Abstract:
A PCMCIA smart card reader with no protruding portion, with a stable mechanical design, allowing space for additional functions to be included in the PCMCIA card and that eases the insertion of a smart card. A thin support is formed between a thin upper section and a lower section of the PCMCIA smart card reader at an opening forming a smart card slot. The support is outside the smart card slot, but positioned within the PCMCIA slot and is preferably an integrated part of a PCMCIA card top cover. Since the support guides the smart card laterally at the opening of the smart card slot, only a small portion of the smart card has to be inserted into the PCMCIA card. The limited insertion of the smart card and the location, of contacts for interfacing with the smart card in the thin upper section of the smart card reader, creates space for other functions to be included in the PCMCIA card, for example, a modem. The smart card insertion is eased by a removable extension supporting. the smart card vertically during the insertion of the smart card. The removable extension may be a cable connection plug.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a smart card reader in general. More particularly, the present invention relates to a smart card reader built into a PCMCIA card (also called a PC Card). 
     Consumer use of credit cards, identification cards for giving access to certain premises, and bank cards, also referred to as “cash cards”, etc., has steadily increased in recent years. This increased consumer activity, combined with advances in the portable computer market, has resulted in a significant increase in the use of a new type of information device, commonly referred to as “smart cards”. Despite being the same size as a conventional credit card, which stores information on a magnetic strip, the smart card stores significantly more information than the credit card by using an integrated microprocessor chip located within the body of the smart card. The microprocessor chip enables the smart card to store and secure a wide variety of information, including monetary value for retail and vending machine use, personal information such as medical and healthcare records, and so forth. Depending on the microprocessor chip capabilities, new information and/or applications may also be added in the field. 
     In addition to storing more information, smart cards are more reliable, perform multiple functions, and utilize high security mechanisms such as advanced encryption to increase security. This ability for increased security is expected to be a significant factor in making the smart card an integral part of retail trade via the Internet. All of the storage and security advantages of the smart card have contributed to an increased growth in smart card applications. 
     Smart cards are often used in applications requiring communication via a telephone line modem. 
     Smart card readers are used to communicate with the smart card. When the smart card is inserted in the smart card reader, the smart card reader reads and writes information from and to the smart card through smart card contacts that connect to terminal points on the smart card surface. The terminal points are connected to the microprocessor chip inside the smart card. The smart card has to be accurately aligned with the smart card reader in order to assure a reliable electrical connection with the terminal points. In addition to the smart card contacts, the smart card reader also includes electronic components and often a microprocessor that interfaces with the smart card. Smart card readers can be separate devices connected to the serial port of a personal computer or can be built into other equipment such as bank terminals, personal computer keyboards, or modems, etc. 
     Portable computers often have one or two expansion slots standardized by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (“PCMCIA”). PCMCIA cards (also called PC Cards) can be inserted into these slots to expand the functionality of the computer. Extra memory, modems, GSM adapters, ethernet adapters and smart cards readers are examples of PCMCIA cards. A PCMCIA card also has the same width and length as a credit card, but is thicker, usually 5 mm. Several functions can also be combined into the same PCMCIA card. 
     Smart card functionality can be added to a portable computer by inserting a PCMCIA smart card reader into a free expansion slot. Since smart cards are often used in applications requiring communication by a modem, a LAN, or an ISDN adapter, the limited number of available expansion slots makes it highly desirable to combine the PCMCIA smart card reader with a modem or other function. 
     However, since the length and width of a smart card is the same as the length and width of a PCMCIA card, the mechanical realization of a PCMCIA smart card reader is difficult. When a slot is formed in the PCMCIA card for inserting the smart card, it separates the PCMCIA card into an upper section and a lower section. Because the width of the smart card is equal to the width of the PCMCIA card, there is no room for a mechanical support between the upper and lower sections within the specified dimensions of a PCMCIA card. 
     This lack of available space for a mechanical support between the upper portion and lower portion can be seen in the prior art PCMCIA smart card readers illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a prior art smart card reader  100  has a length and width that is equal to a length and width of a smart card  102 . A slot  104  for receiving the smart card  102  is formed by an upper section  106  and a lower section  108  of smart card reader  100 . As illustrated in FIG. 1B, upper section  106  is thinner than lower section  108 . A smart card contact (not shown) is located along lower section  108 , at an innermost end  112  of slot  104 . When the smart card  102  is fully inserted into slot  104  of smart card reader  100 , the terminal points on the smart card surface come in contact with the smart card contact of smart card reader  100 . 
