AU748815B2 - Electric connector for contact card with integrated circuit(s) - Google Patents

Description

B253ETR 1 "Electrical connector for a contact-type smart card" The present invention relates to an electrical connector for a contact-type smart card.

The invention relates more particularly to a connector of the type described and illustrated in document DE-G- 94/07486.0.

This document discloses a connector for the electrical connection of a smart card, a lower face of which includes connection areas, of the type having a lower base in the form of a sheet of insulating material forming a support for electrical contact elements, free contacting ends of which project out of the plane of the upper face of the base, of the type having an upper cover which includes, in one of its opposed faces, a housing which at least partially accommodates the card which is inserted into the housing, longitudinally from the front to the rear, in a direction parallel to its general plane and to that of the cover, of the type in which the cover is mounted so as to pivot with respect to the base, about a transverse pivot axis lying near the facing rear longitudinal ends of the base and of the cover, between an open contact position and a closed contact position in which the cover is approximately parallel to the base, and the connection areas on the card engage with the contacting ends of the contact elements of the base, of the type having a transverse bar for locking the cover in the closed position, which extends above the upper face of the cover on which it is mounted so as to slide longitudinally between a locked extreme position and an unlocked extreme position, and of the type in which one of the opposed faces of the card is pressed against the bottom of the housing, while the SB253ETR- 2 movable locking bar engages with a portion of the other face of the card in order to keep the latter in the housing.

According to this design, the housing which accommodates the card is under the lower face of the cover.

This causes difficulties when positioning the card, which result in the cover being lifted up through a large angle (approximately 1200) in order to place the card therein.

Moreover, the connector is bulky.

In order to remedy these drawbacks, especially with a 0io view to improving the ergonomics of the connector, more particularly in order to make it easier to insert the card, the invention provides a connector which is characterized in that the housing is formed in the upper face of the cover, and in that the lower face of the card is pressed against the bottom of the housing which is cavitied, at least partially, so that that part of the lower face of the card which is opposite the connection areas is clear.

