FR2722589A1 - Portable interface for card with embedded electronic circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

The portable interface connector is a flat module (80) of standard size to fit into a PCMCIA card reader. The inner end has connectors (16) to the card reader. The connector has an internal chamber (82) to accept a card that is inserted from the outer end. The outer end (78) of the connector is provided with two slots to allow insertion of smart cards (74,76). The end is larger in dimensions than the body (14) of the connector. Electrical connections inside the enlarged end region make contact with the smart card and extend to the inner end of the connector so they are eventually in contact with the contacts of the reader. The enlarged end also incorporates guides to ensure correct positioning of the card.

Description

The present invention relates to a portable interface for one or more electronic smart cards, said interface ensuring the connection between electronic smart cards with a card reader of the type comprising a box of substantially rectangular rectangle shape ending in a plug connector with pins in the reader, such as for example cards of the PCMCIA type.

Thereafter, smart cards will be used to designate rectangular cards well known to the general public, such as bank cards, prepayment cards (for the public telephone for example), access cards to premises, etc. .. The format of these cards is standardized: the electronic chip is located at a specific location on the main surface of the card and its dimensions are approximately 85 x 54 x 1 mm.

 It is more and more common to use instead of floppy disks for computers, electronic memory cards having the format of a smart card but of greater thickness. The housing of these cards, of substantially rectangular shape, is approximately 85 mm by 54 mm, the thickness being uniformly 3.3 mm (type 1), or being 3.3 mm with a thicker central part ( Smm, type 2) or 10 mm thick (type 3).

The end of the case ends with a female 68-pin connector. This type of card has been standardized according to the standard known as PCMCIA which means in English "Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association ". These memories are very practical because on the one hand their pocket format makes them very easily transportable and on the other hand they can have a large memory capacity which can reach several tens of megabytes. Most computer equipment, and in particular portable computers, includes a card reader of the PCMCIA type.
Once plugged into the reader, the card can be used as a memory extension for the computer or perform other functions such as I / O, modem or mass storage. Subsequently, PCMCIA card is understood to mean not only all the cards which are effectively compliant with the PCMCIA standard, but also all similar cards, of substantially rectangular rectangle shape, terminated at one end by a connector.

Due to the increasingly widespread use of cards and readers of the PCMCIA type, it has proved useful to be able to have chip cards read by a PCMCIA type reader.

These include either memory circuits or a microprocessor associated with memory circuits. Their use is more and more widespread. Smart cards and PCMCIA type cards are standardized to the same dimensions: they have the same width and the same length.

But their thickness varies the thickness of an electronic chip card is around 1 mm while the thickness of a PCMCIA card varies from 3.3 to 10 mm. Another difference lies in the fact that the memories, in the form of integrated circuits, of the PCMCIA card are included inside the card itself and the card has at its end a pin connector, while the card with puce has an integrated circuit and contact pads located in specific locations on the main surface of the card. As a result, PCMCIA card readers cannot read smart cards, and vice versa, without modifying the reader.

Particular card readers are already known which allow smart cards and PCMCIA type cards to be read interchangeably. These readers generally include a tray, which makes it possible to adapt to the difference in thickness of the cards, as well as electrical connectors of the two types, either PCMCIA or smart card. For example, patent application FR 2 687 238 and US patent 5,198,645 describe this type of reader.

Another solution described in patent application EP 0 552 078, consists in reducing the thickness of a card
PCMCIA and to equip it with an additional connector with flush contacts on its main face. Note that in such a system the two cards, smart card and card
PCMCIA, are overlaid in the player. The two cards having the same width can be guided in the card reader by the guide and positioning system of the reader. However, the latter is designed for a PCMCIA type card and not for stacking a smart card with a PCMCIA card. The result is a lack of precision in the positioning of the smart card. In addition, when it is sought to introduce the smart card into a card reader already containing a PCMCIA card whose thickness has been reduced, there may be false operations due to the fact that the space remaining to accommodate the smart card is relatively small. It is also noted that the space available for accommodating electronic components, such as memories, inside the PCMCIA card of reduced thickness is greatly reduced compared to the space available in a conventional PCMCIA card. We cannot therefore house as many electronic components inside a card of reduced thickness as in a PCMCIA card of normal thickness. In addition, such a system only allows one smart card to be read, whereas for certain applications several cards would need to be read by the card reader simultaneously.

