FR2622321A1 - Read/write device for electronic memory cards which is protected against vandalism - Google Patents

Abstract

Read and/or write device for a memory card. The housing 102 has no bottom. An inclined partition 124 requires the card body 40 to adopt a certain curvature by deflection in order to come into contact with the connector 120.

Description

READ AND / OR WRITE DEVICE FOR CARDS
ELECTRONIC MEMORY PROTECTED AGAINST VANDALISM
The present invention relates to a reading and / or writing device for electronic memory cards protected against vandalism.

Electronic memory cards are now well known. Such a card essentially consists of a card body of generally rectangular shape in which an electronic module is installed. The electronic module comprises an integrated circuit comprising at least one memory circuit and external electrical contact pads which are connected to the terminals of the integrated circuit. To use such a card, it is introduced into a processing machine. The processing machine comprises processing circuits for exploiting the information contained in the memory of the card and for modifying this information and a reading and / or writing device which makes it possible to ensure a temporary electrical connection between the contact pads of the machine processing circuits.Establishing this connection is used to power the integrated circuit of the card, to transmit write / read instructions from the card's memory, to apply the write voltage and a clock signal, etc. In the following description, a read / write device will mean not only a device which makes it possible to write and read, but also a device which makes it possible to carry out only one of these two operations. .

A read / write device usually comprises a box which has on its front face a slot for inserting the card and which internally defines a guide passage serving to position the card in such a way that, when the latter is in the position of treatment, that is to say in the depressed position, the contact pads of the card are in electrical contact with a connector which is mounted in the guide channel. With regard to memory cards according to the ISO standard, the contact pads are arranged near a corner of the card body. The connector of the read / write device is therefore offset relative to the median plane of the read / write device.

There are several types of read / write devices. In some of them, the card only partially penetrates the guide channel when it is brought into the treatment position, the movement of the card can be carried out either manually by the user or by a motor driving a roller The device is then said "without swallowing". In other reading / writing devices, the card penetrates entirely into the guide corridor to reach the processing position, the movement of the card in both directions; being obtained by a drive motor. Such a type of card reader is described in European patent application 139,593 filed in the name of the company
FLONIC.With the second type of device, which is said to be swallowed, we are sure that the card holder will not move his card during processing.

On the other hand, if the means for moving the card become faulty, the card remains blocked in the guide lane, which is harmful for the card holder and for the company managing the read / write device since it becomes unusable until 'that it was repaired.

In addition, many users are reluctant to see their card entirely swallowed by the reading device.

With the second type of read / write device, this risk and this fear do not exist since part of the body of the card always projects outside the card reader. However, both types of read / write devices can be the object of malicious acts aimed at preventing their operation. One of these most frequent acts consists in the introduction into the guide corridor of the read / write device of a part of an authentic card body but which has been cut in such a way that its length is slightly less than the length of the guideway, in the case of a reader of the first type, and a little less than the travel of the card in the case of a reader of the second type. In both cases, users appearing after the accomplishment of this malicious act will not be able to use the read / write device since the card body portion cannot be extracted from the guideway.

This requires the intervention of a maintenance team and prohibits the operation of the read / write device for a significant time.

Another form of vandalism consists in deteriorating the electrical contacts of the read / write head of the device. For this, it suffices to penetrate into the insertion slot, in place of a card, a metal blade or a similar object, and to break or deform the electrical contacts. In fact, most often, these protrude into the guide corridor.

An object of the invention is to provide a read / write device for electronic memory cards which makes it possible to prevent these acts of vandalism or at least to make them more difficult.

To achieve this goal, the read / write device according to the invention comprises a box provided with a front opening to allow the introduction of said card and means for guiding in translation of said card to guide the latter up to at a processing position where said contact pads are able to come into contact with connection elements of a read / write head, and it is characterized in that said guide means comprise means for causing a curvature of the portion of the card body carrying said electrical contact pads whereby said contact pads are applied against the connection elements of said read / write head when said card is in the read position.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows of several embodiments of the invention given by way of nonlimiting examples.

The description refers to the attached drawing in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the read / write device.

your figures 2 and 2k are views, partially cut away, respectively from above and from the right of the first embodiment of the device of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, along the plane AA of Figure 3k, of a second embodiment of the reading / writing device
Figure 3k is a front view of the read / write device of Figure 3a;
Figure 3c is a vertical sectional view along the line
CC of FIG. 3g of the second embodiment of the read / write device;
Figure 3d is a detail view of Figure 3a; and
Figures 4a and 4b show an alternative embodiment of the reader of Figures 3a to 3d respectively in front view and in section along the line IV - IV.

In the following description, the reader / writer for electronic memory cards will be called a "card reader".