According to other characteristics: the movable locking bar is mounted so as to slide on the cover between a locked front extreme position and an unlocked rear extreme position; the cover includes two parallel lateral vertical members, the opposite internal transverse faces of which laterally delimit the housing for the card, which is longitudinally open to the front, these vertical members being joined together by at least one transverse connecting member; a platform in the form of a strip, on which the card is set, is arranged near the front free ends of the vertical members and its upper face defines a plane on which the lower face of the card is set; each of the two lateral vertical members has a slideway delimiting the bottom of the housing, coplanar with S'B253ET" 3 the upper face of the strip, and the card is pressed against the slideways by the longitudinal parallel edges of its lower face; the slideways extend longitudinally over approximately the front half of the length of the lateral vertical members, and the transverse connecting member is an upper transverse plate which extends above a front part of the upper face of the card and over approximately the rear half of the length of the lateral vertical members; the movable locking bar is a transverse plate which is mounted so as to slide above the lateral vertical members, and its opposite transverse ends are bent vertically along the external transverse faces of the lateral vertical members and then transversely inwards in the form of two tabs, so as to define two channels for guiding and retaining the locking plate on the cover; the two end tabs of the locking plate are bent under the lower faces of the slideways; the longitudinal length of the end tabs of the locking plate is such that, in the locked front extreme position, they extend longitudinally towards the front beyond the slideways in order to constitute two locking channels which accommodate corresponding lugs on the base, these projecting transversely towards the outside from the two longitudinal parallel edges of the base which, in the closed position, are accommodated between the opposite longitudinal parallel edges of the facing ends of the slideways; the thickness of the locking plate is approximately equal to the thickness of the plate-shaped rear transverse connecting member, and the front transverse edge of the latter delimits a stop against which the locking plate bears longitudinally via its rear transverse edge in order to define its fi; unlocked rear extreme position; B13253ETR 4 the thickness of the base between its parallel faces, namely the lower face and the upper face, and the height of the lateral vertical members are such that, in the closed position of the cover, the base and the card are surrounded laterally by the lateral vertical members; means for pivoting the cover on the base consist of two pivot-pin sections which extend transversely towards the outside, each from one of the two longitudinal parallel edges of the base, and of two complementary cylindrical housings, each of which is formed at the rear free end of one of the lateral vertical members of the cover; the cylindrical housings are open radially in a direction approximately perpendicular to the upper face of the front part of the cover and towards the latter in order to allow the pin sections to be mounted in the housings by elastic press-fitting in the said radial direction; the connector includes elastic means which, with respect to the base, permanently urge the cover towards its open position; the elastic means act between the cover and the base and are arranged between facing portions of the lower face of the cover and of the upper face of the base near the rear longitudinal ends of these two components; the elastic means are arranged longitudinally between the front transverse edge of the card and the rear transverse edge of the connector; the said elastic means consist of at least one springforming tab which is bent back in order to extend in a cantilevered fashion between the upper face of the rear part of the base and a facing portion of the rear part of the lower face of the cover; -the electrical-contact elements consist of elastically deformable contact blades which extend parallel to the ,'B253ETk longitudinal direction of insertion of the card and each of which terminates in a free connection end which extends longitudinally at a transverse end edge of the base; the said tab is made as one piece with a connection end of an electrical-contact blade; each of the said tabs is protected laterally by flanges which are made as one piece with the base; the elastic means include at least one elastically deformable element made as one piece with the cover by io moulding a plastic; the upper face of the base has, near its front transverse end edge, a raised indexing finger which extends opposite a cut flat on the rear transverse edge of the card; the central part of the locking bar dips downwards so that its lower internal face engages frictionally with the facing portion of the upper face of the card in order to constitute a card brake; the plate forming the transverse connecting member and the plate forming the locking bar include apertures or recesses allowing the electrical-contact elements to be tested in the absence of a card in the inserted position of the card, the opposite corners of the front transverse edge of the card engage with stop regions of complementary shape which are arranged at the rear ends of the vertical members and the height of which is significantly greater than the thickness of the card; it includes means of electrical connection to the earth plane of the printed circuit of a board which supports the base, in order to remove any electrostatic charge from the card; the front entrance of the housing for insertion of the card is entirely clear so that the connector can accommodate a Z> card, which projects to the outside of the connector, the Of,_ 'B253ET' 6 projecting portion of which has a greater thickness than the part accommodated in the housing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which the reader should refer to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of an electrical connector according to the teachings of the invention, which is illustrated in the closed position of the cover, without a card, and with its locking bar in the locked front extreme position; Figure 2 is a view similar to that in Figure 1, with the locking bar in the unlocked rear extreme position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cover of the connector, seen from above, without its locking bar; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cover illustrated in Figure 3, seen from below; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the base of the connector, seen from above, without its electrical-contact elements; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the base illustrated in Figure 5, seen from below; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the locking bar, seen from below; Figure 8 is a view on a smaller scale, illustrating, in perspective, the connector of Figure 1 with its cover in an open angular position, the locking bar being in the unlocked position, and without a card; Figure 9 is a view similar to that in Figure 8, at another viewing angle; Figure 10 is a view similar to that in Figure 9, in which a card of the SIM or MICROSIM type is illustrated during the course of insertion into the housing in the cover; .B253ETR 7 Figure 11 is a view similar to that in the preceding figure in which the card is illustrated in its inserted position in the connector; Figure 12 is a view similar to that in Figure 11, at the same viewing angle as that in Figure 8; Figure 13 is a view similar to that in Figure 11, in which the cover is illustrated in the closed position with its locking bar in the locked position; Figure 14 is a perspective view of the connector io illustrated in Figure 13, seen from below; Figure 15 is a perspective view of a detail, on a larger scale, of the rear part of the base of the connector, without the electrical-contact elements; Figure 16 is a view similar to that in Figure 15, viewed from an opposite angle; Figure 17 is a perspective view, on a large scale, of an electrical contact element with which the front part of the connector is equipped; Figure 18 is a perspective view, on a large scale, of an electrical contact element with which the rear part of the connector is equipped, together with its spring-forming bentover tab; Figure 19 is a perspective view of a detail, on a large scale, of the rear part of the connector with its electricalcontact elements; Figure 20 is a view similar to that in Figure 19, viewed from an opposite angle, with the cover turned down to the rear; Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view, on a large scale, on the line 21-21 in Figure 11; Figure 22 is a view similar to that in Figure 21, taken as a cross-section on the line 22-22 in Figure 13; Figure 23 is a perspective view of the rear part of an alternative embodiment of the cover, seen from below; B253ETR 8 Figure 24 is a view similar to that in Figure 7, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the locking bar; Figure 25 is a view similar to that in Figure 21, in which the connector is equipped with the embodiment of the locking bar illustrated in Figure 24; Figure 26 is a view similar to that in Figure 8, illustrating an embodiment of the connector which, in particular, does not include a polarizing finger and which allows a special card to be accommodated; Figure 27 illustrates, in perspective, a special card which has a greater longitudinal dimension and can be put into the connector shown in Figure 26; and Figures 28 and 29 are views, on a larger scale, of the details D28 and D29 shown in Figure 26.

In the description which follows, as well as in the claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "horizontal", "vertical", "front" and "rear" are used with reference to the figures in order to simplify the description and its understanding, without constituting any limitation of the invention.

Figures 1 to 22 illustrate an electrical connector 30 for the electrical connection of a card C which, here, is a contacttype smart card having, on its lower face 32, parallel electricalconnection areas 34 which are oriented longitudinally, i.e.

parallel to the direction of insertion I of the card C into the connector (see Figure 12).

The connector 30 essentially consists of a lower base 36 made of insulating plastic which, according to a known design, serves as a support for a series of electrical-contact blades 38 made of conducting material.

