Connector for miniature circuit card

A card-receiving connector system for a miniature circuit card. A card holder receives a card, and a frame is adapted for locating the card holder in an operative position thereon and includes spring contacts mounted therein for engagement with electronic circuitry on the card. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the frame and the card holder for holding the card holder in the operative position. An eject mechanism is mounted on the frame for ejecting the card holder from its operative position. An unlatching mechanism is operatively associated with the eject mechanism for unlatching the interengaging latches in response to movement of the eject mechanism. Lost motion is built into the eject mechanism to permit unlatching of the latches prior to ejecting the card holder from its operative position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention generally relates to a card-receiving connector for a card 
containing an electronic circuit. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Integrated circuit (IC) cards are used in a variety of applications in 
conjunction with a card reader. The card reader usually is in the form of 
a card-receiving connector mounted on a printed circuit board. The card is 
inserted into the connector, and the connector includes a housing having 
conductive terminals mounted therein such that spring contact portions of 
the terminals bear against circuit pads on the card to make electrical 
connections. When the card is accurately positioned in the connector, the 
spring contacts transmit electronic information from the card to the 
circuitry of the printed circuit board which, in turn, can be a subsystem 
of a larger information system. 
One type of IC card of the character described above is commonly termed a 
"subscriber's identification module" or SIM card. A SIM card is a 
miniature chip card for use in small hand-held devices such as pocket size 
cellular telephones. The SIM card may provide information such as user 
identification in individual telephone handsets. SIM card readers or 
connectors have been developed to accommodate insertion and removal of the 
SIM card and to provide quick identification and easy access by a cellular 
telephone user. 
A typical SIM card includes electronic circuitry thereon for performing the 
specific function for which it is intended. The circuitry includes exposed 
circuit pads for mating to underlying spring contacts in the SIM card 
reader. The card is typically lowered onto the spring contacts from above 
the card reader and removed manually therefrom, thereby exposing the 
underlying spring contacts and rendering them susceptible to contaminants 
or damage, which can eventually compromise the reliability and integrity 
of the electrical connection between the SIM card circuit pads and the 
underlying spring contacts of the card reader. Another consequence of the 
manual insertion and removal of a SIM card is that a user or subscriber 
cannot always assure that the SIM card is fully and accurately inserted, 
and attempts to operate the underlying system, such as a phone for 
example, when the card is improperly positioned is futile. Furthermore, 
the small and fragile SIM card can be damaged when improperly inserted 
since it is constantly subjected to human handling and extraneous forces. 
Lastly, without means for locking the card within a connector, a user can 
inadvertently or unintentionally remove the SIM card during processing or 
use of the card. The present invention is directed to solving these 
various interrelated problems. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved 
card-receiving connector system, such as a SIM card and card reader of the 
character described. 
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the SIM card is mounted in a 
holder and the card-receiving connector includes a frame adapted for 
locating the card holder in an operative position thereon whereat contacts 
mounted within the frame are in engagement with electronic circuitry of 
the card. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the 
frame and the card holder for holding the card holder in the operative 
position. An eject mechanism is movably mounted on the frame for ejecting 
the card holder from its operative position. Unlatching means are 
operatively associated with the eject mechanism for unlatching the latches 
in response to movement of the eject mechanism. 
As disclosed herein, the complementary interengaging latches comprise a 
flexible latch arm on the frame engageable with a latch boss on the card 
holder when the card holder is in its operative position. The frame is 
molded of plastic material and the latch arm is integral therewith and 
cantilevered therefrom, with a latch arm boss on a distal end of the arm 
engageable with the latch boss on the card holder. A portion of the eject 
mechanism is effective to engage and bias the flexible latch arm out of 
the path of the latch boss on the card holder so that the card holder is 
unlatched and can be removed from the connector. 
Generally, the eject mechanism includes lost motion means effective to 
permit unlatching of the latches prior to ejecting the card holder from 
its operative position. In particular, the eject mechanism includes an 
eject member and an actuator member with the unlatching portion thereon. 
The actuator is mounted for linear movement on the frame and the eject 
member is mounted for rotational movement on the frame, with the actuator 
being spaced from the eject member in an unactuated position to provide 
the lost motion means. 
