EP0493473B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Chip card reader
Assignee: Amphenol Tuchel Electronics GmbH
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Filing: 1990-09-21
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Granted: 1994-06-22
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Expires: 2010-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A chip card reader comprises a contact support (2) in which are arranged read contact springs (17) and an end position switch in the form of switch contact springs (21, 22) which indicates the operating mode. The read contact-springs contact regions of a chip card (13) inserted in a read position in the chip card reader. In its operating mode in the read position of the card, the end position switch acts approximately perpendicular to the direction of insertion (20) of the card. Hence, in the read position, no component of force is produced which would act in the direction opposite to that of insertion of the card.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Bleier
- 👤 Manfred Reichardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/0013; G06K7/0056; G06K7/0069; G06K7/0021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A chipcard reader comprising a contact support (2) within which reading contacts (38) and switching contacts (21, 22) forming an end position switch (18) are located, wherein the reading contacts are addapted for engagement with contact zones of a chipcard inserted into said chipcard reader and located in a reading position therein, wherein said chip card is manually inserted into the reading position by an insert movement in the direction of insertion, and wherein said end position switch can be in an actuated and not actuated position, wherein the end position switch is arranged such that it is actuated by the card at the end of tis insert movement, characterized in that the end position switch (18) is designed such that it applies in its actuated position a force approximately perpenticular with respect to the direction of card insertion such that no force component is generated which would act in the direction opposite to the direction (20) of card insertion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 1, characterized in that the reading contacts are biased such that the engagement with the contact zones (68) of the chipcard occurs with a minimum amount of movement, and that the switching contacts (21, 22) are biased when located in the installed condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The chipcard reader according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that a cover (3) is provided which forms together with the contact support (2) a card guide means as well as an insertion slot (12), and that preferably the cover an the contact support are connected to each other by press fit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The chipard reader according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that for the engagement with a side edge (16) a tolerance equalisation means (28) is provided.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
The chipcard reader as set forth in one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the end position switch (18) comprises: two similar components ( 21, 22) which are arranged in the direction (20) of insertion of the chipcard behind each other such, that the current circuit connected to the switching contacts is switched only if the forwardly located contact zone of the contact zones (68) located behind each other on the chipcard has already passed the contact for the backward contact zone, so as to avoid short circuits in the chip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the end position switch comprises two contact springs (21, 22) which are inserted from the upper side (10) of the contact support into receiving slots (78, 79), and wherein said contact springs are held in the installed condition by means of detent means (80, 81).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the contact springs (21, 22) of the end position switch are biased.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the one switching contact (22) is biased against an abutment surface (83) at the contact support, when being inserted into the contact support (2) preferably due to the fact that the switching contact which is angled by less than 90° in its not inserted condition is angled by about 90° after being inserted into the contact support (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that a forward switching contact (21) is biased toward a backward switching contact (22) perpendicular with respect to the direction in which the card is inserted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the switching contacts (21, 22) are provided with projections (50) which serve for the locking or detent operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The chipcard reader of claim 9 characterized in that at least the forward switching contact (21) comprises an inclined card engagement surface (47) which preferably comes into engagement with the upper backward edge (15) of a chipcard, whereby the end position switch (18) is opened and wherein the switching contact (21) is designed such that the switching contact (21) is in engagement with the upper surface of the card with a flat section (43) when the reading position is reached.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the switching contacts have a relatively long arm formed by a flat portion (40) from which an angled portion (42) projects away which forms a flat section (42) and an inclined section (44).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the reading contacts (17) are designed as contact springs and are adapted to be inserted into contact chambers from the bottom side (11) of the contact support such, that they are locked by detent means, and that the reading contacts are biased in the installed condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the detent means are formed in the form of detent webs (56) by the contact support (2) said detent webs (56) being adapted to resiliently recede when the reading contact is pressed inwardly so as to allow for the insertion or installment of the reading contact, whereupon said detent webs move snapingly back so as to hold the reading contact (17) in its reading position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that recesses (58) are provided so as to obtain the necessary elasticity for the detent webs (56).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the termination portion (36) of the reading contact (17) is angled and that adjacent to that angled portion holding tongues (35) are formed which come into engagement with respective recesses of the contact support (2), so as to avoid a movement of the reading contacts in a direction along the longitudinal extension of the reading contact.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The chipcard reader as set forth in one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the reading contact is biased due to its position between the abutment surfaces (60, 57 and 61).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the reading contact (17) comprises a first flat portion (33) and a second flat portion (34) which are angled with respect to each other by an angle of less than 180° such, that then, when a reading contact (see Fig. 15) is inserted into a contact chamber (31) the two flat portion (33, 34) are substantually located on a straight line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The chipcard reader of one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that the tolerance equalisation means (28) comprises an arm extending in the direction (29) of the insertion of the card and comprises a nose which extends transversally to the arm and is formed as a single piece together with the arm and with the contact support (2).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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