Solderable chip card connector and corresponding mounting procedure

Description

1. Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of memory card readers. The invention more particularly relates to a memory card reader intended to be mounted in a memory card reading terminal, such as a payment terminal or an identification terminal for example. More generally, the invention relates to any type of terminal that may include a memory card reader. 2. Prior Art

[0002] Smart card reading terminals include, in addition to a smart card reader, a number of components such as a keyboard, a screen, one or more processors, memory, and a power source. For several years, smart card reading terminals have seen their functions multiply. This is particularly true for payment terminals. In addition to the payment function, these terminals include network communication functions, contactless smart card detection functions, coupon management functions (e.g., loyalty coupons), etc.

[0003] In addition to the proliferation of these auxiliary functions, smart card reading terminals must also be resistant to the various attacks or fraud attempts to which they are frequently subjected. In order to achieve uniformity in the resistance of terminals to attacks, international standards have been issued. In the payment sector, for example, the PCI PED standard ("Payment Card Industry - Pin Entry Device") sets out requirements for intrusion and detection of attempted attacks on terminals. This is not the only standard in force.

[0004] However, due to these standards, terminals that were previously poorly protected are gradually giving way to increasingly secure terminals. Among the points of securing terminals, manufacturers in the sector are paying particular attention to the protection of the memory card reader. The memory card reader, in fact, remains a weak link in the memory card reading terminal. This is due to the fact that the memory card reader includes a memory card insertion slot, this slot making the interior of the memory card reading terminal accessible from the outside. More specifically, attackers seek to gain access to the memory card connector. The memory card connector is the part of the memory card reader that comes into contact with the chip or microprocessor embedded on the memory card.When an attacker gains access to this smart card connector without anyone noticing, it is then possible to intercept and read the data that is exchanged between the chip or microprocessor of the card and the processor of the smart card reading terminal. Among the intercepted data, we can notably cite the secret code entered by the customer during the secret code request, which can be transmitted without encryption on certain non (or poorly) secured smart cards.

[0005] This explains why a lot of effort has been put into securing the memory card reader. For example, memory card readers have been fitted with mesh protection. This protection prevents them from being drilled into the terminal. When an object attempts to penetrate the protective enclosure, a short circuit is produced, causing the terminal to be disabled. Furthermore, modifications to protect the memory card connectors against electrostatic discharges and wear have also been proposed. For example, this involves placing metal parts at the entrance to the memory card reader to provide mechanical guidance (prevention of wear) and / or discharge of the card prior to its insertion into the memory card reader. These metal parts are commonly in the form of metal guide rods a few millimeters high.Another example is adding metal parts that come in the form of a discharge comb from the board.

[0006] All these changes have led to significant manufacturing complexity. Furthermore, manufacturing costs have also increased. Indeed, multiple assembly and soldering steps are required to build a memory card reader. These steps include assembling parts on top of each other (a base made of rigid plastic, a metal cover, and a printed circuit board that sits atop the cover) and then soldering these assembled parts onto a terminal motherboard. This soldering operation of the memory card reader is necessarily carried out after the electronic components themselves have been soldered onto the motherboard. Thus, the soldering operation of the memory card reader is essentially manual.

[0007] This step of assembling and welding the memory card reader body is one of the many steps in assembling a memory card reading terminal carried out manually, contributing to a high manufacturing cost.

[0008] There is therefore a need to provide a solution that reduces the number of assembly operations carried out manually in order to reduce the time and cost of manufacturing these memory card reading terminals.

[0009] WO 97 / 39418 A1 discloses a reader body of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape comprising a metallic upper half-shell and a metallic lower half-shell. A connector for reading micro-SIM cards C is at least partially disposed in a cavity of the upper shell. A slot is formed in the body. The lower half-shell has two side walls which fit into the side walls of the upper half-shell. 3. Summary of the invention

[0010] The present disclosure, in at least some embodiments, resolves all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art. Thus, according to a first aspect, a memory card reader body is disclosed, the reader body having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprising a slot for inserting a memory card, said memory card reader body comprising an upper face consisting of a cover and a lower face consisting of a base in which is made a through-hole intended to receive a memory card connector independent of said memory card reader body, said memory card reader body is remarkable in that: said base is a metal part comprising first means of assembly with said cover each arranged on at least two opposite sides of said base, said cover is a metal part comprising second means of assembly with said base each arranged on at least two opposite sides of said cover, and in that the first assembly means are intended to fit together with the second assembly means to constitute two side walls of said memory card reader body, said side walls having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and extending substantially perpendicular to the lower face of said memory card reader body.

