WO2004095362A1

WO2004095362A1 - Memory card connector

Info

Publication number: WO2004095362A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/004938
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yasuyoshi Matsumoto; Mitsuhiro Tomita
Original assignee: Molex Incorporated
Priority date: 2003-04-01
Filing date: 2004-02-18
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Also published as: KR20050101239A; JP4144404B2; JP2004303675A; CN1836246B; CN1836246A; TWI267240B; TW200421677A; EP1609114A1; WO2004095362B1

Abstract

A memory card connector includes an insulative housing having a rear terminal-mounting section which mounts a plurality of terminals (36a) having contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on a normal size memory card (40). A metal shell is mounted on the housing and combines therewith to define an interior card-receiving cavity. The cavity has a front insertion opening for receiving the memory card. A card restricting member (60) extends into the cavity at a location between the insertion opening and the contact portions of the terminals. The card restricting member is configured such that the normal size memory card engages the restricting member and biases the restricting member out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card into the cavity. The card restricting member is located to engage a compact size memory card and prevent the compact size memory card from reaching the contact portions of the terminals.

Description

MEMORY CARD CONNECTOR

Field of the Invention:

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a memory card connector.

Background of the Invention:

Memory cards are known in the art and contain intelligence in the form of a memory circuit or other electronic program. Some fonn of card reader reads the information or memory stored on the card. Such cards are used in many applications in today's elecfronic society, including video cameras, digital still cameras, smartphones, PDA's, music players, ATMs, cable television decoders, toys, games, PC adapters, multi-media cards and other elecfronic applications. Typically, a memory card includes a contact or teπrrinal 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. The memory card, itself, writes or reads via the connector and can transmit between electrical appliances, such as a word processor, personal computer, personal data assistant or the like. The card may be used in applications such as mobile or cellular telephones which are actuated and permit data access after identifying an identification code stored on a SIM (subscriber identification module) card. The SIM card has a conductive face with an array of contacts, and the mobile phone has a SIM card comiector with terminals for electrical connection with the contacts of the SIM card to ensure the subscriber identification confirmation.

A typical memory card connector includes some form of dielectric housing which is covered by a metal shell. The metal shell may be stamped and formed of sheet metal material and formed substantially into a box-shape. The metal shell and the housing combine to define a card-receiving cavity. One end of the cavity is open to form a card-insertion opening. The dielectric housing may be generally L-shaped or U-shaped and includes a rear terminal-mounting section at the rear of the cavity, and at least one longitudinal side wall section extends forwardly from one or both ends of the rear section at one or both sides of the cavity. The metal shell has a top plate substantially covering the dielectric housing, with side plates extending downwardly over the side wall sections of the housing. The side plates of the metal shell and/or the side wall sections of the housing define the sides of the card-receiving cavity.

One or more of the above design features of conventional memory card connectors are shown in Japanese Patent Nos. 3299945, 3306395 and 3325865, as well as in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2001-160458, 2001-167232, 2002-216905 and 10-187896.

Countless memory card connectors have been used for many years and have design and/or dimensional parameters for receiving (what will be called herein and in the claims hereof) conventional or normal size memory cards. In other words, the connectors receive typical memory cards of a size which has been used for many years.

However, with the ever-increasing nnniatørization or down-sizing of compact elecfronic equipment, memory card connectors also are being nnmaturized or down-sized which results in down-sizing of the memory card, itself. Such down-sized memory cards will be referred to herein and in the claims hereof as "compact size" memory cards. With the more recent use of compact size memory cards, problems have arisen when the compact size memory cards are inserted into the card-receiving cavity of a card connector which was designed for receiving the larger normal size memory cards. The compact size memory cards can bend or buckle the contact portions of the terminals within the normal card connector. The terminals may even be shorted-out, resulting in severe damage to the circuitry and electrical appliances with which the card connector is associated. The compact memory cards may become jammed within the cavity of a normal memory card connector, whereby the compact size memory card is difficult, if not impossible, to be ejected or removed from the normal card connector. The present invention is directed to solving these problems in a normal size memory card connector to prevent insertion thereinto of a compact size memory card.

