Card reader

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12190191-B2
Application number	US-202017598903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2020
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

To provide a card reader that encrypts information acquired via an IC contact block. A card reader includes: an IC contact block including a contact spring capable of being in contact with an external connection terminal of an IC chip of a card; a flexible printed board to which a spring end of the contact spring is coupled; an encryption circuit mounted on the flexible printed board and electrically connected to the contact spring to encrypt information acquired from the IC chip via the IC contact block; and a resin sealing member that integrally covers the spring end and the encryption circuit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A card reader comprising:
an integrated circuit contact block, including a contact spring capable of being in contact with an external connection terminal of an integrated circuit chip built in a card and capable of acquiring information stored in the integrated circuit chip of the card;
a flexible printed board which is attached to the integrated circuit contact block and to which a spring end of the contact spring of the integrated circuit contact block is coupled;
an encryption circuit, mounted on the flexible printed board and electrically connected to the contact spring to encrypt the information acquired from the integrated circuit chip via the contact spring of the integrated circuit contact block; and
a resin sealing member that integrally covers the spring end and the encryption circuit;
wherein the spring end of the contact spring projects from a surface of the flexible printed board on which the encryption circuit is mounted, and both of the spring end of the contact spring and the encryption circuit are sealed by the resin sealing member;
wherein
the integrated circuit contact block includes: a holder that holds the contact spring,
the holder is in contact with a first surface of the flexible printed board,
the spring end projects from a contact surface of the holder in contact with the flexible printed board,
the spring end is coupled to the flexible printed board in such a manner that the spring end penetrates the flexible printed board from a side of the first surface to a side of a second surface opposite to the first surface,
the encryption circuit is mounted on the second surface of the flexible printed board, and
the resin sealing member is provided on the side of the second surface of the flexible printed board;
wherein the flexible printed board includes:
a first board portion, having the first surface extending in contact with the integrated circuit contact block;
a second board portion, facing the first board portion with a gap interposed therebetween on the side of the second surface of the first board portion; and
a coupling board portion, coupling the first board portion and the second board portion,

wherein the spring end penetrates the first board portion, and
wherein the encryption circuit includes:
a first circuit portion, mounted on the second surface of the first board portion; and
a second circuit portion, mounted on the second surface of the second board portion;

wherein the second board portion is overlapped with the spring end, when viewed in a facing direction in which the first board portion and the second board portion face each other;
wherein the resin sealing member seals a gap between the first board portion and the second board portion and covers the second board portion on the side of the first surface and the coupling board portion.

Assignees

• Nidec Sankyo Corp

Inventors

• Aiyoshi Hiroyuki

Classifications

• H05K1/14

  Structural association of two or more printed circuits (providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00) · CPC title

• H05K1/0277

  Bendability or stretchability details (H05K1/038, H05K3/4691 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K1/189

  characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits · CPC title

• G06K13/08

  Feeding or discharging cards · CPC title

• G06K7/0004

  Hybrid readers · CPC title