[0011] The assembly and fixing of such a memory card reader body on the motherboard is simplified and can be carried out in a limited number of automated steps, thus reducing the number of manual interventions. This is made possible on the one hand by the fact that the base is metallic and on the other hand thanks to the geometry of the side walls of the memory card reader body.

[0012] Indeed, this combination of characteristics makes it possible to place the memory card reader body directly on a surface of a motherboard, for example, and to put the whole thing in an oven in order to solder the memory card reader body to the motherboard without manual intervention. The side walls of the memory card reader body having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, the memory card reader body rests on the surface of the motherboard via a flat lower surface of these side walls.

[0013] Thus, the motherboard no longer needs to include holes into which the assembly tabs of the memory card reader bodies of the prior art were inserted for the purpose of soldering them.

[0014] A memory card reader body according to the present technique advantageously allows the memory card reader body to be mounted automatically, i.e. without manual intervention, on the motherboard. It also allows space to be freed up on the motherboard for other components such as a keyboard. Indeed, the disappearance of the holes intended to receive the assembly tabs on the motherboard helps to free up space that can be used to enlarge the keyboard, to arrange other components on the motherboard or to arrange components already present but differently and more efficiently on the motherboard.

[0015] The fact that the base is made of metal also contributes to saving space on the motherboard. Indeed, for the same rigidity, a metal base has thinner walls than a plastic base.

[0016] According to a particular implementation of the memory card reader body, once fitted together, the first and second assembly means are fixed to each other by welding.

[0017] Thus, the cover and the base are integral. Such a memory card reader body is therefore shock-resistant.

[0018] In a particular implementation of the memory card reader body, the metal constituting the cover is doped with carbon atoms.

[0019] This protects the memory card connector from certain electromagnetic disturbances, particularly those linked to the use of certain mobile telephone frequency bands such as frequency bands conforming to the GMS standard.

[0020] The invention also relates to a memory card reading system comprising: a motherboard on a surface of which is fixed a memory card connector, and a memory card reader body according to claim 1 arranged on said surface of the motherboard so that the memory card connector fits within the through hole intended to receive the memory card connector of said memory card reader body, said system being remarkable in that the side walls of said memory card reader body are welded to the surface of the motherboard by means of a material filler disposed between a lower surface of said side walls of said memory card reader body and the surface of the motherboard.

[0021] The fixing is carried out by welding, brazing, gluing. The material used depends on the desired final fixing method and any safety functions associated with this method of fixing (particularly when the fixing must be conductive to carry out a safety function, such as a short circuit).

[0022] The step of attaching the memory card reader body to the motherboard is performed automatically by applying material, such as abrasive paste, to the lower surface of the side walls of the memory card reader body before placing the memory card reader body on the motherboard. The whole thing is then placed in an oven so that the memory card reader body is soldered onto the motherboard.

[0023] The invention also relates to a method of mounting a memory card reading system as described previously, the method comprising: a step of fixing the memory card connector on a surface of the motherboard, a step of placing the memory card reader body on said surface of the motherboard so that the memory card connector is placed within the through-hole intended to receive said memory card connector of said memory card reader body, a step of fixing said side walls of said memory card reader body on the surface of the motherboard by means of a material supply arranged between a lower surface of said side walls of said memory card reader body and the surface of the motherboard.

[0024] A final object of the invention finally concerns a memory card reading terminal comprising a memory card reading system according to the invention.

[0025] The different embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other to implement the invention. 4. Figures

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, given as a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, among which: [ Fig.1 ] there [ Fig.1 ] illustrates the various components of a memory card connector according to the prior art; [ Fig.2 ]there [ Fig.2 ] shows such a prior art memory card connector when assembled; [ Fig.3 ][ Fig.4 ] THE figures 3 And 4 depict a prior art memory card connector assembled respectively before being mounted on a motherboard and once mounted on a motherboard; [ Fig.5 ] there [ Fig.5 ] represents an assembled memory card connector, according to one embodiment of the invention, before it is mounted on a motherboard; [ Fig.6 ] there [ Fig.6 ] represents the various components of a memory card connector according to one embodiment of the invention; [ Fig.7 ] there [ Fig.7 ] represents an assembled memory card connector, according to an embodiment of the invention, once mounted on a motherboard, [ Fig.8 ] there [ Fig.8 ] represents the different steps of a method of mounting, on a motherboard, a memory card reader body according to an embodiment of the invention, [ Fig.9 ] there [ Fig.9 ] a keyboard disposed on a surface of the motherboard opposite the surface on which the body of the memory card reader is fixed according to one embodiment of the invention. 5. Detailed description

[0027] The general principle of the invention consists in proposing a memory card reader body formed of two distinct main parts: a base and a cover, both made of metal and which, when fitted into each other, form a memory card reader body having side walls of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape extending substantially perpendicular to the lower face of said memory card reader body.