FIG. 1 shows the general structure of a card reader 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The reader 10 comprises a housing 12 and a read / write head 14 shown diagrammatically in dotted lines in FIG. 1. The housing 12 comprises two side walls 16 and 18, vertical in FIG. 1, an upper wall 20 and a lower wall 22 , and a rear wall 24. the housing 12 also comprises a vertical partition 26 in FIG. 1, which extends from the upper wall 20 to the lower wall 22. The partition 26 has, in horizontal section, the shape of a L. The partition 26 is thus formed by two half-partitions 26a, connected to the side wall 16, and 26b, connected to the rear wall 24. The front edges of the walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 limit a front opening 30 of rectangular shape.

The partition 26 separates the interior of the housing 12 into two regions: a front region A which extends the front opening 30 and a rear region B which does not communicate with the opening 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the side wall 16 and the rear wall 24 do not extend beyond the partition 26. The same applies to the upper and lower walls 24 and 22. Thus the region B is only limited by the partitions 26a and 26k. The "fictitious" extensions of walls 24 and 16 in region B have been shown in dashed lines.

Returning to region A, it can be seen that the internal faces of the side walls 16 and 18 are provided with slides 32 and 34. The slide 34 and the front part 32a of the slide 32 are arranged in the same horizontal plane. On the other hand, the rear part 32b of the slide 32 is curved going away from the lower wall 22 when one moves towards the rear wall 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the slides 32 and 34 serve to guide the body 40 of an electronic memory card 42. The partitions 26a and 26k are provided with a slot 44. The portion 44a of the slot 44 formed in the partition 26ê is horizontal and arranged in the same plane as the slide 34 and the portion 32a of the slide 32.

The portion 44k of the slot 44 formed in the partition 26b is curved with the same curvature as the portion 32k of slide. Thus the slide portion 32k and the slot 44k define a portion of cylindrical surface with horizontal generatrices. The slot 44 has a height slightly greater than the thickness g of the card body.

As is well known, the card is provided with electrical contact pads 46. There are eight in FIG. 1. The contact pads 46 are arranged in a "corner" of the card body 40. The read head 14 , which will be described in more detail later, is arranged in region B.

Finally the case 12 has two ears 50 and 52 for fixing the case 12 to the machine of which the reader is a part.

When a user wants to use the machine which is equipped with the card reader 10, he introduces his card 42 into the slides 32 and 34 through the front opening 30, the contact pads 46 being arranged in front and in the upper face of the card body 40. The user pushes the card 42 which is guided by the slides 32 and 34. The right end of the card body enters the slot 44 of the partition 26. The card is pushed until its front edge 40a comes into abutment on the rear wall 24. In this situation, the card is in the processing position.

 When the front end of the card body 40 penetrates into the curved part 32b of the slide 32 and into the slot 44k, these two guide elements impose on the front part of the card body that is to say that which carries the contact pads 46, a curvature. This curvature tends to press the contact pads 46 against the read head 14, and to stiffen this part of the card, which further improves the quality of the electrical contact between the card and the read / write head.

 It should be noted that the portion of the card body which includes the electrical contact pads is located in region B of the case where the read head is located.

This part of the card is well maintained in position in the vertical direction by the lips of the slot 44.

 I1 is advantageous to provide that the half partitions 26a and 26k are close to the periphery of the electrical contact pads to ensure better maintenance.

Examination of FIG. 1 shows that the reader is insensitive to acts of vandalism consisting in introducing an object into the reader to prevent the subsequent introduction of a memory card. Indeed, any object of which a part is located in the front region A can easily be extracted from the reader by the user because the distance separating the upper 20 and lower 22 walls is sufficient to be able to extract any object from it. If an attempt is made to introduce an object into region B, this object will be automatically ejected during the introduction of a normal card since region B has neither bottom nor mechanical stop in the direction of introduction of the menu.

Figures 2g and 2k show the card reader in Figure but specifying the structure of the read head 14 which is arranged in the rear region B of the housing 12. The read head 14 is formed by an insulating support 60 on which elastic conductive strips such as 62 are mounted. The number of these strips 62 is equal to the number of electrical contact pads 46 and their free ends have the same geometry as the contact pads. On the insulating support 60 are made conductive tracks not shown to make an electrical connection 64 between each conductive strip 62 and a processing unit 66. The support 60 is inclined relative to the horizontal so that it is substantially parallel to the part of the card body 44 which carries the contact pads 46. It is understood that this particular embodiment has the additional advantage of protecting the contacts 62 of the read head. Indeed, as the read head is in an inclined position behind the partition 26, it is impossible, or at least very difficult, to introduce an object through the slot 44 in an attempt to damage the contact blades 62.

Figures 3ê to 3c show a second embodiment of the card reader. I1 comprises a housing 102 formed by an upper partition 104 two lateral partitions 106 and 108 and a portion of lower partition 110. The two lateral partitions 106 and 108 are separated by a distance substantially equal to the width of the card body. The upper face 110a of the lower partition 110 and the front part 112 of the upper partition 104 define between them. side partitions an insertion slot 114 for the card. The slot 114 makes it possible to introduce the card into the cavity 116 defined by the housing, the cavity 116 having no bottom.

