Electrical Contact Patents (Class 235/441)
  • Patent number: 7686220
    Abstract: The invention provides a memory card detection circuit of a computer. The memory card detection circuit comprises a plurality of query pins through which a memory card is coupled to the computer and a plurality of latch circuits respectively coupled to each of the query pins. The latch circuits generates query signals indicating whether ground bounce occurs in the voltage of the query pins due to a voltage difference between two ends of the query pins shortly after the memory card is coupled to the computer through the query pins. The query signals identify the type of the memory card without waiting until ground bounce is resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Tin Hsu, Chia-Chun Lien
  • Patent number: 7673798
    Abstract: A card reader comprises two rows of electric contacts in the form of elastically deformable contact springs for contacting the electric contact fields of a card inserted into the card reader, wherein the contact springs extend parallel to the card insertion direction and wherein each contact spring comprises a contact section projecting into the card path for contacting one of the contact fields of the card, a connecting section for connecting to a write/read device, an intermediate U-shaped joining section, and a mounting section for mounting the contact spring to the card reader housing, all being formed in one piece with the contact spring. In accordance with the invention, the contact section, the U-shaped joining section and the mounting section are symmetrical relative to the center plane of the contact spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: ddm hopt + schuler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl-Rudolf Hopt, Jürgen Hopt
  • Patent number: 7669773
    Abstract: To realize compatibility with an SIM card and adaptation to a high-speed memory access in an IC card module having a microcomputer and a memory card controller. An IC card module includes a plurality of first external connecting terminals and a plurality of second external connecting terminals both exposed to one surface of a card substrate, a microcomputer connected to the first external connecting terminals, a memory controller connected to the second external connecting terminals, and a volatile memory connected to the memory controller. The shape of the card substrate and the layout of the first external connecting terminals are based on a standard of plug-in UICC of ETSI TS 102 221 V4.4.0 (2001-10) or have compatibility. The second external connecting terminals are disposed outside the minimum range of the terminal layout based on the standard for the first external connecting terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nishizawa, Takashi Totsuka, Kenji Osawa, Junichiro Osako, Tamaki Wada, Michiaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7670161
    Abstract: An electrical card connector for receiving at least two electrical cards, comprises: an insulating housing; a shielding shell substantially enclosing the insulating housing; a front row of terminals and a rear row of terminals received in the insulating housing; an ejector receiving in one side of the insulating housing for ejecting two cards; wherein the front row of terminals are for connecting with one kind of electrical card and the front and the rear row of terminals together are for connecting with the other kind of electrical card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsueh-Lung Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7665668
    Abstract: A data card may comprise a chip and a card body having a first face and a second face. The chip may be mounted in the card body between the first face and the second face at least one of the first face and the second face has a cut indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Mastercard International, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Phillips
  • Publication number: 20100032485
    Abstract: A card reader includes a housing, a sliding carrier mounted in the housing to carry a USB-configured metal casing, a push tab fastened to the sliding carrier and suspending out of one side of the housing for operation by a user to move the sliding carrier and the USB-configured metal casing to the front position for insertion into a USB port in an external electronic apparatus, a circuit module mounted in the metal casing for electric connection to the external electronic apparatus after insertion of the metal casing into the USB port, a rack mounted in the bottom side of the circuit board and holding a set of conducting terminals for receiving a first electronic card, and an expansion module mounted in the rear side for the contact of a second electronic card that is inserted through a top insertion slot in the housing into a top insertion slot in the sliding carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: CHANT SINCERE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hung Liao, Chen-An Wu, Yu-Chien Chueh, Chih-Chien Lin, Wu-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: 7659606
    Abstract: Disclosed is a contacting unit, with plug-in card-shaped housing, having a base plate and a cover plate, between which a slit-like plug-in channel opening on one end of the housing is formed to receive a chip card, and which is provided on the other side with a connector strip, in which the plug-in channel is essentially open on both sides over its entire length in the plug-in direction of the chip card, and the base plate and the cover plate are firmly connected to each other only in the area connected to the plug-in channel in the plug-in direction, wherein at least one lateral guide device is arranged on one end on base plate and/or cover plate, which at least partially bounds the plug-in channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: STOCKO Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Klatt
