EP0351103A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Card reader
Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Ltd
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Filing: 1989-06-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A very slim and generally compact card reader for use with a so-called "smart card", i.e. having an integrated circuit connected to external contact pads to enable stored information to be read. A carriage (3) is slidably mounted in a chassis (2) and an abutment (4) supports and guides the card as it is inserted into the reader. Card reading contacts (13a) are supported by a plinth (13b) which is spaced from the card (1) when the carriage is in an initial card receiving position (see Figure 4a). Insertion of a card into the reader causes the carriage to slide along a lazy Z-shaped path (8) generally in the direction of card insertion towards a final card reading position (see Figure 4b) and the carriage thus presses the card against the abutment (4) causing the card to bend so that the contact pads are urged into engagement with the contacts on the plinth. Deflectable fingers (11,21) on the carriage or the chassis grip the card and help to maintain both the card and the carriage in the card reading position.
Inventors
- 👤 Neil John Charman
- 👤 Anthony Barry Harrup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/0806; G06K13/0831; G06K7/00; G06K7/0013; G06K7/0021; G06K7/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A card reader for reading a card (1) comprising information storage means and contact pads connected thereto which enable stored information to be read from the card, the card reader comprising a chassis (2) which supports a card receiving carriage (3) adapted for slidable movement between a card receiving position and a card reading position, said movement being due to card insertion, and a plurality of contacts (13a) for engaging the contact pads on the card to enable electrical connections to be made for reading the information from the card, characterised in that the contacts (13a) are provided on the chassis (2), and in that the card reader further comprises camming means (2a,2b) operable during card insertion to move the carriage towards the contacts in a direction transverse to the direction of card insertion, and abutment means (4) spaced from and upstream of the carriage (in the direction of card insertion), wherein the movement of the carriage to the card reading position presses the card against said abutment means causing the card to bend and thereby urge the contact pads on the card into engagement with the contacts on the chassis when the carriage is in the card reading position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A card reader for reading a card (1) comprising information storage means and contact pads connected thereto which enable stored information to be read from the card, the card reader comprising a chassis (2) which supports a card receiving carriage (3) adapted for slidable movement between a card receiving position and a card reading position, said movement being due to card insertion, and a plurality of contacts (13a) for engaging the contact pads on the card to enable electrical connections to be made for reading the information from the card, characterised in that the contacts (13a) are provided on the chassis (2), and in that the card reader further comprises camming means (2a,2b) operable during card insertion to move the carriage towards the contacts in a direction transverse to the direction of card insertion, and abutment means (4) spaced from and upstream of the carriage (in the direction of card insertion), wherein the movement of the carriage to the card reading position presses the card against said abutment means causing the card to bend and thereby urge the contact pads on the card into engagement with the contacts on the chassis when the carriage is in the card reading position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A card reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment means (4) provides a bearing surface (5) for supporting and guiding the card during card insertion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A card reader as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a guide member (20) is provided downstream of the abutment means (in the direction of card insertion) on the side of the card opposite the abutment means, whereby the card passes between the guide member (20) and the abutment means (4) during card insertion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A card reader as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the camming means is arranged to guide the carriage along a substantially Z-shaped path (8).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A card reader as claimed in claim 4, wherein the carriage comprises projecting members (3a,3b) on opposite sides thereof, and the camming means comprise Z-shaped slots or grooves (2a,2b) in side walls of the chassis (2), in which slots or grooves the respective projecting members (3a,3b) are located.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A card reader as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the card reader comprises further abutment means (13) disposed in the vicinity of the carriage on the side of the card remote therefrom, wherein the movement of the carriage to the card reading position causes the opposed major surfaces of the card to bear against the carriage and the further abutment means respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A card reader as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the contacts (13a) are supported by a plinth (13b) spaced from the abutment means (4), said contacts being spaced from the contact pads on the card when the carriage is in the card receiving position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A card reader as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plinth (13b) is formed by or is integral with the further abutment means (13).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A card reader as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the carriage or the chassis has a deflectable member (11,21) which is biased towards the body of the carriage and which, when the carriage is in the card reading position, acts to clamp the card against the carriage and to assist in retaining both the card and the carriage in the card reading position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A card reader as claimed in any preceding claim, and further including actuating means arranged to activate circuitry for reading the card only when the card is in the card reading position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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