Each blade is oriented longitudinally and is inserted into the base 36. By way of a variant, the base may be overmoulded around the contact blades. Each blade 38 has a curved free contacting end 40 which projects vertically above B253ETl 9 the plane horizontal upper face 42 of the base 36 in order to allow it to come into contact with a corresponding area 34 on the card C when the latter is in the connection position. Each blade has another free end 44, called the connection end, which extends longitudinally to near the front transverse edge 46 or the rear transverse edge 48 of the base 36 in order to allow this end to be connected, by soldering or brazing, to a conducting track on a printed-circuit board (not illustrated) on which the base 36 rests via its horizontal lower face io According to known embodiments (not illustrated), the lower face 50 may include studs for positioning the base 36 on the printed-circuit board and/or feet which raise up the connector. In the latter case, and taking into account the gap which then exists between the lower face 50 of the base and the printed-circuit board, it may be desirable to interpose, between these components, a metal plate forming a lower and lateral screening enclosure.

As may be seen in particular in Figures 5 and 6, the base 36 is bounded transversely by two vertically oriented parallel longitudinal edges 52 and 54.

Near the front transverse edge 46, each longitudinal edge 52, 54 has a locking lug 56, 58 which extends transversely towards the outside and the thickness of which, as may be seen in Figure 6, is less than that of the base 36 so as to leave a vertical clearance between the lower faces 60, 62 of the lugs and the lower face 50 of the base 36.

The lug 56, the length to the front of which is greater than that of the other lug 58, has, on its upper face 64, a vertical finger 66 for polarizing the card and for retaining it longitudinally in its housing, if, as in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the card C is a card of the "MICROSIM" type, the rear transverse edge 68 of which has a corner or flat 70 cut at 450 B253ETR It is thus possible to retain the card without using a partition or a region of extra thickness, extending transversely from the upper face of the base, and it is therefore possible to shorten the base.

At its rear part, the base 36 has two cylindrical pivot-pin sections 72 and 74 which extend transversely towards the outside from the longitudinal edges 52 and 54.

The sections 72 and 74 serve for mounting a cover 76, forming a receptacle for the card C, on the base 36, this cover io pivoting on the rear part of the base 36 about a geometrical axis X-X coaxial with the sections 72 and 74.

The cover 76 has the general form of a moulded plastic frame. It essentially consists of two lateral parallel vertical members 78 and 80 which are joined together, near their front longitudinal free ends 82 and 84, by a transverse platform in the form of a flat strip 86.

The plane horizontal upper face 88 of the strip 86 constitutes a plane P for setting the card C in a housing 90 of complementary shape which is formed, according to the teachings of the invention, in the upper face 92 of the cover 76.

The rear transverse edge 87 has an internal notch 89 for passage of the finger 66, the cover thus having a hole or orifice which allows the polarizing finger to pass through the cover. The front edge has a recess 85 for making it easier to manipulate the card C during its insertion, in order to ensure that it is fully inserted, and to make it easier to extract it.

The setting plane P, on which the lower face 32 of the card C is set, is coplanar with the upper faces 94 and 96 of two opposite slideways 98 and 100 which extend transversely b transverse faces which face the vertical members 78 and Rb B253ETR 11 The slideways 98 and 100 extend over approximately the front half of the length of the lateral vertical members and terminate in a chamfered end some distance from the lower strip 86. The front free ends of the vertical members are chamfered in order to allow the locking bar, which will be described later, to be mounted by elastic deformation.

The upper faces 94 and 96 extend in a plane which is vertically offset downwards with respect to the plane of the upper face 92 of the front part of the cover 76 so as to delimit two parallel opposite internal transverse facets 105 and 109 which delimit transversely the housing 90 and which engage with the opposite longitudinal edges 106 and 108 of the card C in order to guide the insertion of the latter into the housing from the front to the rear, in the direction of insertion I of the card C.

The lower faces 112 and 114 of the front parts of the vertical members are offset upwards, with respect to the plane of the lower face 110 of the cover 76, so as to leave a vertical clearance between these faces 112 and 114 and the plane of the lower face 110 of the cover 76.

The centrally-cavitied frame-shaped structure of the cover is reinforced by a very thin rear upper plate 116 which is extended, substantially along the rear half of the vertical members 78 and 80 and so as to be substantially coplanar with the upper face 92 of the cover 76, by its lower face 120.

Between the lower face 120 of the upper transverse member 116 and the setting plane P, there is a vertical clearance which is very slightly greater than the thickness of the card C so as to allow the latter to be able to be inserted, in the direction of insertion I of the card C, under the plate 116 until the front transverse edge 117 of the card C butts up It against the facing transverse edge 121 of an extra thick part

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SB253ETlk 12 122 which forms a band for reinforcing the rear end 124 of the plate 116.

The plate 116, which extends above the front part of the card C when the latter is fully inserted, thus helps to keep the card C in the housing 90, in order to prevent it from escaping vertically upwards, and it helps to guide the card C at the end of its insertion.

Near their rear ends, the vertical members 78 and are widened transversely inwards in order to form two bearings 0io 126 and 128 which accommodate the pivot-pin sections 72 and 74.

For this purpose, each bearing 126, 128 has a complementary cylindrical housing 130, 132 which is open radially outwards, in order to allow the sections 72 and 74 to be mounted in the bearings 126 and 128 by elastic pressfitting, and which is reinforced by a lateral cheek 131.

As may be seen, for example, in Figure 3, the slots 134 and 136 for inserting the sections 72 and 74 extend radially upwards in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the cover 76.

