WO2001039102A1 - Portable reader for smart cards - Google Patents

Portable reader for smart cards Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001039102A1
WO2001039102A1 PCT/IT2000/000429 IT0000429W WO0139102A1 WO 2001039102 A1 WO2001039102 A1 WO 2001039102A1 IT 0000429 W IT0000429 W IT 0000429W WO 0139102 A1 WO0139102 A1 WO 0139102A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
support body
reader
portable reader
smart cards
card
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IT2000/000429
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lucio Cassia
Michele Leidi
Original Assignee
Eutron Infosecurity S.R.L.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eutron Infosecurity S.R.L. filed Critical Eutron Infosecurity S.R.L.
Priority to AU13005/01A priority Critical patent/AU1300501A/en
Publication of WO2001039102A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001039102A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/0013—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/0008—General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a portable reader for intelligent cards of the type commonly known as "smart cards”.
  • Smart cards are nowadays rather widespreaded given their practical easiness of use: in fact, they allow, through microprocessors realised on integrated circuit chips obtained therein, to store a very high amount of data and therefore they can be used m applications such as different types of credit cards, cryptographic cards and future applications such as identity cards or electronic health cards.
  • such smart cards are adapted to communicate (that is, to transmit and receive) data through communication standards that are well-known at world level, such as the 7816 Standard.
  • the intelligent card is put m contact with a card reading device, which is equipped with suitable slots m which the card is inserted, such slots containing a certain number of contacts that read the card data and communicate them to the microprocessor managing the card reader.
  • Card readers are currently available on the market that are realised in the shape of boxes whose sizes are about 15 x 10 cm, that are statically connected to different types of data processing and transmitting systems. Such smart card readers are therefore with a relatively high encumbrance and due to their nature they are provided fixed in well-defined positions. On the market, there are currently no smart card readers that are portable and with small sizes.
  • Object of the present invention is solving the above prior-art problems, by providing a portable reader for smart cards that is of very reduced sizes and therefore can be easily transported and used by end users for any type of application.
  • a further object of the present invention is providing a portable reader that is equipped with such interface means as to allow it to widely and immediately use all smart cards with which a user can be equipped: for such purpose, the reader is equipped with means allowing it to be connected to a common Universal Serial Bus (USB) port of a computer .
  • USB Universal Serial Bus
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable reader according to the present invention coupled with a smart card in the operating position;
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reader m Fig. 1 m the transport position;
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of the operating configuration m Fig. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a top view of the reader m Fig. 2.
  • a preferred embodiment of the portable reader 1 for intelligent cards is shown, such cards being commonly known as “ smart cards” .
  • the portable reader 1 for smart cards of the present invention substantially comprises a support body 3 shaped as an elongated box, comprising at one end thereof at least one slot 5 for inserting and reading therein a smart card 7.
  • the slot 5 is equipped with reading means (not shown) for smart cards 7, that are commonly known and are composed of a plurality (usually six) of contacts that carry connection wires to a managing microprocessor (also not shown) contained inside the support body 3.
  • Such managing microprocessor is preferably realised through an integrated circuit chip and contains inside it all the necessary logics for receiving and transmitting data to the smart card 7 to which it is connected.
  • the portable reader 1 of tne invention is further equipped with interface means 9 connected to the support body 3 and to the managing microprocessor; commonly, such interface means 9 are adapted to be connected to a common USB port of a computer, m order to be able to realise a connection with the most widely known external managing networks (Internet, Intranet, etc.).
  • the portable reader 1 of the invention comprises means 13 for keeping and aligning the smard card 7, that, in the practical embodiment shown, are composed of a bracket shaped as an elongated C and hinged to the support body 3 in order to have: a) an operating position m which the keeping and aligning means 13 are perpendicular to the support body 3 to keep the card 7 n contact with the reader 1 and to align the card 7 with the reading means (as can be clearly shown in Fig.s 1 and 3; and b) a rest position m which the keeping and aligning means 13 are aligned with the support body 3 allowing to transport and store the reader 1 (as can be clearly seen m Fig. s 2 and 4) .
  • the portable reader 1 of the invention can be further equipped with means 11 that enable grasping the support body 3 by means of two fingers of an hand, such as for example the depression 11 shown in the different Figures.
  • a portable reader 1 has thereby been realised that can be placed and stored m any suitable place and that can be easily transported and connected to USB ports: in this way, by arranging a reader whose overall sizes are on the order of 3 cm, it is possible to realise a flexible solution wherein each smart card with which a user is equipped can be immediately and easily connected and activated for the outside world to perform flexible and powerful applications.
  • the reader 1 of the invention can be realised on a personal identification device like the one marketed by the Assignee of the present invention, containing m a single configuration the functionalities of personal identification, encrypted data transmission and smart cards reading. Otherwise, the reader 1 of the present invention can be pre-arranged in a stand-alone configuration according to application needs, guaranteeing at any rate an efficient solution as regards the practical comfort of the shape and portability of the reader 1 itself.

