WO2009130532A1

WO2009130532A1 - Electrical connector for connection of a card to a card-reader

Info

Publication number: WO2009130532A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/002338
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Fonteneau; Kumar P. K. Ramesh
Original assignee: Fci
Priority date: 2008-04-24
Filing date: 2008-04-24
Publication date: 2009-10-29

Abstract

Electrical connector (9) for connection of an integrated circuit card (3) to a card reader (20) of an electrical device (1), the connector comprising: - a thin sheet-like insulating holder (14) comprising a top face (17) disposed to face said card and an opposite bottom face (18), - electrical transmission portions (10) held by the holder, for transmitting electrical signals between the card and the card-reader, - a snap-lock device (28, 44) carried by the holder and having a fixation portion (30, 39) adapted to mechanically lock the connector onto the base plate.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTION OF A CARD TO A CARD-READER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to electrical connectors for connection of a card to a card-reader, electrical systems comprising such connectors, and methods of assembly of such electrical systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Integrated circuit cards, such as, for example, credit cards, are used in every day life. Upon use, data is exchanged between the card and an electronic device in which the card is inserted. Such electronic devices have an internal card reader and an internal card connector which is placed in electrical contact with electrical pads of the card to enable data transfer between the card and the card reader.

Most often, the electronic device and the card connector are manufactured by separate companies. They are later assembled.

Up to now, such connectors have been integrally welded into the electrical device. However, a problem arises in that this mechanical connection process can be difficult to implement, due to lack of space in the electronic device around the connector. In addition, if the connector is faulty it is required either to replace the complete electrical device or to proceed with a complicated repairing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative way of mechanically connecting a SIM-card connector to an electrical device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this aim, it is provided an electrical connector for connection of a card to an electrical card reader of an electrical device. The connector is adapted to be mounted to a base plate. The connector comprises:

- a holder, for instance a thin sheet-like insulating holder, comprising a top face disposed to face said card and an opposite bottom face, - electrical transmission portions held in the holder, for transmitting electrical signals between the card and the card-reader, a fixation device, such as a snap-lock device, carried by the holder and having a fixation portion adapted to mechanically lock the connector to the base plate.

With these features, it requires a simple process for attaching the holder to the base plate. The relative motion of the connector and the base plate of the electrical device for mechanically locking these two parts together may be very easy. It therefore becomes simple to lock the connector onto the device, even in cluttered environments .

According to another aspect, it is provided a connector system comprising a flexible printed circuit and a card connector the card connector comprising: a holder having a top face adapted to receive said card, electrical transmission portions for transmitting electrical signals between the card and an electrical device, a card detecting device comprising at least an electrical contact element adapted to be in a first condition when a card is absent from the connector and to be moved in a second condition by the card upon presence of the card in the connector, the flexible printed circuit comprising: a conducting portion electrically connected to the electrical transmission portions of the connector, and adapted to be electrically connected to the electrical device, a cover portion having a first end fixed to the insulating holder and a second end fixed to the conducting portion, and extending between the electrical contact element of the card detecting device and the card upon presence of the card in the connector.

With these features, a long-lasting card detection can be provided, because the card detecting device is protected from dust or grit or any other intrusive matter potentially carried by the card. In some embodiments, one might also use one or more of the features defined in the dependant claims.

Advantages of some of the embodiments of the invention might comprise a robust mechanical lock of the card connector onto the electrical device and/or a reduced bulk of the moving parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will readily appear from the following description of five of its embodiments, provided as non- limitative examples, and of the accompanying drawings. On the drawings :

Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of an electrical device on a card,

Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a system comprising a base plate and a connector according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the system of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a detailed frontal view of part IV identified on Fig. 3, - Fig. 5 is a schematic top view of a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a third embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a fourth embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8 is a partial perspective top view of a fifth embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along line IX- IX on Fig. 8 in a first condition of the card detecting device, and

- Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 in a second condition of the card detecting device.

On the different Figures, the same reference signs designate like or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 is a partial view showing a part of an electrical device 1. Such a device comprises a front face 2 having an introduction aperture, such as a longitudinal slit (not shown) for insertion into the electrical device of an integrated circuit card 3, for example a memory card of the ISO format.

The IC card 3 has electrically conductive contact elements 4 on its bottom face, which are electrically connected to an integrated circuit, such as a chip embedded in the card (not shown) . The bottom face of the card 3 may also comprise a pressing portion such as an edge 38 mechanically cooperating with a card detection device.

The electrical device 1 comprises a frame 5 carrying a base plate 6 which is shown on Fig. 1 in straight lines in a first position suitable for card insertion/extraction into/from the device.

