Abstract:
A PC card connector assembly which is capable of performing highly secure card connections, enables simultaneous use of a smart card, and is interchangeable with existing PC card connector assemblies. The PC card connector assembly includes an insulative housing having an opening, which is of dimensions that enable insertion of a plurality of PC cards. A planar smart card connecting unit partitions the opening in the vertical direction to form first and second cavities. The first cavity is designated as a PC card cavity, and the second cavity is designated as a smart card cavity. A plurality of first contacts are provided in the smart card connecting unit, for electrically contacting electrodes of the smart card received within the second cavity, while connected to second contacts.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a PC card connector assembly, which is utilized by personal computers and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a PC card connector assembly that accommodates a smart card along with a PC card.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     There are known double slotted PC card connector assemblies, which are utilized by personal computers and the like. For example, two card receiving slots are formed in the PC card connector assembly disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 6(1994)- 56992 , by vertically dividing a card receiving opening with a partition wall. Each of the two card receiving slots is configured to receive either a PCMCIA type I or a PCMCIA type II PC card therein. The partition wall may be removable. In the case that the partition wall is removed, a single slot with an expanded opening is formed. The single slot is configured to receive a PCMCIA type III PC card therein.  
         [0003]     Smart cards are loadable in another known PC card connector assembly, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-24769 (FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). This PC card connector assembly comprises a smart card reader, which is mounted within an existing PC card connector assembly, and is configured to receive either PC cards or smart cards.  
         [0004]     Only PC cards are loadable in the PC card connector assemblies disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 6(1994)-56992 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,923. That is, anyone may utilize data recorded in the PC cards by inserting them into the PC card assemblies.  
         [0005]     However, in recent years, data stored in PC cards is being restricted to specific users, in order to improve the security aspects of data. As a method to ensure such secure use of data, combining the use of IC (integrated circuit) cards, that have IC chips for personal authentication thereon, along with PC cards, is being considered. Thereby, data recorded in a PC card is prevented from being read out, unless it is used as a set with a specific smart card. However, this method has a problem that a separate apparatus for reading the smart card becomes necessary. Alternatively, if a smart card reading apparatus is built into a computer, the size of the computer becomes large, and the mechanism thereof becomes complicated.  
         [0006]     Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-24769 discloses a connector that is able to utilize smart cards therein. However, there is only a single card insertion slot, to be utilized with either a PC card or a smart card. Therefore, anyone can freely read out data from a PC card when it is inserted in this connector.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention has been developed in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a PC card connector assembly which is capable of performing highly secure card connections.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a PC card connector assembly that enables simultaneous use of a smart card, and which is interchangeable with existing PC card connector assemblies.  
         [0009]     The PC card connector assembly of the present invention comprises: 
        an insulative housing having an opening, which is of dimensions capable of receiving a plurality of PC cards therein;     an ejecting mechanism, for ejecting the PC cards; and     a plurality of first contacts, which are mounted in the insulative housing, for electrically contacting the PC cards; wherein:     a smart card connecting unit, for vertically partitioning the opening, is provided to form a smart card cavity and a PC card cavity; and     a plurality of second contacts provided in the smart card connecting unit, for electrically contacting electrodes of the smart card while also connecting with the first contacts.        
 
         [0015]     Note that here, “PC cards” refer to memory cards that adhere to the PCMCIA standard, or to the JEIDA standard, which is a standard defined by the Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association, such as Type I, Type II, and Type III memory cards. “Smart cards” refer to IC cards having IC chips, which include personal authentication data, embedded therein.  
