ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR A SMART CARD, WHICH INCLUDES A BLADE-TYPE SWITCH FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF A CARD

Abstract: The invention provides an electrical connector (50) comprising an insulating support (52) bounded by an upper face (54), from above which a series of contact ends (76) projects vertically, each of which belongs to the free end part (78) of a contact blade (70), and of the type comprising an electrical switch (80) for detecting the presence of a card (C) in the contact position, comprising a switch blade (82) which is fixed to the insulating support (52, 54) and which has at least one branch (B1) which extends opposite an upper portion (76) of a free end part (78) belonging to an elastically deformable blade (70), the first branch (B1) of the switch blade (82) being able or unable to engage with this portion depending on whether or not a card (C) is present in the contact position, characterized in that the blade (70) having the said portion (76) is identical to the contact blades (70) of the connector (50) and in that the said portion is the contact end (76) of the said blade (70).

Description: "Electrical connector for a smart card , which includes a blade-type switch for detecting the presence of a card" The present invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting a card having one or more integrated circuits, usually called a smart card . The invention thus relates to a connector for connecting a smart card which has a lower plane face provided with contact pads, these pads being arranged in a standardized arrangement and being, for example, eight in number, arranged in pairs of two longitudinally aligned pads. The connector makes it possible, in particular, to connect the card to a read/write circuit belonging to a device having especially a printed-circuit board to which the connector is fixed. There are many embodiments of such a connector which , in general, comprises an insulating support bounded by an approximately plane upper face, from above which a series of contact ends projects vertically, each of which belongs to the free end part of an elastically deformable conducting contact blade carried by the insulating support. Each free end part extends an intermediate part for fitting or mounting the contact blade onto the insulating support and it is able to be elastically deformed downwards, in the manner of a bending beam, by the card - more specifically by the lower face of the latter - when the latter is brought into a so-called contact position in which each contact end of an elastic contact blade bears elastically against a facing portion of the lower face of the card , especially against a corresponding contact pad when the longitudinal and transverse position of the card with respect to the insulating support is correct. I n order to ensure electrical connection to the contact pads on the card , each contact blade has another free end for con necting the connector, this other free end being , for example, electrically connected to a conducting track of a lower printed-circuit board on which the connector is mounted . The card may be brought into its contact position by various movements depending on the type of connector and on the application in which the connector is used . The card may thus be brought into the contact position by sliding or inserting it long itudinally in a horizontal direction parallel to the general plane of the card above the upper face of the insulating support and/or by bearing on this upper face. The card may also be broug ht into the contact position by moving it vertically downwards with respect to the insulating support in a direction perpend icular to the general plane of the card . Finally, the card may also be brought into the contact position by pivoting it about a horizontal axis, the card being , for example, carried for this purpose by a pivoting lid mounted so as to pivot on the insulating support. Many designs of an electrical connector of this type have already been proposed which include an electrical switch for detecting the presence of a card in the contact position . Such a switch makes it possible to make or break a switching circuit so as to deliver an electrical signal representative of a card having been inserted in or having been removed from a device that makes use of the data contained in a smart card to which the device is connected by the connector. Certain desig ns make use of switches produced in the form of independent components attached to the connector or completely or partially integ rated into the latter. Other designs, which are less expensive and less bulky, provide a switch comprising a switch blade made of cond ucting material which is fixed to the insulating support and which has at least a first branch which extends opposite a n upper portion of a free end part belonging to an elastically deformable blade made of cond ucting material which is carried by the insulating support and which has a free connection end , the first branch of the switch blade being able or unable to engage with this portion depending on whether or not a card is present in the contact position in order to make or break, or to break or make (depending on whether the switch is of the normally-open or normally-closed type) an electrical switching circuit between the connection end of the blade having the said portion and the switch blade. An example of such a switch having a switch blade carried by the insulating support is described and illustrated