Patent ID: 6354881
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
Apparatus for connection to a smart card that has a card lower surface with contact pads thereon, comprising:a housing that includes walls forming a card-receiving slot that lies in a horizontal plane and that has front and rear ends and laterally opposite sides, with said slot having a forwardly-opening front end for receiving the smart card by rearward sliding of the card along the slot; a plurality of contacts having fastening parts fixed to said housing, pad-engaging parts having upper surfaces for engaging said smart card contact pads, and controlled contact parts that can move vertically to urge said pad-engaging parts upward and downward; a rocker with a control portion that has laterally opposite ends and that is pivotally mounted on said housing about a laterally-extending first axis, said control portion having a rear part lying in a rear portion of said slot to be deflected downward and primarily out of said slot by said card, and said control portion being coupled to said controlled contact parts to at least release said pad-engaging parts to move upward.