Another solution is proposed by US patent 5,296,692 which describes an adapter which can be inserted into a reader. The adapter includes a receptacle capable of receiving a card of the PCMCIA type and a smart card, these cards being superimposed, one above the other. As a result, the slot through which the cards are inserted has a width greater than that of conventional card readers and that the adapter does not have standard dimensions and cannot be used directly with a PCMCIA type card reader. .

The present invention provides a portable interface between one or more smart cards and a card reader of the type
PCMCIA which does not have the drawbacks of the systems of the prior art.

The invention provides a portable interface, pluggable into a card reader comprising
a module of substantially rectangular shape,
intended to be housed in the card reader and comprising
at one end of the pluggable connecting means
electric with said card reader;
- a nozzle attached to the other end of the module and
wider than the width of the module and
with a slot for inserting the card
chip;
- a housing of substantially flat shape, intended for
at least partially receive the smart card and
crossing at least in part said nozzle, from
said slot, said housing comprising means for
guidance and positioning of the smart card; and
- electrical connection means with said
electrical contact pads of the smart card, said
means being located inside the interface.

The guide and positioning means are advantageously constituted by the lateral edges, by the upper and lower internal surfaces and by the bottom of the housing.

The housing can either be entirely contained inside the end piece or pass right through the end piece extending into the module.

The interface according to the invention may include two or more superimposed housings, each of which can accommodate a smart card. The housings can be oriented along substantially parallel planes or along intersecting planes. When the interface has two housings, one can be entirely contained inside the end piece while the other passes right through the end piece, extending into the module. A set of integrated circuits located in the module can be provided to connect the electrical connection means to the plug-in electrical connection means with the card reader.

The module and the nozzle can advantageously be formed in one piece, for example a hollow plastic body molded in one piece and comprising a cover which can be metallic and of very thin thickness.

The invention will be better understood using the following description of several embodiments of the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
- Figures 1 show an embodiment of
the invention which makes it possible to introduce a single card to
chip in the interface, figure la being a view in
perspective, Figures lb and îc representing
respectively a side and top view, and the figures
id and representing you cuts according to two plans
perpendicular.

- Figures 2 show an embodiment with
two smart cards both housed only in
the end piece and in parallel, FIG. 2a being a view
in perspective, Figures 2b and 2c being respectively
a side and top view and Figures 2d and 2e
representing sections according to two planes
perpendicular.

- Figure 3 shows in perspective a mode of
realization with two smart cards located in two
intersecting planes;
- Figures 4 show an embodiment of
the invention with two cards, one being housed in
one end only and the other being fully housed
in the end piece and partly in the module, Figure 4a
being a perspective view, FIGS. 4b and 4c a
side view and top view respectively and Figure 4d and
4th of the cuts according to two perpendicular planes.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1 allows to introduce a single smart card in the interface. The latter consists of a module which has the geometric shape and dimensions of a type 2 PCMCIA card. The embodiments represented and described below comprise a module having the external appearance of a type 2 PCMCIA card However, the module 10 can have the external appearance of a PCMCIA card of type 1, 2 and 3 indifferently. PCMCIA type 1 cards have a rectangular shape with a thickness of 3.3 mm; those of type 2 have the same thickness of 3.3 mm at the edges but have an elevated central part 14 delimited by the edges 30, the total thickness of the card at this location being 5 mm. Like any PCMCIA card, the module comprises at one of its ends plug-in means 16 composed of a female pin with 68 connections. This pin 16 is pluggable into the male connection of the card reader (not shown). The length of the module 10 is approximately 8.5 cm and its width is approximately 5.4 cm. These dimensions correspond substantially to the dimensions of the smart cards. A tip 18 is fixed to the end of the module 10 opposite the connector 16. This tip 18 has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped of the same thickness as the module 10 in its central part 14. The width of the tip 18 is slightly greater than that of module 10 and therefore greater than the width of a card of the PCMCIA type or of a smart card. The protrusions 20 and 22 of the endpiece form a stop against the face of the card reader when the interface is introduced into the reader.