  • Patent number: 7641123
    Abstract: An integrated circuit card includes a plurality of electrical contacts; and a memory to store information, the memory being allowed to communicate with a processor via the plurality of electrical contacts. One set of electrical contacts are allowed to be allocated by the processor to support an operation in at least one mode depending on a presence of a certain protocol mode detected by the processor. The integrated circuit card is operable in various modes including both contactless and high speed protocols, a contactless only without the high speed protocol and the high speed protocol only without the contactless protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-François Deprun, Paul Jolivet
  • Publication number: 20090308925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic data capturing system that simulates the functionality of a physical electronic data capture (EDC), wherein the electronic data capturing system comprises a card reader, a client-end computer, a remote server, which are being connected in the above sequence, wherein the remote server is for simulating the functionality of an electronic data capture, and provides an electronic data capturing interface for being accessed by a web-page accessing means installed in the client-end computer, in such a manner that a card reader controlling unit installed in the client-end computer controls the card reader to read the card information from the card, the card information read from the client-end computer is sent through the web-page accessing means to the remote server, and transmitted to an acquiring server so as to proceed authorization for the transaction record, and the authorization result is then sent back from the remote server through the web-page accessing means
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Hyweb Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen Yi Kao, Chen Chun Chao
  • Publication number: 20090302110
    Abstract: A data recording apparatus can be attached thereto with a recording medium having a first communication part and a second communication part. The data recording apparatus comprises a third communication part adapted to communicate with the first communication part, and a fourth communication part adapted to communicate with the second communication part. The data recording apparatus takes control to stop communication of the fourth communication part with the second communication part if the third communication part can communicate with the first communication part in a case where the detection part detects the data recording medium being attached to the data recording apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Tsujii
  • Patent number: 7628335
    Abstract: A portable apparatus includes an IC card function capable of performing a predetermined operation via wireless communications. The apparatus further includes; a lock switching operation section which switches the IC card function between a locked state in which the IC card function is ineffective and an unlocked state in which the IC card function is effective according to user operation; a timer which measures time from a point in time when the IC card function is unlocked by user operation through the lock switching operation section; and an auto-locking processing section which automatically changes the IC card function to the locked state when the time measured by the timer reaches a predetermined threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoichi Morimoto, Munehisa Kamio
  • Publication number: 20090289119
    Abstract: A card reader includes a USB standard casing, a holder block fastened to the USB standard casing and defining therein an insertion hole for the insertion of an electronic card, a circuit board mounted in the USB standard casing and having a first contact set configured subject to the USB specification and a second contact set, and an electric connector electrically connected to the second contact set and kept in proximity to the insertion hole for the contact of an electronic card electrically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: CHANT SINCERE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hung Liao, Chen-An Wu, Yu-Chien Chueh, Chih-Chien Lin, Wu-Hsiung Chen
  • Publication number: 20090289118
    Abstract: A card reader integrated with touch button control, which is applicable in an application system, the said card reader comprises: a touch sensing interface, at least a memory card interface, an interface connection unit and a control chip memory. Herein the touch sensing interface consists of plural touch buttons, and the memory card interface is used to connect a memory card. Furthermore, the interface connection unit is connected to a system connection unit of the application system; the control chip module is connected to the touch sensing interface and the memory card interface, and, in terms of the touch sensing interface and the memory card interface, respectively uses different specification of device class to build the connection with the application system in order to perform signal transmission. The card reader is thereby enabled to achieve the objectives of providing features of controlling touch buttons and accessing memory cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Chi-Tung Chang, Shih-Min Lan, I-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 7621452
