Patent EP0284431A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0284431A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Mechanism for connecting IC card and external device
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1988-03-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A connection mechanism for connecting an IC card and an external device to each other has, a plurality of electrode terminals 6 formed on a package 5 of the IC card in which a semiconductor device is incorporated, to connect the semiconductor device to the external device; a pair of engagement recesses formed on the package of the IC card; and a connector provided in the external device, having a card receiving portion 3 into which the IC card is inserted, a plurality of electrode contacts 7 inside the card receiving portion for contacting the electrode terminals of the IC card when the IC card is inserted into the card receiving portion to a predetermined position. A pair of resilient retaining members 43 are disposed in the card receiving portion and are capable of advancing towards or retreating from engagement recesses 21 of the IC card and elastically engaging with the engagement recess so as to retain the IC card at the predetermined position when the IC card is inserted to the predetermined position. The retaining members may also act as switch contacts, to control the external device.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshinobu Kitaitami Seisakusho Of Banjo
- 👤 Tetsuya Kitaitami Seisakusho Of Ueda
- 👤 Shigeo Kitaitami Seisakusho Of Onoda
- 👤 Yasushi Kitaitami Seisakusho Of Kasatani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/0013; G06K7/0047; H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/71; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A connection mechanism for connecting an IC card and an external device to each other, comprising: a plurality of electrode terminals (6) formed on a package (5) of said IC card in which the semiconductor device is incorporated, said electrode terminals being adapted to contact said semiconductor device to said external device; and a connector (1) provided in said external device, said connector having a card receiving portion (3) into which said IC card is inserted, a plurality of electrode-contacting elements (7) disposed inside said card receiving portion and capable of contacting said plurality of electrode terminals of said IC card when said IC card is inserted into said card receiving portion to a predetermined position, characterized in that the card receiving portion (3) and the IC card package (5) are respectively provided with complementary mutually inter-engageable detent means (21, 22), such that the IC card is releasably retained at its predetermined position in the card receiving portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A connection mechanism for connecting an IC card and an external device to each other, comprising: a plurality of electrode terminals (6) formed on a package (5) of said IC card in which the semiconductor device is incorporated, said electrode terminals being adapted to contact said semiconductor device to said external device; and a connector (1) provided in said external device, said connector having a card receiving portion (3) into which said IC card is inserted, a plurality of electrode-contacting elements (7) disposed inside said card receiving portion and capable of contacting said plurality of electrode terminals of said IC card when said IC card is inserted into said card receiving portion to a predetermined position, characterized in that the card receiving portion (3) and the IC card package (5) are respectively provided with complementary mutually inter-engageable detent means (21, 22), such that the IC card is releasably retained at its predetermined position in the card receiving portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A connection mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the said detent means comprise at least one engagement recess (21) formed on the package (5) of the IC card, and at least one retaining means disposed on said card receiving portion and capable of advancing toward or retreating from said engagement recess of said IC card and elastically engaging with said engagement recess so as to retain said IC card at said predetermined position when said IC card is inserted to the predetermined position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when said IC card is retained at said predetermined position, the contact between said plurality of electrode terminals and said plurality of electrode-contacting pieces of said connector is optimized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 2, or 3 wherein said mechanism includes a pair of engagement recesses (21) formed in side surfaces of said IC card, and a pair of retaining means (22) disposed on two side walls of said card receiving portion, said retaining means facing said engagement recesses respectively when said IC card is inserted to said predetermined position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said retaining means include engagement means (31) capable of engaging with said engagement recesses (21) of said IC card, and the accommodation means (33) which accommodate said engagement means in said side walls of said card receiving portion, said engagement means being capable of projecting from or retreating into said accommodation means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein each of said retaining means include a recess (22a) formed in one of said side walls of said card receiving portion, and an eleastic piece (22b) having a portion which projects from said recess of said card receiving portion and which is capable of engaging with one of said engagement recesses of said IC card, one end of each elastic piece being fixed to a portion of a corresponding one of said recesses of said card receiving portion, said elastic piece being capable of elastically projecting from or retreating into said recess of said receiving portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 6, wherein each of said elastic pieces has a bent portion which is formed at its intermediate portion and which can be smoothly brought into engagement with a corresponding one of said engagement recesses of said IC card while projecting from said recess of said card receiving portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein each of said retaining means include: a recess (33) formed in one of said side walls of said card receiving portion and having stop portions (33a) formed at opposite sides of its opening; a retaining pin (31c) having an engagement head (31a) capable of engaging with one of said engagement recesses of said IC card, and a collar (3b) for preventing said retaining pin from coming out of said recess of said card receiving portion by engaging with said stop portions formed at said opening of said recess; and a spring (32) disposed inside said recess of said card receiving portion and adapted to provide forces constantly urging said retaining pin outwardly of said recess of said card receiving portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said engagement head (31a) of said retaining pin has a semispheric-shape whereby said engagement pin can be smoothly brought into engagement with said engagement recess (21) of said IC card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
201 words