Summary of the Invention:

An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved memory card connector of the character described, wherein the connector is adapted for receiving a normal size memory card but which has means to prevent full insertion of a compact size memory card. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a memory card connector includes an insulative housing having a rear teiminal-mounting section which mounts a plurality of terminals having contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on a normal size memory card. A metal shell is mounted on the housing and combines therewith to define a card-receiving interior cavity having a front insertion opening for receiving the memory card, with the terminal-mounting section at the rear of the cavity. A spring member extends into the cavity at a location between the insertion opening and the contact portions of the terminals. The spring member is configured such that the normal size memory card engages the spring member and biases the spring member out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card into the cavity. The spring member is located to engage a compact size memory card and prevent the compact size memory card from reaching the contact portions of the terminals. According to one embodiment of the invention, the spring member extends into the cavity from a bottom wall of the housing. The housing is fabricated of dielectric plastic material, and the spring member is fabricated of spring metal material and is fixed to the bottom wall of the housing.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the spring member extends into the cavity from a top wall of the metal shell. The shell is stamped and formed of sheet metal material, and the spring member is stamped and formed out of the top wall of the shell.

In either embodiment, the spring member is cantilevered into the cavity obliquely toward the rear of the cavity. The spring member includes an angled arm portion and a stop portion at the distal end of the angled arm portion. The normal size memory card engages the angled arm portion and biases the stop portion out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card into the cavity. The compact size memory card passes by the angled arm portion and is stopped by the stop portion.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the connector is mounted in conjunction with an appliance which has a card-receiving passage coincident with the card-receiving cavity. The passage has a mouth aligned with the front insertion opening of the cavity. The invention contemplates that the distance between the mouth and the spring member is approximately equal to the length of the compact size memory card in the insertion direction.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings:

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompany- ing drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a memory card connector incorporating a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the insulative housing of the first embodiment;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken generally along line 3-3 of Figure 1, with the connector mounted in conjunction with an appliance, and showing a compact size memory card being inserted into the connector;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmented section of the area encircled at DAD in Figure 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, with a nonnal size memory card fully inserted into the connector; FIGURES 6 and 7 are views similar to that of Figure 3, showing progressive stages of attempted insertion of the compact size memory card;

FIGURES 8-11 are views similar to that of Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7, respectively, but of a second version of the first embodiment;

FIGURES 12-15 are views similar to that of Figures 8-11, but of a third version of the first embodiment; and

FIGURES 16-20 are views similar to that of Figures 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7, but of a second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments: Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to Figures 1-3, the various embodiments

(and versions of the embodiments) of the invention are shown herein in conjunction with a memory card connector, generally designated 22, which includes two major components, namely, an insulative or dielectric housing, generally designated 24, and a metal shell, generally designated 26. The housing may be molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like, and the metal shell is stamped and formed of conductive sheet metal material. The housing and the shell combine to define an interior card-receiving cavity 27 (Figs. 2 and 3) which has a card-insertion opening 28

(Figs. 1 and 3).

As best seen in Figure 2, the molded plastic dielectric housing 24 may be generally U- shaped (not shown) or L-shaped (as shown). In either event, the housing has a rear terminal- mounting section 30 which traverses the rear of cavity 27, along with a longitudinal side wall section 32 which extend forwardly from one end of the rear section to define one side of cavity 27.

The housing includes a bottom wall 34 which defines the bottom of the cavity.

A plurality of terminals, generally designated 36, are mounted within a plurality of through passages 38 in the rear teπrήnal-mounting section 30 of the housing. Each terminal has a contact portion 36a cantilevered forwardly into cavity 27 for engaging appropriate contacts on a normal size memory card, generally designated 40 (Figs. 2 and 5), inserted into cavity 27.

A conventional push-push card eject mechanism, generally designated 42, is mounted on side wall section 32. As is known, the card eject mechanism is constructed with a cam slider 44, a cam pin 46 and a coil spring 48. Briefly, cam slider 44 has an engaging projection 44a for engaging a leading edge 40a of the normal size memory card 40. Coil spring 48 normally biases cam slider

44 in a direction toward card-insertion opening 28. One end 46a of cam pin 46 is engaged with side wall section 32, and an opposite end 46b of the cam pin is engaged within a heart-shaped cam groove 50.