[0028] We describe, in relation to the [ Fig.1 ], a memory card connector 10 in relation to the prior art, which is constructed independently of a body of the memory card reader 11. The memory card connector 20 is intended to be connected to a main printed circuit (not shown), typically the motherboard of the memory card reading terminal within which it is installed, in order to ensure the operation of the reader and its interconnection with the other components of the memory card reading terminal.

[0029] The body of the memory card reader 11 comprises, for example, three main parts: a base 11A made of rigid plastic, a metal cover 11B, and a printed circuit 11C which surmounts the cover 11B. The base 11A comprises a through hole (a housing) intended to receive the memory card connector 10. This housing takes the form of an orifice passing right through the base 11A, and in which the memory card connector 10 is housed when the base 11A is positioned on the motherboard. The cover 11B is then assembled on the base 11A, so as to form the slot for inserting a memory card within the memory card reader. Finally, the printed circuit 11C is fixed on the upper face of the cover 11B, so as to cover a major part of it, ideally all of it. Alternatively, the block formed by the cover 11B and the printed circuit 11C may have been pre-assembled, upstream of the assembly phase of the memory card reader.In this case, it is the entire pre-assembled block which is positioned on the base 11A when mounting the reader.

[0030] The base 11A and the cover 11B both include assembly tabs 12 that allow the base 11A and the cover 11B to be assembled to form the body of the memory card reader. These assembly tabs 12 are arranged on at least two opposite sides of the base 11A and the cover 11B.

[0031] The printed circuit 11C comprises at least one protective element, which is for example in the form of one or more intrusion detection meshes or in the form of one or more continuous intrusion detection tracks (for example a ground circuit, and two meshes at different potentials). This or these protective elements are positioned so as to cover a major part of the surface of the printed circuit 11C. Ideally, they are distributed over the entire surface of the printed circuit 11C, so as to ensure increased security of the memory card reader.

[0032] Once assembled, and as shown in the [ Fig.2 ], the body of the memory card reader 11 is a part of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, the base 11A and the cover 11B together forming an insertion slot 111 which allows a memory card to be inserted in a correct position so that it comes into contact with the memory card connector 10, once in the stop position.

[0033] With reference to the [ Fig.3 ] and to the [ Fig.4 ], when the body of the memory card reader 11 is assembled, the assembly tabs 12 of the cover 11B protrude slightly from the lower surface of the base 11A. The end of each of these assembly tabs 12 is intended to be inserted into a corresponding orifice 13 provided for this purpose on the motherboard CM in which they are soldered. All of these explanations make it possible to take stock of the operations to be carried out to carry out a memory card reader assembly, one of the problems, as specified below, being having to carry out the soldering of this memory card connector manually, after the electronic components have been soldered (automatically).

[0034] Thus, the general principle of the invention is described in more detail in relation to the [ Fig.5 ]. According to the proposed technique, a memory card connector 10 is constructed independently of a body of the memory card reader 11. The memory card connector 10 is designed to enable reading of signals emanating from the memory card (not shown). To this end, the memory card connector 10 comprises a number of pins (eight on the [ Fig.5 ]), allowing contact with corresponding areas of the chip of the memory card (generally six or eight areas, depending on the type of memory card). These pins are generally metal spring blades which are positioned on the surface of the chip. The memory card connector 10 is also intended to be connected to a main printed circuit, typically the motherboard CM of a memory card reading terminal in which it is installed, in order to ensure the operation of the memory card reader and its interconnection with the other components of the memory card reading terminal. In the remainder of the document, this main printed circuit, on which the connector 10 is for example soldered, is referred to as the “motherboard” CM.It should be noted, however, that the term "motherboard" should not be understood in a restrictive sense, and that in certain embodiments the main printed circuit is not necessarily the motherboard of the reading terminal. Since the subject of the disclosure is not the memory card connector, its detailed description will not be carried out further.

