Electronic assembly for securing a SIM card

1. An assembly comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having opposed first and second sides and defining an aperture extending from the first side to the second side; and

a SIM card holder configured for retaining a SIM card and comprising:

a base received in the aperture;

a plurality of SIM contacts for interfacing with corresponding contacts of the SIM card;

a plurality of electrical connectors each having a first end and a second end, the electrical connectors being at least partially embedded in the base and extending through the base, the first end of each electrical connector being located on a first side of the base and connected to a respective contact on the first side of the PCB and the second end of each electrical connector being located on a second side of the base and connected to a respective SIM contact, wherein the electrical connectors are configured to suspend the base within the aperture of the PCB so that the base and the PCB are substantially aligned in a common plane; and

a card retaining member attached to the second side of the PCB and configured for releasably securing the SIM card, the card retaining member comprising a three-sided housing including a support member and a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls located at opposite sides of the support member, wherein the sidewalls of the card retaining member are surface mounted to the second side of the PCB.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member spans at least the aperture in the PCB.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the card retaining member further comprises an end wall providing an end stop for the SIM card when inserted in the card retaining member.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base is made from a non-conductive material.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base is made from plastic.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connectors are gull wing connectors.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the aperture in the PCB and the SIM card holder are located towards a centre of the PCB.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the card retaining member provides RF shielding.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the SIM card holder is a contact-type SIM card holder which releasably retains the SIM card in place, wherein the card retaining member forms a housing of contact-type SIM card holder.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the SIM card holder is a receiver/push-in type SIM card holder which releasably retains the SIM card by friction holding contacts of the SIM card against the SIM contacts of the SIM card holder, wherein the card retaining member forms a housing of the receiver/push-in type SIM card holder.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base and the card retaining member of the SIM card holder are separate parts which are indirectly connected via the PCB.

12. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having opposed first and second sides and defining an aperture extending from the first side to the second side;

a housing; and

a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card holder for retaining a SIM card and comprising:

a base received in the aperture in the PCB;

a plurality of SIM contacts for interfacing with corresponding contacts of the SIM card;

a plurality of electrical connectors each having a first end and a second end, the electrical connectors being at least partially embedded in the base and extending through the base, the first end of each electrical connector being located on a first side of the base and connected to a respective contact on the first side of the PCB and the second end of each electrical connector being located on a second side of the base and connected to a respective SIM contact, wherein the electrical connectors are configured to suspend the base within the aperture of the PCB so that the base and the PCB are substantially aligned in a common plane; and

a card retaining member attached to the second side of the PCB and configured for releasably securing the SIM card, the card retaining member comprising a three-sided housing including a support member and a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls located at opposite sides of the support member, wherein the sidewalls of the card retaining member are surface mounted to the second side of the PCB.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the housing defines an interior compartment and includes a cover plate releasably attached thereto for accessing the interior compartment, and wherein the SIM card holder is accessible from the interior compartment for insertion and removal of the SIM card.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the interior compartment defines a battery compartment for receiving a battery located above the SIM card holder.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the battery compartment is substantially the same size as the PCB.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the interior compartment defines a battery compartment for receiving a battery located within the interior compartment, the SIM card holder being located in the interior compartment adjacent to the battery compartment.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the support member spanning at least the aperture in the PCB.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the SIM card holder is a contact-type SIM card holder which releasably retains the SIM card in place, wherein the card retaining member forms a housing of contact-type SIM card holder.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the SIM card holder is a receiver/push-in type SIM card holder which releasably retains the SIM card by friction holding contacts of the SIM card against the contacts of the SIM card holder, wherein the card retaining member forms a housing of the receiver/push-in type SIM card holder.