Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Herve' Guy Bricaud

Fabrice Valcher

Yves Pizard

Werner Biermann

Julien Gavignet

The invention proposes a device () comprising an actuation ball (, FIG.), a casing () that surrounds the ball, elements () for guiding the ball in rotation, a first detection light source (LS) for emitting at least one detection beam (EL), and a detection sensor () to capture at least the light (RL) originating from the lit zone of the ball (), characterized in that the first light source (LS) emits an invisible light (EL), and in that the device comprises a second light source (LS), distinct from the first light source (LS) for illuminating the ball () that emits a visible illumination light (EL) towards the ball ().

Ball-based device for controlling the movement of a cursor, and optical unit for such a device

A smart card connector includes an insulative support ( ) with contacts thereon and a sheet metal cover ( ) with an upper portion ( ) that lies over a support face ( ) to form a front portion of a card-receiving cavity ( ) between them, and with the cover having a lower portion ( ) lying under opposite sides of the cavity. The opposite sides of the cavity extend rearward of the support. A card ejecting mechanism ( ) includes a pusher ( ) that can be manually pushed forward to pivot a lever ( ) that pushes the card rearwardly so the card can be grasped and manually pulled out. The pusher is formed of sheet metal with lower and upper flanges ( ) that lie against upper and lower portions of the cover, the pusher being confined to solely slideable movement and the lever being pivoting mounted about a pivot axis (A ) on the support. The pivot axis of the lever lies forward of a front edge ( ) that limits full insertion of a card, and preferably lies in the area where a polarizing front corner of the card is cut at a 45&deg; angle.

Smart card connector

A connector with a slot for receiving a smart card with contact pads, includes contacts that are held away from the card slot until the card becomes fully inserted, using a mechanism with a minimum number of easily formed parts. The mechanism includes a rocker ( ) with a control part ( ) that is pivotally mounted about a rocker axis (Y&mdash;Y) and that has a rear end forming a tab ( ) that projects into the rear end of the card slot, to be deflected downwardly by the card reaching its fully inserted position. The control part also has a front end ( ) that is coupled to the contacts to depress them until the card is fully inserted, whereupon the contacts are released to move up. The rocker, which is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, includes a pair of laterally-spaced fastening plates ( ) that are fixed to the housing, and a pair of deflectable portions ( ) that can be resiliently deformed to permit the control part to pivot. The deflectable portions include torsion bars ( ) that can be twisted about the rocker axis and that bias the control part towards the position where the rear end extends into the card slot. The front end of the control part is coupled to the contacts through a plastic molded lever ( ) that is pivotally mounted about a second lateral axis (X&mdash;X) on the housing.

Smart card connector with landing contacts

An electrical connector system includes plate-shaped bases (,) that lie on a circuit board (,) and that have contacts (,) with contact tails (,) soldered to traces on the circuit board. A housing (,) that lies on the circuit board around the bases, is coupled to each of the bases to accurately locate the housing with respect to the bases, the housing having a plurality of guides (,) for receiving smart cards that can engage contacting parts of the contacts on the bases. The housing includes a frame (,) that is fixed with respect to the circuit board and bases, and a cover (,) having a rear end pivotally mounted about a lateral axis X-X on the frame and forming the guides for holding the smart cards, so the smart cards can pivot down against the contacts on the bases. The cover can be locked down by a latch (,) formed of a piece of sheet metal that slides on the cover and that has downwardly-extending tabs (,) that fit under slots on a front beam of the frame.

Connector system for smart cards

A PC card (30) of standard PCMCIA outside dimensions can connect a Micro Sim card C to a host connector 16 that lies at the rear end of a host passageway 12. The PC card has a housing 10 that includes shell halves (32, 34) with horizontal upper and lower parallel plane main walls (44, 46) which, between them, form a cavity (48) holding a circuit board (36). A small card connector (64) for receiving the Micro Sim card lies on the upper face (37) of the circuit board (36). The upper PC card shell half (32) has a slot (80) for insertion or extraction of the Micro Sim card (C) from the small card connector.

PC card connection unit for micro SIM card

A connector is described, of the type that has an insulator (16) with passages (22) that hold contacts (24), in which the contacts can be installed by pressing them into the passages, wherein the passages and contacts are formed to more securely hold the contacts in place. Each passage has a narrowed passage section (36) with front and rear ends, and each contact has a forward part (48) with a contact shoulder (52) that abuts a shoulder (42) at the front of the passage section. Mid and rear flanges (54, 46) lie behind the contact front part and in interference fit with the narrowed passage section, with the rear flange having a smaller outside diameter than the mid flange. The rear end of the passage has a short tapered part (64) that is engaged by the rear flange. The mid flange has anti-rotation notches (58), with cylindrical peripheral parts (70) lying between the notches.

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Dole, France

Herve' Guy Bricaud