The normal size memory card 40 is inserted into card-receiving cavity 27 until the card reaches its fully inserted position (Fig. 5). Cam slider 44 moves with the memory card, compressing coil spring 48. When pressure on the card is released, the eject mechanism biases the card back outwardly a small degree depending on the configuration of cam slot 50. In this position, contact portions 36a of terminals 36 maintain electrical connectors with appropriate contacts on memory card 40. A second "push" on the memory card causes the eject mechanism to bias the memory card back to at least a partially ejected position where an operator can grasp a trailing end of the card. It should be understood that the eject mechanism could be eliminated or replaced with a different type of mechanism without detracting from the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, metal shell 27 is generally rectangular and includes a top wall

27a which substantially defines the top of card-receiving cavity 27. The metal shell has a pair of side walls 26a and 26b which extend along opposite side edges of top wall 26a and depend downwardly therefrom generally at right angles thereto. Side wall 26a covers the outside of side wall section 32 of the housing and eject mechanism 42. Side wall 26b defines the opposite side of cavity 27. The side walls have inwardly turned flanges 26c along the bottom edges thereof. A plurahty of apertured, outwardly turned mounting tabs 26e provide means for mounting the connector to a subjacent structure. Finally, a spring arm 26f of the metal shell is stamped and formed to engage the top of cam pin 46 of eject mechanism 42, to bias end 46b of the cam pin into heart-shaped cam slot 50 of the mechanism.

Referring to Figures 3 and 5, memory card connector 22 is installed in conjunction with an electrical appliance, generally designated 52, which has a card-receiving passage 54 coincident with card-receiving cavity 27 of the connector. Passage 54 has a mouth 54a aligned with the front insertion opening 28 of the cavity.

Figures 1-15 show various versions of a first embodiment of the invention, and Figures 16- 20 show one version of a second embodiment of the invention. Like reference numerals will be applied in the drawings as much as possible to identify like elements in all versions of both embodiments. With that understanding, suffice it to say at this point that the invention contemplates the provision of at least one spring member, generally designated 60, which extends into cavity 27 at a location between the insertion operiing 28 of the cavity and contact portions 36a of tenr nals 36. In the three versions of the first embodiment of Figures 1-15, spring members 60 project downwardly from top wall 26a of metal shell 26. hi the second embodiment of Figures 16-20, the spring member extends upwardly from bottom wall 34 of housing 24. h all versions of both embodiments, preferably a plurality of the spring members are spaced laterally of the insertion direction of the memory card. For instance, Figure 1 shows two spring members 60 stamped and formed out of openings 62 in top wall 26a of metal shell 26. As seen in Figure 3, spring members 60 are cantilevered into cavity 27 at an angle or obliquely toward the rear of the cavity. As will be seen hereinafter, the same is true for the second embodiment of the invention. Referring to Figure 4, each spring member 60 includes an angled arm portion 64 which extends obliquely or at an angle downwardly into cavity 27. A stop portion 66 is located at a distal end of the angled arm portion. The stop portion is convex in shape and defines a curved or convex surface 66a facing the insertion direction of a memory card.

Referring to Figure 5 in conjunction with Figure 4, when a normal size memory card 40 is inserted into cavity 27, a leading end 40a of the memory card will engage angled arm portion 64 (Fig. 4) and bias the entire spring member upwardly. As the normal size memory card continues to be inserted, stop portion 66 of the spring member is biased upwardly out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card into the cavity. The normal size memory card, thereby, can be inserted fully into the cavity, without any interference form spring member(s) 60, as seen in Figure 5. Now, Figures 3, 6 and 7 show sequential views of a compact size memory card, generally designated 70, being inserted into cavity 27 in the direction of arrow DAD. The memory card has a leading end 70a and a trailing end 70b. A user will push on trailing end 70b of the compact size memory card until leading end 70a engages stop portion 66 of spring member 60. Further insertion of the memory card is prevented. When the user releases trailing end 70b of the compact size memory card, spring member(s) 60 are effective to bias or push the compact size memory card back out of cavity 27 in the direction of arrow DBD (Fig. 7).

