EP1875562A1 - Connector for connecting a plurality of types of devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector (1) is designed for receiving two types of devices (5) and for connecting a device (5) to a processing unit. This connector (1) comprises a single slot (3), and a single bus (4), and two sets of terminals (7, 8) linked to the bus (4).

Description

CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING A PLURALITY OF TYPES OF DEVICES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to connectors for connecting at least two types of devices such as respectively, for instance, a Smart Card and a key for authorizing access to a service.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, this invention provides a connector according to the preamble of claim 1.

A known connector of this kind comprises two different slots where two types of devices may respectively be inserted into, for example two cards of different sizes. Then, two respective sets of terminals permit to connect independently each inserted card to a processing unit, via two independent respective sets of wires, each set of wires forming an independent bus.

However, as this kind of connector requires two busses, the processing unit requires two bus inputs and the connection to the processing unit is then expensive. Moreover, for some operations, like access authorization requirements, only one device must be read or inserted at once. But, for such a connector, it is difficult to prevent the simultaneous insertion of two devices .

An object of the present invention is to provide a less expensive connector, which permits to connect different kind of connectors to a processing unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector which prevents the insertion of a plurality of devices simultaneously.

CONFIRMATIONGQPf SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention thus proposes a connector according to claim 1.

With such a connector, only a single bus is required for connecting the connector to the processing unit, reducing thus the cost of the connection. Moreover, as only one slot is provided, this connector allows preventing the simultaneous insertion of two different devices. And consequently, as only one device may be connected to the processing unit at once, this connector does not require buffer devices, as a multiplexer, to allow that the processing unit communicates with the devices .

In various embodiments of the connector according to the invention, one may use one and/or other of features of claims 2 to 9.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, with regard to the appended drawings . In the drawings :

- Figure 1 is a general view of a connector according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a front view of the slot of the connector of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3a is an exploded view of the connector of Figure 1; - Figure 3b is an electrical connection scheme of the connector of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is an exploded view of the connector of Figure 1 ; and - Figure 5 is a view of a key locking means of the connector of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As depicted on Figure 1, a connector 1 comprises a plastic shell 2, for example molded, and an insertion slot

3, where devices may be guided and inserted into. This connector 1 further comprises a bus 4 providing the connection of the connector 1 to a not depicted processing unit. This bus 4 may be for instance a silver ink printed flex, reducing thus the cost of such a bus 4.

In the slot 3 of the connector 1, two types of devices may be inserted: a smart card 5 (described below as a card) and a key 6, illustrated on figure 4. Both of these devices may comprise for instance a microchip, able to communicate with the processing unit . These microchips are used for example for authorizing the access to a service for a user, like a pay-per-view TV channel.

The single slot 3 of this connector 1 comprises a cross section, normal to an insertion direction X of the devices, and having a first portion 3a and a second portion 3b along an axis Y parallel to the general opening direction of the slot 3. The second portion 3b is wider than the first portion 3a along an axis Z, perpendicular to the axis Y and an axis X parallel to the insertion of the card 5 or the key 6 in the connector 1. Moreover, as illustrated on figure 2, the slot 3 may comprise another portion 3c which may substantially be as wide as the first portion 3a.

On one hand, the key 6, which is thicker than the smart card 5, may be inserted in the slot 3 thanks to the portion 3b, wider than the portions 3a and 3c of the slot 3. It is possible that the key comprise a protruding portion, for example for guiding the key 6, or for providing a non symmetrical key, avoiding thus that the key be inserted in a wrong way, this protruding portion being inserted in a side part 3a or 3c of the slot.

On the other hand, the card 5 can be inserted in the slot 3, through the side parts 3a and 3c of the slot 3. Consequently, when the card 5 is introduced in the slot 3, it is impossible to insert a key 6 or another card. Similarly, when the key 6 is inserted into the central part 3b of the slot, no card may be simultaneously inserted into the slot 3. Then, this invention prevents the simultaneous insertion of more than one device.

As illustrated figure 3a, the connector 1 comprises two sets of terminals 7 and 8, these terminals being connected to the bus 4. These sets of terminals 7 and 8 are located so that they correspond to conductive contacts of the microchip of respectively the card 5 and the key 6. Consequently, when one of the card 5 and the key 6 is inserted, its microchip is connected to the processing unit via the terminals 7 or 8 and the bus 4. Each set of terminals 7 and 8 comprises terminals for the connection between the processing unit and a device 5 or 6. But each set of terminals 7 and 8 may further comprise a detecting means 9, 10a and 10b for detecting the insertion of the card 5 or the key 6. These detecting means 9, 10a and 10b may be for example a switch, able to be in two states: an OFF-state and an ON- state, respectively when this switch is opened or closed. The detecting means 9, 10a and 10b of the card and the key may be connected in parallel relative to each other and then to the bus 4. Thus, when one of the detecting means is switched on, a shortcut is produced on the bus 4, warning the processing unit that a device, whatever it is among a card 5 or a key 6, is ready to be read, as, for this connector 1, there is no point in knowing what kind of devices has been inserted.

