Smart card reader with electrostatic discharge protection

(54) SMART CARD READER WITH ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION

(75) Inventors: John Lincoln Grant, Sherborn, MA (US); Claude Grant Folta,

Georgetown, TX (US)

(73) Assignee: Airborn, Inc., Georgetown, TX (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/126,123

(22) Filed: Jul. 30, 1998

(51) Int. C I. G06K 7/06

(52) U.S. CI 235/441; 235/439; 15/1.5;

15/210.1

(58) Field of Search 235/439, 441,

235/449, 482, 483, 486, 492; 361/212, 213, 220; 15/1.51, 1.52, 210.1; 29/600,

852

(56) References Cited

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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

002678798 1/1993 (FR) .

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Beckaert Corp. product literature for Beki-Shield conductive plastics, Nov. 1996, 2 pages.

"Statistically Dissipative Thermoplastic Polyester, Stat-Kon W Series" Technical Data, LNP Engineering Plastics, Inc., Jan. 25, 1996, 2 pages.

"Stat-Kon. A guide to LNP's Line of Thermoplastic Composites for Electrostatic Dissipation," LNP Engineering Plastics, Bulletin 223-894, 1994, 12 pages. No month available.

"The Passivator", Chapman Corporation, 1993, 2 pages. No month available.

"Stainless Fibers Add Shielding to Housing", Bekaert Fibre Technologies, Jan. 1991, 1 page.

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—Michael G. Lee

Assistant Examiner—Jared J. Fureman

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jenkens & Gilchrist, A

Professional Corporation

(57) ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods for removing electrostatic charge from a generally non-conductive object that is inserted into a port or receptacle of a housing are disclosed, such as a smart card having an electrostatic charge thereon inserted into a slot of a housing of a smart card reader. Certain ones of the apparatus and methods use a housing including a slot for receiving a generally non-conductive object having an electrostatic charge thereon, and an electrically ungrounded array of protrusions disposed proximate the slot. Selected ones of the protrusions have a sharp tip. The electrostatic charge on the object and the sharp tips generate an electric field that is used to neutralize the electrostatic charge on the object so as to prevent damaging electric shock.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets