Abstract:
A. SIM card includes a base body, two integrated circuits mounted on the base body, an electrical connector electrically connected to each of the two integrated circuits respectively. A SIM card holder for the SIM card includes a bracket defining a cavity to receive the SIM card, and a terminal connected to each of the electrical connectors respectively. The SIM card and the SIM card holder occupy little space and can be easily assembled and detached.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to a SIM card, a SIM card holder, and an electronic device with the SIM card and the SIM card holder. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A subscriber identity module (SIM) card generally carries an integrated circuit (IC). The SIM card may be installed or otherwise inserted into a mobile communication device (e.g. cellular telephone) which contains subscriber related data. For example, the SIM card is used in the cellular telephone that conforms to the global system for mobile communications (GSM) standard, the third generation code division multiple access (CDMA) standard, or other products, and may include many personal communication services applications. GSM cellular telephones, or other SIM based devices are typically not fully functional without the SIM card being inserted. The SIM card includes a body, an IC having a processor and a memory. The memory stores algorithms and contains data that identifies the caller as being a legitimate user of the mobile network. The processor encrypts voice and data transmissions. 
         [0005]    Typically, the SIM card is maintained within a cellular telephone in a card holder. However, with the increasing amount of features and capabilities provided by the cellular telephone, multiple cards are oftentimes required to provide appropriate functionality and user flexibility. A commonly used multiple SIM card system employs a housing structure where the SIM cards are placed next to each other (e.g. side-by-side) on the circuit board of the cellular telephone. However, using multiple SIM cards this way may increase the overall size of the cellular telephone. With the ever increasing importance of scaling down, or reducing the size of cellular telephones, side-by-side placement of the SIM cards impedes any size reduction efforts. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views, and all the views are schematic. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of one embodiment of a mobile phone with a SIM card and a SIM card holder therein. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the SIM card of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric of the SIM card holder of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram showing the SIM card holder electrically connected the SIM card and a connecting circuit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of a mobile phone  30  includes a main body  31  and a main circuit board  32  received in the main body  31 , a connecting circuit  35 , a SIM card  10 , and a SIM card holder  20  received in the main body  31 . 
         [0014]    An embodiment of a SIM card  10  includes a base body  11 , a first IC  12 , a second IC  13 , a first electrical connector  14  electrically connected to the first IC  12 , and a second electrical connector  15  electrically connected to the second IC  13 . 
         [0015]    The base body  11  is a substantially plastic sheet. A surface of the base body  11  defines two areas  115  to receive the first and second ICs  12 , 13  respectively. The base body  11  may be sufficiently rigid and durable to resist deteriorative environments and protect the SIM card  10  from being deformed. The materials of the base body  11  may be selected from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polyvinylchloride (PVC). 
         [0016]    The first and second ICs  11 , 12  are both used to store algorithms, encrypt voice and data transmissions, and also contain data that identify the caller as being a legitimate user of the mobile network, thus one SIM card  10  is capable of providing all functions commonly supplied by two cards each with only one IC therein. 
         [0017]    The first electrical connector  14  includes a supply voltage (VCC) contact  141 , a reset (RST) contact  142 , a clock signal (CLK) contact  143 , a ground (GND) contact  144 , a programming voltage (VPP) contact  145  and a data input/output (I/O) contact  146 . The second electrical connector  15  is similar to the first electrical connector  14 , and also includes a VCC contact  151 , a RST contact  152 , a CLK contact  153 , a GND contact  154 , a VPP contact  155  and an I/O contact  156 . The contacts of the first and second electrical connectors  14 , 15  are electrically connected to the pins on the first and second ICs  12 , 13  respectively. Since the first and second ICs  12 , 13  are integrated in one base body  11  and placed side-by-side, the SIM card  10  is capable of functioning as two independently commonly used SIM cards which each have only one IC therein. In addition, the distance between the second ICs  12 , 13  can be reduced, and then the amount volume occupied by the SIM card  10  is reduced correspondingly. Thereby, the cost may be cut down due to the amount of material used to form the base body  11  being reduced. Furthermore, the first and second ICs  12 , 13  can be used in different networks or configured with two phone numbers in one network. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an embodiment of a SIM card holder  20  is disclosed. The SIM card holder  20  is used to receive the SIM card  10  and electrically connect the SIM card  10  and the connecting circuit  35 . The SIM card holder  20  includes a bracket  21 , a first terminal  22 , a second terminal  23 , and two fixing assemblies  25 . 