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is capable of minimizing the increase in the capacity of a non-volatile memory provided in the wireless tag and of minimizing the increase in the time required for reading data. A sub unit such as a lid includes a wireless tag therein is detachably attached to an accommodating section such as a main body of the electronic apparatus. A reader-and-writer unit is housed in the accommodating section. When the sub unit is positioned in place in the accommodating section, the reader-and-writer unit communicates with the wireless tag to read data from the wireless tag and write data into the wireless tag. An anticipation signal generator provides an anticipation signal to the reader-and-writer unit when communication between the wireless tag and the reader-and-writer unit is anticipated to fail. The reader-and-writer unit is prevented from communicating with the wireless tag in accordance with the anticipation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20090283600
    Abstract: A card reader includes a card interface, and one of the pins of the card interface is selected to decide the state of the card interface. The card reader further includes a control circuit to detect the logic state of the selected pin. If the logic state is a first one, the control circuit decides the card interface is enabled; otherwise, if the logic state is a second one, the control circuit decides the card interface is disabled. In some embodiments, a switch is connected between the selected pin and a power supply or a ground terminal, to be switched by a control signal to enable or disable the card interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Wen-Lin Chang, Satoshi Sugawa, Chuang Cheng, Ching-Hu Chen
  • Patent number: 7614566
    Abstract: A smart card includes a first interface configured to perform a first type interfacing operation with a host using a plurality of contact pads defined by a contact type smart card protocol, a second interface configured to perform a second type interfacing operation with the host using a subset of the plurality of contact pads, and a controller configured to determine a priority between the first and second interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Hoon Shin, Seong-Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20090274523
    Abstract: A pneumatic card transport system is disclosed. The system is configured to use pressurized air to transport a card inserted to a conveying duct inside a card passageway assembly from a first end to a second end. Air nozzles are configured to release the pressurized airstreams at an angle relative to the conveying duct so that the card is essentially floating when traveling along the conveying duct. Hence, the card makes zero or minimum contact with the inner surface of the conveying duct. This will not only reduce the wear and tear of the card, but also reduces the traveling time inside the conveying duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Ke Wei LI, Dai Qiang YANG, Feng HE
  • Patent number: 7611056
    Abstract: When inserting a MEMORY STICK MS, the tip portion of the MEMORY STICK MS rotates and detrudes the contact pressing plate, so that contact portions of contact terminals 14ai for a SD card SD are pressed down by a rim of slits 20ai of the contact pressing plate 20 up to a position where the contact portions do not interfere with the MEMORY STICK MS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Sato
  • Publication number: 20090266893
    Abstract: A mobile device for interacting with a trade device includes: a card reader configured for reading data of an integrated circuit (IC) card, when a processor detects that the card reader contacts or receives the IC card; and a near field communication device configured for connecting to the trade device when the mobile device needs to transact with the trade device, and outputting data of a selected IC card for implementing a transaction between the mobile device and the trade device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: CHUN-AN CHEN
  • Patent number: 7607587
    Abstract: A card device includes a card casing accommodating a circuit board. The card device is capable of being inserted into and pulled out from a card slot in an apparatus in which the card device is to be mounted. An anti-slipping member is anchored and exposed at a rear-end wall portion of a peripheral wall of the card casing for being held at least when the card device is inserted or pulled out. The rear-end wall portion is positioned at a rear end of the card device opposite to the end of the card device that is inserted into the card slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fukuchi, Wataru Kakinoki
  • Patent number: 7607221
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for housing an electronic device. In one implementation, a method of housing an electronic device includes positioning an electronic device on a base, over-molding a lid onto at least a portion of the base and a portion of the electronic device, the lid and the base comprising a housing for the electronic device, and over-molding a movable component to a portion of the housing. In another implementation a method for housing an electronic device includes positioning a housing for an electrical device within a first mold cavity of an assembly mold, the housing including a base and a lid, molding a movable component in a second mold cavity of the assembly mold, and attaching the movable component to the housing while both the movable component and the housing are within the assembly mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Piranha Plastics