A driving device schematically shown as 7, of any suitable type, is adapted to displace the base plate 6 relatively to the frame 5 from its first position shown in straight lines on Fig. 1, to a card reading/writing position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 1. For example, the driving device comprises a toothed wheel which is made to rotate around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 1 by manual actuation or by an electrical motor, the teeth of the toothed wheel cooperating with complementary teeth of the base plate 6 in order to impart a translation movement of the base plate between its first and second positions. However, any kind of driving device could be used within the scope of this invention. The base plate 6 might further comprise an abutting portion for providing an abutment of the card 3, in order to prevent a further movement of the card 3 relative to the base plate 6 along the card insertion direction X.

The base plate 6 receives an electrical connector 9, which will be described in more details below, which is placed to electrically interact with the card 3 when the card abuts on the abutting portion of the base plate 6. The electrical connector 9 comprises electrical transmission portions or terminals 10 which, on the first hand, are designed to be in electrical communication with the contact elements of the card 3, and, on the second hand, are electrically connected to the card reader 20 of the electrical device 1 through a flat flexible printed circuit (FPC) 11 or any other flexible conductive strip. As seen on Fig. 2, the base plate 6 comprises a through aperture 12 sized to receive the electrical connector 9. The base plate 6 further comprises locking apertures 13 on both sides of the through aperture 12.

The connector 9 is a thin sheet-like insulating contact-holder 14 comprising a signal transmission portion 15 and a card detection portion 16. The holder 14 comprises a top face 17 designed to face the bottom face of the IC card 3, an opposite bottom face 18, and lateral faces 19 joining the top face 17 to the bottom face 18. In a variant the connector 9 essentially consists in a plate in which a thin sheet-like insulating contact-holder is integrated.

Electrical contact elements 10 are held by the holder 14 and are isolated electrically from one another. They each comprise a first portion 21 performed as a spring contact element protruding above the top face 17 of the holder 14, and a second portion 22 (See Fig. 3) protruding below the bottom face 18 of the holder 14. The second portions are electrically connected, for example soldered, to electrical tracks (not shown) of the flexible printed circuit 11. Further, abutting portions 23 protrude laterally from the lateral face 19 (See Fig. 2) .

The card detection portion 16 may for example comprise a base electrical contact 24 extending between the top and the bottom faces of the connector, and a mobile electrical contact 25 which comprises an activation portion 26 which protrudes above the top face 17, and a contacting portion 27. The mobile contact 25 is adapted to be bent from a first condition shown on Fig. 2, in which it is electrically isolated from the base electrical contact 24, to a second condition, in which its contacting portion 27 contacts the base electrical contact 24. The insertion of the card 3 into the device 1 will cause this bending movement, which will enable detecting the presence of the card inside the device 1. For example, the ends 24a, 25a of the respective contacts will be connected to a power supply to the card reader 20, in order to allow card reading/writing only in case of detected card insertion.

The holder 14 further carries a snap lock device 28, an example of which is described below by relation to Figs. 2-4. According to this embodiment, the snap lock device comprises a metallic bar 29 fixed to the bottom face 18 of the holder along the whole signal transmission portion 15 and having, on both ends, fixation portions 30 as shown in details on Fig. 4. In the described example, each fixation portion is elastically deformable upon insertion into a complementary locking aperture 13, until it springs back in a rest position, after having been moved through the aperture 13, in which they lock the connector on the base plate. As shown on Fig. 4, the fixation portion 30 is symmetrically shaped with respect to a connector insertion axis Y and comprises, on each side, an elastic leg 31, a slanted activation surface 32 and a locking surface 33 extending substantially parallel to the top face of the base plate 6.

The height of the fixation portion 30 is lower than the overall thickness of the holder 14, so as not to protrude over the top face of the holder 14, and thus not hinder the electrical connection of the pads of the card to the electrical contact elements.

As seen from Fig. 2, upon insertion of the card connector 9 through the aperture 12 of the base plate 6 along the connector insertion direction Y from the bottom, the fixation portion 30 will be introduced in the locking aperture 13. The leg 31 will be bent upon reaction on the activation surface 32 onto the bottom face of the base plate 6 neighbouring the locking aperture 13 until it reaches a connector inserted position in which the activation surface 32 has entirely entirely entered the locking aperture 13, which allows the leg 31 to spring back into a locking position in which the locking surface 33 engages with the top surface of an appropriate flat made in the opening 13 of the base plate 6 neighbouring in order to prevent any downward movement of the connector with respect to the base plate 6. In a variation, the locking surface can engage with the upper surface of the base plate neighbouring the locking aperture 13. Further upward movement of the connector may be prevented by the abutting portions 23 abutting on complementary portions on the bottom face of the base plate 6. The abutting portions 23 are placed at a suitable height along the Y axis on the lateral face 19, so as to define a suitable elastic bending of the spring contact elements 10 upon card insertion.

