SMART CARD AND SMART CARD CONNECTOR

摘要

A smart card connector (2) for use with a smart card (100) includes both data contacts (12) and normally open end position contacts (12'). The smart card (100) includes both data contact pads (102) and at least one end position contact pad (104) positioned to engage the end position contacts (12'). When the smart card is fully inserted in the connector card slot (10) so that the data contacts (12) are aligned with the data contact pads (102), two normally open end position contacts (12') engage the end position contact pad (104). The two end position contacts (12') are then electrically commoned to provide a signal to a card reader that the smart card (100) is fully inserted and data communication can begin between the smart card (100) and the card reader. Both the data contacts (12) and the normally electrically unconnected end position contacts (12') can comprise substantially identical cantilever beams mounted in the housing base of the smart card connector (2), and the end position contact pad (104) is laterally offset from data contact pads (102).