Other features of the invention include secondary latches for holding the 
actuator in an actuated position in the absence of the card holder being 
located in the connector. On/off contacts are provided on the frame, and 
corresponding circuitry on the card holder allows for closing the on/off 
contacts in response to locating the card holder in its operative 
position. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent 
from the following detailed description taken in connection with the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIG. 1, the 
invention is embodied in a connector system, generally designated 10, for 
a "subscriber's identification module" (SIM), generally designated 12. The 
SIM is insertable into a card-receiving connector, generally designated 
14, in the direction of arrow "A". The connector is mounted on a printed 
circuit board 16. The SIM is shown bottom-side-up in FIG. 1, whereupon the 
SIM must be flipped over from the position shown in FIG. 1 before 
insertion into the connector. 
As described in the "Background", above, SIM 12 can be used in small 
devices such as pocket size cellular telephones. For instance, the SIM may 
provide user identification in individual cellular telephone handsets. 
More specifically, SIM 12 includes a generally planar holder 18 having a 
front push-pull flange 20 for grasping by a user. Card holder 18 has a 
recessed area 22 on the bottom side thereof for receiving a miniature chip 
or card 24. The recessed area and chip may have a flattened corner, as at 
26, to provide a keying means whereby the chip or card can be positioned 
within the recessed area in only one orientation. The card has electronic 
circuitry, generally designated 28, imprinted thereon. The circuitry 
includes six circuit pads 30 joined by a appropriate circuit traces (not 
shown), for purposes described hereinafter. An elongated on/off contact 34 
is embedded within one edge of card holder 18, again for purposes 
described hereinafter. The opposite edge of card holder 18 includes a pair 
of cantilevered spring arms 36 spaced inwardly of a side wall 38 of the 
holder which have camming tabs 40 on the distal ends thereof. The camming 
tabs hold card 24 within recess 22 by exerting a force against an edge of 
the card. A flange 42 runs along the edge of card holder 18. Lastly, a 
latch boss 44 is also formed along the edge of card holder 18, with the 
latch boss having a chamfered leading edge 44a and an abrupt trailing edge 
or latch shoulder 44b. 
Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, connector 14 includes a 
generally planar frame 46 having a flange 48 running along one side 
thereof and a flange 50 running along the opposite side thereof. Flange 48 
has an inwardly directed channel 52 for receiving edge 54 (FIG. 1) of SIM 
card holder 18. Flange 50 has an outwardly directed channel 56 for 
receiving flange 42 of card holder 18. An outside edge 58 of the card 
holder rides within a channel 60 of a third flange 62 of connector frame 
46. Therefore, SIM 12 is inserted into connector 14 in the direction of 
arrow "A" with edge 54 of the card holder riding in channel 52 of flange 
48 of the connector frame, and edge 58 of the card holder riding within 
channels 56 and 60 of flanges 50 and 62, respectively, of the connector 
frame. 
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, six cantilevered spring contacts 64 
project upwardly from planar frame 46 for engagement by circuit pads 30 of 
card 24. Since the card is inserted in a sliding movement into the 
connector frame, a wiping action is formed between the circuit pads and 
the spring contacts to remove contaminants therefrom. The spring contacts 
have tail portions 66 for connection to circuit traces (not shown) on 
printed circuit board 16. 
A pair of spaced on/off spring switch contacts 70 also are mounted within 
connector 14 and project upwardly from planar frame 46 for engagement by 
the corresponding elongated on/off contact 34 on card holder 18. Contacts 
70 have tail portions 72 for engaging circuit traces on printed circuit 
board 16. Therefore, when SIM 12 is properly inserted into connector 14, 
contact 34 on the card holder spans and interconnects on/off switch 
contacts 70 on the connector to "close" the contacts and establish an 
electrical circuit therethrough. This on/off switch arrangement allows for 
deactivating the system circuitry when the SIM is removed from the 
connector. 
An eject mechanism, generally designated 76, is mounted on the connector 
frame for ejecting SIM 12 from its operative position. The eject mechanism 
includes an actuator rod 78 linearly movable within an enlarged portion 80 
of the connector frame and has a push-button 82 on the outer or distal end 
of the rod. A coil spring 84 surrounds the rod and is biased between 
push-button 82 and the enlarged portion 80 of the connector frame to bias 
the push-button and actuator rod outwardly. 
