Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
  • G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
  • G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
  • G06K13/0806—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
  • G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
  • G06K13/06—Guiding cards; Checking correct operation of card-conveying mechanisms
  • G06K13/067—Checking presence, absence, correct position, or moving status of cards
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
  • G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
  • G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
  • G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
  • G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
  • G06K13/0868—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for keeping the feeding or insertion slot of the card station clean of dirt, or to avoid feeding of foreign or unwanted objects into the slot
  • G06K13/0887—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for keeping the feeding or insertion slot of the card station clean of dirt, or to avoid feeding of foreign or unwanted objects into the slot the arrangement comprising a size filter for filtering out only cards having the proper size
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/0013—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers
  • G06K7/0047—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers for reading/sensing record carriers having edge contacts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/64—Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Definitions

• This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a memory card connector.
• the invention is specifically directed to a system for protecting the terminals of the card connector in the event of incorrect or abnormal insertion of the memory card into the connector.
• Memory cards are known in the art and contain intelligence in the form of a memory circuit or other electronic program. Some form of card reader reads the information or memory stored on the card. Such cards are used in many applications in today's electronic society, including video cameras, smartphones, music players, ATMs, cable television decoders, toys, games, PC adapters and other electronic applications.
• a memory card includes a contact or terminal array for connection through a card connector to a card reader system and then to external equipment.
• the connector readily accommodates insertion and removal of the card to provide quick access to the information and program on the card.
• the card connector includes terminals for yieldingly engaging the contact array of the memory card. Ejecting devices often are provided for facilitating inserting and ejecting the memory card to and from the card connector.
• Card connectors of this type are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid- Open No. Hei. 1-75983, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 1-150387 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 11-135192.
• the contact or terminal array on the memory card typically is located along a front or leading edge of the card and on one side of the card, such as the bottom side of the card.
• the contacts may be located in recessed areas along the bottom front edge of the card.
• a correct or normal orientation of an inserted card has the contacts at the front bottom edge of the card. If the card is reversed in a backward or abnormal orientation, and the rear end of the card is inserted into the card connector, the terminals may be damaged or buckled because the rear end of the card is not provided with terminal recesses. Stop means may be provided on the connector housing to prevent such abnormal insertion of the memory card, but such stop means often can be overridden with excessive insertion forces.
• the present invention is direction to solving these problems with a new and improved terminal protection system in such card connectors.
• An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved memory card connector with an improved terminal protection system.
• the memory card connector includes a housing mounting a plurality of terminals having contact portions for engaging contacts on one side of a memory card.
• a cover is mounted on the housing and defines a card-receiving cavity therebetween for receiving the card in a given, normal orientation.
• Displacement means are provided on the housing for displacing the memory card toward the cover if the memory card is inserted into the cavity in an abnormal orientation.
• Stop means are provided on the cover for engaging an edge of the memory card to prevent the card from reaching the contact portions of the terminals if the memory card is inserted into the cavity in the abnormal orientation.
• the displacement means is provided by at least one rib on the housing in the path of insertion of the memory card into the cavity.
• the rib has an abutment surface for engaging the edge of the memory card.
• the cover is fabricated of metal material and includes a thin plate portion defining a top wall of the cavity against which the memory card is displaced.
• the thin plate portion of the cover is yieldable away from the contact portions of the terminals as the memory card is displaced thereagainst.
• the thin plate portion includes an opening, and the stop means is provided by a rear edge of the opening.
• a second displacement means is provided on the housing for displacing the memory card toward the cover and away from the contact portions of the terminals if the memory card is inserted into the cavity in the abnormal orientation.
• the second displacement means is located down-line from the stop means in an insertion direction of the memory card to provide redundant protection for the contact portions of the terminals.
• the second displacement means is provided by at least one rib on the housing in the path of insertion of the memory card into the cavity. The rib has an angled cam surface for biasing the memory card away from the contact portions of the terminals.
