Abstract:
Disclosed is a smart card connector for transmitting signals between a smart card and an external electronic system, wherein the smart card has contacts on one of two major surfaces thereof, the connector comprising: guiding structure defining a storage space having a first end and an opposed second end, through which second end, the smart card may be inserted, and contact terminals in the storage space for connecting with the contacts of the smart card to be inserted in the storage space; and an ejecting mechanism provided on the guiding structure and being operable to eject the smart card from the storage space. Further disclosed is a compound connector that comprises two types of I/O connectors, one of which I/O connectors may be a smart connector for use with an external electronic system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/918,160, filed on Aug. 13, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/693,751, filed on Oct. 24, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/599,165, filed on Jun. 22, 2000, which claims priority to Taiwan Application No. 89210160, filed on Jun. 14, 2000. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention is related to a smart connector for use with an external electronic system, such as a desktop or laptop computer. The smart connector is provided with a specially designed ejecting mechanism for ejecting a smart card, which is to be inserted in the connector. This invention further discloses a compound connector device comprising two types of I/O connectors, of which one of the I/O connectors may be a smart connector.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     The memory card connector has become indispensable equipment for a portable, or even a desktop computer due to the large amount of various I/O packages that the memory connector is able to work with, such as those as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,890,920, 5,499,925, 5,492,481, 5,368,493, 5,795,190, 5,791 920, 5,871,365, and 6,036,513.  
         [0004]     The memory card connector is advantageous in its detachable feature with a memory card, and provides various I/O packages or hardware connections to the portable or desktop computers. However, it has not been able to work with I/O packages that are equipped with contacts on one of two major surfaces of the packages, such as a smart card or a memory stick.  
         [0005]     Recent developments in the computer industry signal a large movement towards worldwide web applications and the use of electronic money. They have made smart card applications essential in computer applications that involve electronic money transactions. The information stored in the IC chips of smart cards can further serve as identification means for identifying the persons using the smart card and for identifying the persons over the worldwide web.  
         [0006]     Though smart cards have been widely use in the commercial transactions that involve “real money,” difficulties still exist in using smart cards in computer applications due the lack of compatible hardware.  
         [0007]     Further, though various ejecting mechanisms have been developed in the past, for use with the memory cards, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,813, 5,536,180, 5,368,498, 6,030,238, and 5,778,521, they are not appropriate for working with I/O packages that are relatively thin.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is thus a primary object of this invention to provide a specially designed ejecting mechanism that adapts to the relatively thin smart card.  
         [0009]     It is a further object of this invention to provide a smart card connector for use with an external electronic system, such as a desktop or laptop computer, wherein the smart card connector is provided with the specially designed ejecting mechanism for ejecting a smart card, which is to be inserted in the connector.  
         [0010]     It is a further object of this invention to provide a compound connector device for connecting at least one of a first type of I/O electronic package having first contacts on an end edge thereof, and a second type of I/O electronic package having second contacts on one of the two major surfaces thereof.  
         [0011]     It is a further object of this invention to provide a compound connector device that allows the use of a smart card in a desktop or laptop computer, wherein the smart card may serve as identification means for identifying the person using the smart and for identifying the person, or allow “electronic money” transactions over the worldwide web.  
         [0012]     To achieve the above objects, this invention discloses an ejecting mechanism for a smart card connector having a card guiding structure, comprising: an ejection member slidably mounted on the guiding structure and a pivot lever being rotatably mounted on the smart card connector; wherein a sliding motion of the ejection member operates an urging end of the pivot lever to rotate between a first position and a second position within the smart card connector.  
         [0013]     This invention also discloses a smart card connector for transmitting signals between a smart card and an external electronic system, wherein the smart card has contacts on one of two major surfaces thereof, the connector comprising: a guiding structure defining a storage space; and an ejecting mechanism provided on the guiding structure and being operable to eject the smart card from the storage space.  
         [0014]     This invention further discloses a compound connecting device for connecting at least one of a first type of I/O electronic package having first contacts on an end edge thereof, and a second type of I/O electronic package having second contacts on one of the two major surfaces thereof, comprising: a connector section; a first guiding structure extending and defining at least a first storage space for receiving the first type of I/O electronic package; and a second guiding structure affixed to the first guiding structure, and defining at least a second storage space for receiving the second type of I/O electronic package.  