Abstract

A portable reader (1) for smart cards (7) is described that comprises: a support body (3) containing at least one slot (5) for inserting and reading a smart card (7); interface means (9) connected to the support body (3); interface means (9) connected to the support body (3); means (13) for keeping and aligning the smart card (7); and a managing microprocessor contained inside the support body (3) and connected to the interface means (9) and the reading means for smart cards (7).

Description

PORTABLE READER FOR SMART CARDS
The present invention refers to a portable reader for intelligent cards of the type commonly known as "smart cards".
Smart cards are nowadays rather widespreaded given their practical easiness of use: in fact, they allow, through microprocessors realised on integrated circuit chips obtained therein, to store a very high amount of data and therefore they can be used m applications such as different types of credit cards, cryptographic cards and future applications such as identity cards or electronic health cards.
For the purpose for which they are provided, such smart cards are adapted to communicate (that is, to transmit and receive) data through communication standards that are well-known at world level, such as the 7816 Standard. To realise such communication, the intelligent card is put m contact with a card reading device, which is equipped with suitable slots m which the card is inserted, such slots containing a certain number of contacts that read the card data and communicate them to the microprocessor managing the card reader. Card readers are currently available on the market that are realised in the shape of boxes whose sizes are about 15 x 10 cm, that are statically connected to different types of data processing and transmitting systems. Such smart card readers are therefore with a relatively high encumbrance and due to their nature they are provided fixed in well-defined positions. On the market, there are currently no smart card readers that are portable and with small sizes.
Object of the present invention is solving the above prior-art problems, by providing a portable reader for smart cards that is of very reduced sizes and therefore can be easily transported and used by end users for any type of application.
A further object of the present invention is providing a portable reader that is equipped with such interface means as to allow it to widely and immediately use all smart cards with which a user can be equipped: for such purpose, the reader is equipped with means allowing it to be connected to a common Universal Serial Bus (USB) port of a computer .
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as w ll appear from the following description, are obtained by a portable reader for smart cards as claimed m Claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are claimed in the dependent Claims .
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable reader according to the present invention coupled with a smart card in the operating position;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the reader m Fig. 1 m the transport position;
- Figure 3 is a top view of the operating configuration m Fig. 1; and
- Figure 4 is a top view of the reader m Fig. 2.
With reference to the Figures, a preferred embodiment of the portable reader 1 for intelligent cards is shown, such cards being commonly known as " smart cards " .
The portable reader 1 for smart cards of the present invention substantially comprises a support body 3 shaped as an elongated box, comprising at one end thereof at least one slot 5 for inserting and reading therein a smart card 7. For such purpose, the slot 5 is equipped with reading means (not shown) for smart cards 7, that are commonly known and are composed of a plurality (usually six) of contacts that carry connection wires to a managing microprocessor (also not shown) contained inside the support body 3.
Such managing microprocessor is preferably realised through an integrated circuit chip and contains inside it all the necessary logics for receiving and transmitting data to the smart card 7 to which it is connected.
In order to communicate with the outside world the data obtained from a connected smart card 7, the portable reader 1 of tne invention is further equipped with interface means 9 connected to the support body 3 and to the managing microprocessor; commonly, such interface means 9 are adapted to be connected to a common USB port of a computer, m order to be able to realise a connection with the most widely known external managing networks (Internet, Intranet, etc.).
Moreover, the portable reader 1 of the invention comprises means 13 for keeping and aligning the smard card 7, that, in the practical embodiment shown, are composed of a bracket shaped as an elongated C and hinged to the support body 3 in order to have: a) an operating position m which the keeping and aligning means 13 are perpendicular to the support body 3 to keep the card 7 n contact with the reader 1 and to align the card 7 with the reading means (as can be clearly shown in Fig.s 1 and 3; and b) a rest position m which the keeping and aligning means 13 are aligned with the support body 3 allowing to transport and store the reader 1 (as can be clearly seen m Fig. s 2 and 4) .
Finally, the portable reader 1 of the invention can be further equipped with means 11 that enable grasping the support body 3 by means of two fingers of an hand, such as for example the depression 11 shown in the different Figures.
A portable reader 1 has thereby been realised that can be placed and stored m any suitable place and that can be easily transported and connected to USB ports: in this way, by arranging a reader whose overall sizes are on the order of 3 cm, it is possible to realise a flexible solution wherein each smart card with which a user is equipped can be immediately and easily connected and activated for the outside world to perform flexible and powerful applications.
Some preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, but obviously they are subjected to further modifications and variations within the same inventive idea. For example, the reader 1 of the invention can be realised on a personal identification device like the one marketed by the Assignee of the present invention, containing m a single configuration the functionalities of personal identification, encrypted data transmission and smart cards reading. Otherwise, the reader 1 of the present invention can be pre-arranged in a stand-alone configuration according to application needs, guaranteeing at any rate an efficient solution as regards the practical comfort of the shape and portability of the reader 1 itself.

