WO2004105193A2 - Connecteur de carte memoire a construction de logement amelioree - Google Patents

Connecteur de carte memoire a construction de logement amelioree Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2004105193A2
WO2004105193A2 PCT/US2004/016216 US2004016216W WO2004105193A2 WO 2004105193 A2 WO2004105193 A2 WO 2004105193A2 US 2004016216 W US2004016216 W US 2004016216W WO 2004105193 A2 WO2004105193 A2 WO 2004105193A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
section
memory card
side wall
wall sections
card connector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2004/016216
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2004105193A3 (fr
WO2004105193B1 (fr
Inventor
Hao Qui Jin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Publication of WO2004105193A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004105193A2/fr
Publication of WO2004105193A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004105193A3/fr
Publication of WO2004105193B1 publication Critical patent/WO2004105193B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/7005—Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
    • H01R12/716—Coupling device provided on the PCB

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a memory card connector having a housing that can be fabricated more precisely.
  • 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, digital still cameras, smartphones, music players, ATMs, cable television decoders, toys, games, PC adapters, multi-media cards 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.
  • a typical memory card connector includes an insulating housing structure usually having a lateral terminal-mounting section across the rear of the connector.
  • the contacts or terminals of the connector are mounted on this lateral section.
  • the housing may have one or two legs projecting at right angles forwardly from one or both sides or ends of the lateral section.
  • the insulating housing of such connectors typically is molded of dielectric plastic material into the desired shape.
  • the terminals are stamped and formed of a sheet metal material having a high resiliency, such as phosphor bronze.
  • the connector often is mounted on the top surface of a printed circuit board, and solder tail portions of the terminals are connected, as by a reflow soldering process, to appropriate circuit traces on the board.
  • FIG. 1 shows a memory card connector, generally designated 16, according to the prior art as described above and mounted on a printed circuit board 18.
  • the connector includes a dielectric housing, generally designated 20, which includes a rear terminal-mounting section 22 and a pair of side wall sections 24 extending forwardly from opposite ends of the rear section to define a receiving space 26 for receiving a memory card 28 inserted thereinto in the direction of arrow "A".
  • the rear section 22 mounts a plurality of terminals 29 for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card when inserted into the connector.
  • conventional memory card connectors as represented by the prior art connector in FIG. 1, have housings with long side wall sections 24 which extend forwardly from opposite ends of rear section 22.
  • This entire housing structure including the rear section and the side wall sections, typically is unitarily molded of dielectric plastic material as a one-piece component.
  • the long side wall sections are difficult to mold in precise positions extending from the rear section. They often are deformed or become angled or inclined out of their preferred precise positions. This can cause considerable problems in inserting a memory card into the connector, because the side wall sections provide guide walls for the memory card.
  • the present invention is directed to solving these problems.
  • An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved memory card connector of the character described, having an improved housing construction.
  • the connector includes an insulative housing having a rear terminal-mounting section defining at least part of a receptacle for receiving a mating end of a memory card.
  • a pair of side wall sections extend forwardly from opposite ends of the rear section for guiding the memory card into the receptacle.
  • a plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the rear section of the housing for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card when inserted into the receptacle.
  • Complementary interengaging connecting means are provided between the side wall sections and the rear section of the housing for detachably connecting the side wall sections to the rear section.
  • the rear terminal-mounting section of the housing is elongated, with opposite end supports.
  • the side wall sections are elongated, with front and rear ends.
  • the complementary interengaging connecting means are located between the end supports of the rear section and the rear ends of the side wall sections.
  • the complementary interengaging connecting means comprise a connecting finger on one of the rear section or each side wall section interengageable with a positioning notch in the other of the rear section or each side wall section.
  • one of the connecting fingers is provided on each end support of the rear section insertable into a positioning notch in the rear end of a respective one of the side wall sections.
  • a center wall section extends forwardly from the rear section between the side wall sections to divide the receptacle for receiving one or two reduced-size memory cards inserted between the side wall sections and the center wall section.
  • the center wall section is detachably connected to the rear section.
  • a connecting finger on the rear section is insertable into a positioning notch in a rear end of the center wall section.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art memory card connector mounted on a circuit board for receiving a memory card, as described in the Background, above;
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a memory card connector according to the invention with the components thereof in disassembled condition;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2, with the com ector in assembled condition;
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2, on a reduced scale and including a cover for the comiector;
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a memory card connector according to the invention, with the side wall sections and center wall section fabricated of metal material, in conjunction with an accompanying circuit board;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 5 in assembled condition and mounted to the circuit board;
  • FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4, in conjunction with a pair of reduced-size memory cards and a circuit board;
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the two memory cards of FIG. 7 inserted into the assembled connector
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the connector mounted on the circuit board and about to receive a single memory card
  • FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9, but with the connector about to receive a single reduced-size memory card;
  • FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8, but showing a cover for the connector
  • FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the memory card shown in FIG. 9.
  • FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the reduced-size memory card shown in FIG. 10 and other selected views.
  • a first embodiment of a memory card connector includes an insulative housing, generally designated 32, having an elongated rear terminal-mounting section 34 defining a receptacle 36 for receiving a mating end of a memory card, as described hereinafter.
  • a plurality of conductive terminals 42 are mounted on rear section 34 of the housing for engaging appropriate contacts at the mating end of the memory card(s) when inserted into receptacle 36.
  • the terminals are divided into two groups on opposite sides of center wall section 40 as can be seen clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • Rear terminal-mounting section 34 is a one-piece structure molded of dielectric plastic material.
  • the rear section is elongated and includes a pair of end supports 34a.
  • a pair of end connecting fingers 34b project forwardly from end supports 34a, and a third or center connecting finger 34c projects forwardly from the rear section at a mid-point thereof.
  • a guide finger 36d projects forwardly from a mid-point of the rear section, aligned above center connecting finger 34c and within receptacle 36.
  • the housing is fixed to a circuit board, described hereinafter, by metal "fitting nails" 43 at opposite ends thereof.
  • Each side wall section 38 also is a one-piece structure and is molded of dielectric plastic material.
  • Each side wall section is generally L-shaped in cross section and includes an upright side wall 38a and an inwardly projecting bottom wall 38b. As viewed in the drawings, the side wall is generally vertical and the bottom wall is generally horizontal.
  • the side walls are guide walls for the memory card(s).
  • a pair of cut-outs or recesses 38c are formed in the inside surface of the vertical side wall.
  • a pair of chamfered latch bosses 38d project outwardly from the outside of the side wall.
  • a pair of positioning pins 38e project downwardly from the bottom of the horizontal bottom wall, and pairs of holes 38f are formed through the bottom wall.
  • a pair of mounting posts 38g project downwardly from bottom wall 38b for mounting the side wall section in a pair of holes in a printed circuit board, as will be seen hereinafter.
  • a rear positioning notch 38h is formed in the bottom wall immediately adjacent the inside surface of the side wall, and a similar notch 38i is formed at the front of the bottom wall.
  • Notches 38i are card stabilizing notches.
  • Center wall section 40 is molded of plastic material and includes a pair of mounting posts 40a projecting from the bottom thereof for insertion into appropriate mounting holes in the printed circuit board. A plurality of positioning pins 40b also project downwardly from the center wall section. A front card stabilizing notch 40c and a rear notch 40d are formed in opposite ends of the center wall section. Finally, a partition rib 40e runs the length of the center wall section. The partitioning rib is a guide rib for the reduced-size memory cards, as will be seen hereinafter.
  • grounding members 46 are mounted in side wall sections 38. Two grounding members are shown, but four grounding members can be mounted in the side wall sections.
  • Each grounding member 46 is generally L-shaped and includes a generally horizontal base 46a and a vertical or upright arm 46b. A pair of side wings 46c project upwardly from opposite side edges of the base.
  • a downwardly projecting detent 46d is embossed or formed from base 46a, and an inwardly projecting detent 46e is embossed or formed out of upright arm 46b.
  • Grounding members 46 are assembled to side wall sections 48 by pushing each grounding member upwardly through a hole into the bottom of a respective side wall section so that the upright arm 46b of the grounding member becomes inserted into a respective one of the recesses 38c in the side wall section. This can be seen in FIG. 3.
  • side wings 46c of the grounding member are press-fit into a pair of the holes 38f of the side wall section.
  • the inwardly projecting detents 46e on the upright arms will engage grounding contacts on the memory card(s).
  • Side walls 38a of the side wall sections, within recesses 38c, provide rigid back up means for arms 46b and detents 46e of the grounding members.
  • the bottom walls 38b of the side wall sections lay on top of the bases 46a of grounding members 46.
  • the downwardly projecting detents 46d on the bases of the grounding members will engage grounding circuit pads on the printed circuit board. Therefore, the memory card(s) are grounded to the circuit board through grounding members 46 which are mounted on side wall sections 38, as described.
  • Inwardly protruding detents 46e and downwardly protruding detents 46d establish a more positive contact engagement with the memory card and the circuit board, respectively.
  • the rear terminal-mounting section 34 of housing 32 is detachably assembled to side wall sections 38 and center wall section 40 as shown in FIG. 3.
  • end connecting fingers 34b of the rear section are press-fit into rear positioning notches 38h at the rear of the side wall sections.
  • center connecting finger 34c of the rear section is press-fit into rear notch 40d of center wall section 40, as shown.
  • FIG. 4 shows a cover 48 for positioning onto housing 32 of the memory card connector.
  • the cover is stamped and formed of sheet metal material and includes a top wall 48a and a pair of side walls 48b. The side walls overlie side wall sections 38 and end supports 34a of rear section 34 of the housing.
  • a pair of latch openings 48c are formed in each side wall.
