Abstract: A board connector for an "miniboard" IC cards, including a planar base incorporating electrical contact elements having first ends extending beyond the front and rear edges of the base, and second ends projecting above its upper surface. A cover housing an IC card is pivotably hinged to the base and contains insertion slide tracks for the card. The base and the cover include corresponding latching elements to keep them in closed card-connection position. These latching elements are disconnected by applying pressure on an edge of the cover parallel to its axis of pivoting.

Abstract: A smart card reader comprises contact members and card guiding and positioning devices including a guide corridor and an end of travel positioning abutment. The combination establishes electrical connections between the contact members and conductive lands of a card inserted into the reader until it bears against the end of travel positioning abutment. The end of travel positioning abutment is retractable. The card guide corridor is open at its inner end to the rear of the retractable abutment.