This arrangement is advantageous for various reasons.

First of all, producing the sections 72 and 74 together with the base 36 allows them to be easily demoulded without deforming the base. The orientation of the housings 130, 132 and of the slots 134, 136 makes it possible, for example for the purpose of replacing the cover 76, although the base 36 is soldered to a printed-circuit board, to disconnect the cover, although the latter is in an approximately vertical orientation, from the rear to the front by pulling it forwards. Thus, although the bearings 124 and 126 may be damaged during disconnection, this is of no serious consequence as it is the cover 76 which is replaced.

B253ETR 13 In mass production, assembling the two components 36 and 76 may be carried out with the two components "flat" in the same orientation, the base resting via its lower face 50 on a mounting plane, while the cover is supplied, also flat, and pivoted through 1800 with respect to its closed final position above the base, i.e. with the slots 134 and 136 oriented vertically downwards on top of the sections 72 and 74.

The cover 76 is locked onto the base 36 in the closed position, which corresponds to the connection position when io the card C is present, by means of a lock consisting of a locking bar 140.

The locking bar 140 is a thin metal plate which extends transversely above the upper face 92 of the front half part of the vertical members 78 and 80 of the cover 76.

The central part of the locking bar is able to dip downwards so that its lower internal face 143 engages frictionally with the facing portion of the upper face 33 of the card in order to form a card brake.

The plate-shaped upper part 142 of the locking bar 140 has a thickness approximately equal to that of the plate 116 and it extends above the housing 90, and therefore above the rear part of the card C when the latter is present, thus helping to keep the card C housed.

The upper part 142 is delimited by two transverse edges, namely the front transverse edge 144 and the rear transverse edge 146. The locking bar 140 here is preferably symmetrical in its design, in particular in order to make it easier to assemble the components automatically, and each edge 144, 146 has a central recess 148, 150.

The locking bar 140 is mounted so as to slide longitudinally over the cover 76 and its rear extreme position is delimited by the abutment of the rear transverse edge 146 ,B253ETR 14 bearing against the front transverse edge 152 of the rear plate 116.

In order to ensure that the locking bar 140 is guided slidingly on the cover 76, the upper plate 142 is extended vertically downwards at its two opposite ends by two vertical lateral cheeks 154 and 156 which extend along the vertically oriented external transverse faces 158 and 160 of the two thinned front halves of the vertical members 78 and 80. These two thinned portions are delimited longitudinally towards the front by two shoulders 162 and 164 with which the vertical front edges 166 and 168 of the cheeks 154 and 156 engage, respectively, in order to define the front extreme position of the locking bar 140 on the cover 76.

Beyond the cheeks 154 and 156, the plate 142 is extended horizontally inwards by two opposite horizontal, guiding and locking tabs 172, 174 which extend facing one another and each of which is delimited transversely by an internal longitudinal edge 176, 178.

Thus, each cheek 154, 156 together with a tab 172, 174 forms a channel 180, 182 for guiding the locking bar 140 longitudinally on the vertical members 78 and 80 of the cover 76.

The tabs 172 and 174 are slidingly accommodated along the lower faces 112 and 114 of the slideways 98 and 100.

As may be seen in Figure 4, these faces 112 and 114 each have two notches, namely the front notches 184, 186 and the rear notches 188, 190, which accommodate, depending on the extreme, front or rear, position of the locking bar 140, a pin 192, 194 projecting inwards in the tabs 172 and 174. This arrangement makes it possible to retain the locking bar in one or other of its two extreme positions, while a force for "getting past" the portion separating adjacent notches has to be applied to the locking bar 140 in order to move it from one B253ETR' position to the other. This arrangement thus provides a tactile and/or audible sensation when locking and unlocking the locking bar 140.

In the locked front extreme position, and as may be seen in Figure 14, the front longitudinal ends of the tabs 172 and 174 extend opposite the facing lower faces 60 and 62 of the lugs 56 and 58 for locking the base 36 while, in the unlocked rear extreme position, the lugs are disengaged in order to allow the cover 76 to be opened by pivoting about the 0io axis X-X.

The recesses 148 and 150, in the form of cut-aways, in the plate 142 of the locking bar 140 have several functions.

First of all they allow the locking bar 140 to be moved longitudinally between its two, front and rear, extreme positions using a fingernail or the tip of a tool. In the absence of a card C, the rear recess 150 makes it possible to check the contacts 40 of the front part (Figure while the contacts of the rear part may be checked through a window 196 in the transverse member 116.

The front recess 148 makes it possible, as may be seen in Figure 1, to solder the connection ends 44 of the contacts 38 of the front part of the base 36, even when the locking bar 140 is in the front extreme position, i.e. in its position for locking the cover 76 in the closed position in which it is generally delivered, in order to mount it on the printed-circuit board.

As may be seen in Figure 1, the central region Z of the front part of the upper face 118 of the plate 116 forms a region for gripping the connector (using the pick-and-place technique), this region Z being substantially in line with the centre of gravity of the connector After this soldering operation in the closed and locked position, the use of the apparatus equipped with the connector B253ETR 16 requires the insertion of a card C into the connection position.