Figures 8-11 show a second version of spring members 60 which are stamped and formed out of top wall 26a of metal shell 26 and extending obliquely downwardly into the cavity, h the second version of Figures 8-11, the spring members, again, include an angled arm portion 64. However, the distal end of the angled arm portion simply is up-turned at a slight angle, as at 74, so that the distal end of the arm portion does not damage the top surface of a normal size memory card inserted into cavity 27. In other words, the distal end of the angled ann portion does not have a definite stop portion for abutting against leading end 70a of a compact size memory card 70, as in the first version. However, Figures 8-11 show a feature of the invention which is incorporated in all versions of both embodiments. Specifically, the distance between mouth 54a of passage 54 in appliance 52 and spring member 60 is approximately equal to the length of the compact size memory card (i.e., between leading end 70a and trailing end 70b of the card). Therefore, when the compact memory card is inserted completely to the position shown in Figure 11, trailing end 70b of the card is flush with mouth 54a and a user cannot insert a card any further into cavity 27. When the person releases the card, spring member(s) 60 will bias or push the card back out of the cavity in the direction of arrow DBD (Fig. 11). This phenomenon is carried out through all versions of both embodiments of the invention. Therefore, it is obvious for a user to perceive erroneous insertion of a compact size memory card, because the compact memory card will be pushed back outwardly every time the user inserts the card and releases it. In addition, the compact size memory card cannot be inserted completely into the cavity where it cannot be taken out or where it might damage contact portions 36a of terminals 36.

The third version of the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 12-15 is similar to the first two versions, to the extent that spring member(s) 60 has an angled arm portion 64 stamped and formed out of top wall 26a of metal shell 26. Again, the angled arm portion is cantilevered downwardly into cavity 27 obliquely toward the rear of the cavity, h this third version of Figures 12-15, stop portion 66 at the distal end of angled arm portion 64 provides a very positive stop of a compact size memory card. Specifically, stop portion 66 is hook-shaped to define a pocket 66b facing in the insertion direction of a memory card. The hook-shaped stop portion is joined to angled arm portion 64 at a rounded juncture 74. The extreme distal end of the hook-shaped stop portion 66 is defined by an engaging wall 76 of a specific length.

When a normal size memory card is inserted into cavity 27, with the third version of the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 12-15, leading end 40a (Fig. 5) again engages angled arm portion 64 and biases the spring member upwardly. As the spring member moves upwardly, the memory card rides along rounded juncture 74 as the card moves into its fully inserted position in cavity 27. As stated, engaging wall 76 is of a specific length, namely, the wall is of a short enough length that it is moved out of the insertion path of the normal size memory card.

However, Figures 12, 14 and 15 show a compact size memory card 70 inserted until leading end 70a of the card engages within pocket 66b of the hook-shaped stop portion 66 of spring member 60. When the user releases the card, the spring member(s) again is effective to push the memory card back out of the cavity.

Figures 16-20 show a second embodiment of the invention wherein spring member 60 is a separate member and has a mounting leg 80 fixed in a bore 82 (Fig. 18) in bottom wall 34 of housing 24. Spring member 60 is stamped and formed of spring metal material, with leg 80 inserted by a press-fit into bore 82 of the plastic housing.

Referring specifically to Figure 18, spring member 60 is identical to the third version of the first embodiment shown in Figures 12-15, except that angled arm portion 64 is cantilevered upwardly into cavity 27 at an angle or obliquely toward the rear of the cavity. In comparing Figure 18 of the second embodiment with Figure 13 of the third version of the first embodiment, it can be seen that the only difference is that spring member 60 of the second embodiment extends angularly upwardly into cavity 27, whereas spring member 60 of the first embodiment extends downwardly at an angle into the cavity. Therefore, like reference numerals have been applied to define stop portion 66, pocket 66b, juncture 74 and engaging wall 76.

The operation of the second embodiment of Figures 16-20 is the same as described above in relation to the tliird version of the first embodiment shown in Figures 12-15. A normal size memory card will engage angled arm portion 64 and bias the spring member downwardly, whereupon the bottom of the normal size memory card rides along rounded juncture 74 as engaging wall 76 moves out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card. When a compact size memory card 70 is inserted into cavity 27, the leading end 70a of the compact size memory card will be stopped by hook-shaped stop portion 66 of the spring member as shown in Figure 20. It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:What is claimed is:

1. A memory card connector, comprising: an insulative housing having a rear terminal-mounting section which mounts a plurality of teπninals having contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on a normal size memory card; a metal shell mounted on the housing and combining therewith to define an interior card- receiving cavity having a front insertion opening for receiving the memory card, with said terminal- mounting section located at the rear of the cavity; a spring member extending into the cavity at a location between said insertion opening and the contact portions of the terminals; said spring member being configured such that the normal size memory card engages the spring member and biases the spring member out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card into the cavity; and said spring member being located to engage a compact size memory card and prevent the compact size memory card from reaching the contact portions of the terminals.

2. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein said spring member extends into the cavity from a bottom wall of the housing.

3. The memory card connector of claim 2 wherein said housing is fabricated of dielectric plastic material, and the spring member is fabricated of spring metal material and is fixed to the bottom wall of the housing.

4. The memory card connector of claim 3 wherein said spring member is cantilevered into the cavity obliquely toward the rear of the cavity.

5. The memory card connector of claim 4 wherein said spring member includes an angled arm portion and a stop portion at the distal end of the angled arm portion, whereby the normal size memory card engages the angled arm portion and biases the stop portion out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card into the cavity, and the compact size memory card passes by the angled arm portion and is stopped by the stop portion.

6. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein said spring member extends into the cavity from a top wall of the metal shell.

7. The memory card connector of claim 6 wherein said metal shell is stamped and foimed of sheet metal material and the spring member is stamped and formed out of the top wall of the metal shell.

8. The memory card connector of claim 7 wherein said spring member is cantilevered into the cavity obliquely toward the rear of the cavity.

9. The memory card connector of claim 8 wherein said spring member includes an angled aπn portion and a stop portion at the distal end of the angled arm portion, whereby the normal size memory card engages the angled arm portion and biases the stop portion out of the path of insertion of the noπnal size memory card into the cavity, and the compact size memory card passes by the angled arm portion and is stopped by the stop portion.

10. The memory card comiector of claim 1 wherein the connector is mounted in conjunction with an appliance which has a card-receiving passage coincident with said card- receiving cavity, the passage having a mouth aligned with the front insertion opemng of the cavity, and the distance between said mouth and the spring member is approximately equal to a length of the compact size memory card in the insertion direction.

11. A memory card connector, comprising: an insulative housing having a rear terminal-mounting section which mounts a plurality of terminals having contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on a normal size memory card; a metal shell mounted on the housing and combining therewith to define an interior card-receiving cavity having a front insertion opemng for receiving the memory card, with said terminal-mounting section located at the rear of the cavity; a card insertion restricting means disposed in the cavity at a location between said insertion opening and the contact portions of the terminals; said card insertion restricting means being configured such that the normal size memory card engages the restricting means and biases the restricting means out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card into the cavity; and said card insertion restricting means being located to engage a compact size memory card and prevent the compact size memory card from reaching the contact portions of the terminals.

12. The memory card connector of claim 11 wherein said card insertion restricting means is spring-loaded and includes an engaging surface for engaging the normal size memory card to bias the card insertion restricting means out of the path of insertion of the normal size memory card into the cavity.

13. The memory card connector of claim 11 wherein said card insertion restricting means includes a stop surface which is out of engagement with the normal size memory card when inserted into the cavity but which is engaged by a compact memory card to stop the compact size memory card from reaching the contact portions of the terminals.

14. The memory card connector of claim 11 wherein said card insertion restricting means extends upwardly into the cavity from a bottom wall of the housing.

15. The memory card connector of claim 14 wherein said housing is fabricated of dielectric plastic material, and the card insertion restricting means is fabricated of metal material and is fixed to the bottom wall of the housing.

16. The memory card connector of claim 11 wherein said card insertion restricting means extends downwardly into the cavity from a top wall of the metal shell.

17. The memory card connector of claim 16 wherein said metal shell is stamped and formed of sheet metal material and the card insertion restricting means is stamped and formed out of the top wall of the metal shell.

18. The memory card connector of claim 11 wherein the connector is mounted in conjunction with an appliance which has a card-receiving passage coincident with said card- receiving cavity, the passage having a mouth aligned with the front insertion opening of the cavity, and the distance between said mouth and the card insertion restricting means is approximately equal to a length of the compact size memory card in the insertion direction.