     The type of smart card reader illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B has no mechanical support between the front end of upper section  106  and lower section  108 , making the long unsupported upper section  106  of the smart card reader weak. The function of the upper section  106  is to push the smart card against the smart card contact to assure electrical contact. However, when the smart card is to be inserted, it is not guided or aligned laterally by the smart card reader itself. Only the guides inside the PCMCIA slot, which are meant to guide the PCMCIA card, will guide the smart card. Since the guides are located at some distance from the slot opening within the PCMCIA card slot, the smart card must be inserted a significant distance within the PCMCIA card slot before receiving sufficient support by the guides. The long smart card slot  104  occupies a large amount of space within the PCMCIA card, limiting the room for additional functions. 
     The type of smart card reader illustrated in FIGS. 1C and 1D adds mechanical support between the upper and lower sections  106  and  108  including guiding for the smart card insertion. However, since the PCMCIA and smart card standards stipulate the same width of  1 F both cards, the support cannot be placed within the standardized dimensions of the PCMCIA card without intruding within the space required for inserting the smart card within the PCMCIA card. Instead, a support  114  is placed such that the length of the PCMCIA card is increased, which causes smart card reader  100  to extend outside of the PCMCIA card slot of the computer device, making smart card reader  100  prone to physical damage during transport of the computer device. As a result, smart card reader  100  must be removed when transporting the computer device, which tends to be annoying given the portable nature of a lap top computer device. 
     In both types of prior art smart card readers illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D, a printed circuit board, (“PCB”), (not shown) is positioned along lower thicker section  108  of smart card reader  100 . The PCB houses both electronic components for the smart card reader as well as the smart card contact. The electronic components and the smart card contact are soldered to the bottom side of the circuit board with the smart card contact arising from a hole in the PCB. When inserting the smart card  102 , it rides along the top surface of the PCB. Therefore, only the bottom side of the PCB can be used for mounting components and the available space is further limited by the smart card contact. Thus, room for additional functions within the PCMCIA card is very limited. The hole in the PCB for the smart card contact is a further obstacle when adding modem functionality, which requires a high voltage insulation barrier to the telephone line connection. 
     Another problem in PCMCIA smart card readers is that the PCMCIA card slot is normally located at the side of the computer. It is therefore difficult for a user to see the slot in which the smart card is to be inserted, making insertion of the smart card difficult. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a PCMCIA smart card reader that is mechanically stable and still fits entirely within a PCMCIA slot. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a PCMCIA smart card reader that more efficiently uses the available space inside the PCMCIA card to allow additional functions to be included. 
     It is another further object of the present invention to provide a PCMCIA smart card reader that makes insertion of a smart card less difficult. 
     The objective of realizing a stable mechanical design without any protruding part from the computer is achieved by forming a very thin support between the upper and lower sections of the smart card reader at the opening of the smart card slot, where some lateral space normally is available inside the PCMCIA card slot. The support is preferably an integrated part of the PCMCIA top cover which usually is made of 0.2 mm stainless steel. The support between the upper and lower sections of the smart card reader also serves to guide the smart card laterally. Therefore, according to the invention,. there is provided a smart card reading apparatus that fits inside a PCMCIA slot in a computing device. The smart card reading apparatus includes upper and lower sections having at a front end an opening to form a smart card slot for insertion of a smart card, and a lateral smart card guide member located close to the front end outside of the smart card slot, so that the smart card reading apparatus is positionable substantially within the PCMCIA slot. According to the invention, there is also provided a smart card reading apparatus to fit inside a PCMCIA slot in a computing device that includes upper and lower sections having at a front end an opening to form a smart card slot for insertion of a smart card, and a smart card guide member located adjacent the front end outside the smart card slot and positionable inside the PCMCIA slot. By being “positionable substantially within” the PCMCIA slot as noted above, the smart card reading apparatus is considered to be positioned entirely within the PCMCIA slot, or in such a way that there may be some minor extension, such as those due to manufacturing tolerances, but with no protruding parts, such as those interfering with transport of a computer device in which the smart card reading apparatus is inserted. 