To do this, the user moves the locking bar 140 rearwards (from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2) and he can then pivot the cover 76 with respect to the base 36, by lifting it up, in order to clear the free end, open to the front, of the housing Should an obstacle, such as a component or a wall or partition, extend past the front transverse edge of the connector, the recess 85 allows the cover to be lifted up with a fingernail or with the tip of a tool.

As will be explained later, the start of the pivoting opening travel of the cover is preferably assisted elastically, even in the absence of a card C in the connector.

Because of the configuration of the setting plane P in the upper face of the cover 76, the card C can be very easily put into position with a very small angle of entry (of between 100 and 150) of the cover 76, as may be seen in particular in Figures 9 to 11, i.e. an angle allowing the card to be put into position without being impeded by the surrounding components or partitions. The ergonomics are such that they allow the card to be put into position using only one hand, and blind.

In this regard, the kinematics and chronology of putting a card C into position will be explained with reference, in particular, to Figures 9 and Putting the card into position, for the purpose of inserting it, begins with a first step consisting in locating the vertical reference with respect to the setting plane P, i.e. a first step during which the lower arris of the front transverse edge 117 of the card C, or even only one of the two front rounded corners of the card, is pressed vertically downwards on the upper face 88 of the strip 86. This first operation does not require the card to be correctly oriented, i.e. that its A253TR 17 longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal, axis of the cover.

The second step consists in sliding the card laterally, along the axis (to the left or to the right) in order to bring one of its longitudinal edges, 106 or 108, so as to bear transversely against the facing corresponding facet 105 or 109 of the cover.

The third step consists, if necessary, in angularly orienting the card in its plane in order to correct the angle "a" io corresponding to the angular misalignment with respect to the axis of the card. This correction is achieved by pivoting it about the vertical, axis.

The next step consists in engaging or inserting the card C in the longitudinal direction of insertion I. This insertion movement takes place in a guide channel which is delimited by the lower internal face 143 of the locking plate 142, by the facets 105 and 109 and by the slideways 94 and 96, for the first part of the engagement travel, then by the internal face 120 of the rear transverse plate 116 and by the rear extensions 111 and 113 of the facets 105 and 109.

The step of longitudinal engagement along in the direction I, ends with the front transverse edge 117 of the card C butting up against the transverse edge 121 of the extra thick part 122 of the cover 76.

During this rear part of the engagement travel of the card C, there is no lower guiding insofar as the slideways are present only along the front half of the vertical members 78 and 80. However, the phenomenon of excessive insertion of the card beyond the stop 121 does not occur, as it does in the case of the connectors according to the prior art, since the design of the connector 30 and of its cover 76 makes use of a Stall, extra thick part 122 which provides a stop surface with a ktieight of approximately 2 mm opposite the two rounded front 'B253fTR 18 corners of the card C. This results from the design of the cover 76 which, in the closed position, surrounds the base 36 with the rear parts of the vertical members having concave fillets 119 and 123, the height of which is approximately equal to 2 mm, while the height of the stop 121 cannot exceed that of the card, i.e. approximately 0.8 mm.

In the inserted position of the card, it is possible to close and lock the cover 76 on the base 36 again, if the card has been inserted the right way round, since the finger 66 0io extends opposite the cut flat 70 (Figure 13), the locking operation being carried out by moving the locking bar 140 back to its front extreme position. Should the card C be put into position the wrong way round, locking is impossible and the cover is elastically returned to the open position.

In the closed position (Figures 13 and 14), the cover 76, which supports the card C and the lock 140, is entirely around and above the base 36, which it protects, the metal locking bar 140 furthermore "screening" the card C.

In some cases, the presence of the metal lock 140 may, in the closed position of the cover, be problematic and run the risk of causing short-circuits with components placed near the connector To avoid this phenomenon, it is, for example, possible to make the lock 140 of an insulting plastic by moulding.

According to another solution, the lock may be entirely coated, or at least its external enveloping surfaces 142, 154, 156, 172 and 174, with a thin layer of insulating material.

Another design consists in "removing" any harmful electrostatic charge, stored beforehand by the insulating plate which the card C constitutes, before making electrical contact between the areas 34 on the card C and the contact elements 38 by virtue of the combination of the following elements: ,E1253ETR' 19 the metal locking plate 140, the internal face 143 of which and the internal faces of the pins 192 and 194 of which (bearing against the notches 112 and 114 of the cover 76) are electrically conductive (it being possible for a slight dip in the plate 142 of the lock to improve the contact between the upper face 33 of the card C and the lock 140); a partial complementary metallization of the plastic moulded cover 76 in the regions 112 and 114 (including 186, 190, 184 and 188), 98, 99, 100, 101, the rear extensions 111 and 113 of the facets 105 and 109, 120, 121 locally, at least one bearing surface 214 corresponding to one of the contacts 38 (the "earth contact") which is connected to the earth circuit of the electrical circuit diagram or to one of the contacts 38 which is not used by the chip on the card C; and the spring blade 206 of the "earth" rear contact or of that contact of the connector which is not connected to the card's chip but which is itself connected to the earth circuit of the printed-circuit board via the soldered or brazed joint with the connection end 44.

