SMART CARD COMPUTER ADAPTOR

摘要

PURPOSE: An apparatus is described for coupling the contact pads of a smart card to a computer device that has a slot for receiving an IC card, which provides a small but reliable card receiver to be stored outside the computer device. CONSTITUTION: The apparatus includes an adaptor (80) with a front end forming a plug (84) that is compatible to a receptacle (82) at the rear of a standard IC card (14) of the type that has a rear I/O (input/output) connector. The adaptor (80) has a card receiver (94) with a slot (100) that receives a smart card and has terminals (114) that engage contact pads of the smart card, with the terminals connected to contacts (92) of the adaptor plug. The card receiver is wider than the IC card for reliably receiving the card. The IC card can be stored in the IC card slot of the computer device, while only a relatively small adaptor is stored outside the IC card slot.