Integrated circuit card reader with improved heat dissipation

1. A system, comprising:

a card, including:

a first surface;

a second surface opposite the first surface;

an integrated circuit; and

contact pads on the second surface, the contact pads being electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, the contact pads extending for a first length along a width of the card and extending for a first width along a length of the card, the contact pads having a footprint of a first area; and

a card reader, including:

a body, including:

a base; and

a press bar coupled to the base and physically contacting the first surface of the card;

an aperture in the press bar, the aperture being a venting area having a second length approximately equal to or greater than the first length and a second width approximately equal to or greater than the first width, the aperture having a footprint of a second area that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area, the aperture exposing a third area of the first surface that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area, the third area being opposite to the contact pads on the second surface and aligned with the first area; and

card contacts coupled to and extending from the base, the card contacts contacting the contact pads.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the press bar includes a reinforcement portion that encircles the aperture.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the press bar has a first thickness and the reinforcement portion has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the base and the press bar are a single, contiguous piece.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the body further includes a plurality of openings exposing the first surface of the card, the press bar being positioned between at least two openings of the plurality of openings.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second area is between 170 to 225 square millimeters.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the second length is greater than the second width.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the card contacts are arranged in a first row of card contacts, a second row of card contacts, and a third row of card contacts positioned between the first and second rows of card contacts, the first row of card contacts including five card contacts, the second row of card contacts including five card contacts, and the third row of card contacts including two card contacts.

9. A card reader, comprising:

a plurality of card contacts; and

a body including:

a support member, the plurality of card contacts coupled to and extending from the support member; and

a press bar overlying and coupled to the support member, the press bar including an aperture overlying and aligned with the plurality of card contacts, a first portion of the press bar having a first thickness, a second portion of the press bar having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, the first portion of the press bar encircling the aperture.

10. The card reader of claim 9 wherein the body is made of a single material.

11. The card reader of claim 9 wherein the plurality of card contacts are configured to physically contact a first surface of a card when the card is fully inserted into the card reader, and the press bar is configured to physically contact a second surface, opposite to the first surface, of the card when the card is fully inserted into the card reader.

12. The card reader of claim 11 wherein the aperture exposes an area of the second surface that is opposite to an area of the first surface where the plurality of card contacts physically contact the first surface of the card when the card is fully inserted in to the card reader.

13. A card reader, comprising:

a base;

a plurality of card contacts coupled to and extending from the base, portions of the plurality of card contacts being configured to contact a first surface of a card inserted into the card reader; and

a press bar coupled to and overlying the base, the press bar being configured to contact a second surface, opposite to the first surface, of the card inserted into the card reader, the press bar including an aperture directly overlying and aligned with the portions of the plurality of card contacts, the aperture exposing the portions of the plurality of card contacts when the card is not inserted into the card reader.

14. The card reader of claim 13 wherein the base and the press bar are made of plastic.

15. The card reader of claim 13 wherein the plurality of card contacts include at least twelve card contacts.

16. The card reader of claim 13 wherein portions of the press bar that encircles the aperture are reinforced.