Abstract: A card connector has a dielectric support (12) and card-engaging contacts (14), wherein the contacts can be easily mounted on the support and are stably held in position thereon. Each strip-shaped contact has a contacting front end portion (44) that projects above the top face of the support, a central portion (42) that extends longitudinally rearward from the front portion and which is securely mounted on the support, and a rear end (46) for connecting to a circuit board. The central portion has a rear part with a strip-shaped middle section (124) extending in a longitudinal direction, and first and second feet (52, 58) lying on laterally opposite sides of the middle section. The support has a longitudinally extending groove (28) that receives the contact central portion, and has foot-holding slots (32, 34) on laterally opposite sides of the groove.

Abstract: The invention provides a receiver for a smart card (C) that has contact pads (P), including a printed circuit board (10), an electrical connector (14) mounted on the circuit board and holding contacts (18) for engaging the contact pads on the card, and a molded plastic cover (30) mounted on the circuit board and lying around the connector. The cover forms a card-receiving slot (38) for receiving a card in a fully-installed card position (A), including upper and lower slot walls (32, 44) that extend laterally (Q) across the entire width of the slot only at the front of the slot, with short runners (56, 58) extending along the opposite sides of the card along most of the slot length. The lower slot wall has a rear edge (46) that lies over a depressed front end of the body to closely position the cover with respect to the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector (16) is provided for mounting on a circuit board (10) to connect contact pads (100) of the card to conductive traces (102) on the circuit board. The connector includes a body (20) that carries sheet metal strip contacts (26, 26') that project above an upper face (36) of the body. The contact tails (44) are resiliently deflectable, and each has a trace-engaging part (68) that projects beneath the lower bearing face (66) of the body and which can be deflected up into a cavity at the bottom of the body when engaging the circuit board.

Abstract: A single card receiver assembly is easily mounted on and connected to a circuit board, in a compact arrangement. The circuit board is formed with apertures (200, 202, 88) that respectively receive a connector (34) with card-engaging contact blades (36), a full insertion detector (114), and a latch mechanism (70). The circuit board lower face (30) has traces (230, 232) for engaging vertically compressed connector contact tails (33), to provide surface mount connection of the connector tails to circuit board traces.

Abstract: The invention proposes a portable case for an electronic smart card (C), comprising, on one of its main faces, electrical contact bands connected to an integrated circuit containing the card memory, of the type in which provision is made for a compartment which receives the card (C) and connection means (72) for connecting the contact bands to an exploitation electronic circuit providing at least a function of reading the data contained in the card, characterized in that it comprises a casing (10, 12, 14) equipped with a window (22) permitting the insertion of the card (C), an electrical connector (72) whose electrical contact elements (73) interact with the said contact bands when the card is in the position of exploitation of the data, a device for emitting and receiving (112, 114) data towards and from an information-processing station, and a switch (120) for detecting the placing of the card (C) in an exploitation position in the casing (10).

Abstract: The invention provides an electrical connector element (10) of the type comprising an insulating block (12) which receives electrical contact elements (14) which extend through the insulating block and a metal shielding cover which at least partially surrounds the insulating block in the front region of the latter, which region is provided in order to be joined with the corresponding part of a complementary connector element, characterized in that it comprises a cap (36) in insulating material which is attached to the front part (18) of the said shielding cover.

Abstract: A connecting assembly is described for connecting two printed circuit boards (12, 13) comprising a plug (10) and socket (11). The plug has a dielectric peripheral frame (14), at least one plug block (16) in the frame, and contact elements (e.g. 18) in the plug block. The plug frame (14) extends forwardly beyond the front face (27) of the plug block (16) in order to form a receptacle (48R). The socket (11) comprises a peripheral frame (15), at least one socket block (17) mounted in the socket frame, and contact elements (e.g. 19) in the socket block. The socket block (17) extends forwardly (arrow Fs) beyond the front edge (51) of the socket frame (15) and can be received in the plug receptacle (48R).

Abstract: A connector is described with a slot for receiving an electronic memory card and with multiple terminals (32, 34 in FIG. 1) that engage card contact regions, which can be constructed at low cost. The multiple terminals are produced by cutting a strip of sheet metal to form a row of parallel elongated terminals (32 in FIG. 11) that have mount portions (40) lying between first and second terminal end portions (31, 38), and with the second end portions held on a carrier strip (204). A frame (22) of the housing is molded around the mount portions of the terminals, and thereafter the terminals are cut free of the carrier strip. A microcontact device (44 in FIG. 2) for detecting full insertion of the card, includes a first contact with a bent zone (64) projecting a distance forwardly into the slot, to be rearwardly deflected by the leading edge of a card, out of engagement with a second contact. The upper slot walls have a downwardly-facing concave portion (106 in FIG.

Abstract: An electrical contact switch for mounting on a printed circuit board, having a base provided with contacts, an illuminated cover movable with respect to the base and arched coil springs on the base arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the cover which resist downward movement of the cover. A shoe joined to the cover is guided for limited movement toward the base and is provided with contacts that engage the contacts on the base.

Abstract: A short travel key switch comprising an electrically insulating base having a bottom and a cylindrical lateral wall defining a cavity closed by a cap. A central contact and a lateral contact are mounted on the bottom. The periphery of a switching element received in the cavity is in electrical contact with the lateral contact. The element is elastically yieldable to establish an electrical connection between the two contacts in response to an axial load exerted on its convex face by the facing portion of an actuator. The central contact is mounted flush with a plane central portion of the bottom. The facing portion of the actuator which engages the central contact is flat.

Abstract: A locking device for retaining in position an electrical connection plug pumped into a socket in a measuring instrument. The device is a molded plastic adapter releasably secured to the instrument. The device has a hinge and a tab that extends transversely over the socket. The tab is provided with a hole which the plug crosses through, whose edge opposite the hinge cooperates with the plug to retain the plug in the socket. The hinge may be deformed to shift the tab laterally to release it from the plug.