GB2302448A - Chip card reader having a switch - Google Patents

Description

1 2302448 Chip Card Reader Having A Sliding Switch The present invention

is directed to a chip card reader or a contacting device for a chip card. in particular, the present invention relates t a sliding switch in a chip card reader.

Chip card readers usually are provided with a number of contact elements forming reading contacts and being adapted to be brought into contact with corresponding contacts on a chip card. Further, chip card readers often have an additional switch which generally comprises two contact elements forming switching contacts which upon switching may either be opened = closed. Such a switch is frequently used as a socallad end position switch. This means that it indicates by its switching state that a chip card is inserted into the chip card reader and has reached its and position.

The switching contacts of said switch are often formed by specially designed contact springs which, for example, are positioned at the rear end, as seen in direction of insertion, of the chip card realer such as on a frame of the chip card reader.

For example, in EP-A-0 468 145 such an end position switch is disclosed which is positioned at the rear end of a chip card reader and may be closed upon insertion of a chip card. This switch uses specially designed contact springs and further requires additional space in a longitudinal extension of the chip card reader, i. e. in the direction of insertion of a chip card.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art switches for chip card readers. In particular, a switch should be provided which requires less specially designed components such as

2 contact springs and thus economizes on production cost. Further, the switch should be arranged in such a manner that it does not require any additional space in order to minimize the size of the chip card reader which is an essential point in nowaday's trand toward miniaturization.

According to the present invention, a chip ca-rd reader, or a switch for a chip card reader, respectively, is provided wherein the switching zontacts (14, 15), or the switching or contact points (60) of said switch (80), respectively, are positioned underneath an inserted chip card and below the contacting plane and are contacted via a short circuit bridge (40).

is The switch of the present invention has the switching contacts formed essentially identical to the reading contacts. Further, the switching contacts, as well as the reading contacts, should be embedded, preferably by injection moulding into a frame of the chip card reader. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the essentially identical reading and switching contacts are manually mounted on said frame of the chip card reader.

According to the present invention, the switching contacts of a switch in the chip card reader, in particular of an end position switch. are formed identically with the reading contacts wherein it is preferably only the bending angle of the switching contacts which is is different. The different bending angle results in the switching contacts which preferably comprise cusps, being disposed below the plane formed by the chip card, i. e. the card plane. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switching contacts are disposed opposite each other, preferably in a similar way as the reading contacts. According to the 3 present invention, a short circuit bridge, or contact bridge, is actuated by the chip card, i. e. it is moved in a sliding manner from an initial position to a switching position. The short circuit bridge is preferably a piece of sheet metal which may be formed by stamping. spring means are provided in order to return the short circuit bridge into its initial position as the chip card is ejected or taken f rom the chip card reader.

Preferably, the reading contacts, as well as the' switching contacts, are held by stops or abutments in their passive position, i. e. in the nonactuated position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spring means which may also be labelled generally as return means or return element for the short circuit bridge, is integrally formed with the contact carrier or frame. This means that the frame or contact carrier which preferably is made of plastic is designed such that the plastic of the ccntact carrier also forms the return means. Alternatively, the return element (spring means) may be present in form of an additional or separate spring.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring means or the return element or spring element is part of the s.hort circuit bridge.

According to another e-mbodiment of the invention, the switch may be formed as a normz,lly closed switch, i. e. the contact elements of the swj.tch are open in the actuated state. Conversely, there is the possibility to provide the switch as a norTnal:.y open switch, i. e. the switching elements are closed Ln the actuated state by the short circuit bridge.

4 According -to a further pref erred embodiment of the invention, the switch is provided as a change-over switch. In this case, another contact pair is used and the user may choose between the use of the switch as a normally closed or a normally open switch.

The short circuit bridge provided according to the present invention is preferably guided in a slot which is formed by the frame or the contact carrier.

is The present invention thus provides a switch at reduced cost. Preferably, said switch is a normally open switch, i. e. it does not allow the flcw of current in its normal or resting position. Further, the switch of the present invention provides a self clearing effect, i. e. it wipes and removes soldering and washing residue or other pollutants whenever an actuaticn of the switch occurs.

Further advantages, objects, ard details of the invention may be gathered from the follodng detailed description of preferred embodiments in view of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a sectional view along line A-B in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a chip card reader with the cover removed; Fig. 3 schematically shows ancther embodiment of the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a chip card reader 10 is shown comprising a frame or contact carrier 11. A plurality of reading contacts 13 are mounted within the contact caLrrier. In the case illustrated, the reading contacts 13 are embedded by injection moulding. However, they could is as well be inserted into corresponding recesses in the frane 11. Further, there are shown switching contacts 14, 15 of an end position switch generally designated with 80, said switching contacts preferably being identical with the reading contacts. Also belonging to the switch 80 is a short circuit bridge 40 which in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 depresses the contacts 14, 15 by means of two switching contact projections or tabs 44, 45 (see Fig. 1) and thus closes the contact between the two switching contacts 14, 15. In the case illustrated, the switch 80 is a normally open svitch, i. e. the end position of the chip card 8 which is to be inserte from the right as seen in Fig. 2 is indicated by the closing of the switch 80. The switching and reading contacts 13, 14, 15 protrude into recesses.21, 22 and are movable therein.

