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US 5,633,490 AGranted
Card reader with spring contacts
AssigneeOki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
InventorGerald W. Vandenengel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A card reader comprising a housing having a contact surface with a plurality of apertures. A reader circuit is contained within the housing, the reader circuit having a plurality of contact pads, and a plurality of electrical contacts positioned in the housing and at least partially extending into the apertures, wherein each electrical contact comprises a conductive torsion spring that slidably engages one of the contact pads.
Claims11
A card reader for reading information stored on a card, said reader comprising:
- a housing having a contact surface, said contact surface having a plurality of apertures;
- a reader circuit contained within said housing, said reader circuit having a plurality of contact pads;
- and
- a plurality of electrical contacts positioned in said housing and at least partially extending into said apertures;
- wherein each said electrical contact comprises a torsion spring having a conductive element that slidably engages one of said contact pads;
- and
- wherein each said torsion spring comprises a continuous conductive element having two linear portions joined by a coiled portion, said two linear portions forming an acute angle therebetween when said contact is in an uncompressed state.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.