Abstract: A card reader for chip cards, which have contacts on a front face for reading and entering card information, with a card slot for receiving chip cards via an opening with a first contact arrangement mounted in the card slot for contacting the contacts of an inserted chip card and a first switching arrangement that responds to the presence or absence of chip cards in the card slot and a second contact arrangement opposite the first contact arrangement for contacting a second inserted chip card.

Abstract: A chip card (1) has reading and/or writing contacts (10, . . . , 17) to provide electrical contact with corresponding fixed countercontacts (20, . . . , 27) of a card reader with a card slot for receiving the chip card (1). The contacts (10, . . . , 17) are formed so that they maintain the electrical contact during an overshot, which occurs particularly when the chip card (1) is inserted into the card slot, and/or during a time required to end a writing operation on removal of the chip card (1) from the card slot, and/or during reciprocation occurring crosswise to the direction of insertion of the chip card (1) into the card reader, especially upon insertion or removal of the chip card (1). The contacts (10, . . . , 17) are formed so that, when the countercontacts (20, . . . , 27) sweep over the contacts (10, . . . , 17), no short circuit occurs between individual contacts (10, . . . , 17). A card reader for the chip card has a card slot for receiving the chip card (1) and countercontacts (20, . . .