in document DE-U-94/07486 which describes and illustrates a connector sold by the company ITT. According to the design proposed in that document, the switch blade extends longitudinally and has two opposed branches, one of which permanently engages with a blade carried by the insulating support and the other of which is able to be elastically deformed in the presence of a card in order to engage with another blade carried by the insu lating support in order to close the electrical switching circuit. I n this design , the two opposed and longitud inally aligned blades with which the branches of the switch blade engage are " special" blades, that is to say they are different from the contact blades of the connector which are longitudinally aligned in pairs, the pair of fixed blades with which the branches of the switch blade engage being necessarily adjacent to one of the sides of the block of contact blades of the connector. The document according to the prior art provides only a single solution to the positioning of the switch , this arrangement according to the prior art having the drawback of requiring two fixed blades that differ in nature and in shape from those of the contact blades which in other respects are all identical, to be mounted or fitted onto the insulating support. This difference is a major obstacle to the economic and automated production of the connector insofar as, even if blades of the " contact blade" type is used for producing them, it is necessary either to initially omit the free contact ends of these blades, in order to convert them into fixed blades associated with the switch blade, or else this omission must be made after mounting all the blades onto the insulating support and before fitting the switch blade. The object of the invention is to provide a connector of the type just mentioned which remedies the d rawbacks mentioned . The design according to the invention must especially be applicable whatever the direction in which a smart card is inserted and it must allow the use, to a very great extent, of ind ustrial processes and components used for the prod uction of connectors without a blade-type switch . To this end , the invention provides a connector characterized in that the blade having the said portion is identical to the contact blades of the connector and in that the said portion is the contact end of the said blade. Accord ing to other characteristics of the invention : - the switch blade has a second branch which extends opposite the contact end of another contact blade of the connector in order to make or break an electrical switching circuit between the connection ends of the two contact blades associated with the switch blade ; - the contact ends of the contact blades of the connector are longitudinally aligned in pairs ; - the contact ends of the said two associated contact blades belong to a pair of long itudinally aligned ends ; - the contact ends of the said two associated contact blades do not belong to a pair of longitudinally aligned ends ; - the second branch of the switch blade is always in electrical contact with the contact end of the associated contact blade in order to establish a permanent electrical contact point between these two elements, while the first branch of the switch blade is able or unable to engage with the contact end of the associated contact blade in order to establish or not establish another electrical contact point between these two elements ; - the switch blade has at least one free connection end ; - the electrical switching circuit is open in the absence of a card in the contact position and is closed in the presence of a card in the contact position ; - the switch blade has at least one movable branch which , in the presence of a card in the contact position , is elastically deformed in order to establish an electrical contact point with the contact end of the contact blade associated with this branch ; - the electrical switching circuit is closed in the absence of a card in the contact position and is open in the presence of a card in the contact position ; - the switch blade has at least one fixed branch against which the contact end of the associated contact blade bears elastically in the absence of a card in the contact position , in order to establish an electrical contact point between these two elements, and the presence of a card in the contact position causes the said contact end to move vertically downwards in order to take the latter away from the fixed branch of the switch blade ; - the switch blade has a fixing part which is fixed to the upper face of the insulating support of the connector ; - the switch blade has a plate-shaped fixing part which bears vertically against a facing portion of the upper face of the insulating support to which insulating support it is fixed by hot crimping an upper head of a fixing and positioning stud which passes through a hole in the fixing part ; - each contact end of a contact blade is an end having an upwardly convex domed profile ; - when a card is present in the contact position the entire switch blade lies vertically below the plane of the upper face of the insulating support in order to avoid any risk of a short-circuit between the contact pads on the lower face of the card and parts of the switch blade. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the detailed description which follows, for the comprehension of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which : - Fig ure 1 is a d iagrammatic view from above, on a large scale which illustrates the main part of a connector for a smart card , which includes a switch for detecting the presence of a card in the contact position , of the normally-open type, having a fixed switch blade made according to the teachings of the invention , and of the type in which the switch blade engages with two contact blades of the connector in order to form two semi-permanent contact points ; - Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 in Fig ure 1 ; - Fig ure 3 is a view similar to that in Fig ure 2, in which the connector is illustrated with a smart card in the contact position , having caused the switch to close ; - Fig ure 4 is a view similar to that in Figure 1 , which illustrates a first variant of the first embodiment making it possible to fulfil the switch function between any two contact blades from among the eight contact blades of the connector ; - Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 in Figure 4 ; - Fig ures 6 and 7 are views similar to those in Figures 4 and 5 , which illustrate another example of this first variant of a switch of the normally-open type ; - Fig ures 8 to 10 are views similar to those in Figures 1 to 3 , which illustrate a second variant of the first embodiment of a switch of the normally-open type, having a single semipermanent contact point and one permanent contact point ; - Figure 1 1 is a view similar to that in Figure 1 , which illustrates a third variant of the first embodiment of a switch of the normally-open type, making use of only one of the contact blades of the connector ; - Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12 in Fig ure 1 1 ; - Figure 1 3 is a sectional view on the line 1 3-1 3 in Figure 1 1 ; - Fig u res 1 4 and 1 5 are views similar to those in Fig u res 1 and 2 , which illustrate a second embod iment of a n electrical connector for a smart card , which includes a switch of the normally-closed type with two semi-permanent contact points ; - Figure 16 is a detailed view which illustrates one of the contact blades of the connector before it is inserted into the insulating support ; - Figure 17 is a view similar to that in Fig ure 1 5, in which the connector is illustrated with a smart card in the contact position ; - Fig ures 1 8 to 21 are views similar to those in Figures 14 to 17, which illustrate a first variant of the second embod iment of the switch of the normally-closed type, comprising only one permanent contact point ; - Fig ures 22 and 23 are views similar to those in Figures 14 and 15, which illustrate a second variant of the second embodiment of the switch of the normally-closed type, making use of only one of the contact blades of the connector ; - Figure 24 is a sectional view on the line 24-24 in Fig ure 22 ; and - Figure 25 is a diagram which illustrates the standard ized arrangement of the contact pads on a M I CROSI M card . Fig ures 1 to 4 show an electrical connector 50 for connecting a smart card C (see Figure 3) . The connector 50 consists essentially of a generally plate-shaped support 52 made of insulating material which is bounded by an approximately plane horizontal upper face 54 and by a parallel and opposed lower face 56 which is, for example, designed to bear vertically against the facing upper face of a printed-circuit board (not shown) belong ing to the device which is equipped with the connector 50. I n the example illustrated in the figures , the upper face 54 of the insulating support 52 extends opposite the parallel lower face 58 belonging to a plate-shaped element 60 of the device which is equipped with the connector 50, this lower face 58 with the upper face 54 defining a slot 62 for longitudinal insertion of the card C in a direction I parallel to the general plane of the card and to the faces 54 and 58. The card C may thus be inserted here from the rear forwards, that is to say from the left-hand side to the right- hand side, in Fig ures 2 and 3, into the slot 62 , the longitudinal positioning of the card in its contact position illustrated in Figure 3 being , for example, determined by the front transverse edge 64 of the card butting against a corresponding stop 66 belonging to the element 60. According to a known desig n , the lower horizontal main face 68 of the card C includes contact pads Ci (see Figure 25) for con necting the integ rated circuit(s) contained in the card to a read/write circuit (not shown) via the connector 50. When the card is in its contact position illustrated in Figure 3, that part of its upper face 68 having the contact pads lies vertically opposite the main part of the connector illustrated in Figure 1 , which has a general design symmetry with respect to a vertical and transverse mid-plane P. According to a known desig n , this main part has contact blades 70 each made of an elastically deformable conducting material. Each blade 70 has an intermediate part 72 for mounting it in and fixing it to the insulating support. A contact blade 70 is illustrated in detail in Figures 16 and 20. On each side of its intermediate fixing part 72, each contact blade 70 has, on the one hand , a free connection end 74 and , on the other hand , a free contact end 76 belonging to a free end part 78 which is able to be elastically deformed , that is to say to bend in the manner of a beam , with respect to the intermediate fixing part 72. As may be seen in Figure 1 , and according to the teachings of the invention , the connector 50 here has eight contact blades 70 which are longitudinally aligned in pairs with their free contact ends 76 arranged back-to-back