Such a design has the advantage, as may be seen in Figure 21, of guaranteeing that discharge preferably occurs before making contact, i.e. before the areas 34 engage with the ends 40 of the contacts 38.

When there is no finger 66, and as may be seen in particular in Figure 26, the front entrance of the housing 90 is completely clear and it is then possible to put, in the cover 76, a longer, "MICROSIM special" card C' which extends forwards outside the connector 30, the projecting part 230 of which may be thicker (vertically downwards and upwards) and may carry electronic components. An example of such a card C' is, for example, a "NexFLASH Media-stick" card sold by the company Nexcom Technology Inc., this card having, for example, a microprocessor.

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B253ETR Because the finger 66 is omitted, the two lugs 56 and 58 are equal in length.

On the other hand, it is not necessary to modify the corresponding part of the cover, it being possible for the same cover 76 to be used with a base 36 with or without a polarizing finger 66.

As may be seen in Figure 27, one of the longitudinally oriented parallel electrical-connection areas of the lower face 32 of the card C' is a longer area 35 which is provided for the io simultaneous electrical connection of two aligned contact blades 38 in order to form a switch for detecting the presence of the card in the read/write position when the cover 76 is closed and locked.

Thus, without modifying the contact-carrying base 36, a switch is available which does not require the use of any additional component but which results from a simple modification of the areas 34 of the MICROSIM card.

Figure 17 illustrates an electrical contact blade of known structure which is mounted in the base 36 by the longitudinal insertion of a lateral tab 200 which is shaped like a harpoon in order to be inserted longitudinally into a corresponding housing in the insulation of the base 36. The front part of the connector is equipped with conventional blades.

The blades are manufactured in groups of adjacent blades which are originally joined together by connecting bars or strips and are subsequently separated by cutting the strips which originally extend from the rear edge 202 of the harpoon 200.

Figure 18 illustrates an alternative embodiment of one of the contact blades 38 with which the rear part of the connector 30 is equipped. As may be seen in this figure, the strip 204 has not been cut off but is bent back through 1800 0253ETR 21 over the rear part of the harpoon 200 so that its free end 206 extends horizontally forwards in order to form a beam capable of bending elastically in the direction of the arrow F.

This beam constitutes a spring which participates in the effect of the cover opening automatically after it has been unlocked.

As may be seen in Figures 15 and 16 and 18 and 19, each of the beams is bent back around a complementarily shaped rear part 208 of the rear part of the base 36. Each io beam-forming blade 206 extends between two parallel flanges 210 and 212 which project above the upper face 42 and which extend forwards. The flanges 210 and 212 guide the springs 206 and protect them at their free ends and laterally.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the four blades 38 of the rear part each have a spring-blade 206, each of which engages with a corresponding pusher 214 formed opposite it in the part 122 of the rear of the cover 76. Each pusher 214 lies in a housing 216 which accommodates the front parts of the corresponding flanges 210 and 212.

These elastic return means are "free", that is to say that they do not require any additional component nor any modification of the electrical-contact elements 38.

However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated, in which these blades are made as one piece with the contact blades 38. This is because it is possible to produce them independently, these elastic return blades always being preferably protected by the cheeks 210 and 212.

The flanges 210 and 212 also extend rearwards beyond the rear transverse edge of the base and constitute intermediate partitions between those rear parts of the contacts 38 which are insulated from each other in order to avoid short-circuits, especially in the case of dirt which would run the risk of getting into the rear part of the connector.

B2S3ETR As may be seen in Figure 22, in the closed position of the cover 76, each spring-blade 206 is elastically bent and prestressed and provides the effect of returning elastically towards the opening which allows the cover to be opened automatically to a defined and controlled angle (approximately 150). The value of this angle of entry is such that the lower face 32 of the card does not rub against the ends 40 of the contacts 387 during insertion of the card C into the cover 76.

In addition, because of the arrangement of the springs 206 io near the axis X-X, the elastic return does not occur suddenly, and the cover does not go beyond its controlled angle of entry.

In this embodiment, there is no positive mechanical connection between the spring-forming blades 206 and the cover, and they therefore in no way impede the other manipulations of the cover, especially for the purpose of opening it to a greater angle of entry, or when assembling it or replacing it.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 23, the elastic return means at the opening consist of a transverse beam 218 which joins the vertical members 78 and 80 together transversely near the bearings 124 and 126.

The lower face of the transverse beam 218 has a projecting pusher 220 which, in the closed position of the cover 76, engages with a facing portion of the base 36 in order to bend the beam 218 elastically.

In this case too, there is no positive mechanical connection between the spring-forming beam 218 and the base, and the beam therefore in no way impedes the other manipulations of the cover, especially for the purpose of opening it to a greater angle of entry, or when assembling it or replacing it.