     The objective of more efficient usage of the available space inside the PCMCIA card is achieved by the above described design, which allows that only a small portion of the smart card is inserted into the PCMCIA card, and by integrating the smart card contact with the thin upper section of the smart card reader instead of the thicker lower section as in the prior art. Therefore, according to the invention, there is provided a smart card reading apparatus to fit inside a PCMCIA slot in a computing device having a thin upper section and a lower section containing electronic components for the smart card reader. The upper and lower sections have, at a front end, an opening to form a smart card slot for insertion of a smart card. The smart card reading apparatus also has an interfacing means for communicating with a smart card inserted into the smart card slot arranged in the thin upper section. 
     The objective of easing the insertion of the smart card is achieved by adding to the above described design, which guides the smart card insertion laterally, a removable extension to the smart card reader forming a horizontal support surface for the smart card. The removable extension is preferably integrated with a connector for an additional function in the PCMCIA card, e.g. the telephone cable connector of a modem function. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
     FIG. 1A is a top view of a Prior Art PCMCIA smart card reader. 
     FIG. 1B is a side view of the Prior Art PCMCIA smart card reader of FIG.  1 A. 
     FIG. 1C is a top view of a Prior Art PCMCIA smart card reader. 
     FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional side view of the Prior Art PCMCIA smart card reader of FIG. 1C, taken along section line  1 D— 1 D. 
     FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of a PCMCIA smart card reader according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional side view of a top section of the PCMCIA smart card reader of FIG. 2A, taken along section line  2 B— 2 B. 
     FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional side view of a reading member of the PCMCIA smart card reader of FIG. 2A taken along section line  2 C— 2 C. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fully assembled PCMCIA smart card reader according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating insertion of a smart card into the PCMCIA smart card reader. 
     FIG. 4 is an exaggerated side view of a reading member of a PCMCIA smart card reader according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an insertion of a fully assembled PCMCIA smart card reader according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention within a card slot of a computer. 
     FIG. 5B is a partial perspective view of a guide positioned in a computer device. 
     FIG. 5C is a partial perspective view illustrating insertion of a PCMCIA smart card reader according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention within a card slot of a computer device. 
     FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a removable extension of a PCMCIA smart card reader according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6B is a lateral side view of the removable extension of FIG.  6 A. 
     FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a removable extension of a PCMCIA smart card reader according to an another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7B is a lateral side view of the removable extension of FIG.  7 A. 
     FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a removable extension of a PCMCIA smart card reader according to an another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8B is a lateral side view of the removable extension of FIG.  8 A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     A PCMCIA smart card reader  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated in FIG.  2 A. PCMCIA smart card reader  20  includes a label  21 , an upper section  31  including a top cover  22  and a reading member  23 , a lower section  32  including a printed circuit board  24  and a bottom cover  26 , all having corresponding rectangular configurations. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3, label  21  is placed on top cover  22 , and top cover  22  and bottom cover  26  are fitted together when PCMCIA smart card reader  20  is fully assembled, to enclose reading member  23  and printed circuit board  24 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C, both top cover  22  and reading member  23  include matching front ends  25  and  27 , respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, front end  25  of top cover  22  includes a rounded inner portion  29 , while, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, front end  27  of reading member  23  includes a rounded outer portion  30 . Rounded inner portion  29  of top cover  22  is formed to receive rounded outer portion  30  of reading member  23  so that front end  27  of reading member  23  is fittingly engaged with top cover  22  when PCMCIA smart card reader  20  is fully assembled. Other methods and structures for fixing reading member  23  to top cover  22  are also possible. 