on each side of the plane of symmetry P. I n the first example embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 , three pairs of contact blades form conventional signal contact blades, that is to say blades able to engage with contact pads on the card C, while the fourth pair of contact blades, that is to say the pair at the bottom in Figure 1 , is used to form a switch 80 for detecting the presence of the card C in the contact or connection position . However, accord ing to the teachings of the invention, the two associated contact blades for forming the switch 80 are in every aspect identical to the other contact blades both in terms of their shape and structure and in the way in which they are mounted in the insu lating support. I n addition to the two conventional-type contact blades 70 and 76 , the switch 80, which here is of the normally-open type, essentially consists of a switch blade 82 which is made from a cut and folded sheet of conducting material. As may be seen in Fig ure 2, the rest position of each contact blade 70, whether this be a signal contact blade or a blade associated with the switch 80, is such that its free domed-shaped contact end 76 - in the form of an upside-down spoon - has its convex side facing upwards and projects vertically above the plane of the upper face 54. For this purpose , each free end part 78 is pressed elastically into bearing contact, in the example shown , with the end nose 77 of each blade so as to bear against a surface portion formed opposite it in the corresponding edge of the cavity or hole 79 in the insulating support 52 which houses the corresponding free end contact part 78 and which allows the end 76 to project above the support 52. I n the first example embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 , the switch blade 82 is of longitudinally elongate general shape and has a central plate-shaped fixing portion 84 which is fixed to the upper face 54 of the i nsulting support 52. More specifically, this upper face has a recess 55 housing the central fixing portion 84 , the latter having a hole 86 th roug h which a positioning and fixing stud 88 passes, this being a stud made of plastic and moulded as one piece with the insulating support 52, the operation of fixing and holding the switch blade 82 in place being accomplished by hot crimping the upper head 90 of the stud 88. I n its rest position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, that is to say in the absence of a card and so as to form a switch of the normally-open type, the two opposed longitudinal branches B 1 and B2 of the switch blade 82 each extend opposite and above the free contact end 76 of the associated blade 70 without being in electrical contact with the latter. Each of the branches B 1 and B2 has a curved profile complementary to that of the contact ends 76, the convex side of each branch B 1 and B2 facing upwards. The branches B 1 and B2 project vertically above the plane of the upper face 54 of the insulating support 52 and each branch B 1 , B2 is able to be elastically deformed downwards, in the manner of a bending beam , in order to come into contact with and bear on the free contact end 76 of the associated contact blade 70. The domed profile of the ends of the branches B1 and B2 which project vertically above the upper plane of the insulating support 52 is optimized , especially with regard to materials selection , in order to control the friction coefficients, and with regard to the shapes and angles so as to red uce the force necessary for inserting the card , the resultant of the forces applied by a branch to the card thus being such that it tends to incline downwards, without the risk of compressing it long itud inally. This is because, as may be seen in Fig ure 3 , when the card C is present, the branches B1 and B2 are firstly elastically deformed because of the engagement of the front transverse edge 64 of the card C with these branches B 1 and B2 and are then held in the deformed position as they bear elastically against the lower face 68 of the card C . The deformation of the branches B 1 and B2 firstly results in them coming into contact with the contact ends 76 of the associated blades 70 and then it also makes the latter bend vertically downwards, the engagement between the contact surfaces of these components moreover providing a self-cleaning effect during the switching phase. I n the example illustrated in the fig u res, the card C firstly causes the branch B2 to bend , in order to establish a first contact point P2 between the branch B2 and the end 76 of the associated contact blade 70, and then a second contact point P 1 between the branch B 1 and the other contact blade 70. When the two contact points P 1 and P2 are established , the switching circuit is closed , that is to say there is electrical continuity between the connection ends 74 of the two contact blades 70 used to prod uce the switch 80 in association with the switch blade 82. In the variant illustrated in Figure 4, the two branches B 1 and B2 of the switch blade 82 are of the same type as those illustrated previously with reference to Fig ures 1 to 3, but they are not aligned longitudinally, that is to say each of them engages with a contact end 76 belong ing to two contact blades 70 which are not aligned in a pair but each of which lies on one side of the transverse plane of symmetry P. Likewise, in the variant illustrated in Fig ures 6 and 7, the two branches B2 and B 1 engage with free contact ends 76 belonging to contact blades 70 which are not