Abstract: A smart card connector adapted to receive and place a smart card in a reading position is disclosed. The smart card connector comprises a contact support; a plurality of reading contacts attached to the contact support at a terminating end thereof, each of the reading contacts comprising a contact bulge for contacting a contact pad of the smart card and at least one control bulge for pivoting the contact bulge into contact with the contact pad of the smart card; a sliding element slidably mounted in the contact support so as to be movable between an initial position and an end position, the sliding element comprising a contact actuating member that engages the at least one control bulge as the sliding element moves toward the end position and presses the contact bulge against the contact pad of the smart card as the smart card reaches its reading position.

Abstract: A smart card reader having a housing in which contact elements are arranged which are adapted to contact a smart card, and adapted to be electrically connected to termination means wherein a protective grid is provided which encases the housing at least in an area where undesired manipulations are expected and wherein preferably also the termination means are encased.

Abstract: The invention relates to a smart card connector adapted to receive and place a smart card in a reading position, said smart card connector comprising: a contact support; at least one, preferably a plurality and in particular six reading contacts, each of said reading contacts comprising a contact bulge for contacting a contact pad of the smart card and at least one control bulge for pivoting the reading contacts into its contact position with the contact pad of the smart card, and wherein each contact element comprises a termination section for mounting to the contact support; a sliding element reciprocally slidably mounted in said contact support between an initial position and an end position, and reading contact actuating means which can be brought into engagement with the control bulge such that the contact bulges of the reading contact will be pressed against the contact pad of the card to be contacted only shortly before the card reaches its reading position.