REMOVABLE CARD WITH A PLUG-IN CONNECTOR FORMING A SMART CARD READER FOR A MICROCOMPUTER

摘要

PCMCIA cards designed to be plugged into a standardised PCMCIA slot in a microcomputer are disclosed. To enable such a card to be used in conjunction with a flush-contact smart card where a microcomputer has no flush-contact smart card reader, the plug-in card is modified so that it can handle a smart card. The plug-in card comprises a slot (20) for receiving the smart card (22). The slot is formed between an upper plate (30) and a lower plate (40) having substantially the same length and being spaced apart by a distance that is substantially the same as the thickness of a flush-contact card. The upper plate (30) is rigid while the lower plate (40) at least partially consists of a flexible or semi-rigid flap (42) on the smart card insertion side. The smart card may be readily inserted and held in place. A microcomputer or a PCMCIA card may thus be protected using a security smart card.