longitudinally aligned in pairs but which here are two transversely adjacent contact blades 70 lying on the same side of the transverse plane of symmetry P. In the variants illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the switch blade 82 is fixed to the upper face 54 of the insulating support 52 by means of two crimped studs 88 - 90 arranged at the opposite transverse ends of the fixing portion 84 of the switch blade 82. The variant illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 illustrates a con nector 50 provided with a switch 80 of the normally-open type which is very similar to the first embodiment illustrated in Fig ures 1 to 3. However, this variant d iffers from the first embodiment in that the design and positioning of the switch blade 82 is unsymmetrical with respect to the transverse plane of symmetry P, that is to say it is generally offset to the left in Fig ure 8 and its opposed branches B 1 and B2 are of different design and have a different function. This is because, as may be seen in Figures 8 and 9, the branch B2 is shorter than the branch B 1 and is designed always to be in contact with the free contact end 76 of the associated contact blade 70 so that the contact point P2 between these two elements is a permanent contact point. As may be seen in Figure 9, the longitud inal free end 94 of the branch B2 is locked under a facing part 95 of the edge of the facing cavity 79 and the branch B2 thus always lies below the plane of the upper face 54 of the insulating support 52 , the quality of the permanent contact point P2 being good because the free end part 78 is permanently under elastic stress which thus presses the end 76 into elastic bearing contact against the lower face of the branch B2. On the other hand the general design of the longer other branch B 1 is generally similar to that of the branches B 1 mentioned previously, that is to say the elastically deformable branch of the switch blade 82 which , under the action of the card C, and as may be seen in Fig ure 1 0 , will close the switching circuit by coming into bearing contact against the free contact end 76 of the associated contact blade 70. The fact of having a longer switching branch B 1 makes it possible to increase its bending capability and its bending deflection , thus improving the reliability and the performance of the switching function . Since the contact point P2 is permanent, it is the making or breaking of the other contact point P 1 which determines the closing or opening of the switch ing circuit. The final variant of a switch of the normally-open type is illustrated in Figures 1 1 to 1 3 which show a connector whose switch 80 has only a single switching branch B 1 which , therefore, thus engages only with the contact end 76 of only one of the contact blades 70 carried by the insulating support 52. This design thus makes it possible to use all the other contact blades 70 for forming signal contact blades each able to engage with one of the seven other contact pads on the chip of the card C. The single contact pad no longer usable in this embodiment is preferably the standardized contact pad " C6" which is a " non-working" pad on the card C . This pad C6 is illustrated in Figure 25 in the case of a MIC ROSI M card , a similar arrangement being provided in the case of a large standardized smart card . I n order to complete the switching circuit, the switch blade 82 has a connection output or terminal 1 00 which here is made at one of its transverse ends and which may be connected to a corresponding cond ucting track (not shown) of the printed-circuit board on which the connector 50 is mounted . By way of a variant, each of the transverse ends may have a connection lead 100. A first example, of a switch of the normally-closed type, that is to say normally closed in the absence of a card C, will now be described with reference to Figures 14 to 17. The design of the switch 80 illustrated in these figures is generally of the same type as that of the first example embodiment of a normally-open switch illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. Thus, the switch blade 82 is of symmetrical design and has two longitudinally opposed branches B 1 and B2, each of which engages via its free end with the contact end 76 of an associated contact blade 70. The two branches B 1 and B2 of the switch blade 82 extend substantially in a horizontal plane and they are here both rigid or fixed , that is to say the operation of the switch does not rely on the elastic deformation of one or other of the branches B1 and B2 of the switch blade 82. This is because, as may be seen in Fig ure 15, once the insulating support 52 has been mounted , the shape and the position of the switch blade 82 are such that the domed contact ends 76 of the contact blades 70 associated with the switch blade 82 in order to form the switch 80 are in elastic bearing contact against the opposed free ends of the branches B 1 and B2 in order to form two semi-permanent contact points P 1 and P2 in the absence of the card C. When the card C is inserted into the slot 62 in the d irection I , its front transverse edge 64 engages, as in the case of signal contact blades 70 not associated with the switch blade 82, with the convex faces of the domed ends 76 in order to cause the free end parts 78 to bend elastically downwards and therefore to open the switching circuit made beforehand between the connection outputs 74 of the two associated contact blades 70 for making the switch 80, i.e. to break the contact points P 1 and P2. I