         [0016]     Personal authentication data stored in the smart card is read out, and the data stored in the PC card is made accessible to only specific users. By restricting users who are enabled to access data in this manner, highly secure card connections are enabled. In addition, the PC card connector assembly of the present invention can be produced at the same size as existing PC card connector assemblies. Thereby, a PC card connector assembly is provided that enables use of a smart card, and which is interchangeable with existing PC card connector assemblies. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a PC card connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 3A-3C  are a left side views of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , with  FIGS. 3B and 3C  being partial exploded views indicated in  FIG. 3A  showing portions of an insulative housing;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a right side view of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a main body and a smart card connecting unit of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , in which the main body is shown in partial cross section;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 8A, 8B , and  8 C illustrate a frame of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , wherein  FIG. 8A  is a plan view,  FIG. 8B  is a front view, and  FIG. 8C  is a side view;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a holder of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , wherein:  FIG. 9A  is a plan view, and  FIG. 9B  is a front view;  
         [0027]      FIGS. 10A, 10B  and  10 C illustrate the holder of the PC card connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , wherein:  FIG. 10A  is a left side view,  FIG. 10B  is a sectional view taken along line XB-XB of  FIG. 9A , and  FIG. 10C  is a sectional view taken along line XC-XC of  FIG. 9A ;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate a circuit board of a smart card connecting unit, wherein:  FIG. 11A  is a side view; and  FIG. 11B  is a plan view;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate contacts, which are to be mounted on the circuit board of  FIG. 11 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein:  FIG. 12A  is a plan view, and  FIG. 12B  is a side view; and  
         [0030]      FIGS. 13A, 13B ,  13 C, and  13 D illustrate a unit connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is utilized by the smart card connecting unit, wherein:  FIG. 13A  is a plan view,  FIG. 13B  is a front view,  FIG. 13C  is a side view, and  FIG. 13D  is a sectional view taken along line XIIID-XIIID of  FIG. 13B . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the PC card connector assembly (hereinafter, simply referred to as “assembly”) of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 6 .  
         [0032]     The assembly  1  is mounted on a printed circuit board  22  (see  FIG. 6 ), and comprises: an insulative housing  2  (hereinafter, simply referred to as “housing”); metallic frames  4 ,  6 , and  8 , which are mounted on the housing  2  (refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 ); contacts  10  and  12  (first contacts, refer to  FIG. 6 ); and an ejecting mechanism  14 , for ejecting a PC card  26  and a smart card  32  (refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0033]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the housing  2  is constructed as a two piece structure, comprising: a main body  16  for holding the contacts  10  and  12  (refer to  FIG. 6 ); and a card guide portion  18 , which is linked to the main body  16 . First, the main body  16  will be described. Two rows of contacts  10  are provided in the main body  16 , along a circuit board  22  that the assembly  1  is to be mounted on.  
         [0034]     A plurality of slots  24  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that extend in an insertion/ejection direction of the PC card  26  are provided in the upper surface of the main body  16 . A grounding plate  30  is provided on the upper surface of the main body  16 . The grounding plate  30  has a plurality of grounding tongue pieces  28  that are arranged within the slots  24 . The grounding plate  30  establishes ground connections with protrusions  38 , which are formed on a shielded exterior of the PC card  26 , via the grounding tongue pieces  28  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). The grounding plate  30  is fixed to the main body  16  by mounting pieces  40 , which are positioned at both edges of the grounding plate  30 . However, this is a common practice, therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. A plurality of tines  34  extend rearward from the grounding plate  30 . The contacts  10 ,  12 , and the tines  34  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) are passed through through-holes (not shown) of a relay circuit board  36 , which is provided behind the main body  36 , and soldered (refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 ). All of the contacts  10 ,  12  and the tines  34  are electrically connected to conductive pads (not shown), which are arranged at the lower edge of the relay circuit board  36 , via conductive traces (not shown) thereof.  
         [0035]     A conventional relay circuit board, as is typically employed in a conventional double slot PC card connector, may be utilized as the relay circuit board  36 . Note that in  FIG. 6 , the PC card  26  is shown in a state in which it is connected to the contacts  10 . Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a partitioning plate  42  is provided in the main body  16 , for defining a cavity  44  for the PC card  26  and a cavity  46  for the smart card  32 . The number of contacts  12  is small. Therefore, they are selectively connected to the through-holes of the conventional relay circuit board  36 . A conventional relay connector  300 , which is mounted to the same circuit board  22  as the assembly  1 , and to which the relay circuit board  36  is connected, may be employed.  
