along its top surface and extending towards the mating face 16 ' ' of the housing 12' '
• the latching mechanism 100 is located on the latching end 104 of the insulative housing 12 ' ' .
• the mechanism 100 is profiled to have a main body 102 and a pair of latching arms 106 extending from the body 102 along and spaced from the latching end 104.
• a module is insertable into the insertion groove 20' ' at an acute angle to the mating face 16' ' and then rotatable toward the mating face 16 into latching engagement with the latching mechanism 100.
• the slide bar must initially be in an open position, that is to the far left side as viewed in Fig. 11, in order to insert the module, but then may be moved along the side walls 28'' without affecting the latched module.
• the slide bar 50 ' ' is slid to its release position (Fig. 12) . In this position the release projections 101 urge the latching arms 106 toward the latching end 104 to release the module from the latching arms 106.
• the advantage of this invention is that it provides a simple easily matable and unmatable electrical connector that offers a wiping action between the contacts and the pads of a module.
• An additional advantage of this invention is that it provides a module connector having relatively easy mating and unmating actions.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
• Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 1997
  • 1997-09-24 EP EP97944380A patent/EP0928457A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1997-09-24 AU AU45889/97A patent/AU4588997A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-09-24 WO PCT/US1997/016981 patent/WO1998013784A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-09-24 JP JP51582498A patent/JP2001505681A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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