The beam further increases the strength of the rear part of the cover which enables it to withstand, in particular, the S T"6 '253ET'R 23 risk of hot deformation during the reflow soldering or brazing operations.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 24 and 25, the metal lock 140 is extended rearwards by an extension 222, the plane of which is offset upwards with respect to the plate and the rear transverse edge 224 of which has a tab 226 which is offset downwards and engages with the blade 206 of the rear contact selected for removing any electrostatic charge to the earth plane of the printed circuit, as soon as the card C begins io to be inserted into the cover 76. In the closed and connected position of the card, the extension 222 also improves the screening of the connector.

According to this embodiment, it is not necessary to partially metallize the cover 76, as mentioned previously.

Details of the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figures 26, 28 and 29 will now be described.

First of all, it is pointed out that the plane horizontal lower face 232 of the strip 86 is cavitied, that is to say that it is offset vertically upwards with respect to the general plane of the lower face 110, in order to reduce the area of bearing of the cover on the upper face of the printed-circuit board which accommodates the connector.

In order to prevent the connector from collapsing in the absence of a card, especially during the soldering operations, tabs 234 are provided which are arranged transversely inwards and symmetrically in the cover, near the regions 99 and 101.

The lower faces of these tabs are designed to bear vertically on the upper faces of tabs 238 which are arranged opposite them on the base 36 and which are arranged transversely towards the outside in a symmetrical manner near the lugs 56 and 58.

24 The rear part of the connector 30 is simplified and more particularly the rear part of the base 36, especially if it is compared with that illustrated in Figures 19 and This is because only a single contact blade 38 modified so as to have a beam-forming blade 206 is provided and only a single corresponding pusher 214 is formed in the rear part of the cover 76.

The design according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the overall size of the connector considerably, if it is 0io compared with the prior-art connector sold by the CANNON division of the company ITT COMPOSANTS ET INSTRUMENTS under the reference CCM03-0. For a card thickness of approximately 0.80 mm, the thickness of the connector is reduced from 3 to 2.5 mm, its length from 30.5 to 29.6 mm and Is its width from 20.5 to 17.2 mm.

The overall ergonomics are optimized insofar as the setting plane P, in combination with lateral preguiding, constitutes a card-receiving site at the very start of putting it into position for the purpose of inserting it into the housing 20 Without departing from the scope of the invention, and by way of examples of alternative embodiments: the connector may include a switch for detecting the presence of the card; it is possible to reverse the directions for locking and unlocking the lock, without modifying the design of the lock, but by "shifting" the lugs 56 and 58 towards the centre of the base; and the contacts may be of the poke-in type.

Claims (22)

1. Connector (30) for the electrical connection of a smart card a lower face (32) of the card including connection areas (34), the connector having a lower base (36) in the form of a sheet of insulating material forming a support for electrical contact elements free contacting ends (40) of which project out of the plane of the upper face (42) of the base (36), the connector having an upper cover (76) which includes, in one of its opposed faces a housing (90) which at least partially accommodates the card which is inserted into the housing, longitudinally from the front to the rear, in a direction parallel to its general plane and to I. *that of the cover (76), the cover (76) being mounted so as to pivot with respect to the ~base about a transverse pivot axis lying near the facing rear longitudinal ends of the base (36) and of the cover between an open contact position and a closed contact position in which the cover (76) is approximately parallel to the base and the connection areas (34) on the card engage with the contacting ends (40) of the contact elements (38) of the ~base (36), 20 the connector having a transverse bar (140) for locking the cover S"(76) in the closed position, which extends above the upper face (92) of the cover (76) on which it is mounted so as to slide longitudinally between a locked extreme position and an unlocked extreme position, and -one (32) of the opposed faces (32, 33) of the card being pressed against the bottom of the housing, while the movable locking bar (140) engages with a portion of the other face of the card in order to keep the latter in the housing -26- characterized in that the housing (90) is formed in the upper face (92) of the cover and in that the lower face (32) of the card is pressed against the bottom of the housing in which a cavity is formed, at least partially, so that the part of the lower face (32) of the card which is opposite the connection areas (34) is clear (meaning that there is nothing in front of the said part...)

2. Connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the movable locking bar (140) is mounted so as to slide on the cover (76) between a locked front extreme position and an unlocked rear extreme position.

3. Connector according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cover (76) includes two parallel lateral vertical members (78, 80), the opposite internal transverse faces (105, 109) of which laterally delimit the housing (90) for i the card, which is longitudinally open to the front, these vertical members being joined together by at least one transverse connecting member (86, 116).

4. Connector according to Claim 3, characterized in that a platform in the form of a strip on which the card is set, is arranged near the front free :ends (82, 84) of the vertical members (78, 80) and its upper face (88) defines a o plane on which the lower face (32) of the card is set. Connector according to Claim 4, characterized in that each of the two 20 lateral vertical members (78, 80) has a slideway (98, 100) delimiting the bottom °eeee of the housing coplanar with the upper face (88) of the strip and in that the card is pressed against the slideways (94, 96) by the longitudinal parallel edges of its lower face (32).

