US5334827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chip card reader
Assignee: Amphenol Tuchel Electronics GmbH
•
Filing: 1990-09-21
•
Granted: 1994-08-02
•
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
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/0013; G06K7/0056; G06K7/0069; G06K7/0021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A chipcard reader comprising a contact support within which reading contacts and switching contacts forming an end position switch are located, wherein the reading contacts are adapted for engagement with contact zones of a chipcard which has been inserted into said chipcard reader and moved relative to said contact support until it has reached a reading position, wherein the end position switch is designed such that it acts in its actuated position approximately perpendicular with respect to the direction of card insertion upon engagement of the card with the switch as the card is inserted into the reader such that no force component is generated which would act in the direction opposite to the direction of card insertion, wherein the chipcard has at least two contact zones, one of which is located forwardly of the other relative to the direction of card insertion, and wherein the end position switch comprises two similar components arranged in the direction of insertion of the chipcard behind each other such that a current circuit connected to the switching contacts is switched only if the forwardly located contact zone has already passed the contact for the other contact zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A chipcard reader comprising a contact support within which reading contacts and switching contacts forming an end position switch are located, wherein the reading contacts are adapted for engagement with contact zones of a chipcard which has been inserted into said chipcard reader and moved relative to said contact support until it has reached a reading position, wherein the end position switch is designed such that it acts in its actuated position approximately perpendicular with respect to the direction of card insertion upon engagement of the card with the switch as the card is inserted into the reader such that no force component is generated which would act in the direction opposite to the direction of card insertion, wherein the chipcard has at least two contact zones, one of which is located forwardly of the other relative to the direction of card insertion, and wherein the end position switch comprises two similar components arranged in the direction of insertion of the chipcard behind each other such that a current circuit connected to the switching contacts is switched only if the forwardly located contact zone has already passed the contact for the other contact zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A chipcard reader according to claim 1, wherein the reading contacts at least one the switching contacts located in the contact support are contacts springs, and that the reading contacts are biased such that the engagement with the contact zones of the chipcard occur with a minimum amount of movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 2, wherein the switching contacts are biased when in the installed condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 1, further comprising a cover which forms together with the contact support a card guide means and an insertion slot said cover and the contact support being connected to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 1, further comprising a tolerance equalization means for providing an increased dynamic loading on a side edge of the chipcard upon engagement between the side edge and the tolerance equalization means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 1, wherein the end position switch comprises two contact springs which are inserted from the upper side of the contact support into receiving slots, and wherein said contact springs are held in the installed condition by means of detent means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 2, wherein the contact springs of the end position switch are biased.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 7, wherein the switching contact is biased against an abutment surface at the contact support, when being inserted into the contact support 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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 8, wherein the forward switching contact is biased toward the backward switching contact perpendicular with respect to the direction in which the card is inserted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 1, wherein the switching contacts are provided with projections which serve for locking or detent operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 1, wherein at least the forward switching contact comprises an inclined card engagement surface which comes into engagement with the upper backward edge of a chipcard, whereby the end position switch is opened and wherein the switching contact is designed such that the switching contact is in engagement with the upper surface of the card with a flat section when the reading position is reached.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 1, wherein the switching contacts have a relatively long arm formed by a flat portion from which an angled portion projects away which forms a flat section and an inclined section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A chipcard reader reading according to claim 1, further comprising reading contacts designed as contact springs and adapted to be inserted into contact chambers from the bottom side of the contact support such that they are locked by detent means, and that the reading contacts are biased in the installed condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 13, wherein the detent means are formed in the form of detent webs by the contact support said detent webs being adapted to resiliently recede when the reading contacts are pressed inwardly so as to allow for the insertion or installment of the reading contacts, whereupon said detent webs move snapingly back so as to hold the reading contacts in their reading position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 14, wherein recesses are provided so as to obtain the necessary elasticity for the detent webs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 13, wherein the termination portion of the reading contact is angled and adjacent to that angled portion holding tongues are formed which come into engagement with respective recesses of the contact support, so as to avoid a movement of the reading contacts in a direction along the longitudinal extension of the reading contact.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 13, wherein it is biased due to its position between the abutment surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 13, wherein the reading contact comprises a first flat portion and a second flat portion which are angled with respect to each other by an angle of less than 180° such that when a reading contact is inserted into a contact chamber the two flat portions are substantially located on a straight line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The chipcard reader according to claim 5, wherein the tolerance equalisation means comprises an arm extending in the direction of the insertion of the card and comprises a nose which extends transversely to the arm and is formed as a single piece together with the arm and with the contact support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0139593A1
Cited
US4743746A
Cited
EP0214478A2
Cited
US4752234A
Cited
US4859199A
Cited
EP0274534A1
Cited
DE3808183A1
Cited
US4839508A
Cited
EP0316699A1
Cited
US4900273A
Cited
US4976630A
Cited
US5198645A
Cited
US5051566A
Cited
US5091618A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-01 | 1998-01-31 | 1998-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-01 | 2002-01-31 | 2002-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-01 | 2006-01-31 | 2006-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |