Electronic card connector

Card reading apparatus capable of accepting different sized disconnectible electronic cards, including memory storage cards such as larger smart cards and smaller S.I.M. (signature identification module) cards, includes a reader housing assembly which encloses a connection chamber. A conventional connector in the connection chamber has a plurality of resilient contacts projecting toward a course to be taken by a memory storage card as it is inserted through an entry slot into the housing assembly. Each memory storage card is rectangular and includes a similarly sized and positioned plurality of contact pads thereon for mechanical and electrical engagement, respectively, with the plurality of resilient contacts on the connector in the connection chamber when inserted into the connection chamber through the entry slot and advanced to a seated position. Mutually engageable alignment mechanisms are provided both on the reader housing assembly and on each of the disconnectible memory storage cards to assure that each of the contact pads is in mechanical and electrical engagement, respectively, with the plurality of resilient contacts on the connector in the connection chamber when an associated disconnectible memory storage card is advanced to the seated position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates generally to electronic card reading
 apparatus for receiving a card in which integrated circuits are
 incorporated to have electronic functions and, more particularly, to such
 apparatus capable of accepting different sized electronic cards.
 2. Description of Earlier Developments
 With the development of the integrated chip technique in recent years,
 integrated circuits on a great scale in a small chip have come to be
 realized and a variety of electronic cards of credit card size and shape
 have been devised for a wide variety of applications. Thus, so-called
 "smart cards" have come to be well-known in the industry with embedded
 computer chips connected to metallic contact pads on a major surface.
 These smart cards are insertable into card readers which make electrical
 contact with the pads of the card through contacts mounted in the card
 reader housing. Some card readers are provided with end of position
 switches to detect that a card has been inserted and is located in a read
 position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,587 discloses a card reader offering such a
 possibility and further provides a hinged cover for minimizing the entry
 of dust and debris in the connection region.
 A similar but separate line of innovation has resulted in a so-called
 "SIM-card" which is of a size much smaller than a smart card. SIM is an
 acronym for "subscriber identity module" and a SIM-card also has embedded
 computer chips connected to metallic contact pads on a major surface. In
 this instance, though, the SIM-card is insertable into an item of
 electronic equipment such as a telephone and provides vital information
 about its owner. This item of electronic equipment is provided with a
 SIM-card reader capable of reading the information provided on the
 embedded microchip. In some instances, for example, the information
 presented on the SIM-card is necessary to enable the item of electronic
 equipment to be used by the owner or other authorized persons. A patent
 disclosing a known construction of SIM-card reader is U.S. Pat. No.
 5,814,805 to Reichardt et al. which includes a hinged receptacle or cover
 movable between an initial position and a card reading position.
 It was with knowledge of the foregoing that the present invention has been
 conceived and is now reduced to practice.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Card reading apparatus capable of accepting different sized disconnectible
 memory storage cards such as larger smart cards and smaller S.I.M.
 (signature identification module) cards includes a reader housing assembly
 which encloses a connection chamber. A conventional connector in the
 connection chamber has a plurality of resilient contacts projecting toward
 a course to be taken by a memory storage card as it is inserted through an
 entry slot into the housing assembly. Each memory storage card is
 rectangular and includes a similarly sized and positioned plurality of
 contact pads thereon for mechanical and electrical engagement,
 respectively, with the plurality of resilient contacts on the connector in
 the connection chamber when inserted into the connection chamber through
 the entry slot and advanced to a seated position. Mutually engageable
 alignment mechanisms are provided both on the reader housing assembly and
 on each of the disconnectible memory storage cards to assure that each of
 the contact pads is in mechanical and electrical engagement, respectively,
 with the plurality of resilient contacts on the connector in the
 connection chamber when an associated disconnectible memory storage card
 is advanced to the seated position.
 A primary feature, then, of the present invention is the provision of
 improved electronic card reading apparatus for receiving disconnectible
 memory storage cards in which integrated circuits are incorporated to have
 electronic functions.
 Another feature of the present invention is the provision of such
 electronic card reading apparatus which is capable of accepting different
 sized disconnectible memory storage cards.
 Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of such
 electronic card reading apparatus including a reader housing assembly
 enclosing a connection chamber including a connector therein with a
 plurality of resilient contacts projecting toward a course to be taken by
 a disconnectible memory storage card as it is inserted into the housing
 assembly, the housing assembly having an entry slot in communication with
 the connection chamber for reception therethrough of a disconnectible
 memory storage card being inserted into the connection chamber and first
 and second rectangular disconnectible memory storage cards, each including
 a similarly sized and positioned plurality of contact pads thereon for
 mechanical and electrical engagement, respectively, with the plurality of
 resilient contacts on the connector in the connection chamber when
 inserted into the connection chamber through the entry slot and advanced
 to a seated position, and mutually engageable alignment mechanisms both on
 the reader housing assembly and on each of the disconnectible memory
 storage cards to assure that each of the contact pads is in mechanical and
 electrical engagement, respectively, with the plurality of resilient
 contacts on the connector in the connection chamber when an associated
 disconnectible memory storage card is advanced to the seated position.
