Patent · US Expired

Connector system for smart cards

US6241545A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
7References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 12, 1999
Grant dateJun 5, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 12, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06K7/0021
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electrical connector system includes plate-shaped bases (50) that lie on a circuit board (38) and that have contacts (52) with contact tails (58) soldered to traces on the circuit board. A housing (300) that lies on the circuit board around the bases, is coupled to each of the bases to accurately locate the housing with respect to the bases, the housing having a plurality of guides (164) for receiving smart cards that can engage contacting parts of the contacts on the bases. The housing includes a frame (90) that is fixed with respect to the circuit board and bases, and a cover (92) having a rear end pivotally mounted about a lateral axis X-X on the frame and forming the guides for holding the smart cards, so the smart cards can pivot down against the contacts on the bases. The cover can be locked down by a latch (94) formed of a piece of sheet metal that slides on the cover and that has downwardly-extending tabs (228) that fit under slots on a front beam of the frame.

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