    Inventors: Charles A. Centofante, Brian Boothman
  • Patent number: 7607585
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device having multiple communication modes is provided. The integrated circuit device includes a transceiver coupled to first and second data lines. The integrated circuit device further includes a voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit determines whether or not an external device is connected to the integrated circuit device. In the case where the external device is connected to the integrated circuit device, the voltage control circuit controls the voltage of the first data line so as to cause the external device to not recognize the integrated circuit device for a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electroncis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zang-Hee Cho
  • Publication number: 20090255991
    Abstract: A card reader includes a hollow base provided with a USB standard metal casing at one side, and an electric module mounted in the USB standard metal casing and the hollow base and defining with the USB standard metal casing an electronic card receiving space for accommodating an electric card such that the accommodated electronic card is insertable with the USB standard metal casing into a USB port of an electronic apparatus for two-way data transfer (reading or storing) between the electronic card and the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: CHANT SINCERE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Hung Liao, Chen-An Wu, Yu-Chien Chueh, Wu-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: 7597260
    Abstract: A memory card having a main body with a memory chip module including a memory chip mounted thereon on a board is installed in a memory card main body. The memory card includes a plurality of terminal members provided in the memory card main body in line, each terminal member having a first terminal part and a second terminal part. The first terminal part of the terminal member is provided at a side of a head end of a lower surface of the memory card so as to be exposed. The second terminal part of the terminal member is connected to the memory chip module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Koki Sato, Hideo Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 7597259
    Abstract: A SIM reader/writer 1 can be removably loaded with a SIM 2. The SIM reader/writer 1 has a case 1a, a controlling IC chip 3 placed in the case 1a, a USB/ISO7816 conversion IC chip 10, and an coil antenna 11a for noncontact communication placed in the case 1a. The case 1a is provided with a liquid crystal display 4, a fingerprint sensor 5 and a short-distance communication means 11b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Nishikawa, Takashi Haginiwa, Hiroo Saitou, Naohisa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7578449
    Abstract: An index card for mounting on a casing for accommodating a recording medium includes a contact type or non-contact type IC for storing information or for processing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Shiga, Yosuke Sumiya
  • Patent number: 7579954
    Abstract: A system is generally provided with at least one shielding body that is shaped and sized to envelop one or more objects that use RFID technology. A metal-impregnated ink is engaged with at least a portion of the one or more shielding bodies, adjacent locations where the objects will be secured. The shielding body may be formed into an envelope or envelope and carrier combination, either of which are suitable for use within mail delivery systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Robert W. Burkley
  • Patent number: 7562829
    Abstract: Multi-mode integrated circuit devices on an integrated circuit substrate include a controller configured to operate in a first mode compliant with the International Standard Organization (ISO) specification ISO 7816 and a second mode different from ISO 7816 responsive to a mode selection signal. A first plurality of input/output pads are associated with operations in the first mode and a second plurality of input/output pads are associated with operations in the second mode. A mode detector circuit is coupled to at least one of the second plurality of input/output pads and configured to detect connection of the at least one of the second plurality of input/output pads to an external device and to activate the mode selection signal to select the second mode responsive to detection of connection of the at least one of the second plurality of input/output pads to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Yong Kim, Jong-Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 7562828
    Abstract: A radio communication device of an example of the present invention is one capable of communicating a plurality kinds of radio communicating media having different resonant frequencies comprises a transmission unit having a first resonant frequency tuned to and resonated with the resonant frequencies of the radio communication media in a prescribed communication range with the radio communication media to transmit signals to the radio communication media and a reception unit having a second resonant frequency not resonated with the resonant frequencies of the radio communication media in the prescribed communication ranges with the radio communication media to receive signals from the radio communication media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Satoshi Ide
  • Patent number: 7559470
    Abstract: A positioning controlling apparatus includes: a current speed calculator that calculates a current speed of a conveyor belt from a detected moving distance; a position determining unit that determines the position of a conveyor belt for determining its stop position also from the detected moving distance; a gain switch having a plurality of gains; a target speed calculator that inputs a gain obtained by switching, and calculates a target speed of the conveyor belt; a speed error calculator that calculates an error between a calculated target speed and a calculated current speed; and an automatic controller that controls a drive motor by using a speed error. When the position determining unit determines that the conveyor belt is in the positioning area, the gain switch performs positioning while switching plural gains and outputting it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Jun Yamane
  • Patent number: 7559469
    Abstract: To achieve backward compatibility for smaller chip cards, in particular to legacy card readers/writers or legacy mobile terminals, according to the present invention a smaller chip card comprises a card body and a first contact area (14) with dimensions and locations of contacts according to predefined standard. An integrated circuit chip (36) is, firstly, physically and electrically connected to contacts of a second contact area (38), where the locations of contacts in the second contact area (38) are different from locations of contacts in the first contact area (14). According to the present invention, the integrated circuit chip (36) is also connected to contacts in the first contact area (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Chie Noda, Atsushi Murase, Hidetoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7552865
    Abstract: The use of a variety of plastic cards to carry out monetary transactions is on the increase. It is important to ensure that such transactions are authenticated, authorized, and accounted in a best possible manner to prevent fraudulent transactions. However, as much the transactions are being protected, the fraudsters are becoming that much more cleverer and are being able to break into the system. One of the important requirements is to protect transactions of cash cards as these cards seem to be an easier target for fraudsters. A system for cash card fraud detection involves ensuring that a cash card user's unique “signature” is determined and kept track of during the course of the use of the cash card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Satyam Computer Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Sridhar Varadarajan, Korrapati Kalyana Rao, Sridhar Gangadharpalli
  • Patent number: 7552872
    Abstract: A reader/writer is provided which is capable of speedily recognizing a correspondence between one end and the other end of a fiber-optic cable when a plurality of fiber-optic cables is laid. The reader/writer according to the present invention reads, on receiving through the fiber-optic cable a signal that is an instruction to read data from a RF tag mounted to an end of the fiber-optic cable, data from the RF tag through radio communication, and transmits the read data through the fiber-optic cable. Also, on receiving through the fiber-optic cable a signal that is an instruction to write data into the RF tag and a signal indicating the write data, the reader/writer writes the write instruction and the write data into the RF tag through radio communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Opnext Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeru Tokita, Hiroo Matsue, Antony Cleitus, Tomonao Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7549593
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes external interface terminals and processing circuits, and it is fed with an operating power source when detachably set in a host equipment. Power source feeding terminals (VCC, VSS) among the external interface terminals are long enough to keep touching the corresponding terminals of the host equipment for, at least, a predetermined time period since the separation of an extraction detecting terminal among the external interface terminals, from the corresponding terminal of the host equipment, and they are formed to be longer in the extraction direction of the semiconductor device than the extraction detecting terminal. The processing circuits include an interface control circuit (2) which is connected to the external interface terminals, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory (3) which is controlled by the interface control circuit. The nonvolatile memory stores information on the basis of the difference of the threshold voltages of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nishizawa, Kenji Osawa, Hideo Koike, Junichiro Osako, Tamaki Wada
  • Patent number: 7549580
    Abstract: A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20090157064
    Abstract: A system and method for authenticating an optical fiber for use with a medical laser system includes a medical laser unit, an optical fiber, and a memory device. The laser unit is typically specific to a certain medical procedure and is under the operation of a control system. The optical fiber is operably coupled to the laser unit and includes a probe tip for position proximate laser-targeted tissue. The memory device is associated with the optical fiber, e.g., as an RFID tag embedded in fiber or a smart card operational with the fiber, and is configured to allow the control system of the laser unit to access information embedded in the memory device so that the optical fiber may be authenticated as suitable to operate with the laser unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Michael R. Hodel