         [0036]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3C  and  FIG. 7 , extension portions  48  are formed at both sides of the main body  16 . Note that  FIG. 3A  also includes a view of a mating portion  50  between the main body  16  and the card guide portion  18 , in a state in which they are separated from each other. The extension portions  48  are aligned with the cavity  46  for smart cards  32 , which is positioned below the cavity  44  for PC cards  26 .  
         [0037]     Guide grooves  52  are formed in both interior side surfaces of the cavity  44  for PC cards  26 . Guide grooves  54  are formed in both interior side surfaces of the cavity  46  for smart cards  32 . The guide grooves  54  are continuously formed in the interior surfaces of the extension portion  48 .  
         [0038]     Here, a description will be given with reference to  FIG. 7  as well.  FIG. 7  is a plan view of the main body  16  and a smart card connecting unit  20  (hereinafter, simply referred to as “unit”). In  FIG. 7 , portions of the main body  16  are illustrated in cross section. Mounting apertures  56  and small apertures  58 , all of which are perpendicular to the circuit board  22 , are provided in the extension portions  48 . Screws (not shown), for mounting the assembly  1  to the circuit board  22 , are inserted through the mounting apertures  56 . Links  96 , which are C-shaped in cross section (refer to  FIG. 2 ), for linking the main body  16  and the card guide portion  18  together are inserted through the small apertures  58 . Vertical grooves  60  are formed at the front ends of the two guide grooves  52  of the main body. Vertically extending ribs  62  are formed at the front ends of the two guide grooves  54  of the main body  16  (refer to  FIG. 3A ).  
         [0039]     Next, the card guide portion  18 , which is linked to the main body  16 , will be described. The card guide portion  18  comprises guide halves  70  and  72 , which are substantially symmetrical (refer to  FIG. 2 ). The guide halves  70  and  72  are held integrally and parallel to each other by a frame  4  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) and a frame  6  (the hatched portion in  FIG. 5 ), which are provided above and below the guide halves  70  and  72 , respectively.  
         [0040]     The relationships among the guide halves  70  and  72  and the frames  4  and  6  will be described in further detail. The lower frame  6  comprises walls  74  and  74  (refer to  FIG. 3A ), which are erected by bending two edges of the frame  6 . The walls  74  are positioned toward the exterior of the guide halves  70  and  72 . Inwardly facing claws  78  ( 78   a ,  78   b , and  78   c ) of the walls  74  engage slots  76  ( 76   a ,  76   b , and  76   c ), which are provided in the guide halves  70  and  72 . Protrusions  80  and  82  (refer to  FIG. 3A ) that extend downward from the frame  4  toward the walls  74  are fixed to the interior surfaces of the walls  74  by welding. In addition, claws  86  of the frame  4  engage slots  84  of the guide haves  70  and  72  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). The card guide portion  18 , assembled by integrating the guide halves  70  and  72  and the frames  4  and  6  in the manner described above, is united with the main body  16 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3A .  
         [0041]     The end of the card guide portion  18  is substantially complementary with the end of the main body  16 . Ribs  88  and grooves  90  are provided at the end of the card guide portion  18 . Grooves  60  and ribs  62  are provided at the end of the main body  16 . The ribs  88  engage the grooves  60 , and the grooves  90  engage with the ribs  62 . In addition, mounting apertures  92  and small apertures  94 , corresponding to the mounting apertures  56  and the small apertures  58  respectively, are formed in the card guide portion  18 . The card guide portion  18  and the main body  16  are united and fixed to each other by press fitting the C-shaped links  96  into the small apertures  58  and  94 , which are aligned with each other. When the card guide portion  18  and the main body  16  are united, the unit  20  is interposed between the cavities  44  and  46 . The interposition of the unit  20  will be described later. The frame  8  is mounted so as to straddle the card guide portion  18  and the main body  16 . The frame  8  will be described in detail later.  
