Importance

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Abstract

A new IC card is described, which can fit into standard card-receiving hosts that each has a host connector with 68 contact positions; however, the new IC card has more than 68 card contacts that can mate with more than 68 host connector contacts. The new IC card is designed to be inserted into a host stack of at least two vertically-spaced hosts. The new IC card includes upper and lower card connectors that each have 68 contact positions in accordance with PCMCIA specifications, and has a card frame that holds the two card connectors at a spacing equal to the vertical spacing of the host connectors. The card frame has slots on either side to receive mid walls that form parts of the host edge guideways, the card frame also including a slot at the front between the upper and lower card contacts to receive a separation wall of the host stack which separates the host connectors. The new card can have a key that operates at least one switch on a modified host stack, to sense the insertion of the new card and couple the host connector contacts to circuitry designed to connect to the new card.

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First Claim