WO2002037703A1

WO2002037703A1 - Sim card containment assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2002037703A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/032362
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neil J. Schmertmann; Charles E. Staron
Original assignee: Motorola, Inc., A Corporation Of The State Of Delaware
Priority date: 2000-10-30
Filing date: 2001-10-16
Publication date: 2002-05-10
Also published as: AU2002213304A1

Abstract

An electronic device (22) includes a SIM card containment assembly (24) for holding a SIM card (12) within a device housing (26) of the electronic device (22). The SIM card containment assembly (24) includes a base (40), a first sidewall (42), a second sidewall (44), a front wall (46), and a back wall (48). The first sidewall (42) is mechanically coupled to the base (40), and is substantially perpendicular to the base (40). The second sidewall (44) is oppositely positioned from the first sidewall (42) and is mechanically coupled to the base (40) and is substantially perpendicular to the base (40). The back wall (48) is oppositely situated from the front wall (46). The SIM card containment assembly (24) is formed within the device housing (26) of the electronic device (22) as a tray-like base conforming to the outside dimensions (27) of the SIM card (12).

Description

SIM CARD CONTAINMENT ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to a subscriber identification module (SIM) card containment assembly, and in particular to a SIM card containment assembly for use within a portable electronic device.

Description of the Related Art

A subscriber identification module (SIM) card is an electronic device typically including a microprocessor unit and a memory suitable for encapsulating within a small flexible plastic card. The SIM card additionally includes some form of interface for communicating with an external system. The applications for such SIM cards include the transfer of information of all types relative to banking, transportation, subscriber, health, and identification.

Recently, the increased availability of SIM cards coupled with consumers' desire to receive anytime, anywhere access to financial information, e-commerce goods and services and instant electronic cash is creating a strong interest in the coupling of SIM cards with wireless subscriber units. Consolidating products such as multiple cards merged with wireless functionality creates an effective way for consumers to manage their household budgets, while making their lives easier to manage. Multiple application capability is seen as the key to widespread adoption of smart cards integrated into wireless subscriber units.

Each of the SIM cards may have its own specific set of intelligence; but they will share a common element: the ability to interface with a wireless subscriber unit and send and receive file-sharing data from the wireless subscriber unit.

One example of the use of the SIM card, which is owned by a subscriber, is for the subscriber to insert the SIM card into any cellular telephone to transform it into 'their' phone. It will ring when their unique phone number is dialed; calls made will be billed to their account; all options and services connected; voicemail can be collected and so on.

One drawback of the incorporation of a SIM card within a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone is the constraints placed on the portable electronic device design due to the need to provide accommodation for, and an interface to, the SIM card. The plug-in SIM card typically utilized with portable electronic devices measures approximately 25mm x 15mm. The addition of a containment assembly for interface and attachment of the SIM card requires creative mechanical designs to maintain a customer-acceptable physical profile.

Currently, designs of the SIM card holders for use in portable electronic devices require doors, hinges or a sliding part to retain the SIM card. An example of a prior art SIM card holder 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 , a conventional SIM card holder 10 for attachment and interface of a SIM card 12 within a portable electronic device includes a cover 14 and a holder base 16. The cover 14 includes a plurality of mechanical runners 18 on opposing sides. The SIM card 12 is aligned with the mechanical runners 18 in the cover 14. The holder base 16 includes a feature 20 to prevent the SIM card 12 from being assembled into the conventional SIM card holder 10 in the wrong orientation. The SIM card 12 is slid into the cover 14 until the SIM card 12 stops. Then the cover 14 is rotated closed and locked. In addition to the complicated mechanical design of the conventional SIM card holder 10 as described herein, a special tool is typically required for SIM card removal.

Thus, what is needed is a SIM card containment assembly that requires minimal additional mechanical components for attachment and interfaces and does not require any special tools for SIM card removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional SIM card holder; FIG. 2 illustrates an electronic device that has a SIM card containment assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a SIM card for use in the SIM card containment assembly of the electronic device of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 illustrates a SIM card containment assembly used in the electronic device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates the SIM card of FIG.3 assembled within the SIM card containment assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the SIM card containment assembly of FIG. 4 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the insertion of the SIM card of FIG. 3 into the SIM card containment assembly of FIG.4;