         [0042]     Guide groves  52  and  54 , which are continuous with the aforementioned guide groove  52  and  54 , are formed in the card guide portion  18  (refer to  FIGS. 3A and 3C ). Two ejecting mechanisms  14  and  14 ′, for the PC card  26  and the smart card  32 , respectively, are mounted on both side surfaces of the card guide portion  18  and the main body  16 . The ejecting mechanisms  14  and  14 ′ are both ejecting mechanisms of the so-called “push/push type”, comprising heart shaped cam grooves  98  and  100 , respectively. This type of ejecting mechanism is similar to that which is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-291553. Because this mechanism is of a known structure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only a simple description will be given hereinafter.  
         [0043]     Note that because the ejecting mechanisms  14  and  14 ′ are of the same structure, only the ejecting mechanism  14  will be described. The ejecting mechanism  14  comprises: heart shaped cam grooves  98 , which are formed in the exterior surfaces of the guide halves  70  and  72  (refer to  FIG. 3A ); cam followers  102 , which move within the cam grooves  98  (refer to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 ); ejecting bars  104  that rotatably support the cam followers  102 ; and knobs  106 , formed of resin, which are mounted to the ejecting bars  104  toward the card insertion side thereof.  
         [0044]     The ejecting mechanism  14  is configured to be mountable on either the right or left side of the card guide portion  18 , depending on the application thereof. The tips  102   a  of the cam followers  102  protrude from the tips of the ejecting bars  104 . The tips  102   a  are configured to press the ends of ejecting arms  108 , which are provided to eject the PC card  26 , and cause the ejecting arms  108  to swing. Thereby, pressing ends  108   b  (refer to  FIG. 6 ), which are positioned within the cavity  44 , of the ejecting arms  108  press the front end  26   a  of the PC card  26  in the ejection direction. The cam followers  102  move to circulate within the cam grooves  98  each time that the knobs  106  are pressed. Thereby, the ejecting arms  108  are pressed, the ejecting bars  104  are held in a depressed position, or the ejecting bars  104  are caused to protrude.  
         [0045]     Next, the frame  8  will be described with combined reference to  FIGS. 8A, 8B , and  8 C.  FIGS. 8A, 8B , and  8 C illustrate the frame  8 , wherein  FIG. 8A  is a plan view,  FIG. 8B  is a front view, and  FIG. 8C  is a side view. The frame  8  is provided at a position that corresponds to contacts  110  (second contacts) of the unit  20 , which will be described later. The frame  8  is rectangular and may be formed from a metal plate. The frame  8  comprises a plurality of beads  112  ( 112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c ,  112   d , and  112   e ). The beads  112  are formed so that each of the beads  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c ,  112   d , and  112   e  protrude at the same height within the cavity  46  for smart cards  32 .  
         [0046]     A tongue piece  116  protrudes an the edge  114  of the frame  8 , and tongue pieces  122 , which are positioned within recesses  120  of the card guide portion  18 , are formed at the corners of edges  118  of the frame  8 , furthest from the tongue piece  116 . The tongue pieces  122  are formed in an L-shape, and comprise upwardly facing upper surfaces  122   a . The tongue pieces  116  and  122  function as mounting portions for mounting the frame  8  to the housing  2 . The upper surfaces  122   a  of the tongue pieces  122  also serve as support surfaces for supporting the unit  20 . Accordingly, when the unit  20 , which is to be a partition wall, is mounted to the housing  2 , the upper surfaces  122   a  holds the unit  20  at a predetermined height within the guide grooves  54 . Thereby, guide grooves  54   a , which are narrower than the guide grooves  54  and into which the smart card  32  may be inserted, are defined by the lower surface of the unit  20  and the lower surfaces of the guide grooves  54 .  