On the inclined internal face 104a of the partition 104 is fixed a read head 118 identical to that of Figures 2ê and 2k. In FIG. 3a only the insulating support 120 and the conductive blades 122 of the read head have been shown, as well as a mechanical stop 123 better visible in FIG. 3d. Opposite the read head 118, the cavity 116 comprises a substantially flat inclined partition 124 whose edges are integral with the lateral partitions 106 and 108 of the housing. The partition 124 has a greater inclination than that of the read head 108. Preferably the partition 116 ends in a bevel 125 which has a smaller inclination of the main face of the partition 126, as shown in FIG. 3d.

When the user introduces his card 40 into the slot 114, this enters the cavity 116 guided by the lateral partitions 106 and 108 and by the portion of lower partition 110. When the front edge 40a of the card body arrives contact with the inclined partition 124, the slope of the partition is such that, when the user continues to push his card, the card body continues to advance in the cavity 116 taking a curvature with respect to the horizontal plane PP of introduction of the map, as shown in Figure 3a. The card continues to progress until its edge 40 is blocked by the mechanical stop 123.

The curvature of the card body is controlled by a flat surface 126 forming a step 127 in the cavity 116 from the upper partition 104. In this position the contact pads 46 of the card are connected to the conductive blades 122 of the head of reading.

 It should be emphasized that the bevel 125 allows the user to "feel" that the card will come to a stop on the mechanical stop 123.

According to the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b, the face of the partition 124 on which the front edge 40a of the card rubs is still substantially flat, but it has ribs 130 arranged in the direction of introduction of the card and which form a very slight projection from the main face of the partition 124.

It is understood that thus, if an object is introduced maliciously into the reader in an attempt to deteriorate the contact blades, this object can hardly be moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of introduction the amplitude of this movement being limited to the distance between two consecutive ribs 130. It will therefore be even more difficult to damage the contacts.

In addition, it goes without saying that it is not necessary for the partition 124 to occupy the entire width of the cavity 116, it suffices that the partition has a sufficient width to guide the end of the card body and give it flexion. necessary. The partition 124 could also consist of several parallel partition elements separated by intervals, the partition elements all being arranged in the same plane.

The curvature taken by the front portion of the card body fulfills several functions. On the one hand, it stiffens the portion of the card body in contact with the read head, which ensures good electrical contact between the card and the read head, although the card does not rest on any partition in the portion carrying the contact ranges. In addition, the deforming card is pressed against the connector contacts, the friction stroke being very small but sufficient to ensure self-cleaning of the contacts due to the large inclination of the partition 124 which is of the order of 60d . I1 is the same for the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2. On the other hand this curvature ensures proper immobilization of the card during the processing phase thereof.

The card reader effectively prevents acts of vandalism. Indeed, the cavity 116 having no bottom, objects introduced maliciously into the reader fall. In addition the read head 118 is disposed behind the upper part 126 in the recess 127, it is therefore not possible, or at least very difficult to introduce through the slot 114 a rigid object in an attempt to deteriorate the conductive blades of the read head 118.

Claims (6)

1. Read / write device for cards  electronic memory comprising a card body and  electrical contact pads arranged in a  main faces of said card body,  comprising a housing provided with a front opening  to allow the introduction of said card and  means for guiding in translation of said card for  guide it to a treatment position where  said contact pads are suitable for entering  contact with connection elements of a head  read / write characterized in that said means  guides include means for causing a  curvature of the portion of the card body bearing  said electrical contact pads whereby  said contact pads are applied against  connection elements of said head  read / write when said card is in position  of reading. 2. Read / write device according to the claim  1, characterized in that said front opening has  dimensions in the thickness direction of the  card substantially greater than said thickness, in  that said housing further comprises a partition  provided with a slot to allow the passage of the  card, said partition dividing said box into a  first region communicating with said opening  frontal and a second region not communicating  with said opening, said housing, in said  second region, having no bottom and stop  mechanical for said card in the direction  of introduction thereof, and in that said head  read / write is arranged in said second  region. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in  what said means for imposing a curvature on said  card body includes a slide portion  having a curvature and part of said slit  also curved and arranged substantially according to the  direction of introduction, said portion of slide  and said slit portion defining a portion of  cylindrical surface whose generatrices are  orthogonal to the direction of introduction of the  menu. 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in  what said guide means for causing the  card body curvature include a bulkhead  substantially flat inclined with respect to the  card insertion direction and arranged  noticeably opposite the head of  read / write, distance, by direction  introduction of the card between said opening  frontal and said partition being less than the  dimension of said map in said direction. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in  what said front opening has the shape of a  slot whose height is substantially equal to  the thickness of the card body, in that said  housing defines an internal cavity without bottom  in which said inclined partition is arranged  as well as another partition element on which  supports the face of the card body carrying the ranges  contact when said card body undergoes said  curvature. 6. Device according to any one of the claims  4 and 5, characterized in that said inclined partition  comprises at least one rib arranged according to the  direction of introduction of said card.