  • Publication number: 20090152355
    Abstract: The present invention provides a smart key in which a portable memory card is detachably mounted. The smart key includes a card mounting portion into which a portable memory card having at least one terminal is inserted, a card reader for the portable memory card, and a connector for connecting the smart key to the key box. The card reader comprises an interface to which the terminal or terminals are connected and a control unit for converting data received from the portable memory card into a format readable by an audio system of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sang Yong Jung
  • Patent number: 7547234
    Abstract: A small, flat rectangularly shaped electronic circuit card, such as one containing non-volatile memory, has a row of contacts mounted on bottom surfaces of a row of recesses extending along a short edge and an adjacent angled corner. At least one of the recesses opens to the angled corner and the remaining recesses open to the short edge. Two surface contacts are included in at least one of the recesses, while the remaining recesses each contain a single contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventor: Robert F. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7543757
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes external interface terminals and processing circuits, and it is fed with an operating power source when detachably set in a host equipment. Power source feeding terminals (VCC, VSS) among the external interface terminals are long enough to keep touching the corresponding terminals of the host equipment for, at least, a predetermined time period since the separation of an extraction detecting terminal among the external interface terminals, from the corresponding terminal of the host equipment, and they are formed to be longer in the extraction direction of the semiconductor device than the extraction detecting terminal. These power source feeding terminals are a power source terminal and a ground terminal, and any power source compensating capacitor is not connected between the power source terminal and the ground terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nishizawa, Kenji Osawa, Hideo Koike, Junichiro Osako, Tamaki Wada
  • Publication number: 20090134223
    Abstract: The invention provides a case for holding a single card, with an opening in the front. A card can be inserted into the front opening until flush with the rear wall. Flexible tabs located on the back or sides of the case are deformed by the insertion of the card and this elastic deformation provides the retention force for keeping the card within the case in all orientations and use situations. The case is designed for wallet-sized cards. A clip may be attached to the case for mounting on a car visor, map pocket, or other location either within a vehicle or anywhere else desired. The clip is removable so that another means of attachment, such as hook and loop fasteners, double sided tape, adhesives or any other method may be used to attach the case to any desired location. The case may contain electronics and sensors for reading the card information, via magnetic strip, RFID or other method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Richard Peter Matthews, Todd Paleczny, Michel Georges Quinlan
  • Publication number: 20090121022
    Abstract: A cleaning structure for an induction reader is mounted on an induction reader and moves with respect to a ruler. The cleaning structure comprises: a removing portion with a predetermined angle or curve, the removing portion is provided with an assembling portion at one side thereof facing the induction reader, and on the other side of the removing portion is formed an abutting portion. By such arrangements, the angle or curved type clean structure can use the slope of the removing portion to contact and push the obstacles towards both sides of the ruler. The cleaning structure not only has a light structure weight but also the resistance against pushing the obstacles is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Hong-Chun TENG, Chih-Mao SHIAO, Ming-Chih HUANG
  • Publication number: 20090121020
    Abstract: An apparatus for seating within a battery compartment and a smart card compartment of a device, including a battery component and a smart card component. The battery component is coupled to the smart card component. The smart card component is configured to seat within a smart card compartment of a device. The apparatus is configured to be inserted into a smart card compartment of a smart card containing device substantially simultaneously with the insertion of the battery component into a battery compartment of the device. The smart card component may be a test smart card, and the battery component may be a battery emulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Niall Gallagher, Ross Cruickshank, Arkady Ivannikov
  • Publication number: 20090114722
    Abstract: A card reader with capability of adjusting the access interface display is provided, including a connection interface for electrically connecting to the host, a plurality of access interfaces for electrically connecting to corresponding memory cards, such as SD, CF, and a controller. When the host completes the enumeration, the controller issues a disconnect signal through the connection interface to the host to erase the original disk mappings, such as G:, F:, on the display for subsequent adjustment. For adjusting the display, the controller issues an optional reconnect signal belonging to the card reader to the host so that the host can execute the re-enumeration and adjust the displaying of the access interface available in the card reader according to the optional reconnect signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Bei-Chuan Chen, Li-Hsiang Chan, Che-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 7527199