         [0047]     Next, the unit  20  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the unit  20  is generally planar in shape. A circuit board  132  is mounted onto a planar holder  130 . When the unit  20  is mounted onto the housing  2 , the unit  20  functions as a partition wall that defines the cavity  44  and the cavity  46 , as previously described. First, the holder  130  will be described, with reference to  FIGS. 9A, 9B ,  10 A,  10 B, and  10   c.    
         [0048]      FIGS. 9A, 9B ,  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C illustrate the holder  130 , wherein:  FIG. 9A  is a plan view,  FIG. 9B  is a front view,  FIG. 10A  is a left side view,  FIG. 10B  is a sectional view taken along line XB-XB of  FIG. 9A , and  FIG. 10C  is a sectional view taken along line XC-XC of  FIG. 9A . The holder  130  is formed of resin, and has cutouts  134  and  136  on the side thereof toward the main body  16 . The holder  130  also has a recess  138 , which is defined by parallel side walls  140 ,  140 , and an end wall  142 , for housing the circuit board  132 .  
         [0049]     A plurality of ribs  146  are formed along the side walls  140  on an upper wall  144  of the holder  130 . Openings  147  are provided to form the ribs  146 . Slots  148  are formed in the side walls  140  at both sides of the upper wall  144 , and engaging pieces  150  are formed within the slots  148 . The engaging pieces  150  are of a simple beam structure. Inwardly protruding protrusions  150   a  are formed on the engaging pieces  150 .  
         [0050]     A rectangular opening  152  is formed in the upper wall  144 , where the contacts  110  are positioned as will be described later. Thin walled portions  154  and  156  are formed adjacent to the opening  152  in the card insertion/ejection direction. A similar thin walled portion  158  is formed adjacent to the thin walled portion  154 . Ears (protrusions)  160 ,  160  are formed in the vicinity of the centers of the side walls  140 . Grooves  160   a , for receiving the tongue pieces  122  of the frame  8 , are formed in the ears  160 . A taper  162 , for guiding the smart card  32  during insertion thereof, is formed at the lower edge of the end wall  142 .  
         [0051]     Next, the circuit board  132 , which is mounted on the holder  130 , will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11A, 11B ,  12 A, and  12 B.  FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate the circuit board  132 , wherein:  FIG. 11A  is a side view; and  FIG. 11B  is a plan view.  FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate the contacts  110  (second contacts), which are to be mounted on the circuit board  132 , wherein:  FIG. 12A  is a plan view, and  FIG. 12B  is a side view. The circuit board  132  has outer dimensions that enable it to be housed within the recess  138  of the holder  130 . Cutouts  166  are formed in the side edges  164  of the circuit board  132 , at positions corresponding to the aforementioned protrusions  150   a . The cutouts  166  engage with the protrusions  150   a , to position the circuit board  132  when it is inserted into the holder  130 .  
         [0052]     Elongate slots  168  that extend in the insertion/ejection direction of the PC card  26  and the smart card  32  are formed in two rows of four slots each in the circuit board  132 , at a position corresponding to the opening  152  of the holder  130 . Conductive pads  178  are formed at the exterior of each of the slots  168 . A cutout  170  is formed at a position corresponding to the aforementioned cutout  134 , and a cutout  172  is formed at a position corresponding to the thin walled portion  158 . conductive pads  174  are provided on an edge  170   a  of the cutout  170  at predetermined intervals. A unit connector  176  (refer to  FIG. 13 ), to be described later, is to be mounted within the cutout  170 . Two conductive pads  180  are formed at an edge of the cutout  172 . The conductive pads  178  and  180  are electrically connected to the conductive pads  174  via conductive traces  182 , which are formed on the circuit board  132 . Extremely fine apertures  184  are formed through the conductive pads  178  and  180 .  