The end piece has a slot 24 which makes it possible to introduce a smart card 26 inside a housing 28 located in the end piece. The edges 12 of the central part 14 of the module 10 generally serve as means for guiding the PCMCIA card when it is inserted into the card reader.

Figures 1b and tc are respectively side and top views of the embodiment shown in Figure la.

The same elements have been represented by the same references (it will be the same subsequently for the other embodiments). Only the top of the interface is visible in Figure la; we see however in Figure 1b that the bottom of the interface has the same shape as the top. There is therefore a central part 14 of the module 10 which is thicker than the edges 12. In FIG. 1b appear electrical connection means 32 intended to come into contact with electrical contact pads 33 of the chip card (figure toc ).

The smart card 26 is inserted into the housing 28 (FIG. Td and the) located in the end piece 18. This card is guided and positioned by means of guidance and positioning.

In the examples illustrated in the figures, the guiding and positioning means are constituted by the solid surfaces defining the housing itself, that is to say by the lateral edges 34 (FIG. Le) of the housing 28 and by the internal surfaces upper 17 and lower 19 of the housing 28. The latter has a rectangular shape of width and height very slightly greater (by a few tenths of a millimeter) than that of the smart card 26 so that the card is guided when it is inserted .

The depth of the housing 28 is large enough for the lateral edges 34 and the surfaces 17 and 19 to serve effectively as means for guiding and positioning the smart card inside the housing.

This depth is advantageously equal to or greater than three centimeters. The bottom 36 of the housing 28 is used to position the smart card when the latter abuts against the bottom 36. In this case, a plurality of flush contactors 32 are located opposite and in contact with contact pads 33 located on the smart card surface. Each flush contactor 32 has the shape of an elastically deformable blade, integral with the end piece 18 and having a curved end for coming into contact with a region of the card. The contactors 32 are connected by electrical wires 37 to a printed circuit 38 housed inside the module 10. This printed circuit 38 comprises several electronic elements 40, such as integrated circuits. The connection between the printed circuit 38 and the connector 16 is preferably a direct connection represented schematically by 42 in FIGS. 1d and 1c, that is to say that the outputs of the printed circuit 30 are directly soldered to the terminals of the connector 16.

The printed circuit 38 with its electronic components 40 can fulfill different functions. First of all, it contains circuits dedicated to the electronic management of the smart card 26, as well as its power supply and clock signals. This management can be the exchange of data between the smart card and the device to which the interface is connected or the processing of the data provided by the smart card before the transfer of this data thus processed to the device to which is connected interface.

The circuit can also fulfill other functions, such as storing information on mass memory or on solid state memory - volatile or not, increasing the memory capacity of the computer in which the interface is connected. or input-output functions such as network interfaces, telecommunications interfaces or interface with any other type of device. In this case, these additional functionalities can benefit from the simultaneous presence of one or more smart card (s) to, for example, ensure the security of access to data or networks, to verify rights of use, to sign or encrypt a transaction, or to pay for the use of the functions or services offered by the circuit.

In the preferred embodiments and shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the module 10 and the end piece 18 form only one piece in order to increase the overall robustness of the interface. This part is advantageously molded in a plastic material in which the interior space of the module has been arranged to contain the printed circuit 38 with its components 40. This space is closed using a cover 44, preferably metallic and very thin, fixed on the module 10. This cover makes it possible to install the printed circuit 38 and to access this circuit if necessary. The housing 28 is also arranged in the plastic part formed by the module 10 and the end piece 18. The connectors 32 are pre-installed in the end piece 18 as well as the connecting wires 37.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the housing 28 of the smart card is entirely contained inside the end piece 18. FIGS. 2a to 2e represent an embodiment of an interface ensuring the connection of two smart cards with a PCMCIA type card reader.

The end piece 46 has two slots 48 and 50 through which the smart cards 52 and 54 are inserted respectively.