6. Connector according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the slideways (98, 100) extend longitudinally over approximately the front half of the length of the lateral vertical members, and in that the transverse connecting member (116) S 7 is an upper transverse plate which extends above a front part of the upper face S(33) of the card and over approximately 27 the rear half of the length of the lateral vertical members (78,

7. Connector according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the movable locking bar (140) is a transverse plate (142) which is mounted so as to slide above the lateral vertical members, and in that its opposite transverse ends are bent vertically (154, 156) along the external transverse faces (158, 160) of the lateral vertical members (78, 80) and then transversely inwards in the form of io two tabs, so as to define two channels (180, 182) for guiding and retaining the locking plate (142) on the cover (76).

8. Connector according to Claim 7, characterized in that the two end tabs (172, 174) of the locking plate are bent under the lower faces (112, 114) of the slideways (98, 100).

9. Connector according to Claim 8 taken in combination with Claim 2, characterized in that the longitudinal length of the end tabs (172, 174) of the locking plate (142) is such that, in the locked front extreme position, they extend longitudinally towards the front beyond the slideways (98, 100) in order to constitute two locking channels which accommodate corresponding lugs (56, 58) on the base these projecting transversely towards the outside from the two longitudinal parallel edges (52, 54) of the base which, in the closed position, are accommodated between the opposite longitudinal parallel edges of the facing ends of the slideways. Connector according to any one of Claims 7 to 9 taken in combination with Claim 5, characterized in that the thickness of the locking plate (142) is approximately equal to the thickness of the plate-shaped rear transverse connecting member (116), and in that the front transverse edge (152) of the latter delimits a stop against which the locking plate (142) bears longitudinally via its rear transverse edge (144) in order to define its unlocked rear extreme position. Ui Q Cll(9 ~I I 825'31tR 28

11. Connector according to any one of Claims 3 to characterized in that the thickness of the base (36) between its parallel faces, namely the lower face (50) and the upper face and the height of the lateral vertical members (78, are such that, in the closed position of the cover the base (36) and the card are surrounded laterally by the lateral vertical members.

12. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means for pivoting the cover (76) io on the base (36) consist of two pivot-pin sections (72, 74) which extend transversely towards the outside, each from one of the two longitudinal parallel edges (52, 54) of the base (36), and of two complementary cylindrical housings (130, 132), each of which is formed at the rear free end (126, 128) of one of the lateral vertical members (78, 80) of the cover.

13. Connector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cylindrical housings are open radially in a direction approximately perpendicular to the upper face (92) of the front part of the cover (76) and towards the latter in order to allow the pin sections (72, 74) to be mounted in the housings (130, 132) by elastic press-fitting in the said radial direction.

14. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes elastic means (206, 218, 220) which, with respect to the base permanently urge the cover (76) towards its open position. Connector according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the said elastic means act between the cover (76) and the base (36) and are arranged between facing portions of the lower face of the cover and of the upper face of the base near the rear longitudinal ends of these two components. 6 29

16. Electrical connector according to Claim 14 or characterized in that the elastic means are arranged longitudinally between the front transverse edge of the card and the rear transverse edge of the connector.

17. Connector according to Claim 15, characterized in that the said elastic means consist of at least one spring- forming tab (206) which is bent back in order to extend in a cantilevered fashion between the upper face (42) of the rear part of the base (36) and a facing portion (214) of the rear part io of the lower face of the cover (76).

18. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical-contact elements consist of elastically deformable contact blades (206) which extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of insertion of the card and each of which terminates in a free connection end which extends longitudinally at a transverse end edge (208) of the base (36).

19. Connector according to the preceding claim taken in combination with Claim 17, characterized in that the said tab (206) is made as one piece with a connection end (44) of an electrical-contact blade (38). Connector according to either of Claims 17 and 19, characterized in that each of the said tabs (206) is protected laterally by flanges (210, 212) which are made as one piece with the base (36).

21. Connector according to Claim 14, characterized in that the said elastic means include at least one elastically deformable element (218, 220) made as one piece with the cover (76) by moulding a plastic.

22. Connector according to any one of the preceding Sclaims, characterized in that the upper face (42) of the base (36) has, near its front transverse end edge, a raised indexing 4 23ETIt finger (66) which extends opposite a cut flat (70) on the rear transverse edge (68) of the card

23. Connector according to any one of Claims 7 to characterized in that the central part of the locking bar dips downwards so that its lower internal face (143) engages frictionally with the facing portion of the upper face (33) of the card in order to constitute a card brake.

24. Connector according to Claim 6 taken in combina- tion with any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the io plate forming the transverse connecting member (116) and the plate (142) forming the locking bar include apertures or recesses (196, 150) allowing the electrical-contact elements (38) to be tested in the absence of a card Electrical connector according to Claim 3, characte- rized in that, in the inserted position of the card, the opposite corners of the front transverse edge (117) of the card (C) engage with stop regions (119, 123) of complementary shape which are arranged at the rear ends of the vertical members and the height of which is significantly greater than the thickness of the card.

26. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes means of electrical connection to the earth plane of the printed circuit of a board which supports the base, in order to remove any electrostatic charge from the card

27. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front entrance of the housing for insertion of the card is entirely clear so that the connector can accommodate a card, which projects to the outside of the connector, the projecting portion of which has a greater thickness than the part accommodated in the housing.