n the example illustrated in Figures 1 5 to 17, it is firstly the contact point P2 which is broken , causing the switching circuit to open , and then it is the other contact point P 1 which is broken , thus " confirming" this opening . When the card is removed , the contact points P 1 and P2 are successively re-established in this order, the re- establishment of the latter point of contact P2 again causing the switching circuit to close and indicating the removal of the card C which is no longer in the contact position . The central fixing part 84 of the switch blade 82 is arranged so as to be set back vertically downwards with respect to the plane of the upper face 54 of the insulating support and the shape of the branches B 1 and B2 makes it possible to guarantee that, in the presence of the card C and as may be seen especially in Figure 17, all of the switch blade 82 is arranged vertically set back from the upper plane 54 of the insulator 52 so as to prevent any accidental short-circuit between the facing contact pads on the card C and the switch blade 82. The variant illustrated in Figures 18 to 21 of the first example embodiment of a switch of the normally-closed type illustrated in Fig ures 1 5 to 17 is of the same type as the variant illustrated and described beforehand with reference to Figures 8 to 10, that is to say the switch blade 82 is of an unsymmetrical desig n with respect to the transverse plane of symmetry P. As may be seen in Figures 1 9 and 21 , the longer branch B2 extends long itudinally above the free contact end 76 of the associated contact blade 70 so that the correspond ing contact point P2 between these two elements is a permanent contact point in the absence or presence of a card C. On the other hand , the other branch B 1 is of the same size and same desig n as that described with reference to Fig ures 15 to 17, that is to say it forms the branch providing the switching function in combination with the free contact end 76 of the associated contact blade 70. The switching circuit, which is normally closed between the two contact blades 70 , that is to say between their two free connection ends 74, is opened by the front transverse edge 64 of the card C engaging with the free contact end 76 of the contact blade 70 associated with the branch B 1 , this engagement causing the free end part 78 to bend vertically downwards and resulting in the d isappearance of the contact point P 1 . When the card C is removed , the contact point P 1 is reestablished and the switching circuit is again closed . It may be seen that, in this variant, the edge 64 never engages with the branch B2 which lies in the plane of the upper face 54 of the insu lating support 52. Lastly, the final variant of a normally-closed switch , illustrated in Figures 22 to 24, will now be described . As in the case of the variant of a switch of the normally- open type illustrated in Figures 1 1 to 1 3 , this involves prod ucing a switch 80 using a switch blade 82 which engages on ly with the free contact end 76 of a single contact blade 70 of the connector 50. As in the case ill ustrated previously, the switch blade 82 has on ly a single switching branch B 1 for normally, that is to say in the absence of a card , establishing a point of contact P1 with the free contact end 76 of the associated contact blade 70 , the switching circuit being open in the presence of a card . The switching circuit is then open between the con nection end 74 of the associated contact blade 70 and the connection output end 1 00 which is a transverse end of the switch blade 82. The central branch B 1 is only associated with a single signal contact blade 70. When the switch is opened , by inserting the card C, the associated contact blade 70 for forming the switch 80 may again be used as a sig nal contact blade insofar as its first use as a blade belonging to the switching circuit is always prior to its use as a signal contact blade, the insertion of the card always causing the switching circuit to open , the reverse seq uence also being respected when d isengag ing or removing the card C. I n this config uration of a switch of the normally-closed type, it is therefore conceivable to prod uce the switch function for detecting the presence of the card C with an " unavailable" contact blade 70, that is to say with a contact blade normally used for being connected to a functional contact pad on the integrated-circuit board , this use being accomplished with an electronic circuit for compatible use and application , for example for connection to an earth plane. Apart from the fact that the construction of the switch 80 according to the teachings of the invention makes use of conventional-type contact blades 70 which are all the same as each other, this design also makes it possible to retain the manufacturing process for the connector, especially when the contact blades are fitted by inserting them longitud inally into the insulating support, even if the switch blades have been fitted beforehand into the upper face of the insulating supports, as will be easily understood when considering the figures. If the contact blades 70 were fitted before the switch blade 82 was fitted , no other operation is req uired on the contact blades 70 in order to allow the switch blade 82 to be fitted subsequently. Of course, according to one of the objectives of the invention , the design of the blade-type switch 80 according to the invention can be applied whatever the direction of insertion of the card C with respect to the insulating support 52.