The tip 46 is of greater thickness than in the embodiment of Figures 1. This thickness is about 1 cm. The module 10 is identical to that of FIGS. 1. It thus has the shape and the dimension of a type 2 PCMCIA type card, namely that its central part 14 is thicker (about Smm) than on the edges 12 of the module. (about 3.3 mm). It also has at its end opposite to that of the module 46 a connector with plug-in pins 16. In FIGS. 2b and 2c which show a side and top view respectively, it is noted that the end piece 46 has two housings 56 and 58 contained in the end piece 46. These housings have a rectangular shape and a width very slightly greater (by a few tenths of a millimeter) than the standardized width of smart cards (FIGS. 2d and 2e). As a result, the lateral edges 60 and 62 of the two identical housings 56 and 58 serve as means for guiding and positioning the two smart cards 52 and 54. It is the same for the upper internal surfaces 59a and 59b and lower 61a and 61b of the housings 56 and 58 respectively, the height of these housings being very slightly greater (by a few tenths of a millimeter) than the thickness of a smart card.

The bottom 64 of each of the two housings 56 and 58 is also used as a means of deep positioning. When the cards are in place in the housings, the electrical contact pads 66 are facing the flush contactors 68 and 70. The housings 56 and 58 are oriented in two parallel planes, so that the two cards 52 and 54 are parallel between them when they are introduced into the accommodation. Electrical wires 72 connect the contactors 68 and 70 to the printed circuit 38. This circuit contains electronic components 40 as indicated previously as well as connection contacts 42 with the pin of the plug-in connector 16.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, as well as in the embodiments described below, the end piece 46 and the module 10 are advantageously formed from a single molded part (in order to increase the robustness of the interface ), fitted with a cover 44.

FIG. 3 represents an embodiment identical to that shown in FIGS. 2, except as regards the orientation of the housings 56 and 58 of the end piece 48.

When the two slots are relatively close to each other, it may be difficult to insert or remove one of the two smart cards 52 and 54 when one of them is already in his home. To avoid this drawback, the two housings 56 and 58 are oriented along two intersecting planes. In other words, the two smart cards 52 and 54 are in two intersecting planes, converge on the module 10, so that the two outer ends of the two cards are distant from each other by a distance greater than the distance separating the two slots 48 and 50. In this way, it is easier to insert or remove the cards 52 and 54.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 makes it possible to connect two smart cards 74 and 76 to a card reader of the PCMCIA type. It differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 by the fact that one of the two housings intended to accommodate the smart cards is entirely contained in the end piece 78 while the other housing passes right through this end piece and extends into the module 80. The dimensions and the external shape of the interface are identical to those of the embodiment of FIG. 2. The module 80 likewise comprises a pin connector 16 and a central part 14 of thickness greater than the edges 12. On the other hand, the module 80 comprises a lateral slot 82 which allows the passage of the smart card 76. This slot is obviously necessary since the widths of the smart card and of the module 80 are substantially identical . The two housings 82 and 84 (FIG. 4d) are situated in substantially parallel planes. One could of course easily imagine that this is not the case as in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the housing 82 then being inclined relative to the housing 84. The housing 82 is entirely contained in the end piece 78. The edges lateral, the upper and lower internal surfaces and the bottom of the housing serve as means for guiding and positioning the card 74 as in the previous embodiments. Flush electrical contactors 86 are placed in the housing 82 so that when the smart card 74 is in position, the contact pads 88 of the smart card are opposite the contactors 86. Electrical wires 90 connect the contactors 86 to the printed circuit 38 of the module 80.

The housing 84 includes a first part 92 which passes right through the end piece 78 and which is extended by a part 94 in the module 80. In this part 94 there are flush contactors 96 which are located opposite the contact pads 98 of the chip card 76 when the latter is in position in the housing 84. Electric wires 100 connect the contactors 96 to the printed circuit 38. The contactors 96 can also be directly soldered to the printed circuit 38. The guide of the card 76 during its introduction into the housing 84 is carried out using the lateral edges 102 and the upper batch and lower internal surfaces 103 of the part 92 of the housing 84 located in the end piece 78. These edges 102 and these surfaces 101 and 103 are mutually parallel and located at a distance from each other very slightly greater than the width and the thickness of a smart card, respectively. The deep positioning of the card is carried out using the bottom 104 of the housing 84.

