IC card information processing apparatus

Claim 2

An IC card information processing apparatus for performing information processing for an IC card having an exposed external terminal on one surface of the IC card, the apparatus comprising: a main body shaped to fit inside a card slot formed in an electronic equipment for receiving a card-like electronic device, the main body having a card storage portion for storing the IC card when the IC card is inserted in a predetermined insertion direction and a card insertion port communicating with the card storage portion, the main body including first and second flat frames opposite and substantially parallel to each other at a predetermined interval to define the card storage portion therebetween; a contact which is fixed to the first frame, exposed to the card storage portion and located at a position opposite the external terminal of the IC card inserted in the card storage portion; a slider arranged in the card storage portion to be moveable in the insertion direction of the IC card between a standby position when the IC card is not inserted in the card storage portion and a pushed-in position when the IC card is inserted in the card storage portion to a predetermined position where the external terminal of the IC card opposes the contact, wherein the slider is pushed by the IC card inserted in the card storage portion to move interlockingly with the IC card and wherein the slider has a push-up plate arranged between the inserted IC card and the second frame; and a card displacement member having a projection portion formed on the second frame in a moving path of the push-up plate opposite the contact so that the moving push-up plate rides on the projection portion to displace the IC card toward the first frame, the push-up plate having a through hole for storing the projection portion when the slider is located at the standby position.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the card displacement member has a second projection portion, arranged on the second frame, for pushing up the slider toward the first frame when the slider moves to the pushed-in position.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: biasing means for biasing the slider toward the card insertion port; lock means for locking the slider in a predetermined position wherein the external terminal of the inserted IC card is opposite the contact, the lock means having an engagement member coupled to the slider and arranged on the main body to be movable integrally with the slider, a first engagement portion provided on the engagement member, and a second engagement portion provided on the main body, for engaging the first engagement portion when the slider is moved to said predetermined position; and detection means arranged to oppose a moving path of the engagement member, for detecting the movement of the engagement member.

Claim 5

An IC card information processing apparatus for performing information processing for an IC card having an exposed external terminal on one surface of the IC card, the apparatus comprising: a main body having a shape insertable in a card slot formed in an electronic equipment for receiving a card-like electronic device, the main body having a card storage portion for storing the IC card inserted in a predetermined insertion direction and a card insertion port communicating with the card storage portion; a contact arranged in the main body exposed to the card storage portion and located at a position opposite the external terminal of the IC card inserted in the card storage portion; a slider arranged in the card storage portion, the slider being moveable in the insertion direction of the IC card, wherein the slider is pushed by the IC card inserted in the card storage portion to move interlockingly with the IC card; a card displacement member arranged in the main body for displacing the interlocked slider and IC card to bring the external terminal of the IC card into contact with the contact; an engagement member joined to the slider and arranged in the main body to be moveable integrally with the slider, the engagement member arranged on the main body to be pivotable between a pivoted position where the first engagement portion can engage the second engagement portion and an initial position where the first engagement portion is spaced apart from the second engagement portion,; biasing means for biasing the slider toward the card insertion point; lock means for locking the engagement member in a predetermined position at which the external terminal of the inserted IC card comes in contact with the contact, the lock means having a first engagement portion arranged on the engagement member and a second engagement portion arranged on the main body for engaging the first engagement portion when the engagement member is moved to said predetermined position; and detection means arranged to oppose a moving path of the engagement member for detecting the movement of the engagement member, the detection means including a switch having a contact portion which can be switched by a pivot operation of the engagement member between the initial position and the pivoted position.

Claim 6

An IC card information processing apparatus for performing information processing for an IC card having an exposed external terminal on one surface of the IC card, the apparatus comprising: a main body having a shape insertable in a card slot formed in an electronic equipment for receiving a card-like electronic device, the main body having a card storage portion for storing the IC card inserted in a predetermined insertion direction and a card insertion port communicating with the card storage portion; a contact arranged in the main body exposed to the card storage portion and located at a position opposite the external terminal of the IC card inserted in the card storage portion; a slider arranged in the card storage portion, the slider being moveable in the insertion direction of the IC card, wherein the slider is pushed by the IC card inserted in the card storage portion to move interlockingly with the IC card; a card displacement member arranged in the main body for displacing the interlocked slider and IC card to bring the external terminal of the IC card into contact with the contact; an engagement member joined to the slider and arranged in the main body to be moveable integrally with the slider, the engagement member arranged on the main body to be pivotable between a pivoted position where the first engagement portion can engage the second engagement portion and an initial position where the first engagement portion is spaced apart from the second engagement portion,; biasing means for biasing the slider toward the card insertion point; lock means for locking the engagement member in a predetermined position at which the external terminal of the inserted IC card comes in contact with the contact, the lock means having a first engagement portion arranged on the engagement member and a second engagement portion arranged on the main body for engaging the first engagement portion when the engagement member is moved to said predetermined position; and detection means arranged to oppose a moving path of the engagement member for detecting the movement of the engagement member, the detection means including a switch having a contact portion which can be switched by a pivot operation of the engagement member between the initial position and the pivoted position.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising an eject button arranged on the main body, for releasing the lock of the engagement member performed by the lock means.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the slider has a push-up plate arranged to push against the surface of the inserted IC card which is opposite to the surface on which the external terminal is arranged, and wherein the card displacement member has a projection provided in a moving path of the push-up plate upon which the push-up plate rides in an inclined state to displace the IC card toward the contact when the IC card is inserted to a predetermined position.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the slider has a push-up plate arranged to push against the surface of the IC card which is opposite to the surface on which the external terminal is arranged, and wherein the card displacement member has a plurality of projections provided in a moving path of the slider and push-up plate upon which the push-up plate and the slider ride in parallel with the IC card to displace the IC card toward the contact when the IC card is inserted to a predetermined position.