  • a pair of grounding tabs 48d project outwardly from the bottom of each side wall.
  • a pair of latch arms 48e project forwardly from each side wall.
  • a pair of cantilevered grounding arms 48f are stamped and formed out of the top wall at opposite sides thereof.
  • Grounding tabs 48d of the cover form solder tails for fixing the cover to the circuit board and also grounding the cover to the board to provide good shielding and EMI protection for the connector.
  • Cantilevered grounding arms 48f engage ground portions on top of the memory card(s) and latch arms 48e hold the memory card(s) in the connector.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the invention wherein a pair of side wall sections 38' and a center wall section 40' are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.
  • the metal wall sections are similar in function to plastic wall sections 38 and 40.
  • Each metal side wall section includes a vertical side wall 38a' and a horizontal bottom wall 38b'.
  • Each metal side wall section includes a downwardly projecting rear connecting flange 38h which is positioned in a connecting slot 50 at an end of rear section 34 of housing 32 to detachably interconnect the side wall sections to the rear section.
  • Each metal side wall section has a pair of mounting posts 38g' for insertion into a pair of mounting holes 52 in a printed circuit board 54.
  • the metal side wall section has an inwardly bent grounding tab 46' which, in essence, replaces the grounding members 46 of the first embodiment.
  • a downwardly embossed detent 56 is formed out of the bottom wall to engage the top of the circuit board to maintain the side wall section at a proper height.
  • a notch 38i' is formed at the front of the bottom wall.
  • a guide arm 58 having a slanted surface 58a, is formed out of the bottom wall, and a latch arm 60 is formed out of the vertical side wall. As seen in FIG. 6, guide arm 58 engages the top surface of circuit board 54, and slanted surface 58a of the guide arm guides the memory card(s) into the connector, while latch arm 60 will latch the card(s) in the connector.
  • Metal center wall section 40' includes a pair of mounting posts 40a' for insertion into a pair of mounting holes in circuit board 54.
  • a pair of upstanding positioning ribs 40e' are formed out of the center wall section.
  • FIG. 5 shows two linear groupings of circuit traces 64 on circuit board 54. These circuit traces are connected, as by soldering, to appropriate solder tails of the two groups of terminals 42. The solder tails of the terminals are not visible in the drawings.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 show memory card connector 30 in conjunction with circuit board 54, with FIG. 8 showing the connector mounted to the board. These two depictions also show a pair of reduced-size memory cards 66 for mounting in the connector.
  • mounting posts 38g of side wall sections 38 are inserted into mounting holes 52 of the circuit board, and positioning pins 38e of the side wall sections are inserted into positioning holes 68 in the circuit board.
  • Mounting posts 40a of center wall section 40 are inserted into mounting holes 62 in the circuit board, while positioning pins 40b are inserted into positioning holes 70 in the circuit board.
  • Detents 46d on bases 46a of grounding members 46 will engage a pair of ground pads 72 on the circuit board.
  • Grounding tabs 48d (Fig. 4) of cover 48 will engage ground pads 74 on the circuit board.
  • each reduced-size memory card 66 includes a recessed mating end 76 which contains appropriate contacts for engaging the two groups of terminals 42.
  • the sides of the memory cards include ground contacts 78 for engaging the embossed detents 46e on upright arms 46b of ground members 46.
  • Cantilevered grounding arms 48f of cover 48 engage the top edges of ground contacts 78.
  • the memory cards are provided with downwardly depending stabilizing projections 80 which are positioned into the front stabilizing notches 38i of side wall sections 38 and into forward stabilizing notch 40c of center wall section 40 to prevent the memory cards from shifting in the connector.
  • Each memory card also includes a notch 82 in each opposite side thereof near the front end of the memory card for receiving latch arms 48e of cover 48 and/or latch arms 60 (Figs. 5 and 6) of metal side wall sections 38'.
  • FIG. 9 shows a single, larger memory card 66 A for insertion into memory card connector 30 mounted on circuit board 54.
  • the larger memory card has a recessed mating end 76 with arrays of contacts for engaging the two groups of terminals 42.
  • memory card 66A has ground contacts 78 on opposite sides thereof, as well as stabilizing projections 80 and notches 82.
  • FIG. 10 simply shows that memory card connector 30 can be used to receive a single reduced-size memory card 66 and does not necessarily have to receive two reduced-size cards.
  • the connector can receive one or two reduced-size cards or one larger size card.
  • FIG. 11 shows that cover 48 has a large recessed, downwardly projecting area 84 which also can be seen in FIG ⁇ 4.
  • a pair of downwardly projecting protrusions 86 are formed on the underside of the cover for insertion into a pair of recesses 88 in the top surfaces of memory cards 66. The interengagement of these protrusions and recesses fix the positions of the memory cards and help prevent the cards from shifting around when fully inserted into the connector.
  • FIG. 12 shows that the larger memory card 66 A has a groove 94 in the underside thereof to accommodate the positioning rib 40e of center wall section 40 or the positioning ribs 40e' of the metal center wall section 40'.
  • FIG. 13 shows that the reduced-size memory cards 66 are provided with elongated notches 96 to accommodate the positioning rib 40e of center wall section 40 or the positioning ribs 40e' of metal center wall sections 40'.
  • side wall sections 38 and center section 40 can be precisely molded independently of the molding of rear section 34. All of these separable components can be molded with precision because of their reduced individual sizes in comparison to the entire housing as a whole.
  • the side wall sections and the center section When assembled on the printed circuit board, the side wall sections and the center section all provide guiding functions for the memory card(s) and, because of their precise molding, they can perform the guiding functions with precision.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Abstract

