Chip Card Reader Sealing Element with Air Exchange Gap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chip card reading devices face issues with overheating and water protection, as the seals do not allow for air exchange and can trap moisture, leading to potential damage to the chip card.

Innovation Solution

A chip card reading device with a push element that moves between retracted and extended states, featuring a sealing element with a spaced area at the bottom to allow air exchange and water drainage, and a folding element with holding edges to securely support and protect the card during insertion and removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a complete circumferential sealing element is used to seal the sliding element against the housing, then water protection is improved, but overheating occurs due to lack of air exchange

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater protectionVSAvoidoverheating
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element is segmented into different functional zones: a sealed upper portion (first sealing region) that contacts the housing for water protection, and an open lower portion (second sealing region) that separates from the housing to allow air exchange and prevent overheating. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both sealing and ventilation functions within a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the sliding element is sealed against the housing, then water drainage is improved, but the chip card becomes unreachable when extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainageVSAvoidcard accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The folding element is designed to dynamically change position between folded and unfolded states. When unfolded, it allows the chip card to be reached and removed; when folded, it maintains the sealing function for water drainage. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between accessibility and sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the folding element is held in extended position, then card protection is improved, but card removal becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecard protectionVSAvoidcard removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The holding element is designed to automatically engage and hold the folding element in its extended protective position during normal operation. However, it is designed to disengage when intentional removal action is applied, allowing easy card removal when needed while maintaining protection during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If the sealing element is made complete and circumferential, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but air exchange is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidair exchange
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element exhibits different sealing qualities at different locations: the upper portion (first sealing region) provides complete sealing contact with the housing for effective water protection, while the lower portion (second sealing region) intentionally separates from the housing to provide air exchange channels. This local differentiation of sealing quality resolves the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and air exchange.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3279827B1Chip card reading device
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP3279827B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3279827B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3279827B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a chip card reader 1 with a housing 8 in which a sliding element 4, which receives a chip card 9, is arranged to move back and forth between a retracted and an extended state. The chip card 9 cannot be removed when the sliding element 4 is retracted, and the sliding element 4 is sealed in the retracted state by means of a sealing element 6. It is provided that the sealing element 6 has, in the retracted state of the sliding element 4, a region 60 on at least one side that is spaced apart from the housing 8.