• the first displacement means also or alternatively comprises a given cross-sectional configuration of the card-receiving cavity which matches a cross-sectional configuration of the memory card and which allows for ready insertion of the memory card into the cavity in the given, normal orientation of the card. If the card is inserted into the cavity in the abnormal orientation, the cross-sectional configuration of the cavity biases the memory card toward the cover and into engagement with the stop means on the cover.
• FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a memory card connector according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing a memory card inserted in the connector in an abnormal orientation;
• FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the housing and terminals of the connector;
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the connector looking at the front or insertion end of the connector;
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, with a memory card being inserted into the connector and being shown as shaded in FIG. 5;
• FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a memory card connector according to the invention.
• FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6, with a memory card being inserted into the connector in an abnormal orientation.
• a first embodiment of a memory card connector is generally designated 10 and includes a housing, generally designated 12, and a cover, generally designated 14, which combine to define a card- receiving cavity 16 therebetween.
• the housing may be molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like.
• the cover may be stamped and formed of sheet metal material or the like.
• the connector includes an ejection device EJ for ejecting a memory card inserted into cavity 16.
• housing 12 includes a bottom plate portion 12a, left and right side wall portions 12b and 12c, respectively, and a terminal mounting portion 12d.
• the housing has a plurality of mounting posts 12e (Fig. 4) for mounting connector 10 on a printed circuit board.
• Cover 14 includes a thin, upper plate portion 14a and left and right side wall portions 14b and 14c, respectively, overlying the left and right side wall portions 12b and 12c, respectively, of the housing.
• the upper plate portion therefore, is yieldable or flexible, for purposes described hereinafter.
• An opening 14d is formed in upper plate portion 14a.
• a plurality of terminals 18 are mounted in mounting portion 12d of housing 12 and are spaced transversely of the insertion direction of the memory card as seen in FIGS. 1-3.
• the terminals have contact portions 18a which project upwardly from mounting portion 12d of the housing and into cavity 16 for engaging the contacts of the memory card as described hereinafter.
• the terminals have tail portions 18b for surface connection, as by soldering, to appropriate circuit traces on the printed circuit board. As seen in FIG. 4, the tail portions are generally flush with the bottom of the connector and away from card-receiving cavity 16.
• first displacement means are provided on housing 12 for engaging and displacing a memory card before the card engages contact portions 18a of terminals 18, in the event that the card is inserted into cavity 16 in an abnormal orientation described hereinafter.
• the first displacement means is provided by a stop rib 20 having an abrupt stop surface 20a in the path of insertion of the memory card into the cavity for stopping the memory card if the card is inserted in an abnormal orientation.
• the rib has a groove 20b for receiving the contact portion of one of the terminals.
• second displacement means are provided on housing 12 for displacing the memory card toward upper plate portion 14a of cover 14 and away from contact portions 18a of terminals 18 if the memory card is inserted into the cavity in an abnormal orientation described hereinafter.
• the second displacement means is provided by a cam rib 22 having an angled cam surface 22a in the path of insertion of the memory card if the card is inserted into the cavity in the abnormal orientation.
• Angled cam surface 22a is effective to displace or bias the abnormally oriented memory card upwardly toward upper plate portion 14a of the cover and away from contact portions 18a of terminals 18.
• upper plate portion 14a of the cover is flexible or yieldable and, thereby, can move upwardly as the abnormally oriented memory card is biased or displaced thereagainst.
• left and right side wall portions 12b and 12c, respectively, of housing 12 are generally L-shaped to define a bottom, inwardly directed flange 24.
• a memory card, generally designated 26, is shown shaded in FIG. 5.
• the side edges of the memory card are stepped, as at 28, to define upper side ribs 30.
• This stepped configuration of the side edges of the memory card match the configurations of L-shaped side walls 12b and 12c of the housing, so that the memory card has a top-to-bottom normal orientation when the memory card is normally inserted into cavity 16 of the connector.
• card-receiving cavity 16 has a given cross-sectional configuration which matches the cross-sectional configuration of memory card 26 to allow for ready insertion of the memory card into the cavity in a given normal orientation of the card in a vertical or top-to-bottom orientation as shown in FIG. 5.