     Reading member  23 , as illustrated in an exaggerated dimensional form in FIG. 4, includes mechanical contact springs  38  for making electrical contact to the termination points on the surface of the smart card. However, in cases where the smart card uses other methods of reading from it and writing to it, such as inductive or capacitive coupling, radio waves or light, reading member  23  must incorporate a corresponding transducer. FIG. 4 is an exaggerated view in that, while reading member  23  has generally small dimensions, for example a thickness of  2 mm and a length of  30 mm, the dimensional features of reading member  23  are exaggerated for illustrative purposes only. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2A, printed circuit board  24  includes electronic circuits and/or components  33  for both the smart card reader and for possible other functions. For example, in addition to having electronic circuits and/or components for smart card reading, PCMCIA smart card reader  20  also includes electronic circuits and/or components (not shown) for a modem, or other electronic communication device. Electronic circuits and/or components  33  of FIG. 4 are intended for illustrative purposes only, and the actual circuits and layout will vary, depending on the extent of the electronic features included in the PCMCIA card. A connector  34  to connect to the PCMCIA slot in a computer is soldered at one end, and the contact springs  38  of reading member  23  are soldered to soldering pads  36  positioned in a center portion of printed circuit board  24 . The front portion of the upper surface of the printed circuit board  24  is free from electrical components and forms the lower floor of the smart card slot. The portion behind the reading member  23  of the upper surface of the printed circuit board  24  as well as the lower surface is available for mounting of electronic circuits and/or components  33 . A female connecting portion  40  is located at a front end of the lower surface of printed circuit board  24  for connecting with an input/output connector, such as a telephone connector, which will be described later. 
     A front end  42  of bottom cover  26  includes an upper surface  41 , and defines a substantially rectangular cut-out portion  43 . Female connecting portion  40  of printed circuit board  24  is inserted in cut-out portion  43  when PCMCIA smart card reader  20  is fully assembled. 
     Flanges  44  located at each corner of front end  25  of top cover  22  extend downward and are inserted within corresponding slot portions  45  of bottom cover  26  to secure the front end of top cover  22  to bottom cover  26 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, flanges  44  are integral with top cover  22  and mechanically support upper section  31  at the front end of PCMCIA smart card reader  20 . An opening  46  for insertion of a smart card is formed by flanges  44  and upper surface  41  of front end  42  of bottom cover  26 . Opening  46  has a width extending between flanges  44  that is slightly larger than a smart card  48 . For example, since smart card  48  typically has a width of 54.0 mm, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the width of opening  46  is approximately equal to 54.2 mm. The flanges  44  serve two purposes, they guide the smart card  48  laterally and they mechanically support the thin upper section  31 . 
     Both PCMCIA cards and smart cards have a standardized width of 54.0 mm. Since the distance between the flanges  44  has to exceed the smart card width, the flanges cannot be arranged within the standardized width of the PCMCIA card. However, as will be described later, there is extra width available at the opening of a PCMCIA slot which is utilized in the present invention. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2A, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, flanges  44  have a width W that is approximately equal to 3 mm and are preferably very thin so as to enable opening  46  to be approximately equal to the width of smart card  48 . For example, flanges  44  have a thickness d 1 , corresponding to a thickness d 2  of top cover  22 , which in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is approximately equal to 0.2 mm. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, an inside width extending between inside portions  35  of flanges  44  is approximately equal to 54.2 mm and an outside width extending between outside portions  37  of flanges  44  is approximately equal to 54.6 mm. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 4, contact springs  38  of reading member  23  extend toward front end  27  of reading member  23  and are exposed along a bottom portion of reading member  23  to make contact with terminating points of smart card  48  when smart card  48  is inserted within PCMCIA smart card reader  20 . Contact springs  38  are soldered to printed circuit board  24  at soldering points  49  to electrically connect reading member  23  to printed circuit board  24  at soldering pads  36 . Tabs  50  (only one tab is shown) located at a back portion  52  of reading member  23  are inserted in corresponding holes  53  located on printed circuit board  24  to position and fasten reading member  23  onto printed circuit board  24 . 
     By fittingly engaging front end  27  of reading member  23  within inner portion  29  of top cover  22  and by mechanically supporting upper section  31  through flanges  44 , reading member  23  can be located in the upper section  31  of the PCMCIA card. Thus additional space is created along printed circuit board  24  to enable additional electronic functions to be included in the PCMCIA card. Further space is created by limiting the distance that smart card  48  is required to be inserted into PCMCIA smart card reader, which is made possible by the described guiding by flanges  44 . 