Un connecteur de carte mémoire comprend un logement isolant présentant une partie de montage de bornes définissant au moins une partie d'un réceptacle destiné à recevoir une extrémité appariée d'une carte mémoire. Une paire de parties de parois latérales s'étend vers l'avant depuis les extrémités opposées de la partie arrière pour guider la carte mémoire dans le réceptacle. Une pluralité de bornes conductrices est montée sur la partie arrière du logement pour venir en contact avec les contacts appropriés sur la carte mémoire lorsqu'elle est insérée dans le réceptacle. Des éléments de connexion complémentaires en contact mutuel sont prévus entre les parties de parois latérales et la partie arrière du logement pour connecter de façon détachable les parties de parois latérales à la partie arrière.
PCT/US2004/016216 2003-05-21 2004-05-21 Connecteur de carte memoire a construction de logement amelioree Ceased WO2004105193A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CNU032636962U CN2629250Y (zh) 2003-05-21 2003-05-21 电子卡连接器的导正用支架
CN03263696.2 2003-05-21

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004105193A2 true WO2004105193A2 (fr) 2004-12-02
WO2004105193A3 WO2004105193A3 (fr) 2005-04-07
WO2004105193B1 WO2004105193B1 (fr) 2005-05-26

Family

ID=33459853

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2004/016216 Ceased WO2004105193A2 (fr) 2003-05-21 2004-05-21 Connecteur de carte memoire a construction de logement amelioree

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CN (1) CN2629250Y (fr)
WO (1) WO2004105193A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101521322B (zh) * 2008-11-07 2011-06-01 昆山上正电子科技有限公司 记忆卡连接器的制造方法

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0601703B1 (fr) * 1992-12-08 1997-01-15 The Whitaker Corporation Support pour le montage d'un connecteur électrique
TW385084U (en) * 1997-06-25 2000-03-11 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd IC card connectors
US6796843B1 (en) * 2002-08-23 2004-09-28 Cisco Technology, Inc. Connector assembly including legacy and extension parts that maintains backward compatibility

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004105193A3 (fr) 2005-04-07
CN2629250Y (zh) 2004-07-28
WO2004105193B1 (fr) 2005-05-26

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