A connection mechanism for connecting an IC card and an external device to each other, comprising: a plurality of electrode terminals (6) formed on a package (5) of said IC card in which a semiconductor device is incorporated, said electrode terminals being adapted to connect said semiconductor device to said external device; and a connector (1) provided in said external device, said connector having a card receiving portion (3) into which said IC card is inserted, a plurality of electrode-contacting elements (7) disposed inside said card receiving portion and capable of contacting said plurality of electrode terminals of said IC card when said IC card is inserted into said card receiving portion to a predetermined position, characterized in that at least one engagement recess is formed on the IC card package (5), and the card receiving portion (3) is provided with at least one contact means (40) adapted to control the operation of starting or preventing the starting of said external device, said contact means capable of opening or closing in response to the engagement with or disengagement of the contact means from said engagement recess (21) of said IC card when said IC card is inserted to said predetermined position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
201 words
A connection mechanism for connecting an IC card and an external device to each other, comprising: a plurality of electrode terminals (6) formed on a package (5) of said IC card in which a semiconductor device is incorporated, said electrode terminals being adapted to connect said semiconductor device to said external device; and a connector (1) provided in said external device, said connector having a card receiving portion (3) into which said IC card is inserted, a plurality of electrode-contacting elements (7) disposed inside said card receiving portion and capable of contacting said plurality of electrode terminals of said IC card when said IC card is inserted into said card receiving portion to a predetermined position, characterized in that at least one engagement recess is formed on the IC card package (5), and the card receiving portion (3) is provided with at least one contact means (40) adapted to control the operation of starting or preventing the starting of said external device, said contact means capable of opening or closing in response to the engagement with or disengagement of the contact means from said engagement recess (21) of said IC card when said IC card is inserted to said predetermined position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 10, wherein , when said IC card is retained at said predetermined position, the contact between said plurality of electrode terminals and said plurality of electrode-contacting pieces of said connector is optimized.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said contact means (40) has a function of retaining said IC card in said card receiving portion at said predetermined position by engaging with said engagement recess (21) of said IC card.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said mechanism includes a pair of engagement recesses (21) formed in side surfaces of said IC card, and a pair of contact means (40) disposed on two side walls of said card receiving portion, said retaining means facing said engagement recesses respectively when said IC card is inserted to said predetermined position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A connection mechanism according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein said contact means include first contact means (43) capable of engaging with one of said engagement recesses, second contact means (42) adapted for contact with said first contact means, and accommodation means for accommodating said first and second contact means in said side wall of said card receiving portion, said first contact means contacting or separating from said second contacting means in response to its operation of engaging with or disengaging from one of said engagement recesses of said IC card.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
203 words
A connection mechanism according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein each of said contact means includes: a recess (41) formed in said side wall of said card receiving portion; a first contact element (42) in the form of a hook made of an electroconductive material and having at its one end a contact point (42a), the other end of the first contact element being fixed inside said recess of said card receiving portion and electrically connected to a control section of said external device; and a second contact element (43) made of an elastic electroconductive material and having portions (43b) projecting from said recess of said card receiving portion and capable of engaging with said engagement recess (21) of said IC card, one end of said second contact element being fixed inside of said recess of said card receiving portion and electrically connected to said control section, the other end of the second contact element being provided with a contact point (43a) capable of contacting or separating from said contact point of said first contact element in response to the engagement or disengagement between said second contact element and a corresponding one of said engagement recesses (21) of said IC card.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 15, wherein each of said second contact elements (43) of said contact means has a bent portion (43b) which projects from said recess of said card receiving portion and can be smoothly brought into engagement with a corresponding one of said engagement recesses of said IC card.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
244 words
A connection mechanism according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein said contact means includes: A recess (51) formed in said side wall of said card receiving portion and stop portions (51a) formed at opposite sides of its opening; a contact element in the form of a hook (54) made of an electroconductive material and having at its one end a contact point (54a), the other end of each contact element being fixed inside said recess of said card receiving portion and electrically connected to a control section of said external device; a contact pin (53) having an engagement head (53a) capable of engaging with said engagement recess (21) of said IC card, and a contact member (53b) capable of contacting or separating from said contact point of said contact element in response to the engagement or disengagement between said contact pin and said engagement recess of said IC card and also having a function of preventing said contact pin from coming out of said recess of said card receiving portion by engaging with said stop portions formed at said opening of said recess; and a spring (52) disposed inside said recess of said card receiving portion and adapted to provide a force constantly urging said contact pin to the outside of said recess of said card receiving portion, said spring being made of an electroconductive material, one end of each spring being electrically connected to said control section of said external device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A connection mechanism according to claim 17, wherein said engagement head (53a) of said retaining pin is a semispheric-shape whereby said engagement pin can be smoothly brought into engagement with said engagement recess of said IC card.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A connection mechanism for connecting an IC card and an external device to each other, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 6, Figures 7 and 8, Figures 9 to 12, or figures 13 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A connection mechanism for connecting an IC card and an external device to each other, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 6, Figures 7 and 8, Figures 9 to 12, or figures 13 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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