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment, in which the snap lock device 28 might comprise another locking bar 34 extending perpendicularly to the first locking bar 29 between two rows of electrical contacts 10. The locking bar 34 may also comprise, on both ends, fixation portions 30 similar to the one carried by the locking bar 29. Another difference between the embodiment of Fig. 5 and the one of Fig. 2-4 is that the insulating holder comprises stepped shoulders, the top portion of which is sized to receive a complementary protrusion 40 of the base plate. The top face of the broader bottom portion of the shoulders abuts on the bottom face of the protrusion 40 upon the connector insertion into the base plate.

According to a further embodiment, shown on Fig. 6, it is contemplated to modify the first embodiment so that the base plate 6 comprises snap-lock fixation portions 48 similar to those carried by the locking bar of the first embodiment and so that corresponding locking apertures 49 are formed in the insulating holder.

According to a fourth embodiment, shown on Fig. 7, the embodiment of Fig. 2 to 4 is modified in that it does not anymore include a locking bar. It includes, on one side of the connector, a press fit device 41 which is made as a recess in the top face 17 of the holder. A press fit pin 43 protrudes in the Y direction from the recess. On the opposite side of the connector, a snap lock device 44 is formed integrally with the holder. It comprises two elastic arms 45 which extend away from the lateral face 19 of the holder, then upward, and are adapted to be elastically pressed toward each other. The fixation portion 39 is made of two horizontal half disk portions which extend from the end of the elastic arms.

A complementary aperture 13 is formed through the base plate 6. On the opposite side of the base plate 6, a protrusion 46 comprises a through hole 47 for press fit reception of the pin 43. Upon insertion of the connector into the base plate, the pin 43 will be introduced and frictionally retained into the corresponding hole 47, and the elastic arms 45 will be elastically deformed toward one another upon movement of the fixation portion 39 through the aperture 13. After said movement, the fixation portion will elastically be brought back to its equilibrium position in which its bottom face cooperates with the top face of the base plate to lock the connector to the base plate. The number and location of locking bars, of apertures, and of fixation portions, as well as their shape and arrangements are only exemplary and are not in any case limiting the scope of the invention.

According to a further embodiment, as shown on Figs. 8-10, the flexible printed circuit 11 (FPC) to which the terminals or contacts 10 of the connector 9 are connected comprises both a conducting portion 35 and a cover portion 36 which will be described in more details below. The conducting portion 35 comprises electric tracks

(not shown) borne by an insulative support member 40, which electrically connect the second portions of the electrical contacts 10 to the card reader. As it is shown in more details on Fig. 9, the cover portion 36 having a strip shape comprises a first end 36a which is fixed, for example taped or glued to the conducting portion 35, and a second end 36b which is folded back so as to cover the card detection portion 16 and is fixed to the holder 14. For example, the second end 36b of the cover portion is fixed on the top face 17 of the holder 14. In the described example, the cover portion 36 will therefore pass between a lateral face 19 of the connector and a facing lateral face 37 of the base plate at the through aperture 12.

In an alternative embodiment, the cover portion 36 may be directly coming from a portion of the insulative support member of the FPC 11.

Upon insertion of the card 3 into the device, the pressing portion 38 of the card presses the electrical contact 25 downward as shown on Fig. 10. The cover portion 36 of the flexible printed circuit 11 will be folded and remain between the card 3 and the mobile electrical contact 25, however without preventing bending of the electrical contact 25 to come into contact with the base electrical contact 24. The cover 36 thus prevents any dust or grit, or any other material, which may be present on the card, to be deposited on the card detection portion 16 of the connector, which might prevent its proper operation.

The shape, arrangement, and/or way the cover portion 36 is fixed over the electrical contact 25 is exemplary only.

Claims

1. Electrical connector for connection of an integrated circuit card to a card reader of an electrical device provided with a base plate, the connector comprising: a holder (14) comprising a top face (17) designed to face said card and an opposite bottom face (18), - electrical transmission portions (10) held in the holder, for transmitting electrical signals between the card and the card-reader, a fixation device (28 ; 44) carried by the holder and having a fixation portion (30 ; 39) adapted to mechanically lock the connector to the base plate.

2. Electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the holder has a thickness measured along a transverse axis between said top face and bottom face, wherein said fixation device (28) has a height, measured along said transverse axis, lower than or equal to said thickness.

3. Electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the fixation device (28) comprises: a first bar (29) extending from a first end to a second end and fixed to a fixation face of the holder chosen among the top face (17) and the bottom face (18),

- a first and a second fixation portions (30) extending respectively from said first and second ends, said fixation portions being ^" adapted to be elastically deformed upon fixation of the connector to a base plate.