Claims: CLAI MS 1 . Electrical con nector (50) for connecting a contact- type integrated-circuit card or smart card (C) comprising a lower plane face (68) provided with contact pads, of the type comprising an insulating support (52) bounded by an approximately plane upper face (54) , from above which a series of contact ends (76) projects vertically, each of which belongs to the free end part (78) of an elastically deformable contact blade (70) carried by the insulating support, each free end part (78) being elastically deformed downwards by the card when the latter is brought into a contact position in which each contact end (76) bears elastically against a facing portion of the lower face (68) of the card (C) , especially against a contact pad , of the type in which each contact blade (70) has another free end (74) for connection , and of the type comprising an electrical switch (80) for detecting the presence of a card (C) in the contact position, comprising a switch blade (82) made of cond ucting material which is fixed to the insulating support (52, 54) and which has at least a first branch (B 1 ) which extends opposite an upper portion (76) of a free end part (78) belonging to an elastically deformable blade (70) made of conducting material which is carried by the insulating support (52) and which has a free connection end , the first branch (B 1 ) of the switch blade (82) being able or u nable to engage with this portion depending on whether or not a card (C) is present in the contact position in order to make or break, or to break or make, an electrical switching circuit between the connection end (74) of the blade (70) having the said portion (76) and the switch blade (82), characterized in that the blade (70) having the said portion (76) is identical to the contact blades (70) of the connector (50) and in that the said portion is the contact end (76) of the said blade (70). 2. Connector accord ing to the preceding claim, characterized in that the switch blade (82) has a second branch (B2) which extends opposite the contact end (76) of another contact blade (70) of the connector in order to make or break an electrical switching circuit between the connection ends (76) of the two contact blades (70) associated with the switch blade (82, B 1 , B2). 3. Connector according to the preceding claim , characterized in that the contact ends (76) of the contact blades (70) of the connector are longitudinally aligned in pairs. 4. Connector accord ing to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact ends (76) of the said two associated contact blades (70) belong to a pair of longitudinally aligned ends. 5. Connector according to Claim 3, characterized in that the contact ends (76) of the said two associated contact blades (70) do not belong to a pair of longitud inally aligned ends. 6. Connector according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 , characterized in that the second branch (B2) of the switch blade (82) is always in electrical contact with the contact end (76) of the associated contact blade in order to establish a permanent electrical contact point (P2) between these two elements (B2, 76) , while the first branch (B 1 ) of the switch blade is able or unable to engage with the contact end (76) of the associated contact blade in order to establish or not establish another electrical contact point (P 1 ) between these two elements (B 1 , 76) . 7. Electrical connector according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the switch blade (82) has at least one free connection end ( 1 00) . 8. Electrical connector according to any one of the preced ing claims, characterized in that the electrical switch ing circuit is open in the absence of a card (C) in the contact position and is closed in the presence of a card (C) in the contact position . 9. Connector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the switch blade (82) has at least one movable branch (B 1 ) which, in the presence of a card (C) in the contact position , is elastically deformed in order to establish an electrical contact point (P 1 ) with the contact end (76) of the contact blade (70) associated with th is branch (B 1 ) . 10. Electrical connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electrical switching circuit is closed in the absence of a card (C) in the contact position and is open in the presence of a card (C) in the contact position . 1 1 . Connector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the switch blade (82) has at least one fixed branch (B 1 ) against which the contact end (76) of the associated contact blade (70) bears elastically in the absence of a card (C) in the contact position , in order to establish an electrical contact point (P 1 ) between these two elements, and in that the presence of a card (C) in the contact position causes the said contact end (76) to move vertical ly downwards in order to take the latter away from the fixed branch (B 1 ) of the switch blade (82). 12. Connector accord ing to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switch blade (82) has a fixing part (84) which is fixed to the upper face (54, 55) of the insulating support (52) of the connector (50). 13. Connector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the switch blade (82) has a plate-shaped fixing part (84) which bears vertically against a facing portion (55) of the upper face (54) of the insulating support (52) to which insulating support it is fixed by hot crimping an upper head (90) of a fixing and positioning stud (88) which passes th roug h a hole (86) in the fixing part (84) . 14. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each contact end of a contact blade is an end (76) having an upwardly convex domed profile. 1 5. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when a card is present in the contact position the entire switch blade lies vertically below the plane of the upper face (54) of the insulating support (52) in order to avoid any risk of a short-circuit between the contact pads on the lower face of the card (C) and parts of the switch blade (82) .

Inventors: BRICAUD HERVE, PIZARD YVES, BRICAUD, HERVE, PIZARD, YVES
Applicants: BRICAUD HERVE, ITT MFG ENTERPRISES INC, PIZARD YVES, BRICAUD, HERVE, ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES, INC., PIZARD, YVES
Application year: 1999
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: G06K7, G06K17, H01R12, H01R13