         [0015]     The advantages and features of this invention can be easily comprehended by persons skilled in the art when accompanied with the drawings and detailed explanations. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a compound connector device of this invention, wherein the smart connector incorporating an ejecting mechanism is illustrated in its exploded, perspective view;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an end view showing the compound connector device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a planar view showing the smart card connector after the ejection of a smart card; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a planar view showing the smart card connector after the insertion of a smart connector; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view showing an exemplified memory card connector that may be used in this invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a compound connector device  10  of this invention. The compound connector device  10  includes a first connector  20  for connecting with a first type of I/O electronic package, having first contacts on an end edge thereof, such as a memory card or a compact flash. The compound connector device  10  further includes a second connector  50  for connecting with a second type of I/O electronic package having second contacts on one of two major surfaces thereof, such as a smart card or a memory stick.  
         [0022]     In this embodiment, the first connector may be any of the memory card connectors commonly used in the computer industry, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,890,920, 5,499,925, 5,492,481, 5,368,493, 5,795,190, 5,791 920, 5,871,365, and 6,036,513.  
         [0023]     For illustrative purposes, rather than limiting the scope of this invention, an exemplified memory card connector  20  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  5 . The memory card connector  20  includes a connector section  22  and first guiding structure  24  extending lengthwise from the connector section  22  and defining at least a first storage space  26  for receiving the first type of I/O electronic package  51 , a memory card in this instance. The connector section  22  has a contact array (not shown) for connecting with the first contacts of the first type of I/O electronic package to be inserted in the first storage space  26 .  
         [0024]     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the first guiding structure  24  comprises a pair of sidewalls  242  and guiding means  244 . The side walls  242  are coupled to, and extend from; the connector section  22  in a parallel relation and are spaced at an interval substantially equal to a width of the first type of I/O electronic package. The guiding means  244  longitudinally extends along inner sides of the sidewalls  242 .  
         [0025]     Returning to  FIG. 5 , the memory card connector  20  further includes an ejector  28  provided in the first guiding structure  24  and being operable to eject the first type of I/O electronic package from the first storage space  26 . The ejector  28  comprises a first package-moving element  282 , a slide plate in this embodiment, disposed proximately to the first storage space  26  and being operable to move toward and away from the connector section  22 . The first package-moving element  282  has an engagement member  284  ( FIG. 2 ) that extends into the first storage space  26  to be engaged with a forward end face of the first type of I/O electronic package connected to the contact array.  
         [0026]     The first package-moving element  282  further comprises a moving means for moving the package-moving element  282  towards and away from the connector section to eject the first type of I/O electronic package from the first storage space  26 . The first moving means comprises a first ejection member  2862  and a first pivot lever  2864 . The first ejecting member  2862  is movably mounted on the first guiding structure  24  and is operable to move toward and away from the connector section  22 . The first pivot lever  2864  is rotatably mounted on the first guiding structure  20  and is arranged to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of the first package moving means  282 . One end of the first pivot lever  2864  is coupled to the first package-moving element  282 , and the other end of the first pivot lever  2864  is coupled to the first ejection member  2862 .  
         [0027]     The ejector  28  of the memory card connector may take on many configurations, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,813, 5,536,180, 5,368,498, 6,030,238, and 5,778,521.  
         [0028]     As shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , the second connector is a smart card connector  50 . The smart connector  50  includes a second guiding structure  54  that is affixed to the first guiding structure  24 , and defines at least a second storage space  56  for receiving the second type of I/O electronic package, such as a smart card  52  shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0029]     The second guiding structure  54  comprises a base  542  and a plate  544 . The base  542  is affixed to the first guiding structure  24  and covers at least a portion of the first guiding structure  24 . The base  542  has contact terminals  5422  thereon facing the plate  544  for connecting with the second contacts of the smart card  52 , which is to be inserted in the second storage space  56 . The plate  544  is affixed to the base  542  adjacent the first guiding structure  24 .  