4. Electrical connector according to claim 3 wherein the first bar extends in a first direction, the locking device further comprising: a second bar (34) extending from a first end to a second end and fixed to the fixation face, - a first and a second fixation portions (30) extending respectively from said first and second ends of the second bar, said fixation portions being adapted to be elastically deformed upon fixation of the connector to a base plate.

5. Electrical connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the fixation device (44) and the holder (14) are integrally formed in a plastic material.

6. Electrical connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the holder has a lateral face (19) extending between the top face and the bottom face, and wherein the fixation portion (30 ; 39) extends alongside the lateral face.

7. Electrical connector according to any preceding claim, wherein the holder comprises a first portion (15) retaining said electrical transmission portions, and a card detecting device (16) , laterally offset from said first portion (15) with respect to a card insertion axis (X) , the second portion of the holder retaining an electrical switch (24,25) adapted to detect the presence or absence of the card on the connector.

8. Electrical connector according to any preceding claim wherein the holder further comprises laterally projecting protrusions (23) adapted to abut against the base plate (6) to prevent further movement of the electrical connector relative to the base plate along a connector insertion direction (Y) .

9. An electrical connector system comprising: an electrical connector according to any preceding claim, an electrical device comprising a base plate (6) having at least one locking aperture (13) adapted to elastically deform the fixation portion (30 ; 44) of the fixation device upon fixation of the connector to the base plate, and to cooperate with the fixation portion to mechanically lock the connector to the base plate.

10. Electrical connector system according to claim 9, wherein the base plate further comprises an insertion through aperture (12) sized to receive therein the holder (14) .

11. Method of assembly of an electrical system wherein: a base plate (6) having at least one locking aperture (13) is provided in a card reader of an electrical device, an electrical connector (9) for connection of a card to the electrical card reader is provided, the connector comprising: a holder (14) comprising a top face (17) disposed to face said card and an opposite bottom face (18), electrical transmission portions (10) retained by the holder, for transmitting electrical signals between the card and the card-reader, - a fixation device (28 ; 44) carried by the holder and having a fixation portion (30 ; 39) adapted to mechanically lock the connector to the base plate, the electrical connector (9) and the base plate (6) are displaced relative to one another along a connector insertion direction (Y) , whereby the fixation portion of the snap-lock device is inserted into the locking aperture and is elastically deformed until it cooperates with the locking aperture to mechanically lock the connector to the base plate.

12.An electrical connector system comprising: an electrical connector (9) for connection of a card (3) to an electrical card reader (20) of an electrical device (1) , the connector comprising: a holder (14) comprising a top face (17) disposed to face said card and an opposite bottom face ( 1 6 ) , electrical transmission portions (10) held by the holder, for transmitting electrical signals between the card and the card-reader, - a base plate (6) in the electrical device, wherein the connector (9) and the base plate (6) each comprise a locking feature chosen among : a snap-lock device (28 ; 44 ; 48) having a fixation portion (30 ; 39) and . a locking aperture (13 ; 49) adapted to elastically deform the fixation portion of the snap-lock device upon fixation of the connector to the base plate, the fixation portion and the locking aperture being adapted to cooperate to mechanically lock the connector onto the base plate.

13. A connector system comprising a flexible circuit and a card connector (9), the card connector comprising: a holder (14) having a top face (17) adapted to receive said card, - electrical transmission portions (10) for transmitting electrical signals between the card and an electrical device,

- a card detecting device (16) comprising at least an electrical contact element (25) adapted to be in a first condition when a card is absent from the connector and to be moved in a second condition by the card upon presence of the card in the connector, the flexible circuit comprising: a conducting portion (35) electrically connected to the electrical transmission portions of the connector, and adapted to be electrically connected to the electrical device, a cover portion (36) having a first end (36b) fixed to the insulating holder and a second end (36a) fixed to the conducting portion, and extending between the electrical contact element (25) of the card detecting device and the card upon presence of the card in the connector.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the first end (36b) of the cover portion is fixed to the top face (17) of the holder.

15. A system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the electrical contact element (25) of the card detecting device is adapted to be bent from its first condition to its second condition by the card upon insertion of the card in the connector.

16. A connector system comprising a flexible circuit and a card connector comprising:

- a holder (14) having a top face (17) adapted to receive said card, electrical transmission portions (10) for transmitting electrical signals between the card and an electrical device, a card detecting device (16) comprising at least an electrical contact element (25) adapted to be in a first condition wherein it protrudes from the top face when a card is absent from the connector, and to be bent in a second condition by the card upon presence of the card in the connector, the flexible circuit comprising: a conducting portion (35) electrically connected to the electrical transmission portions of the connector, and adapted to be electrically connected to the electrical device, - a cover portion (36) having a first end fixed to the insulating holder and a second end fixed to the conducting portion, and extending between the electrical contact element of the card detecting device and the card upon presence of the card in the connector.