 Other and further features, advantages, and benefits of the invention will
 become apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the
 following drawings. It is to be understood that the foregoing general
 description and the following detailed description are exemplary and
 explanatory but are not to be restrictive of the invention. The
 accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of
 this invention, illustrate one of the embodiments of the invention, and
 together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the
 invention in general terms. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout
 the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exploded perspective view of a card
 reading system 20 incorporating features of the present invention.
 Although the present invention will be described with reference to the
 single embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the
 present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments.
 In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials
 could be used.
 The card reading system 20 is capable of accepting different sized
 disconnectible electronic cards, such as memory storage cards 22, 24,
 respectively. The memory storage card 22 is illustrated as a SIM-card
 while the memory storage card 24 is illustrated as a smart card as they
 have been earlier described. Of course, it must be recognized that other
 styles of memory storage cards may be used so long as they incorporate the
 novel features of the present invention.
 The system 20 includes a reader housing assembly 26 which is adapted to be
 electrically joined to an electrical connector, such as a style A-type USB
 plug connector 28. As seen in FIGS. 2-5, the reader housing assembly 26
 includes a bottom tray member 30 which has a receiving surface 32 for one
 of the disconnectible memory storage card 22, 24. The receiving surface 32
 extends between an entry slot 34 through which the memory storage cards
 22, 24 are inserted into a connection chamber 36 and a stop surface 38 on
 a shoulder member 40 upstanding from the bottom tray member at a location
 distant from the entry slot. Laterally spaced apart tab members 42, 44
 integral with the shoulder member 40 serve as locating indicia and
 project, respectively, toward the entry slot 34.
 The reader housing assembly 26 also includes a printed circuit board 46
 overlying the card receiving surface 32 and, together with the card
 receiving surface of the bottom tray, defines the connection chamber 36. A
 connector 48 is mounted, for example, to traces (not shown) on the printed
 circuit board and includes a plurality of resilient contacts 50 projecting
 from a housing and toward the card receiving surface 32 and, therefore,
 transversely of a course to be taken by a disconnectible memory storage
 card as it is inserted into the housing assembly. A fixed cover 52
 protectively overlies, and is in contiguous relationship with, the printed
 circuit board 46 and sandwiches the printed circuit board between the
 fixed cover and the bottom tray member 30. Similarly, contacts in
 connector 28 can secure to traces on PCB 46.
 The card receiving surface 32 of the bottom tray member 30 includes a
 prominence 54 for urging contact pads 56, 58 of the disconnectible memory
 storage cards 22, 24, respectively, into engagement with the resilient
 contacts 50 of the connector 48 in the connection chamber 36 of the reader
 housing assembly 26 when a disconnectible memory storage card is in a
 seated position. Alternatively, a prominence 54 could be the distal end of
 a cantilevered arm (not shown) in bottom tray 30 to provide a resilient
 feature.
 A movable cover 60 is pivotally mounted on and overlies the bottom tray
 member 30 and is movable between a first position indicated by solid lines
 in FIG. 3 for reception of either disconnectible memory storage card 22,
 24 and a second position indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 3 upon
 reception of the second larger disconnectible memory storage card 24. The
 movable cover is biased toward the first position in a manner to be
 described.
 The movable cover 60 includes a top member 62 and a pair of parallel,
 spaced apart, side skirt members 64 depending from the top member. When
 the reader housing assembly 26 is assembled, the card receiving surface 32
 is straddled by the side skirt members 64. In a manner which will be
 described more fully below, the side skirt members 64 are spaced to
 slidably receive therebetween the smaller disconnectible memory storage
 card 22. To this end, each of the side skirt members 64 extends to a cam
 edge 66 contoured to engageably receive the second larger disconnectible
 memory storage card 24. The movable cover is moved to the second phantom
 position of FIG. 3 when the second larger disconnectible memory storage
 card 24 achieves the seated position.
 The fixed cover 52 includes a pair of downwardly extending flange members
 68 parallel to and proximately spaced from the side skirt members 64 of
 the movable cover 60. Spaced apart pivot joints 70 between each of the
 side skirt members 64 of the movable cover 60 and the flange members 68
 enable movement of the movable cover between the first and second
 positions earlier described. Each pivot joint is composed of a stub shaft
 72 fixed to and projecting laterally away from its associated flange
 member and a mating bore 74 in each side skirt member 64 which freely
 receives an associated stub shaft. Other hinge assemblies could also be
 used.
 The movable cover 60 further includes a front skirt member 74 integrally
 joining and extending between the side skirt members 64 and extending to a
 free bottom edge 76 which is sufficiently spaced from the card receiving
 surface 32 of the bottom tray member 30 when the movable cover is in the
 first or lowered or solid line position of FIG. 3 to permit insertion of a
 disconnectible memory storage card 22, 24 through the entry slot 34. Skirt
 74 does, however, sufficiently protect entry slot 34 (and the inner
 components of system 20) from dust and debris.