         [0019]    The bracket  21  is substantially rectangular, and includes a top surface  211 , a bottom surface  213  opposite to the top surface  211 , and a side surface  215  connecting the top surface  211  and the bottom surface  213 . The top surface  211  defines a cavity  2112  to receive the SIM card  10 . The bracket  21  may be made of plastic by insert-molding. 
         [0020]    The first terminal  22  is used to electrically connect the first IC  12 , and the second terminal  23  is used to electrically connect the second IC  13 . The first terminal  22  includes a VCC part  221 , a RST part  222 , a CLK part  223 , a GND part  224 , a VPP part  225 , and an I/O part  226 . The second terminal  23  includes a VCC part  231 , a RST part  232 , a CLK part  233 , a GND part  234 , a VPP part  235 , and an I/O part  236 . In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first and second terminals  22 , 23  includes an elastic arcuate sheet connected to the SIM card  10  and a pin  265  formed on the bottom surface  213  corresponding to the arcuate sheet. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a schematic circuit diagram showing the SIM card holder  20  electrically connecting the SIM card  10  and the connecting circuit  35 . Since the RST contacts  221 , 231 , the CLK contacts  223 , 233 , the GND contacts  224 , 234  and the I/O contacts can be coupled with each other and then connected to the connecting circuit  35  correspondingly, the number of contacts can be reduced to eight. Thereby the circuit is simplified, and the volume the SIM card holder  20  occupies reduced. In addition, this has the effect of substantially increasing the amount of available area for other circuits. 
         [0022]    The fixing assembly  25  includes a base sheet  251 , two sidewalls  252  perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the base sheet  251 , and a connecting portion  2521  formed on the end of the sidewall  252 . The base sheet  251  elastically resists on the SIM card  10 , and the two sidewalls  252  are fixed to the two sides  215  of the bracket  21 , such that the SIM card  10  is securely fixed in the cavity  2112 . The connecting portion  2521  is used to connect the SIM card holder  20  to the main body  31 . 
         [0023]    In assembly, the two sidewalls  252  of the fixing assembly  25  are fixed to the two sides of the bracket  21  correspondingly, the SIM card  10  is inserted into the cavity  2112 , at the same time, the base sheet  251  resists on the SIM card  10  elastically from the top. By the elastic force provided by the base sheet  251 , the SIM card  10  resists on the contacts of the first and second terminals  22 , 23 , and then the first electrical connector  14  is electrically connected to the first terminal  22 , and the second electrical connector  15  is connected to the second terminal  23 . To detach the SIM card  10  from the SIM card holder  20 , just draw the SIM card  10  from the cavity  2112 . 
         [0024]    In use, users can select one of the first IC  12  and second IC  13  to work by operating the menu on the display and a selecting signal is produced correspondingly. The main circuit board  32  connects the selected IC in response to the selecting signal. Consequently, users can switch between two phone numbers corresponding to the first and second ICs  12 , 13  to adapt to different users or different regions. 
         [0025]    The connecting circuit  35  includes a switch (not shown) used to switch between the first IC  12  and the second IC  13 . It can be understood that, the connecting circuit  35  also can use a chip select circuit to produce a selecting signal to select either the first IC  12  or the second IC  13 . 
         [0026]    It should be noted that the SIM card  10  may include three or more ICs integrated in the base body  11 , and the SIM card holder  20  providing terminals electrically connected to the ICs correspondingly. 
         [0027]    Finally, while various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.