Eject mechanism 76 further includes an eject lever 86 pivotally mounted on 
the connector frame, as at 88. The eject lever has an ejecting finger 90 
engageable with a forward edge 91 (FIG. 1) of card holder 18 to effect 
ejection of the holder from connector 14, as described hereinafter. The 
eject lever has an engaging tab 92 on the side of eject lever 86 opposite 
ejecting finger 90. Engaging tab 92 is engageable by an inner extension 94 
of actuator rod 78. It should be noted in FIG. 2, that actuator rod 78 and 
eject lever 86 are in their static or inoperative positions. In this 
condition, it should be noted that inner extension 94 of the actuator rod 
is spaced from engaging tab 92 of the eject lever. This spacing provides a 
lost motion means which requires the actuator rod to travel a given 
distance in the direction of arrow "B" before engaging the eject lever 
which then will be pivoted in the direction of arrow "C" to effect 
ejection of the SIM opposite the direction of arrow "A". 
Generally, complementary interengaging latch means, generally designated 
96, are provided between connector 14 and SIM 12 for holding the SIM in 
its insertion position. Latch boss 44 of card holder 18 forms part of the 
latch means. 
More particularly, connector frame 46 is unitarily molded of plastic 
material or the like, and an integral cantilevered latch arm 98 is formed 
out of an opening 100 in the frame as best seen in FIG. 2. The latch arm 
has a latch arm boss 102 for interengagement with latch boss 44 on card 
holder 18. 
Referring to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2, latch shoulder 44b 
of latch boss 44 on holder 18 is shown in latched condition, in engagement 
with latch arm boss 102 on the distal end of cantilevered latch arm 98. 
When SIM 12 is inserted into the connector, chamfered leading edge 44a 
(FIGS. 1 and 3) of latch boss 44 engages a chamfered front surface 104 on 
latch arm boss 102 and biases the latch arm downwardly in the direction of 
arrow "D" until the latch bosses lockingly interengage as seen in FIG. 3. 
In order to unlatch latch means 96, actuator rod 78 of eject mechanism 76 
is moved linearly inwardly by pushing on push-button 82 in the direction 
of arrow "B" (FIGS. 1 and 2). A unlatching boss 106 is operatively 
associated with and movable with actuator rod 78 of eject mechanism 76 for 
engaging and unlatching a secondary latch arm boss 102 on latch arm 98, as 
best seen in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIG. 2, and 
comparing FIG. 4 with FIG. 3, it can be seen that unlatching boss 106 on 
actuator rod 78 has engaged latch arm boss 102 on latch arm 98 to bias the 
latch arm downwardly in the direction of arrow "E". It can be seen that 
latch arm boss 102 on the latch arm now has cleared latch boss 44 on card 
holder 18 whereupon the SIM can be removed from connector 14. After 
unlatching latch boss 44 from latch arm boss 102, the SIM can be removed 
either manually by pulling on front flange 20 of the card holder, or 
actuator rod 78 further can be pushed inwardly to actuate eject lever 86 
to mechanically eject the SIM from its insertion position. A secondary 
unlatching boss 108, spaced from the first latching boss 106 along 
actuator rod 78 biases the latch arm downwardly during this ejection. 
As stated above, lost motion means are provided within eject mechanism 76 
by the spacing between inner extension 94 (FIG. 2) of actuator rod 78 and 
engaging tab 92 of eject lever 86. This spacing effectively permits 
unlatching of latch means 96 prior to mechanically ejecting the SIM from 
its insertion position. In other words, the initial "lost" movement of the 
actuator rod effects the unlatching action as described above in relation 
to FIG. 4. Once latch bosses 102 and 44 are unlatched as described, the 
actuator rod then sequentially engages the eject lever to mechanically 
eject the SIM from its insertion position. 
Lastly, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 5, secondary latch means 112 
are provided between actuator rod 78 and push-button 82 for holding the 
push rod in an actuated position in the absence of SIM 12 being located in 
connector 14. This secondary latch means is provided for shipping and 
handling purposes so that push-button 82 does not project from the 
connector an excess amount which could cause the push-button to catch on 
extraneous objects and cause damage to the connector. More particularly, 
as best seen in FIG. 2, a space 110, associated with the actuator rod, is 
provided between unlatching boss 106 and unlatching boss 108. When the rod 
is pushed inwardly in the direction of arrow "B", unlatching boss 106 can 
pass over latch arm boss 102 on latch arm 98 and lock therebehind by way 
of the space, thereby maintaining the actuator rod and push-button in an 
inner position so that the push-button does not project excessively out of 
the connector frame. When it is desired to "activate" the eject mechanism, 
a user simply presses down on latch arm 98 to release unlatching boss 106 
from behind boss 102, whereupon spring 84 biases the actuator rod and 
push-button outwardly to its normal operative condition, as shown in FIGS. 
1 and 2. 
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific 
forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics 
thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be 
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the 
invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.