IC card reader/writer

Claim 2

An IC card reader/writer including a main body (101) of the reader/writer having an IC card insertion aperture (103) therein and a contact mechanism to bring electrical contact points in the main body of the IC card reader/writer into contact with terminals on an IC card (7) inserted through the insertion aperture, wherein said IC card reader/writer further comprises means (3b, 6; 25a, 28) for detecting a thickness of the IC card which is inserted through the insertion aperture, the contact mechanism (2, 4; 22, 23, 24, 26) recognizing insertion of the IC card by an output from said detecting means and bringing the contact points (1; 20; 21) in the main body into contact with the terminals on said IC card.

Claim 3

An IC card reader/writer including a main body (101) having an IC card insertion aperture (103) therein and a contact mechanism to bring electrical contact points in the main body of the IC card reader/writer into contact with terminals on an IC card (7) inserted through the insertion aperture, wherein said contact mechanism is retained by an axis (4; 26) extending parallel to a principal surface of the IC card and that one end (3, 25) of said contact mechanism (2, 4; 22, 23, 24) is forced up by insertion of the IC card so that the contact points (1; 20; 21) provided at another end of the contact mechanism are brought into contact with the terminals on said IC card.

Claim 4

An IC card reader/writer including a main body (101) having an IC card insertion aperture (103) therein and a contact mechanism to bring electrical contact points in the main body of the IC card reader/writer into contact with terminals on an IC card (7) inserted through the insertion aperture, wherein said contact mechanism is retained by an axis (4; 26) extending parallel to a principal surface of the IC card and that one end (3, 25) of said contact mechanism (2, 4; 22, 23, 24) is forced up by insertion of the IC card so that the contact points (1; 20; 21) provided at another end of the contact mechanism are brought into contact with the terminals on said IC card.

Claim 5

An IC card reader/writer according to Claim 2, wherein said contact mechanism has a plural sets of electrical contact points, in which a first set of contact points are initially contacted with a first set of the terminals on said IC card in accordance with the insertion of the IC card and, subsequently, a second set of contact points are contacted with a second set of the terminals on said IC card.

Claim 6

An IC card reader/writer according to Claim 3, wherein said first set of contact points are connected to power supply and ground lines, and that said second set of contact points are connected to signal lines.

Claim 7

An IC card reader/writer including a main body (101) having an IC card insertion aperture (103) therein, a base (6; 28) extended from the main body for guiding an IC card (7) thereon to be inserted through the insertion aperture and a contact mechanism to bring electrical contact points of said IC card reader/writer into contact with terminals on the IC card inserted through the insertion aperture, wherein said contact mechanism comprises a contact spring frame (2; 22, 24) rotatably supported by a pivot (4; 26), connection terminals (1; 20; 21) provided on one end of said contact spring frame for contacting with terminals (12-18) on the IC card, and a forced-up portion (3; 25) provided at another end of said contact spring frame for riding on the IC card when the IC card is inserted through the insertion aperture to force up said another end to an extent of a thickness of the IC card and rotate said contact spring frame, the IC card being held between the rotated connection terminals (1; 20; 21) and the base so as to establish an electrical connection between the connection terminals of the contact mechanism and the terminals of the IC card.

Claim 8

An IC card reader/writer including a main body (101) having an IC card insertion aperture (103) therein, a base (6; 28) extended from the main body for guiding an IC card (7) thereon to be inserted through the insertion aperture and a contact mechanism to bring electrical contact points of said IC card reader/writer into contact with terminals on the IC card inserted through the insertion aperture, wherein said contact mechanism comprises a contact spring frame (2; 22, 24) rotatably supported by a pivot (4; 26), connection terminals (1; 20; 21) provided on one end of said contact spring frame for contacting with terminals (12-18) on the IC card, and a forced-up portion (3; 25) provided at another end of said contact spring frame for riding on the IC card when the IC card is inserted through the insertion aperture to force up said another end to an extent of a thickness of the IC card and rotate said contact spring frame, the IC card being held between the rotated connection terminals (1; 20; 21) and the base so as to establish an electrical connection between the connection terminals of the contact mechanism and the terminals of the IC card.

Claim 9

An IC card reader/writer according to Claim 5, wherein the connection terminals of said contact mechanism comprise contact springs to be connected with the terminals of the IC card.

Claim 10

An IC card reader/writer according to Claim 5, wherein said contact mechanism is disposed on an innermost portion of the base (6; 28) within the IC card reader/­writer, the pivot for supporting the contact spring frame (2; 22, 23) is supported by an arm (5; 27) attached to the base (6; 28), and the arm (5; 27) operates as a stopper by contacting with a leading end of the IC card (7) when the IC card is inserted.

Claim 11

An IC card reader/writer according to Claim 5, wherein said contact spring frame (2) is formed integrally with the forced-up portion (3) for rotating the contact spring frame (2).