As in the previous embodiments, the end piece 78 and the module 80 are formed in one piece, preferably made of molded plastic.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 is particularly interesting when it is desired to use 2 smart cards simultaneously, one of which, the card 76, remains for a much longer time in the interface than the other card. For example, the card 76 could be used for a whole day while the other card 74 would only be used for a relatively short period, for example ten minutes. Thus, for one day the card 76 would remain permanently in the housing 84 while the housing 82 could successively accommodate a large number of smart cards.

The bottom 36, 64 or 104 of each of the housings 28, 56, 58, 82 or 84 of each of the embodiments described is advantageously provided with a micro-contact (not shown in the figures) which makes it possible to detect the presence and / or the correct positioning of the smart card in its slot.

From the embodiments which have just been described, one can easily imagine other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Thus, in the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1, the thickness of the end piece 18 could be greater than that of the module 10. In FIGS. 4, the end piece 78 could contain several housings 82 superimposed on each other of so that several smart cards 74 can be connected simultaneously to the interface. Similarly, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 could be very easily modified so that more than two smart cards can be connected simultaneously to the 'interface. The embodiments described comprise a module which has the shape and dimensions of a card
PCMCIA type 2 but it is obvious that another type can be used. In addition, and as indicated in the introduction, the interface module can take any other shape and size suitable for a card reader that is to be coupled with one or more smart cards.

Claims (14)

Claims 1. Portable interface of at least one smart card  electronic (26, 52, 54, 74, 76) with ranges of  electrical contacts (33, 66, 88, 98), the interface being  pluggable into a card reader, characterized in  that it is composed  - a module (10, 80) of substantially shaped  rectangular, intended to be housed in the card reader  and having plug-in means at one end  (16) of electrical connection with said card reader;  - a nozzle (18, 46, 78) secured to the other end  of the module (10, 80) and of width greater than the width  of the module and comprising a slot (24, 48, 50) for  the introduction of the smart card;  - a housing (28, 56, 58, 82, 84) of form  substantially flat, intended to receive at least  partially the smart card and crossing at least in  parts said tip from said slot, said  housing comprising means for guiding and  positioning (34, 36, 60, 64, 102, 104) of the card to  chip; and  - electrical connection means (32, 68, 70, 86,  96) with said electrical contact areas of the card  smart, said means being located inside  the interface.  lower (19, 61a, 61b, 103) of the housing.  upper internal surfaces (17, 59a, 59b, 101) and  formed by the side edges (34, 60, 62, 102) and the  the guidance and positioning means are 2) Interface according to claim 1, characterized in that  further comprise the bottom (36, 64, 104) of the housing.  characterized in that the positioning means 3) Interface according to one of the preceding claims  the latter is positioned in said housing.  said contact areas of the smart card when  68, 70, 86, 96) which are located opposite and in contact  have a plurality of contactors (32,  characterized in that said connection means 4) Interface according to one of the preceding claims  located in said tip.  electrical connection means (32, 68, 70) then being  entirely contained inside said tip, said  characterized in that said housing (28, 56, 58) is 5) Interface according to one of the preceding claims  then being located in said module.  module, said electrical connection means (96)  right through said tip (78) and extends into said  characterized in that said housing (84) passes through 6) Interface according to one of claims 1 to 4  each accommodating an electronic chip card.  that it comprises two superimposed housings (56, 58), 7) Interface according to claim 5, characterized in that  substantially parallel.  said housings are oriented according to plans 8) Interface according to claim 7 characterized in that  said housings are oriented along intersecting planes. 9) Interface according to claim 7 characterized in that  tip and extending into said module.  (78) and the other (84) crossing right through said  being entirely contained inside said tip  that it has two housings (82, 84), one (82) 10) Interface according to claims 5 and 6 characterized in  menu.  pluggable electrical connection with said reader  means of electrical connection to said means  integrated (38) located in said module and connecting said  characterized in that it further comprises a circuit 11) Interface according to one of the preceding claims  the interface is positioned in the card reader.  come into contact with the card reader when  in contact with the module form a stop intended for  characterized in that the edges (20, 22) of the end piece (18) 12) Interface according to one of the preceding claims  in one piece.  characterized in that the module and the end piece are formed 13) Interface according to one of the preceding claims  PCMCIA standard.  characterized in that said module conforms to the 14) Interface according to one of the preceding claims