         [0053]     Next, the contacts  110 , which are arranged within the slots  168 , will be described with reference to  FIG. 12 . The contacts  110  are formed by punching and bending elongate plates from a single metallic plate. Each contact  110  comprises: a mounting portion  186 , which is soldered to the conductive pads  178 ; and a curved contact portion  188 , for contacting electrodes  33  of the smart card  32  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). Protrusions  186   a , which are inserted into the extremely fine apertures  184  to position the contacts  110 , are formed on the mounting portion  186 . A tongue piece  190  is formed on the tip of the contact portion  188 . The tongue piece  190  abuts an edge of the slot  168  opposite that of the conductive pad  178 .  
         [0054]     Next, the unit connector  176 , which is mounted onto the circuit board  132  of the unit  20 , will be described with reference to  FIGS. 13A, 13B ,  13 C, and  13 D.  FIGS. 13A, 13B ,  13 C, and  13 D illustrate the unit connector  176 , wherein:  FIG. 13A  is a plan view,  FIG. 13B  is a front view,  FIG. 13C  is a side view, and  FIG. 13D  is a sectional view taken along line XIIID-XIIID of  FIG. 13B . The unit connector  176  has a planar insulative housing  196  (hereinafter, simply referred to as “housing”). A row of contact cavities  192  is provided within the housing  196 . A terminal  194  is provided in each of the contact cavities  192 .  
         [0055]     Each of the terminals  194  comprises: a contact portion  198 , which is connected to the contacts  12 ; and a tine  200 , which is soldered to the conductive pads  174  (refer to  FIG. 13D ). Grooves  202  are formed at both ends of the housing  196  to receive side edges  170   b  of the cutout  170  (refer to  FIG. 11B ). The circuit board  132 , to which the unit connector  176  and the contacts  110  have been mounted, is inserted into the recess  138  of the holder  130  from the direction indicated by arrow  204  (refer to  FIG. 9A ), and welded thereto by ultrasonic welding or the like. At this time, the contacts  110  are positioned between the holder  130  and the circuit board  132 , and the contact portions  188  of the contacts  110  protrude toward the rear surface of the drawing sheet of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0056]     A pair of contacts  206  and  208  are attached to the conductive pads  180 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The contact points of the contacts  206  and  208  are separated from each other. The contacts  206  and  208  detect whether the smart card  32  has been inserted. The detection of the smart card  32  is performed by the substantially L-shaped contact  208  being pressed toward the contact  206  by the smart card  32  to contact therewith. The smart card  32  is detected by the electrical connection between the contacts  206  and  208 .  
         [0057]     When the smart card connecting unit  20 , constructed as described above, is mounted to the housing  2 , the unit connector  176  engages with the contacts  12 , and is arranged as illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a state in which the contacts  110  are in contact with the electrodes  33  of the smart card  32 . At this time, the ears  160  of the smart card connecting unit  20  are positioned in the cutouts  210 , which are adjacent to the mating portion  50  of the card guide portion  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . The card guide portion  18  cooperates with the main body  16  to fix the smart card connecting unit  20  and to prevent extraction thereof.  
         [0058]     The tongue pieces  122  of the frame  8  are received within the grooves  160   a  of the ears  160 . Therefore, the frame  8  is fixed to the housing  2  along with the smart card connecting unit  20 . When the smart card  32  is inserted into the cavity  46 , the smart card  32  is pressed downward by the contact pressure between the contacts  11  and the electrodes  33 . The beads  112  of the frame  8  support this downward force.  
         [0059]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a shutter  214  that rotates during insertion of the PC card  26  is attached to a card receiving opening  212  of the assembly  1 . The shutter  214  rotates about shafts  216 , which are provided at both ends of the shutter  214 , when the PC card  26  presses it during insertion thereof. The rotation enables the opening  212  to open, thereby allowing insertion of the PC card  26 . An entry member  218  is attached to the lower portion of the shutter  214 . The entry member  218  has a slot  216  for the smart card  32  to be inserted through. The smart card  32  is inserted into the cavity  46  through the slot  216 .