Connector for providing electric connection between a portable electronic device and conductors of a fixed progressing system

Claim 1

Connector for a portable electronic device having a plane contact face provided with a plurality of contact studs, at least one guide portion and at least one abutment element, this connector comprising a fixed structure having for each of said contact studs, one corresponding fixed conductor, first guiding means in which said guide portion may be engaged and slide according to an insertion direction until said electronic device has reached a connection position in which said phase contact face extends in a determined plane, and a connection device which comprises: a resiliently deformable portion having an end portion fixedly mounted on a part of the fixed structure which includes the fixed conductors; a support portion guided by a second guiding means provided on the fixed structure, so as to be movable in translation parallel to said determined plane and at a small distance therefrom, said support portion being connected to a connecting zone of the resiliently deformable portion which is distant from said end portion; a plurality of resiliently deformable contact holders fixedly mounted on said support portion and each comprising a sliding contact member projecting slightly with respect to said determined plane and located so as to bear on a corresponding stud at least when said electronic device is in said connection position; an abutment device integral with said resiliently deformable portion and with said support portion, said abutment device being urged by the abutment element of the electronic device when its slides in said first guiding means in said insertion direction, so as to cause the support portion to be moved and the resiliently deformable portion to be deformed, the distance between said abutment device and each of said sliding contact members being substantially equal to the distance between the abutment element and one corresponding contact stud of the electronic device; a plurality of conductor elements integral with said support portion and said resiliently deformable portion, each of said conductor elements connecting a contact holder to a corresponding fixed conductor; detection means responsive to the movement of the electronic device along said first guiding means for detecting the presence of the electronic device in said connection position.