[0035] The memory card connector 10 is independent of the body of the memory card reader 11. In other words, the memory card connector 10 is not assembled with the body of the memory card reader 11 before being assembled to the motherboard CM of the memory card reading terminal: according to the proposed technique, the memory card connector 10 is first fixed on the motherboard CM, then the body of the memory card reader 11 previously assembled is placed over the connector 10 on the motherboard CM to be soldered there in the oven.

[0036] Advantageously, the assembly and fixing of the memory card reader on the motherboard CM are simplified and can be carried out in a limited number of automated steps. The implementation of a memory card reader body 11 whose base and cover are made of metals makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of such a memory card reader while offering a significant saving of space at the level of the motherboard CM. Such a saving of space at the level of the motherboard can make it possible to increase the dimensions of a keyboard for example.

[0037] As can be seen in the [ Fig.5 ], the memory card reader body 11 according to the proposed technique is, for example, a part of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, with a width of approximately fifty-five millimeters, a depth of approximately thirty-two millimeters and a height of approximately four millimeters. Assembled, the base 11A and the cover 11B together form an insertion slot 111 which allows a memory card to be inserted in a correct position so that it comes into contact with the memory card connector, once in the stop position. This insertion slot has a height of between 0.85 and 1.20 millimeters.

[0038] Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the invention is described, it being understood that this embodiment in no way limits the scope of the invention. More particularly, in other embodiments of the invention, the shapes of the base and the cover are not limited to those described hereinafter.

[0039] This embodiment is presented more particularly in relation to the figures 6 à 8 . This embodiment includes features not previously described. However, identical reference numerals are used for elements that have already been described in the figures 1-5 .

[0040] With reference to the [ Fig.6 ], the body of the memory card reader 11 comprises two main parts: a base 11A, a cover 11B. In certain implementations, a printed circuit (not shown in the figures) surmounts the cover 11B in order to protect the body of the memory card reader from possible intrusions.

[0041] The cover 11B has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, with a generally flat and rectangular main surface 20 and two side walls 21A, 21B of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The side walls 21A, 21B are substantially perpendicular to the main surface 20 of the cover 11B, and constitute means of assembly with a base 11A described later.

[0042] The side walls 21A, 21B comprise fixing means 22, which may take the form of egg-shaped ends allowing the cover 11B to be fixed to the base 11A as will be described later.

[0043] The base 11A of the memory card reader body 11 is shown in more detail in relation to the [ Fig.6 ] in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique. The base 11A is also generally of rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0044] It also comprises a main surface 30 and two side walls (31A, 31B) of generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The side walls 31A, 31B are substantially perpendicular to the main surface 30 of the base 11A, and constitute means of assembly with the cover 11B.

[0045] The side walls 31A, 31B comprise fixing means 32, which may take the form of egg-shaped ends allowing the cover 11B to be fixed to the base 11A as will be described later.

[0046] The base 11A also comprises a housing 33 intended to receive the memory card connector 10 when mounting the body of the memory card reader 11 on the motherboard CM. This housing 33 takes the form of an orifice passing right through the base 11A. The shape of this receiving housing 33 is substantially complementary to the shape of the memory card connector 10. In a particular embodiment, the base 11A comprises centering pins (not shown), making it possible to ensure correct centering of the base 11A on the connector 10 during mounting.

[0047] In the embodiment shown, the base 11A of the body of the memory card reader 11 has the main function of guiding a memory card when it is inserted into the memory card reader. Furthermore, cleverly, in at least one variant, the base 11A comprises one or more of the following features: it incorporates card brakes to prevent impacts on the card stops; such card brakes consist, for example, of two flexible strips; each of these strips forms a predetermined angle relative to the (planar) guide surface of the memory card; depending on the embodiment, the angle of inclination of one strip may be different from the angle of inclination of the other strip; it is made of a dissipative material, which makes it possible to limit the effects of electrostatic discharges on a reading terminal; this electrostatic discharge characteristic can be coupled with the previous characteristic: the strips, each with a different inclination, are capable of braking the card on the one hand and of discharging its static electricity on the other hand, in a progressive manner; it comprises a protective element, on its lower face.

[0048] These additional features cleverly result from the implementation of a memory card reader body 11 which has an insertion slot obtained by assembling two interlocking parts (base 11A and cover 11B). Indeed, such features cannot be implemented with a memory card reader body 11 in a single part because the technical nature of these features prevents it.