     The insertion of PCMCIA smart card reader  20  into an electronic device is illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C. PCMCIA smart card reader  20  is inserted into a PCMCIA card slot  54  that is located along a side portion of an outer case  55  of a portable or lap-top computer  56 . When PCMCIA smart card reader  20  is fully inserted in card slot  54 , connector  34  comes in contact with connectors (not shown) within portable computer  56  to provide an electrical connection between PCMCIA smart card reader  20  and portable computer  56 . PCMCIA smart card reader  20  is removed from card slot  54  by depressing an eject button  59  located within the vicinity of card slot  54  of portable computer  56 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 5C, when PCMCIA smart card reader  20  is inserted in card slot  54 , PCMCIA smart card reader  20  is guided by guides  58  located within PCMCIA card slot  54  of portable computer  56 . As illustrated in FIG. 5B, a space  60  is left between guides  58  and outer end  62  of card slot  54  and the width of the PCMCIA slot is somewhat larger than the width of the PCMCIA card. Therefore, it is possible to position the described flanges  44  close to the opening of the PCMCIA slot, outside ends of guides  58 , but still within the PCMCIA slot. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a removable extension  61  is used to assist a user in locating opening  46  when inserting smart card  48  into PCMCIA smart card reader  20 . Removable extension  61  can, for example, be inserted within cut-out portion  43  of front end  42  of bottom cover  26  of PCMCIA smart card reader  20 . During transport of portable computer  56 , removable extension  61  can easily be removed while PCMCIA smart card reader  20  remains within card slot  54 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6B, when removable extension  61  is inserted within PCMCIA smart card reader  20 , a top portion  63  of removable extension  61  is aligned at opening  46  with upper surface  41  of front end  42  of lower section  32 . As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, removable extension  61  guides smart card  48  by aligning smart card  48  vertically with opening  46 , so that removable extension  61 , in addition to flanges  44 , make insertion of smart card  48  within PCMCIA smart card reader  20  easier. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, removable extension  61  may be integrated with an input\output connector  64 , such as a connector for a telephone line cable. Input\output connector  64  is inserted within female connecting portion  40  at the front end of printed circuit board  24  of PCMCIA smart card reader  20 . As illustrated in FIG. 7B, when input\output connector  64  is inserted within PCMCIA smart card reader  20 , a top portion  65  of input\output connector  64  is aligned with upper surface  41  of front end  42  of lower section  32 . As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, input\output cable  64  guides smart card  48  by aligning smart card  48  vertically with opening  46 , so that input\output connector  64 , in addition to flanges  44 , make insertion of smart card  48  within PCMCIA smart card reader  20  easier. 
     Certain applications require the use of more than one input/output cable. As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, removable extension  61  may be integrated with more than one input\output connector. For example, two input\output connectors  66 , such as one connector for a telephone line cable and one connector for LAN cable may be used. Input\output cables  66  are inserted within corresponding female connecting portions (not shown) at the front end of printed circuit board  24  of PCMCIA smart card reader  20 . As illustrated in FIG. 8B, when input\output connectors  66  are inserted within PCMCIA smart card reader  20 , a top portion  67  of input\output connectors  66  is aligned with upper surface  41  of front end  42  of lower section  32 . As a result, as illustrated FIG. 8A, input\output connectors  66  guide smart card  48  by aligning smart card vertically with opening  46 , so that input\output cables  66 , in addition to flanges  44 , make insertion of smart card  48  within PCMCIA smart card reader  20  easier. 
     Since input/output connector  64  and input\output connectors  66  are normally removed by the user when portable computer  56  is transported, input/output connector  64  and input\output connectors  66  act as a removable extension of PCMCIA smart card reader  20  which is easily and automatically removed during transport of portable computer  56  into which PCMCIA smart card reader  20  has been inserted for use. Since the extension is formed by input/output connector  64  or input\output connectors  66 , rather than by PCMCIA smart card reader  20 , the extension does not protrude from outside card slot  54  of portable computer  56  during transport, and is therefore not prone to mechanical damage. 
     Although the preferred embodiments shown here describe a PCMCIA smart card reader where the thin upper section  31  includes reading member  23  and the lower section  32  includes printed circuit board  24 , it will be understood that the invention could be realized upside down, with the lower section  32  being thinner and including reading member  23  and the upper section  31  including printed circuit board  24 . In such case, the smart card has to be inserted with its termination points downwards. 
     Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.