• memory card 26 has a front or leading end or edge 32 when the memory card is inserted into cavity 16 of connector 10 in its normal orientation, along with a rear end or edge 33. It should be noted that memory card 26 is shown in FIG. 2 in a reverse or abnormal orientation with the rear end or edge 33 of the card having been incorrectly or erroneously inserted into the connector. In any event, memory card 26 has a plurality of contacts 36 on the bottom or underside of the card for engaging contact portions 18a of terminals 18 of the card connector. The terminals are disposed within recesses 38 in the bottom of the card, the recesses opening at front edge 32 of the card.
• the normally rear edge of the card has no recesses and, in essence, forms a solid wall across the rear of the memory card.
• front or leading edge 32 of the card is inserted first into the connector.
• contacts 36 on the underside of the card will engage contact portions 18a of terminals 18.
• Ribs 20 and 22 will not interfere with insertion of the memory card in this normal orientation because they will move into recesses 38.
• the memory card has an angled corner 40 (Fig. 2) for engaging an angled abutment portion 42 of a slider 43 of ejection device EJ.
• back stop edge 44 of the opening defines a stop means on the cover for engaging the rear edge of the memory card to prevent the card from reaching contact portions 18a of terminals 18 if the memory card is inserted into cavity 16 in the backward or abnormal orientation of the card shown in FIG. 2.
• redundant protection is provided for the contact portions of the terminals should the rear edge, for some reason or another, move past the stop means provided by back edge 44 of opening 14d of the cover.
• the solid rear edge of the card will engage cam surface 22a of cam rib 22. The cam surface is located down-line from the stop means provided by back edge 44 of the opening.
• cam rib 22 provides redundant protection for the contact portions of the terminals should the memory card move past and not engage the stop means provided by back edge 44 of opening
• opening 14d in the cover is widened, as at 46, whereby the length 48 of back stop edge 44 of the opening is longer than the length 50 of the front edge of the opening.
• This configuration further enhances rear edge 33 (Fig. 2) of the memory card engaging back stop edge 44 of the cover opening.
• the opening leaves a front strip portion 52 of the cover top plate.
• the width 54 of this strip portion is narrower than the width 56 of opening 14d in the insertion direction of the card.
• the strip portion allows the upper plate of the cover to be more easily bent or biased upwardly, and the wider dimension 56 of the opening causes rear edge 33 of the memory card to more easily abut against back stop edge 44 of the opening.
• FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of a memory card, generally designated 10, which is substantially similar to the first embodiment in FIGS. 1-5.
• Housing 12 of the second embodiment is substantially identical to the housing of the first embodiment, and cover 14 of the second embodiment is substantially similar to the cover of the first embodiment. Therefore, like reference numerals have been applied in FIGS. 6 and 7 corresponding to like components described above in relation to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. In addition, a description of those like components will not be repeated for the second embodiment.
• opening 14d in the thin upper plate portion 14a of the cover in the second embodiment is smaller than the opening in the first embodiment.
• the front-to-rear dimension 56 of the opening in the second embodiment is smaller than the same dimension of the opening in the first embodiment.
• a smaller second opening 60 is formed in upper plate portion 14a of the second embodiment. Opening 60 is generally triangularly shaped but forms a back stop edge 44 similar to the back stop edge 44 of opening 14b of the first embodiment.
• a portion 62 of the thin upper plate 14a is disposed between second opening 60 and first opening 14d. This portion 62 is easily bent or displaced. In operation, rear edge 33 (Fig. 7) of memory card 26 engages back stop edge 44 as seen in FIG.
• the reason for providing the second, smaller opening 60 in the second embodiment is to provide a greater surface area of upper plate portion 14a of the cover for applying a suction component, electromagnet, or the like, during manufacture and assembly of the connector.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
• Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=19036649

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2001
  • 2001-06-29 JP JP2001199347A patent/JP4646449B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-06-26 WO PCT/US2002/020225 patent/WO2003003294A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2002-06-28 TW TW91209855U patent/TW555234U/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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