FIG. 8 is a side view illustration of a SIM card of FIG. 3 assembled within the SIM card containment assembly of FIG. 4; FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating the first step in removal of a SIM card from the SIM card containment assembly of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the second step in removal of a SIM card from the SIM card containment assembly of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, an electronic device 22 is shown having a SIM card containment assembly 24 in accordance with the present invention. The electronic device 22 is preferably a cellular phone, computer laptop, personal digital assistant or other product benefiting from the integration of a SIM card 12. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the electronic device 22 can further be a mobile radio data terminal, a mobile cellular telephone having an attached data terminal, or a two way pager, such as the "Pagewriter 2000X" manufactured by Motorola Inc. of Schaumburg, Illinois. The electronic device 22 can further be a cash register, clock, electronic book, television, or electronic game. In the following description, the term electronic device 22 refers to any of the devices mentioned above or an equivalent. The electronic device 22 of FIG. 2 preferably includes a device housing 26, which can be made out of molded plastic. The SIM card containment assembly 24 can thereby be molded as a tray-like feature of the device housing 26, reducing manufacturing costs of the device housing 26 and overall manufacturing costs of the electronic device 22. FIG. 3 illustrates a SIM card 12 for use within the SIM card containment assembly 24 of FIG. 2. The SIM card 12 is a rectangular, flat element having an outside dimensions 27 including a chamfered corner 32 for orienting the SIM card 12 in the SIM card containment assembly 24. The outside dimensions 27 of the SIM card 12 further includes a first side 28, a second side 30, a front side 34, and a back side 36. A plurality of conductive pads 38 on one surface of the SIM card 12 connect to an integrated circuit (not shown) within the SIM card 12, providing data for operation of the SIM card 12 within the electronic device 22. The plurality of conductive pads 38 can be, for example, input or output for serial data to the integrated circuit inside the SIM card 12, programming voltage input, ground or reference voltage, a clock or timing signal, a reset signal, and a power supply.

Referring to FIG. 4, a SIM card containment assembly 24 in accordance with the present invention is shown. Preferably, the SIM card containment assembly 24 of FIG. 4 is formed within the device housing 26 of the electronic device 22 of FIG. 2 as a tray-like base conforming to the outside dimensions of the SIM card 12 of FIG. 3. The formation of the SIM card containment assembly 24 includes a base 40, bordered by a first sidewall 42, a second sidewall 44, a front wall 46, and a back wall 48.

The base 40 is a substantially planer molded plastic shelf in which the SIM card 12 sits when assembled into the SIM card containment assembly 24. The base 40 is formed in a substantially L-shape including a primary portion 50 and a secondary portion 52. The shape of the base 40 leaves an opening 54 for connection of the plurality of conductive pads 38 of the SIM card 12 to a plurality of circuit pads (not shown) on the surface of a printed circuit board (not shown) of the electronic device 22. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the connection between the plurality of conductive pads 38 of the SIM card 12 and the plurality of circuit pads on the surface of the printed circuit board can be accomplished using a sheet metal connector, a plurality of conductive connectors within a molded plastic holder, or an elastomeric connector. In the following description, the connection refers to any of the connectors mentioned above or an equivalent. The first sidewall 42 and the second sidewall 44 are oppositely positioned within the SIM card containment assembly 24. The first sidewall 42 and the second sidewall 44 are mechanically coupled to the base 40. The first sidewall 42 and the second sidewall 44 preferably are substantially perpendicular to the base 40 and dimensioned equivalently to the first side 28 and the second side 30 of the SIM card 12. The first sidewall 42 preferably includes a first retention tab 56 and the second sidewall 44 preferably includes a second retention tab 58. The first retention tab 56 and the second retention tab 58 engage the SIM card 12 within the SIM card containment assembly 24 and hold it in place to prevent vertical removal (for example: accidentally) of the SIM card 12.

The front wall 46 preferably includes a chamfered wall 60, a flat portion 62, and an overhang portion 64. The chamfered wall 60 is substantially similar in dimensions to the chamfered corner 32 of the SIM card 12. The flat portion 62 and the overhang portion 64 contain the front side 34 of the SIM card 12 when the SIM card 12 is assembled into the SIM card containment assembly 24. The chamfered wall 60 and the flat portion 62 are preferably molded to be at an approximately 45 (forty five) degree angle to the base 40 to facilitate insertion and removal of the SIM card 12 into the SIM card containment assembly 24. The overhang portion 64 functions to further support the SIM card 12 when assembled into the SIM card containment assembly 24.

The back wall 48 is oppositely situation from the front wall 46 and is substantially similar in dimension to the back side 36 of the SIM card 12. Preferably, a thumb slide 66 extends from the back wall 48. The thumb slide 66 is a recessed substantially rounded portion to facilitate removal of the SIM card 12 from the SIM card containment assembly 24. The user simply slides a finger or thumb along the thumb slide 66 to move the SIM card 12 forward towards the front wall 46 and thereby removing the SIM card 12 in a horizontal motion from the SIM card containment assembly 24.