Claims

1. Portable reader (1) for smart cards (7), characterised in that it comprises:
- a support body (3) containing at least one slot (5) for inserting and reading a smart card (7), said slot (5) being equipped with reading means for smart cards (7);
- interface means (9) connected to said support body (3);
- means (13) for keeping and aligning said smart card (7); and
- a managing microprocessor contained inside said support body (3) and connected to said interface means (9) and said reading means for smart cards (7) .
2. Portable reader (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that said interface means (9) are adapted to be connected to an USB port .
3. Portable reader (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that said reading means for smart cards (7) are composed of a plurality of contacts carrying connection wires to said managing microprocessor.
4. Portable reader (1) according to Claim 3, characterised in that said contacts are equal
Figure imgf000009_0001
5. Portable reader (1) according to Claim 1, characterised m that said keeping and aligning means (13) are composed of an elongated-C-shaped bracket, said bracket being hinged to said support body (3) in order to have: a. an operating position m which said keeping and aligning means (13) are perpendicular to said support body (3) to keep the card (7) m contact with said reader (1) and to align the card (7) with said reading means; and b. a rest position m which said keeping and aligning means (13) are aligned with said support body (3) allowing to transport and store said reader (1) .
6. Portable reader (1) according to Claim 1, characterised m that it is further equipped with means (11) that enable grasping said support body (3) by means of two fingers of an hand.
PCT/IT2000/000429 1999-11-22 2000-10-25 Portable reader for smart cards WO2001039102A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU13005/01A AU1300501A (en) 1999-11-22 2000-10-25 Portable reader for smart cards

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO99A001020 1999-11-22
IT1999TO001020A ITTO991020A1 (en) 1999-11-22 1999-11-22 PORTABLE READER FOR SMART CARDS.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001039102A1 true WO2001039102A1 (en) 2001-05-31

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IT2000/000429 WO2001039102A1 (en) 1999-11-22 2000-10-25 Portable reader for smart cards

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1300501A (en)
IT (1) ITTO991020A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2001039102A1 (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7213766B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2007-05-08 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd Multi-interface compact personal token apparatus and methods of use
DE102005059001A1 (en) * 2005-12-08 2007-06-14 Hans-Henning Arendt Portable electronic device, method for enabling a smart card and computer program product
US7296098B2 (en) * 2001-12-29 2007-11-13 Taiguen Technology (Shen-Zhen), Co., Ltd. Portable data converting and processing storage device with standard interface wherein the body unity does not include any built-in flash memory
US7454531B2 (en) * 2002-01-23 2008-11-18 Taiguen Technology (Shen—Zhen) Co., Ltd. USB portable storage capable of being upgraded and capacity-expanded freely by replacement of storage medium
US7597250B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2009-10-06 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd. RFID reader with multiple interfaces
US7762470B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2010-07-27 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd. RFID token with multiple interface controller
WO2010117096A1 (en) * 2009-04-08 2010-10-14 (주)티엠에스피 Smart card reader having foldable card guide

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997007448A2 (en) * 1995-08-21 1997-02-27 Cornel Sirbu Conditional access method and device
US5635701A (en) * 1994-03-04 1997-06-03 Gemplus Card International Portable device for the functional linking of a chip card with a central processing unit
US5778071A (en) * 1994-07-12 1998-07-07 Information Resource Engineering, Inc. Pocket encrypting and authenticating communications device
US5844497A (en) * 1996-11-07 1998-12-01 Litronic, Inc. Apparatus and method for providing an authentication system
FR2774194A1 (en) * 1998-01-27 1999-07-30 Scm Schneider Microsysteme Mic Connector that reads electronic card and links card reader and host computer

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5635701A (en) * 1994-03-04 1997-06-03 Gemplus Card International Portable device for the functional linking of a chip card with a central processing unit
US5778071A (en) * 1994-07-12 1998-07-07 Information Resource Engineering, Inc. Pocket encrypting and authenticating communications device
WO1997007448A2 (en) * 1995-08-21 1997-02-27 Cornel Sirbu Conditional access method and device
US5844497A (en) * 1996-11-07 1998-12-01 Litronic, Inc. Apparatus and method for providing an authentication system
FR2774194A1 (en) * 1998-01-27 1999-07-30 Scm Schneider Microsysteme Mic Connector that reads electronic card and links card reader and host computer

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7296098B2 (en) * 2001-12-29 2007-11-13 Taiguen Technology (Shen-Zhen), Co., Ltd. Portable data converting and processing storage device with standard interface wherein the body unity does not include any built-in flash memory
US7454531B2 (en) * 2002-01-23 2008-11-18 Taiguen Technology (Shen—Zhen) Co., Ltd. USB portable storage capable of being upgraded and capacity-expanded freely by replacement of storage medium
US7213766B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2007-05-08 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd Multi-interface compact personal token apparatus and methods of use
US7597250B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2009-10-06 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd. RFID reader with multiple interfaces
US7762470B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2010-07-27 Dpd Patent Trust Ltd. RFID token with multiple interface controller
DE102005059001A1 (en) * 2005-12-08 2007-06-14 Hans-Henning Arendt Portable electronic device, method for enabling a smart card and computer program product
WO2010117096A1 (en) * 2009-04-08 2010-10-14 (주)티엠에스피 Smart card reader having foldable card guide

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Publication number Publication date
ITTO991020A0 (en) 1999-11-22
ITTO991020A1 (en) 2001-05-22
AU1300501A (en) 2001-06-04

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