Patent Publication Number: US-8113885-B2

Title: Portable assembly having a subscriber identification module

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED-APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/425,497, filed Apr. 17, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a portable assembly having a subscriber identification module. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Subscriber identification modules are used in wireless transceivers to assign unique identifiers for each subscriber or user of the wireless transceiver. Further, the subscriber identification module may be associated with a network service provider or a wireless access provider or the level of service available for a particular subscriber. Accordingly, there is need for a portable assembly having a subscriber identification module for reliably adding a subscriber identification module to a wireless device or transceiver, consistent with resistance to shock, vibration, and thermal stress. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical assembly (e.g., an electrical connector assembly) comprises a housing, where the housing has an inner housing and a removable outer housing removably connected to the inner housing. A first connector portion is secured to the inner housing. The first connector portion comprises a dielectric body and connector terminals. A subscriber identification module is supported by the inner housing. The subscriber identification module has device terminals. A group of conductors or a conductor assembly supports the electrical connection of the connector terminals to the device terminals. A holder retains the subscriber identification module with respect to the inner housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a cross sectional perspective view of a first embodiment of an assembly having a subscriber identification module. 
         FIG. 1B  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the assembly in accordance with  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is another exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of an assembly in accordance with  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of an assembly having a subscriber identification module. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the assembly in accordance with  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is an exploded, perspective view of the second embodiment of the assembly in accordance with  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of an assembly in accordance with  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2E  is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the assembly in accordance with  FIG. 2A . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with a first embodiment of the assembly  11 ,  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 1C , illustrate a housing  10  having a first side  14  and a second side  16 . A central recess  36  is disposed within the housing  10  on the second side  16 . At least a portion of an electrical connector  28  is secured to the housing  10 . The electrical connector  28  has connector terminals  55 . A subscriber identification module (SIM)  12  is located within the housing  10  in the central recess  36 . The subscriber identification module  12  has device terminals  57 . A conductor or flexible substrate  30  electrically connects the connector terminals  55  to the device terminals  57 . A protective filler  38  overlies or contacts the subscriber identification module  12  and at least part of the conductor or flexible substrate  30 . For example, the protective filler  38  is located in or fills (completely or partially) what would otherwise be an air volume in the central recess  36 . 
     The housing  10  includes a first side  14  and a second side  16  opposite the first side  14 . In the second side  16 , there is a central recess  36  and a peripheral recess  18  surrounding the central recess  36 . The housing  10  further comprises a flange  34  for securing the housing  10  and the assembly  11  to a mounting surface  32 , for example. The housing  10  secures a first connector portion  22  via a fastener, adhesive bonding, a press fit, or other mechanical retention mechanism (e.g., spring loaded ring or compression spring in a slot). 
     The electrical connector  28  comprises a first connector portion  22  that mates with a second connector portion  24 . Each connector portion ( 22 ,  24 ) comprises a dielectric body and conductors having connector terminals  55  and mating terminals. The mating terminals  59  of the first connector portion  22  physically contact and electrically contact the mating terminals of the second connector portion  24  to allow the reliable transmission of electrical signals within the voltage and current ratings of the connector. In one embodiment, the electrical connector  28  supports a group of connector terminals for a subscriber identification module. For example, the group of connector terminals may comprise one or more of the following: a reset input terminal, a clock input terminal, a ground terminal, a clock output terminal, a data input terminal, a data output terminal, and power input. The input and output terminals may be arranged for serial input or output of digital signal levels, for example. Although  FIG. 1A  illustrates the second connector portion  24  as a surface mount device mounted on substrate  26  (e.g., a circuit board), different configurations of the connector and the second connector portion  24  may be used including surface mount, through-hole mounting, or otherwise. 
     The subscriber identification module (SIM  12 ) comprises an electronic device that is capable of communication with a wireless transceiver or terminal. In one embodiment, the SIM  12  comprises electronic memory (e.g., nonvolatile random access memory) and a card interface circuit (e.g., logic circuit) for wireless transceivers or terminals. For example, the SIM  12  may comprise a smart card that supports storage and retrieval of user data. The SIM  12  device may facilitate storage of user data, such as a user identifier, user location, user subscriber number (e.g., phone number) or user electronic address, network authorization data, user contact lists, stored text messages, user security data, and user passwords. The SIM  12  device may provide a personality to the associated electronics device based on the data stored within the SIM  12 , where the personality tailors the electronics device to particular user preferences, particular user data, particular user settings, a particular selection of user programmable features, or particular functionality. 
