Mechanism for connecting IC card and external device.

摘要

A connection mechanism for connecting an IC card and an external device to each other has, a plurality of electrode terminals 6 formed on a package 5 of the IC card in which a semiconductor device is incorporated, to connect the semiconductor device to the external device; a pair of engagement recesses formed on the package of the IC card; and a connector provided in the external device, having a card receiving portion 3 into which the IC card is inserted, a plurality of electrode contacts 7 inside the card receiving portion for contacting the electrode terminals of the IC card when the IC card is inserted into the card receiving portion to a predetermined position. A pair of resilient retaining members 43 are disposed in the card receiving portion and are capable of advancing towards or retreating from engagement recesses 21 of the IC card and elastically engaging with the engagement recess so as to retain the IC card at the predetermined position when the IC card is inserted to the predetermined position. The retaining members may also act as switch contacts, to control the external device.