Switch in smart card connector
AssigneeITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsOlivier Masson, Michael Cour
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A smart card connector switch that detects full installation of a smart card, includes first and second switch contacts (42, 40), with the second switch contact including a sheet metal switch blade (41) that can be depressed against the first contact. The second switch contact includes a polymer depressable element (60) mounted on the switch blade and having a rounded top (62) lying higher than the switch blade so a card engages and depresses the depressable element as the card approaches its fully installed position.
Claims12
A smart card connector that has an insulative base with front and rear portions and laterally-spaced opposite sides and an upper card-receiving surface, the connector having a plurality of pad-engaging contacts mounted on the base, the contacts having pad-engaging portions projecting above said card-receiving surface for engaging contact pads on a lower face of a smart card that lies in an installed position wherein a face of the smart card lies facewise adjacent to said card-receiving surface, the connector including an electrical switch for detecting the presence of a smart card in said installed position, said switch including first and second switch contacts mounted on said base, said second switch contact having a contacting part and said second switch contact being resiliently depressable to change its contact condition between not contacting and contacting said first contact, wherein:
- said second switch contact includes a sheet metal switch blade and a depressable element of insulating material mounted on said blade, said depressable element having a top lying above all of said blade so a card in said installed position depresses said top of said depressable element to depress said contacting part of said second switch contact.
A smart card connector that has an insulative base with front and rear portions and laterally spaced opposite sides and an upwardly facing card-receiving surface, the connector having a plurality of pad-engaging contacts with pad-engaging portions projecting above said card receiving surface, and the connector having an electrical switch for detecting a smart card in a fully installed position wherein a face of the smart card lies facewise adjacent to said card-receiving surface, wherein:
- said switch includes first and second switch contacts, said second switch contact including a resilient metal blade with a rear section fixed to said base and a front section lying in vertical alignment with said first contact to make and break engagement with said first contact as said front section moves down and up;
- a depressable element fixed to a section of said blade, said depressable element being formed of a polymer material having a hardness no more than one-fifth the hardness of the material of said blade, said depressable element having a top that is rounded and that lies higher above said card-receiving surface that any part of said blade, so the only part of said second contact engaged by a fully installed card is said top of said depressable element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.