     The SIM  12  is associated with a group of device terminals  57 . For example, the group of device terminals  57  may comprise one or more of the following: a reset input terminal, a clock input terminal, a ground terminal, a clock output terminal, a data input terminal, a data output terminal, and power input. 
     In one embodiment, the SIM  12  is mounted on an interior wall of the central recess  36  and the volume between the SIM  12  and the first connector portion  22  is filled with a filler  38 . The SIM  12  may be adhesively bonded or secured to the central recess  36  or on an interior wall of the central recess  36 . The housing  10  provides a rigid shell that protects the SIM  12  from mechanical or environmental damage on one side, and the filler  38  dampens vibrations. In one exemplary embodiment, the filler  38  may comprise an elastomer, resilient polymer or other resilient material to dampen vibration. In another exemplary embodiment, the filler  38  may comprise ceramic particles in an elastomeric matrix or polymeric matrix to promote heat dissipation from the SIM  12  device. 
     Conductors  30  (e.g., of a flexible substrate) electrically connect the connector terminals  55  to the device terminals  57 . In one embodiment, the conductors are formed integrally in or on a flexible dielectric substrate  30 . The combination of the flexible dielectric substrate  30  and the conductors may comprise a flexible circuit board. A flexible circuit board generally comprises a flexible or pliable dielectric layer with one or more conductive traces (e.g., metallic traces) on one or more sides. In one embodiment, the flexible dielectric substrate  30  may be formed of polyamide or a similar polymer or plastic material. The conductive traces may be formed by electrodeposition, adhesively bonded metallic foil, adhesively bonded conductive wire, wire molded or buried in the substrate  30  by application of heat, pressure, or otherwise. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the conductor may comprise one or more of the following: wires, insulated wires, a cable, a multi-conductor cable, twisted pairs of wire, or the like that are adhesively bonded to the flexible dielectric substrate  30 . 
     The conductors, the flexible substrate  30 , or both support some movement of the SIM  12 , where the SIM  12  is mounted, partially or entirely, in the filler  38  to provide vibration dampening and vibration reduction of the filler  38 . Accordingly, the assembly  11  fosters reliability because the conductors or flexible substrate  30  or flexible circuit board is capable of movement in a manner that supports dampening of movement of the SIM  12  by the filler  38 . 
     The assembly  11  is capable of mounting on a mounting surface  32  with a protrusion  20  that mates with or engages a peripheral recess  18  in the housing  10 . In one embodiment, the protrusion  20  aligns the first connector portion  22  and the second connector portion  24  for interlocking engagement. A seal  61  may be placed in the peripheral recess  18  to hermetically seal the assembly  11  to the mounting surface  32  of an electronic device. The combination of the protrusion  20 , the peripheral recess  18  and the seal  61  provide protection against the environment, including salt, fog, moisture, and vibration. In one embodiment, the seal  61  comprises an elastomer (e.g., an O-ring), a resilient polymer or resilient plastic material. The flange  34  supports attachment to the mounting surface  32  via one or more fasteners. For example, in one configuration, the housing  10  has one or more bores  40  that support attachment of the assembly  11  via one or more fasteners. 
     The manufacturing process for the assembly  11  of  FIG. 1A  may be carried out as follows. First, the electrical connector  28  or the first connector portion  22  is soldered, fused or electrically connected to one end of the flexible substrate  30  and then the SIM  12  is soldered, fused or electrically connected to the other end of the flexible substrate  30 . Second, the SIM  12  may be glued or adhesively connected to an interior wall of the central recess  36 . Third, the SIM  12  may be potted or the recess filled with a filler  38 , as previously described. 
       FIG. 2A  through  FIG. 2E , inclusive, illustrate a second embodiment of an assembly  111 . Like reference numbers in  FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 2E , inclusive, indicate like elements. 