The frame 11 forms a land or rib 70 midway between each pair of the switching and reading contacts said land or rib forming stop surfaces 71 fcr the switching contacts 14, 15 as shown in Fig. 1. At a somewhat elevated position, the land or rib 70 fcrns stop surfaces for the reading contacts 13, said stop surfaces not particularly being shown (see Fig. 1), such that the contact points of the reading contacts 13 are on a higher or more elevated level (or plane) than the contazt points of the switching contacts 14, 15, said reading contacts as well as the switching contacts preferably being formed with contact cusps providing the contact points 60.

A slot is formed within the friane for allowing reciprocating of the short circuit bridge 40; in particular, said slot is formed by projections 50, 51 protruding upwardly (as seen in Fig. 2) from said frame 11 and thus enable guidance of the short circuit bridge 40. At its left end (as seen iii Fig. 2), the short circuit bridge 40 is bent upwardly and forms in this way 6 an abutment or stop 41 for the chip card 8 such that the chip card engages the short circuit bridge and inoves together therewith (from right to left as seen in Fig. 2) into the end position of the chip card 8 shown. Spring means in f o= of a spring 30 engage the right end of the short circuit bridge 40 as seen in Fig. 2, said spring means urging the short circuit bridge 40 to the right against an abutment or stop formed on said frame. Card brakes 28, 29 which are also fermed on said frame tend to hold the card 8 in the end position corresponding to the reading position. Upon pulling or taking out of the card 8 from the chip card reader 10, the spring 30 returns the short circuit bridge 40 into the open position to the right- Preferably, the spring 30 is injection moulded integrally with said frame made of plastic and comprises preferably a pin 31 which engages a recess in said short circuit bridge 40.

A cover 12 may be attached to the frame 11 in any appropriate manner.

Fig. 3 shows a preferred euLbodiment of the switch 80 in form of a changeover switch as wherein here said short circuit bridge 90 being prOVidE.d with projections or tabs such that the switch 89 may be used as a no=ally closed switch as shown above or as a r.ormally open switch as shown below in cooperation witt. switching contacts which are designated 114, 115 and 14, 15 respectively.

It should be noted that during soldering, i. e. when soldering the chip card reader into a circuit such as a printed circuit, the short circuit bridge preferably is not closed.

7 claims:

is 1. chip card reader (10), or switch (80) for a chip card reader, respectively, characterized in that the switching contacts '(14, 15), or the switching or contact points (60) of said switch (80), respectively, are positioned underneath an inserted chip card and below the contacting plane and are contacted via a short circuit bridge (40).

Chip card reader as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that wherein the switching contacts (14, 15) are essentially identical to the reading contacts (13) used.

3.

Chip card reader as set f oith in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shor- circuit bridge (40) contacts said switching contacts (14, 15) in a wiping manner.

chip card reader as set f oith in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching contacts (14, 15) differ from the reading contacts (13) essentially only by their z.rrangement with a different bending angle.

5. chip card reader as set f ol.th in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a land or rib (70) iS provided which comprises al)utments or stops for the reading contacts and the switching contacts such that the reading contacts are positioned in the card plane whereas the switching contacts are positioned be-low the card plane.

6. Chip card reader as set fo::th in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a short circuit bridge (80, 90) is reciprocatably mounted in the frame of a the chip card reader and may be taken with the chip card (8) by means of an abutment or stop (41) which is preferably formed on the short circuit bridge (80, 90).

Chip card reader as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that spring means are provided urging the short circuit bridge (40) to return into its initial position.

a. chip card reader as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that the spring means are f ormed together with the frame in form of a spring (30) made of plastic.

9. Chip card reader as set foxth in claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the spring means are made of metal.

10. Chip card reader as set f orth in any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that tte spring means f orm part of the short circuit bridge (40).

11 - Chip card reader as set toi-th in any of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the switching contacts and the reading contacts are arranged in pairs, said pairs being in opposing re--.ationship to each other- 12. Chip card reader as set f orth in any of the preceding 30 claims, characterized in that the short circuit bridge (40, 90) comprises contact projections or tabs (44, 45) which provide contacting with the contact cusps of the switching contacts (14, 15; 114, 115).

13. Chip card reader as set to::th in any of the preceding claims, characterized in tJiat the short circuit bridge (90) is designed such that is comprises 9 contact projections or tabs for providing a normally closed switch as well as a normally open switch.

is 14. Chip card reader as set f orth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the short circuit bridge Is designed such that the switch operates as a normally closed switch.

15. Chip card reader as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the short circuit bridge is designed such that the switch operates as a normally open switch.

16. Chip card reader as set f orth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switch opens or closes near or in the and position of the card, respectively, depending on whether the switch being a normally closed or a normally open switch.

17. Chip card reader as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a self cleaning effect is achieved upon displacement of the short circuit bridge.

18. Chip card reader as set foxth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the short circuit bridge is slidably guided in the contact carrier.

19. Chip card reader as set folth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching contacts are.stationarily disposed in said contact carrier.

20. Chip card reader as set f oith in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching contacts are disposed next to and iTL parallel to said reading contacts.