         [0030]     The contact terminals  5422 , best shown in  FIG. 1 , each have a first end  5423  being fixed to the base  542  and a second end  5424  being configured as a cantilever beam for contacting the second contacts of the smart card  52 , which is to be inserted in the second storage space  56 .  
         [0031]     The second connector  50  includes a second ejection member  58  movably mounted on the first  24  or second guiding structure  54  and is able to move towards and away from the connector section  22 . The second connector  50  further includes a second package-moving element  59  that is disposed proximately to the second storage space  56  and movably mounted on the plate  544  and arranged to move in a plane parallel to the plane of the base  542 . One end of the second package-moving element  59  is coupled to the second ejection member  58 .  
         [0032]     If the second ejection member  58  is slidably mounted on said first guiding structure  24 , the second ejection member  58  may further comprise a drive member  582  extending between the first guiding structure  24  and the second guiding structure  54  for moving the package-moving element  59 .  
         [0033]     The second package-moving element  59  has an urging part  592 , preferably configured to a cam shape, that extends into the second storage space  56  to contact with a forward end edge of the smart card  52 , which is to be inserted in the second storage space  56 . In this embodiment, the second package-moving element  59  is a pivot lever and the drive member  582  engages one end of the pivot lever  59  that is rotatable between a first and second position. The first position, or the initial position, of the pivot lever  59  is as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0034]     After inserting a smart card  52  into the smart card connector  50 , the forward end of the smart card  50  urges against the urging part  592  of the pivot member  59 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The second pivot lever  59  is in such a position to prevent the smart card  52  from further insertion into the second storage space  56  and locates the smart card  52  in a position in the second storage place so as to properly align the second contacts with the contact terminals  5422  and to obtain signal alignment of the second contacts and the contact terminals  5422 .  
         [0035]     To eject the smart card  52 , the second ejection member  58  is operated by moving the pivot lever  59  to its the first position, subjecting the urging part  592  of the pivot member  59  to cam towards the forward end of the smart card  52  so as to eject the smart card  52  from the second storage space  56 , such as the initial state shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0036]     To ensure proper alignment between the second contacts and the contact terminals  5422 , the smart connector  50  may further comprise a sensor  60  placed proximately to the second storage space  56  and being operable to provide a signal after full insertion of the smart card  52  into the second storage space  56 .  
         [0037]     Further, the base  542  of the second guiding structure  54  may comprise a connection means  70  for electrically connecting the second guiding structure  50  to the first guiding structure  20 . The connection means  70  may be a flexible cable as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , or fixed connections between the contact terminals and the contact array.  
         [0038]     The base  542  is preferably a PC board; so as to incorporate circuits  72  that electrically connect to the connection means  70 . The plate  544  is, preferably, made of metal so as to shield any interference that may be generated by an external electronic device, such as a desktop or laptop computer, to which the compound connector device  10  is mounted.  
         [0039]     A guiding plate  80  may further extend outwards from the plate  544  in a direction opposing the connector section  22  for guiding the insertion of the smart connector  52 .  
         [0040]     While embodying the smart card connector  20  to an external electronic device, a smart card  52  may be inserted into the smart card connector  50  to serve as an identification means for identifying the person using the smart card or identifying the person over the worldwide web. The smart card  52  may even store data relevant to “electronic money” such that the person who owns the smart card  52  may conduct commercial transactions over the worldwide web.  
         [0041]     While embodying the compound connector device  10  to an external device, the memory card connector  20  may operate as a conventional connector, that is, for receiving a PCMCIA card, whereas the smart card  52  inserted in the smart card connector  50  may serve as a key to the PCMCIA card that is inserted in the memory card connector  20 . In other words, the computer can have access to the contents of the PCMCIA card only if a proper smart card  52  has been inserted into the smart card connector  20 .  
         [0042]     There are still various applications to which the smart card connector  20  or the compound connector device  10  may be used in the computer industry. The above examples are intended for illustrative purposes, rather than limiting the scope of the invention.  
         [0043]     From the invention thus described, it will be obvious that the invention may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications which would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended for inclusion within the scope of the following claims.