[0049] The base 11A being metallic, its shape can then for example be obtained very simply from a simple metal plate, by means of usual cutting and embossing techniques. The side walls 31A, 31B and the fixing means 32 can for example be obtained by simple folding and embossing of such a previously cut metal plate.

[0050] With reference to the [ Fig.5 ], previously described, and with reference to [ Fig.7 ] And 8, the main steps implemented to carry out the assembly of a memory card reader are now described, in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique.

[0051] In a first phase, the body of the memory card reader 11 is assembled automatically by a robot.

[0052] Thus, during a step E1, the cover 11B is assembled with the base 11A. The fixing means 22 arranged on the side walls 21A, 21B of the cover 11B have just been fixed in the fixing means 32 arranged on the side walls 31A, 31B of the base 11A. The side walls 21A, 21B, 31A and 31B thus assembled constitute the side walls 110A, 110B of the body of the memory card reader 11, which have a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and extend substantially perpendicular to the lower face of said memory card reader body 11.

[0053] In an optional step E2, the cover 11B and the base 11A, once assembled during step E1, are welded at the level of the fixing means 22 and 32.

[0054] At the same time, the card reader connector 10 is mounted on the motherboard CM.

[0055] In a step E3, a material, such as an abrasive paste, is applied to the lower surface of the side walls 110A, 110B of the body of the memory card reader 11.

[0056] Then, in a step E4, the body of the memory card reader 11 is placed on the surface of the motherboard CM so that the connector 10 is housed in the housing 33 provided in the base 11A of the body of the memory card reader 11 and so that the lower surface of the side walls 110A, 110B covered with the material is in contact with the surface of the motherboard CM.

[0057] Finally, in a step E5, everything is passed through the oven so that the material disposed between the lower surface of the side walls 110A, 110B and the surface of the motherboard CM allows the welding of the memory card reader body 11 and the motherboard CM.

[0058] Thus, it only takes a few simple, automated steps to assemble and secure the 11 memory card reader body to the CM motherboard.

[0059] There [ Fig.9] represents a keyboard 40 arranged on a surface of the motherboard CM opposite the surface on which the body of the memory card reader is fixed. It can be seen in this figure that in the absence of the orifices 13 present on the motherboards of the prior art, it is possible to enlarge the keyboard 40. The characteristics presented in the different embodiments described are of course combinable individually or in groups with the general principle previously introduced, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Memory card reader body (11), the reader body having a globally rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprising a slot (111) for inserting a memory card, said memory card reader body comprising an upper face consisting of a cover (11B) and a lower face consisting of a base (11A) in which a through orifice (33) is made for receiving a memory card connector (10) independent of said memory card reader body, said memory card reader body (10) wherein: - said base is a metal part comprising first means of assembly (31A, 31B) with said cover, each disposed on at least two opposite sides of said base, - said cover is a metal part comprising second means of assembly (21A, 21B) with said base, each disposed on at least two opposite sides of said cover, and - the first assembly means are intended to fit together with the second assembly means to form two side walls (110A, 110B) of said memory card reader body, said side walls having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and extending substantially perpendicular to the lower face of said memory card reader body.

2. Memory card reader body according to claim 1 wherein, once fitted together, the first and second assembly means are fixed to one another by welding.

3. Memory card reader body according to claim 1 wherein the metal constituting the cover is doped with carbon atoms.

4. Memory card reading system comprising: - a motherboard (CM) on a surface of which a memory card connector is fixed, and - a memory card reader body according to claim 1 arranged on said surface of the motherboard so that the memory card connector is located within the through orifice (33) intended to receive said memory card connector of said memory card reader body, said system wherein the side walls (110A, 110B) of said memory card reader body are welded to the surface of the motherboard by means of a filler material disposed between a lower surface of said side walls of said memory card reader body and the surface of the motherboard.

5. A method of assembling a memory card reading system according to claim 4, the method comprising: - a step of fixing the memory card connector (10) to a surface of the motherboard (CM), - a step of placing the memory card reader body on said surface of the motherboard so that the memory card connector is positioned within the through orifice intended to receive said memory card connector of said memory card reader body, - a step of fixing said side walls (110A, 110B) of said memory card reader body to the surface of the motherboard by means of a filler material arranged between a lower surface of said side walls of said memory card reader body and the surface of the motherboard.

6. A memory card reading terminal comprising a memory card reading system as claimed in claim 4.