Patent · US Expired

Smart card computer adaptor

US5752857A · kind A · utility

137Cited by
20References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 24, 1996
Grant dateMay 19, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S439/946
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus is described for coupling the contact pads (116, FIG. 4) of a smart card (30) to a computer device (10) that has a slot (12) for receiving an IC card, which provides a small but reliable card receiver to be stored outside the computer device. The apparatus includes an adaptor (80) with a front end forming a plug (84) that is mateable to the receptacle (82) at the rear of a standard IC card (14) of the type that has a rear I/O (input/output) connector. The adaptor has a card receiver (94) with a slot (100) that receives a smart card and has terminals (114) that engage contact pads of the smart card, with the terminals connected to contacts (92) of the adaptor plug. The card receiver is wider than the IC card for reliably receiving the card. The IC card can be stored in the IC card slot of the computer device, while only a relatively small adaptor is stored outside the IC card slot.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.