     In accordance with  FIG. 2A  through  FIG. 2C , inclusive, an electrical assembly  111  (e.g., an electrical connector assembly) comprises a housing  110 , where the housing has an inner housing  65  and a removable outer housing  63  removably connected to the inner housing  65 . For example, the inner housing  65  may comprise one or more mounting rails  198  (in  FIG. 2B ) that engage or slip into corresponding recesses  199  (in  FIG. 2C ) within the outer housing assembly  63 . The recesses  199  (in  FIG. 2C ) are bounded by secondary mounting rails  98  or walls within an interior  97  of the outer housing  63 . A first connector portion  22  (in  FIG. 2A ) is secured to the inner housing  65 . The first connector portion  22  comprises a dielectric body  204  and connector terminals  55  (in  FIG. 2A ). A subscriber identification module (SIM)  112  is supported by the inner housing  65 . The subscriber identification module  112  has device terminals  57 . A group of conductors or a conductor assembly  130  facilitates an electrical connection of the connector terminals  55  to the device terminals  57 . As shown, a metal conductor (indicated with dashed lines) within an electrically insulating jacket is shown in  FIG. 2A , although in practice multiple conductors (or more than one insulating jacket) may be present. Although the conductor assembly  130  may directly electrically connect the connector terminals  55  to the device terminals  57  in one configuration, in another configuration (as illustrated in  FIG. 2A ) the conductor assembly  130  may electrically connect connector terminals  55  to the device terminals  57  via an electrically conductive path (e.g., conductive metallic traces and conductive metallic vias) through one or more dielectric substrates (e.g.,  200 ,  67  and  201 ). A holder  161  retains the subscriber identification module  112  with respect to the inner housing  65 . For example, the holder  161  may removably or releasably retain the subscriber identification module  112 . 
     In one embodiment, the outer housing  63  comprises a removable cover with a hollow central portion  97  for receiving and containing the subscriber identification module  112  mounted on the inner housing  65 . In one configuration, the outer housing  63  comprises a retainer with openings  96  that engage corresponding protrusions  69  in the inner housing  65  to removably connect the outer housing  63  to the inner housing  65 . The outer housing  63  may elastically deform (in the region of the openings  96 ) such that the sides or walls of the outer housing  63  pass over the protrusions  69  until they catch (or releasably lock) in one or more corresponding openings  96 , slots or recesses in a wall of the outer housing  63 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , there is a peripheral recess  118  formed by the mating of the inner housing  65  and the outer housing  63 , wherein the peripheral recess  118  has a seal  60  for preventing the ingress of moisture, debris or contamination, or foreign material. The flange  134  facilitates sealing of the inner housing  65  to the outer housing  63  (e.g., at a butt joint or a lap joint) to form a hermetic or moisture resistant seal in conjunction with the seal  60 . 
     The outer housing  63  and inner housing  65  may be composed or formed of a plastic, a polymer, a fiber-reinforced plastic, a fiber-reinforced polymer, or another suitable electrically insulating material. However, in an alternate embodiment, the outer housing  63  and inner housing  65  may be composed of a metal or an alloy. 
     The removable outer housing  63  advantageously supports the convenient removal of the subscriber identification module  112 . For example, the subscriber identification module  112  is capable of being replaced by removing the outer housing  63  and releasing the subscriber identification module  112  from the holder  161 . Further, the removable outer housing  63  supports the ready and convenient replacement of the subscriber identification module  112  even while the electrical assembly  111  is in place and mounted to an electronic device  95  (in  FIG. 2C  and  FIG. 2E ) via a second flange  75  on the electrical device or electronic device  95 . 
     The holder  161  may be configured or arranged such that the subscriber identification module  112  slides frontward (i.e., to the left in  FIG. 2A  or toward the first connector portion  22 ) or rearward (e.g., to the right in  FIG. 2A  or away from the first connector portion  22 ) upon release of the holder  161  to remove the subscriber identification module  112  from the holder  161 . The holder  161  may hold the subscriber identification module  112  in place by compression, a press-fit, a resiliently biased member (e.g., an elastomer or a spring), or another suitable arrangement. As shown in  FIG. 2A , a longitudinal axis  77  (indicated by the dashed line) of the subscriber identification module  112  is mounted generally parallel to and inwardly from an upper side or upper wall  207  of the outer housing  63 . If the subscriber identification module  112  is generally polyhedral or shaped like a thin card, the face of the card (e.g., with the greatest surface area) generally lies in the horizontal plane when mounted as shown in  FIG. 2E , for instance. In one embodiment, the holder  161  may comprise a hollow metal cage  209  with a SIM substrate  200  associated with an interior bottom portion of the holder  161 . 
     In one arrangement, the first connector portion  22  comprises a plug or a socket. The second connector portion  24  engages the first connector portion  22  to support an electrical and mechanical connection between conductors with the connector portions ( 22 ,  24 ). The second connector portion  24  may be mounted on or associated with a substrate  26  (e.g., a circuit board) of an electronic or electrical device  95 . 