FIG. 5 illustrates a SIM card 12 assembled within the SIM card containment assembly 24 in a device housing 26 of an electronic device 22. As illustrated, the SIM card containment assembly 24 substantially conforms to the peripheral edges of the SIM card 12, thereby minimizing additional required volume for incorporation of the SIM card 12 within the electronic device 22.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the use of the SIM card containment assembly 24 including insertion and removal of the SIM card 12 in accordance with the present invention. In Step 68, the SIM card 12 is inserted into the SIM card containment assembly 24. FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the operation of insertion of a SIM card 12 within the SIM card containment assembly 24 of Step 68. As shown in FIG. 7, the SIM card 12 is inserted at an angle underneath the first retention tab 56 and the second retention tab 58, above a set of circuit board contacts 70, guided angularly by the front wall 46. Referring back to FIG. 6, next, in Step 72, the SIM card 12 is assembled into the SIM card containment assembly 24. FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating the SIM card 12 at rest within the SIM card containment assembly 24 of FIG.4 of Step 72. As shown in FIG. 8, the SIM card 12 rests underneath the first retention tab 56 and the second retention tab 58 (not shown) making physical contact with the set of circuit board contacts 70. The SIM card 12 is substantially surrounded by the first sidewall 42, the second sidewall 44 (not shown), the front wall 46, and the back wall 48. Next, in Step 74 of FIG. 6, the process determines whether or not removal of the SIM card 12 from the SIM card containment assembly 24 is desired. When removal is not desired, the process returns to Step 72, and the SIM card 12 remains assembled at rest within the SIM card containment assembly 24. When removal is desired, the process proceeds to Step 76, where force is exerted in the downward direction on the SIM card 12 to initiate removal from the SIM card containment assembly 24. For example, the end user can push down with his/her finger on the SIM card 12 to initiate the removal. FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating Step 76, the first step in the removal of the SIM card 12 from the SIM card containment assembly 24. As shown in FIG. 9, the back side 36 of the SIM card 12 is pressed down, causing an angular location of the SIM card 12 within the SIM card containment assembly 24. Preferably, the downward pressure is exerted by the device user's thumb making use of the thumb slide 66 shown in FIG. 4. Next, in Step 78 of FIG. 6, the SIM card 12 is removed from the SIM card containment assembly 24. FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the Step 78, the second step in the removal of a SIM card 12 from the SIM card containment assembly 24. As shown in FIG. 10, the SIM card 12 is removed angularly from the SIM card containment assembly 24 guided by the first retention tab 56 and the second retention tab 58 (not shown) and the front wall 46.

In summary, all capturing and retaining features are stationary, easily moldable, and are fully integrated into the housing. The design offers a unique method of SIM card removal. The end user simply presses down on one end of the SIM card and slides it out from under the retention tabs molded into the housing. This method of removal utilizes a pivoting action between the capture features and the spring contacts of the card reader. This design requires no additional pieces or tools for SIM card retention or removal.

Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all such alterations and modifications be considered as within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A SIM card containment assembly for use in an electronic device, the electronic device having a plurality of conductive pads, for holding a SIM card having an outside dimensions within a device housing of the electronic device, the SIM card containment assembly comprising: a base; a first sidewall mechanically coupled to the base, wherein the first sidewall is substantially perpendicular to the base; a second sidewall oppositely positioned from the first sidewall and mechanically coupled to the base, wherein the second sidewall is substantially perpendicular to the base; a front wall; and a back wall oppositely situated from the front wall, wherein the SIM card containment assembly is formed within the device housing of the electronic device as a tray-like base conforming to the outside dimensions of the SIM card.

2. A SIM card containment assembly as recited in Claim 1, wherein the base comprises: a primary portion; and a secondary portion, wherein the primary portion and the secondary portion are formed together into an L-shape, and further wherein the shape of the base leaves an opening for connection of the SIM card to the plurality of conductive pads.

3. A SIM card containment assembly as recited in Claim 1 , wherein the , first sidewall comprises a first retention tab, wherein the second sidewall comprises a second retention tab, and further wherein the first retention tab and the second retention tab engage the SIM card within the SIM card containment assembly.

4. A SIM card containment assembly as recited in Claim 1 , wherein the outside dimensions of the SIM card includes a chamfered corner and a front side, wherein the front wall comprises: a chamfered wall, wherein the chamfered wall is substantially similar in dimensions to the chamfered corner of the SIM card; a flat portion; and an overhang portion, wherein the flat portion and the overhang portion contain the front side of the SIM card.

5. A SIM card containment assembly as recited in Claim 4, wherein the chamfered wall and the flat portion are formed at a forty-five degree angle to the base.

6. A SIM card containment assembly as recited in Claim 1 , further comprising: a thumb slide, wherein the thumb slide extends from the back wall, and further wherein the thumb slide is a recessed substantially rounded portion.

An electronic device comprising: a device housing comprising: a SIM card containment assembly for holding a SIM card having an outside dimensions, the SIM card containment assembly comprising: a base; a first sidewall mechanically coupled to the base, wherein the first sidewall is substantially perpendicular to the base; a second sidewall oppositely positioned from the first sidewall and mechanically coupled to the base, wherein the second sidewall is substantially perpendicular to the base; a front wall; and a back wall oppositely situated from the front wall, wherein the SIM card containment assembly is formed within the device housing of the electronic device as a tray-like base conforming to the outside dimensions of the SIM card.