    Abstract: Methods and systems that protect the privacy of signatures on envelopes containing ballots sent through the mail are provided. The envelope for returning ballots by mail includes an electronic optical shutter that covers an opening in the flap of the envelope. The voter signs the back of the envelope in an area that will be visible through the opening in the flap (covered by the optical shutter) when the envelope flap is sealed. The optical shutter is opaque under static conditions, but will become transparent when power is supplied to it. When the envelope flap is sealed and no power is applied to the optical shutter, the voter's signature will be concealed by the optical shutter. Upon receipt at the registrar's office, the optical shutter can be powered, thereby rendering the optical shutter transparent, and the voter's signature can be viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Quine, Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090101715
    Abstract: An electronic-card reader structure includes a first plate, and a second plate. A printed circuit board is disposed between the first and the second plates. Two ends of the covering are respectively connected with the first plate and the second plate. The position of the covering is correspondingly to the printed circuit board. The first plate, the second plate and the covering are constructed as a rectangle casing with a dimension of a floppy disk. The built-in electronic-card reader structure has better mechanical and structural strength and the material for manufacturing the electronic-card reader structure is further reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Feng-Yen Lu, Yu-Hsien Lien, Chun-Kai Wang, Yin-Chen Lin
  • Publication number: 20090101716
    Abstract: An inductive coupling reader includes a passive interface circuit for modulating the impedance of an antenna circuit and extracting from the antenna circuit a data signal and a RF clock signal, and circuitry for coupling the reader to a removable security module. The reader includes an emulation circuit for opening a RF transmission channel with another reader, a non-removable electrical link linking the emulation circuit to the passive interface circuit, by which the data signal and the RF clock signal are supplied to the emulation circuit, and a data bus clocked by a bus clock signal having a frequency inferior to the frequency of the RF clock signal, for linking the emulation circuit to the removable security module. The reader has low electrical consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
    Inventors: Christophe Mani, Francis Dell'Ova, Pierre Rizzo
  • Patent number: 7517237
    Abstract: An electrical card connector includes an insulating housing (2) having a base section (21) and a pair of lateral offsets (22) extending from the opposite ends of the base section, a shell (1) mounted on the insulating housing to define a card slot (5) therebetween for insertion of a card, a terminal module (321) retained in the insulating housing and comprising a plurality of terminals protruding into the card slot, and a pair of elastic pieces (6) mounted on the opposite lateral offsets of the insulating housing, respectively. Wherein each elastic piece protrudes into the card slot and a distance between the elastic pieces is smaller than a width of the inserted card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Jen Ting
  • Patent number: 7519756
    Abstract: A PC card control apparatus includes a PC card connector, a card detector and an interconnection switching circuit. The PC card connector is configured to provide connections for connecting one of a first PC card compliant with specific card standards and a card-adapting card for connecting a second PC card compliant with a different card standard to the PC card control apparatus. The card detector is configured to detect connection of the card-adapting card to the PC card control apparatus and to subsequently output a detection signal. The interconnection switching circuit is configured to switch the connections of the PC card connector to connect the PC card connector to a bus interface dedicated to the second card upon receiving the detection signal from the card detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamamoto, Hiromasa Kusakabe, Kazuhito Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20090090778
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Eduard Maiterth, Manfred Kerner
  • Publication number: 20090090777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for performing machine checking of electronically-stored personal data in a passport booklet. The data are transmitted in an obscured form to a reader device after the passport has been presented to this reader device, and the accuracy of the obscuring is first verified and the obscuring is then removed. A positive signal is issued in the event of a successful verification. The recovered personal data are subsequently checked for authenticity. The verification and removal of the obscuring, as well as the authenticity check, ensue in a time-staggered manner after the passport booklet has been removed from the reader device by a verifying person in order to conduct further checks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: Werner Ness