As shown schematically figure 3b, the first set of terminals 7, i.e. in the present embodiment the card connections, are connected in series with the second set of terminals 8, i.e. in the present embodiment the key connections. The detection means 9, 10b are connected in parallel . According to the invention, all these connections are gathered in a single bus 4 which is connected to the processing unit .

As depicted on Figure 4, the card detecting means 9 may be a simple switch, and the key detecting means 10a, 10b comprises for instance a flexible arm 10a and a switch 10b which is actuated by the flexible arm 10a when the key 6 is inserted. Indeed, according to Figure 4, the flexible arm 10a is raised for example along the axis Z to a load position by the key 6. When no key has been inserted, the flexible arm is in a rest position and its contact portion lets the switch in OFF-state. Thanks to these features both terminal sets are the same and the arm 10a activates the switch 10b even if the key does not extend enough along the Y axis.

According to another embodiment, the flexible arm 10a may be pushed, along the insertion direction X, by the key when the key 6 reaches the end of the insertion path. Thus, this key detecting means permits to warn the processing unit that a device is ready to be read.

As illustrated in figure 3a, the connector 1 may comprise card locking means 11, and key locking means 12a. These locking means are used for locking the card 5 and the key 6, once they have been inserted into the slot 3. To withdraw the card 5 or the key 6, the required force is so predetermined, that the connector 1 may not be damaged during withdrawing, and the card 5 or the key 6 are maintained in the slot 3 during operation.

The locking means 11 of the card comprises two flexible arms, elastically biased towards the slot 3, so that the friction force is sufficient to maintain the card in the slot 3.

As illustrated on figure 5, the locking means 12a of the key may comprise a protruding portion, for example hemispherical, arranged to correspond to a recess 12b in the key, as shown on figure 4. The protruding portion of the locking means 12a is elastically biased, so that the protruding portion is pushed into the recess 12b of the key, when this key is inserted. Several variants of the above described embodiments are conceivable. For instance, the bus 4 and/or the connections to the terminals 7, 8 may be produced by MID (Molded Interconnect Device) on a plastic shell. Further, terminals 7, 8 may be overmolded with such a plastic shell.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A connector (1) designed for connecting at least a first and a second types of devices (5,6), that are to be inserted into the connector (1), to a processing unit, said connector (1) being characterized in that it comprises : at least a first and a second sets of terminals (7,8) , a single slot (3) where each one of said devices (5,6) are to be inserted into and guided in order to contact at least first or second set of terminals (7,8), and wherein each one of the first and second sets of terminals (7,8) is connected to a single bus (4), said single bus (4) linking the connector (1) to the processing unit .

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said single slot (3) has a cross section, normal to an insertion direction X of the devices of the first and the second types (5, 6) , comprising at least a first and a second portions (3a, 3b) along an axis Y transverse to said insertion direction X, said second portion (3b) being substantially wider along an axis Z perpendicular to said axis Y and said insertion direction X, than the first portion (3a) .

3. The connector of claim 1 or claim 2, comprising detecting means (9,10) for detecting the presence of a device in said slot (3), said detecting means (9,10) being connected to said single bus (4) , in parallel relative to each other in order to detect if at least one device is inserted.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the detecting means (9, 10) comprises a switch (9,10b), having an OFF- state when said switch (9,10b) is opened, and an ON-state, when said switch (9,10b) is closed.

5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the detecting means (10) comprises a flexible arm (10a) having a contact portion, said flexible arm (10a) being arranged to be moveable between a rest position, when no device is inserted, and a loaded position, when a device (6) is inserted, and wherein, in one of the rest position and the loaded position, the contact portion presses the switch (10b) to ON state.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the flexible arm (10a) is pushed by a device (6) when it is inserted along an insertion direction X.

7. The connector of claim 5, wherein the flexible arm (10a) is raised, along a direction perpendicular to an insertion direction X by a device (6) when it is inserted.

8. The connector of any of the preceding claims, wherein said single bus (4) comprises silver ink lines printed on a flex.

9. The connector of any of the preceding claims, adapted for receiving one of the devices (6) which is a Smart Card.