 An elliptic spring 78 is integral with and projects from each of the side
 skirt members 64 engaged with an associated one of a pair of ledges 80 on
 the shoulder members 42, 44. The springs 78 thereby operate mutually to
 bias the movable cover 60 toward the first position as earlier defined.
 As earlier mentioned, the card reading system 20 accommodates both a first
 smaller rectangular disconnectible memory storage card 22 and a second
 larger rectangular disconnectible memory storage card 24. When the smaller
 card 22 is inserted into the connection chamber 36 through the entry slot
 34 and advanced to a seated position, a first minor edge 82 is in
 contiguous engagement with the stop surface 38 and with major edges 84, 86
 adjacent the first minor edge being contiguous, respectively, with the
 locating indicia in the form of the tab members 42, 44. It will also be
 appreciated that the width of the card 22, that is, the distance between
 the edges 84, 86 is less than the distance between the side skirt members
 64 at the entry slot 34. In this manner, the movable cover 60 remains in
 the solid line position (FIG. 3) when the card 22 is introduced into the
 reader housing assembly 26. In any event, when the card 22 is in the fully
 seated position, the contact pads 56 are mechanically and electrically
 engaged with the resilient contacts 50 on the connector 48.
 As previously mentioned, the reader housing assembly 26 also accommodates
 the larger rectangular disconnectible memory storage card 24 which is
 defined by opposed minor edges 88 and opposed major edges 90. A pair of
 spaced apart locating indicia 92 are provided in a foremost minor edge 88.
 The locating indicia 92 are sized and positioned for mating engagement
 with the spaced apart locating indicia in the form of the tab members 42,
 44 of the reader housing assembly 26 when inserted into the connection
 chamber 36 through the entry slot 34 and advanced to a seated position at
 which the foremost minor edge 88 is in contiguous engagement with the stop
 surface 38. Unlike the instance of the card 22, when the card 24 is
 inserted through the entry slot 38, being of a width greater than that of
 the movable cover 60, the foremost minor edge 88 engages the cam edges of
 the side skirt members, raising the front skirt member 74 and pivoting the
 entire movable cover 60 against the bias of the elliptic springs 78. In
 the same manner as the card 22, when the card 24 is in the fully seated
 position, the contact pads 58 are mechanically and electrically engaged
 with the resilient contacts 50 on the connector 48.
 The invention may also employ a further expedient as a failsafe measure to
 assure that the cards 22, 24 will be properly positioned, and not upside
 down, when introduced through the entry slot 34. To this end, the reader
 housing assembly 26 may include mutually cooperating indicia on the reader
 housing assembly and on each of the disconnectible memory storage cards
 permitting only one orientation of a disconnectible memory storage card
 when advanced to the seated position in the connection chamber. More
 specifically, a corner projection 93 is provided at the intersection
 between the stop surface 38 and the tab member 44 intended to contiguously
 interface with similarly fashioned beveled edges 94, 96 on the cards 22,
 24, respectively, when the cards are fully seated in the reader housing
 assembly 26.
 Turn now to FIGS. 8 and 9 for the description of another embodiment of the
 invention. In this instance, a modified reader housing assembly 98 is
 similar to the reader housing assembly 26 previously described but lacks
 the movable cover 60. For ease of understanding, unchanged components will
 bear the same reference numerals as before and only new or modified
 components will bear new reference numerals. The modified reader housing
 assembly 98 includes a bottom tray member 30A having a disconnectible
 memory storage card receiving surface 32A extending between the entry slot
 34 and the stop surface 38 on a shoulder member 40. A resilient finger
 member 100 has a domed prominence 102 at a cantilevered free end of the
 finger member and projects toward the connector 48 in the connector
 chamber 36. The finger member 100 is biased toward a normally closed
 position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 8, but is movable to an open
 position indicated by dashed lines when the domed prominence 102, acting
 as a cam, is engaged by a first minor edge 88 of an electronic, or memory
 storage, card 24A (FIG. 9). The electronic card 24A is formed with a
 locking aperture 104 located between the first minor edge 88 and the
 contact pads 58. It will be appreciated that the electronic, or memory
 storage, card 22 may be similarly modified. In any event, as the
 electronic card 24A is inserted into the connection chamber 36 through the
 entry slot 34, the finger member is again movable to the closed position
 when the disconnectible electronic card reaches the seated position. In
 this position of the electronic card 98, the prominence 102 is received in
 the locking aperture 104 of the electronic card. The electronic card 24A
 and the reader housing assembly 98 are thereby locked together, but with
 moderate force applied to the electronic card by the user, it can easily
 be withdrawn from the reader housing assembly.
 It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative
 of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by
 those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.
 Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such
 alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of
 the appended claims.