     In one configuration, the device terminals  57  may comprise conductive pads. The conductors or conductor assembly  130  may be implemented in accordance with various configurations. In one configuration, the conductor assembly  130  is formed integrally in or on a flexible dielectric substrate. For example, the flexible dielectric substrate may comprise a polyimide substrate with metal conductive traces adhesively bonded thereto with a suitable adhesive or metal conductors embedded into a thermosetting or thermoplastic polyimide substrate in a thermal process. In another configuration, the conductors  130  comprise wires or a multi-wire cable with solid or stranded conductors and suitable insulating jackets. As illustrated, the conductor assembly  130  of the conductor assembly in  FIG. 2A  represents the side view of a wire, cable or flexible substrate. 
     The electrical connection between the device terminals  57  of subscriber identification module  112  and the connector terminals  55  is made via the conductors of the conductor assembly  130 , among other components illustrated in  FIG. 2A . The conductors of the conductor assembly  130  terminate at the connector terminals  55  and at intermediate conductors  205  associated with the second dielectric substrate  201 . The intermediate conductors  205  support an electrically conductive path to the devices terminals of the SIM  112 . The second dielectric substrate  201  and the first dielectric substrate  67  have intermediate conductors  205  that form an electrical connection when the inner housing  65  is joined with the outer housing  63 . In one arrangement, the second dielectric substrate  201  is secured to the inner housing  65  and the intermediate conductors  205  comprise one or more of the following: conductive metal traces on a dielectric substrate, conductive metal vias or though-holes in a dielectric substrate, or conductive pads or terminals on the dielectric substrate. 
     In one configuration, the intermediate conductors  205  may further comprise an edge connector (e.g., board or card edge connector), such that the first dielectric substrate  67  and the second dielectric substrate  201  are mechanically connected by the edge connector and such that an electrical connection is made or supported between the subscriber identification module  200  and the connector terminals  55  of the first connector portion  22 . 
     The first dielectric substrate  67  has conductive traces  202  and one or more conductive vias  203  to support one or more electrical connections between the intermediate conductors  205  and the device terminals  57  of the subscriber identification module  112 . The conductive vias  203  may comprise metallic-plated, through-holes or conductively filed through-holes in the first dielectric substrate  67 . The holder  161  and its SIM substrate  200  (e.g., dielectric with or without circuit traces, conductive vias, conductive pads, or other conductors) supports reliable electrical connections between the device terminals  57  of the subscriber identification module  112  and the intermediate conductors  205 , consistent with avoiding the potential for short circuits, among other things. For example, the SIM substrate  200  may comprise dielectric layer, a metal conductive layer, and conductive vias to support reliable electrical connections between the device terminals  57  and the intermediate conductor  205 . 
       FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C  are perspective views of the second embodiment of the assembly in accordance with  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2B  illustrates the inner housing  65 , which includes a protrusion  69  or projecting tab for engaging a corresponding opening  69  or recess in the outer housing  63 . The inner housing  65  supports the first connector portion  22  or provides a framework for mounting the first connector portion  22 . The top or upper portion of the inner housing  65  provides a platform, a frame, or a generally planar surface for mounting the holder  161  thereto or supporting the holder  161  thereon. The inner housing  65  has a central bracing member  91  for adding structural rigidity and resisting torsional stress that might otherwise damage the subscriber identification module  112  or electrical connections thereto during the removal of the outer housing  63  from the assembly  111  or otherwise. The mounting rails  198  are configured or adapted in size and shape to mate with the recesses  199  in the outer housing  63 . 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates an exploded, perspective view of the connector assembly of  FIG. 2A . Like reference numbers in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2C  indicate like elements. The inner housing  65  supports the first connector portion  22  and the holder  161 . In turn, the holder  161  supports the subscriber identification module  112 . The mounting rails  198  of the inner housing  65  engage or slide into corresponding recesses  199  in the outer housing  63 , where the recesses  199  are bound by walls  98 . One or more protrusions  69  of the inner housing  65  interlock with corresponding openings  96  in the outer housing  63 . The second connector portion  24  is mounted on a substrate  26  of the electronic device  95 . 
       FIG. 2D  and  FIG. 2E  illustrates the first flange  73  which may be integrally formed as part of the outer housing  63 . The first flange  73  has one or more openings for receiving fasteners  71  to mount the assembly to a mounting surface  132  of an electronic or electrical device  95 .  FIG. 2E  is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of an assembly in accordance with  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2E  shows how the assembly mounts to a second flange  75  via the first flange  73  and fasteners  71 . Further,  FIG. 2E  illustrates the alignment between the first connector portion  22  and the second connector portion  24  to form reliable electrical and mechanical connection between the subscriber identification module  112  and other circuitry of the electrical or electronic device via the connector formed by cooperation of the first connector portion  22  and the second connector portion  24 , for example. 
     Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.