JP2004235159A - Memory card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a memory card connector with at least a pair of switch terminals attached to a connector housing. <P>SOLUTION: This memory card connector has an internal cavity for receiving a memory card. Its insulation housing has a terminal attaching rear section in the rear part of the cavity. A longitudinal side wall section extends forward from one end of the rear section on one side of the cavity. A plurality of terminals having contact parts engaging with contacts of the memory card are attached to the terminal attaching rear section. A pair of switch terminals are attached to a side wall section of the housing. An elastic contact arm of one-side switch terminal can be engaged with the memory card received in the cavity, and can be moved so as to engage with a contact arm of the other-side switch contact. An opening is formed in a body part of each switch contact, and a lock boss is inserted into it to position the body part in a lock space behind the boss, so that the body part and the terminal are prevented from being pulled outside the side wall section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to memory card connectors.

  Memory cards are well known and include intelligence in the form of memory circuits or other electronic programs. Some form of card reader reads information stored on a memory card. Such cards are used in today's electronic society, such as video cameras, digital still cameras, smartphones, PDAs, music players, ATMs, cable televisions, codas, toys, games, PC adapters, multimedia cards and other electronic applications. Used in numerous applications. Typically, memory cards are provided with contacts or terminal arrays for connection to a card reader system via a card connector and to external devices. The connector readily accepts insertion and removal of the card and provides quick access to card information and programs. The card connector includes terminals for resiliently engaging a memory card contact array.

  Memory card connectors are often attached to printed circuit boards. The memory card itself can write or read via a connector and transmit between electrical devices such as word processors, personal computers, personal data assistants, and the like.

  Some memory card connectors are provided with a write protection function by a pair of resilient conductive terminals forming a control switch. Two resilient terminals are mounted on one side of the connector, each resilient arm of which is positioned close to one another and moved into an interengaged state by the memory card to close the control switch.

  When the write protection switch is turned off, the memory card pushes one of the resilient arms of the switch into engagement with the other resilient arm and electrically connects those arms. Thereby, a signal can be transmitted between the memory card and the printed circuit board.

  When the write protection switch is turned on, the memory card has a void or depression and does not push one resilient arm into engagement with the other resilient arm. With the two resilient arms separated in this manner, no signal can be transmitted between the memory card and the printed circuit board.

  Unfortunately, there is a problem with such a write-protected memory card connector. In particular, switch terminals are usually only attached to the connector by barbs or interference fits. When the memory card is repeatedly inserted into the connector and pulled out, the elasticity of the terminal is lost, and often the terminal does not make proper contact. The present invention is directed to overcoming these problems.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved memory card connector having the above-mentioned features, wherein at least one pair of switch terminals is attached to a connector housing.

  In an embodiment of the present invention, the connector has an internal cavity for receiving a memory card. The insulating housing has a terminal mounting rear section at the rear of the cavity. A longitudinal sidewall section extends forward from one end of the rear section to one side of the cavity. The housing can be mounted on a circuit board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the terminal mounting rear section of the housing, the terminals having contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card. A pair of switch terminals is mounted on the side wall section of the housing. The resilient contact arm of one of the switch terminals is engageable by a memory card received in the cavity and is movable to engage the contact arm of the other switch terminal. Complementary interengaging mounting means are provided between at least one of the switch terminals and the longitudinal side wall section of the housing, with an L-shaped locking boss outside the side wall section and behind the boss. It defines a rock space. Further, an opening is provided in the body portion of the at least one switch terminal, the locking boss is inserted therein, the body portion is positioned in the locking space behind the boss, and the body portion is pulled out of the side wall section. Can be prevented. A soldering tab protrudes from the lower edge of the body portion for solder connection to a circuit board.

  As described herein, openings are formed in the body portions of both switch terminals, which can engage a pair of L-shaped lock bosses provided in the side wall sections. Both switch terminals have soldering tabs projecting outwardly from the lower edge of the body portion. The contact arms of both switch terminals are resilient.

  According to one feature of the invention, the at least one switch terminal has a locking tab projecting from the body portion, the locking tab engaging a locking shoulder of the side wall section such that the body section is above the side wall section. To prevent it from being pulled. In a preferred embodiment, the locking tab is stamped and bent to the upper edge of the body portion. As described herein, the body portion is engaged in a retaining slot formed in the side wall section, and the locking tab is formed by a pair of locking shoulders provided on both sides of the retaining slot when the body portion is inserted into the slot. And snap engaged.

  According to another feature of the invention, the resilient contact arm of one of the switch terminals has one end adjacent the longitudinal side wall section of the housing. At the opposite end of the terminal is a second resilient contact arm near the terminal mounting rear section of the housing, which engages a third switch contact in response to the memory card being inserted into the cavity. Are combined. The terminals are generally L-shaped and define two resilient contact arms.

  Another feature of the invention includes that the opening of the at least one switch terminal extends along the body portion through a junction between the body portion and the soldering tab. The lock boss is located outside a mounting post that projects downwardly from the side wall section. The body portion includes a barb that can engage a retaining slot in the sidewall section.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, a memory card connector 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the present invention includes a housing 12, a cover 14, and a plurality of terminals 16 attached to the housing. The housing is made of an insulating material, such as molded plastic, and the cover is made of a metal, such as a stamped and formed sheet metal material.

  The cover and housing are joined to form a card receiving internal cavity 18, with an opening 18a in the front receptacle area of the connector. This opening allows the memory card to be inserted into and removed from the cavity 18.

  The molded plastic insulating housing 12 of the connector 10 is generally U-shaped (as shown) or L-shaped (not shown). In any event, the housing includes a terminal mounting rear section 20 traversing the rear of the cavity 18 and a longitudinal sidewall section 22 (and 24) extending forward from one or both ends of the rear section to define one or both sides of the cavity 18. ). In addition, the housing includes a lower plate 26, and the entire housing has a lower surface 28 for mounting on an upper surface of a printed circuit board (not shown). The side wall section 22 has first and second narrow slots 30 and 32 that are open at the top. The terminal mounting rear section 20 has first and second narrow slots 34 and 36 that are open at the top. Sidewall section 22 has a pair of depending mounting posts 22a and sidewall section 24 has a pair of depending mounting posts 24a (only one is visible in the drawing). An L-shaped lock boss 39 projects outwardly from the exterior of each mounting post 22a and defines a lock space or slot 39a behind the boss.

  The terminals 16 are mounted in a plurality of throughways 38 (FIG. 1) provided in the terminal mounting rear section 20 of the housing. Each terminal includes a lower surface 28 of the housing and a generally planarized tail portion 40 for connection, such as by soldering, to appropriate circuit traces on a printed circuit board. The terminal 16 also has a contact portion 42 for engaging a suitable contact provided on the underside of the memory card, for example.

  The cover 14 of the connector 10 includes an upper wall 44, a hanging rear wall 46, and a hanging side wall 48. The upper wall 44 substantially covers the entire terminal contact array of the connector. The rear wall 46 hangs down the back of the rear section 20 of the housing. The brace portion 50 of the cover crosses the open mouth 18a of the cavity 18. The cover 14 is attached to the housing 12 simply by pushing the cover downward in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1). The rear wall 46 and the side wall 48 of the cover have mounting holes 52 which are formed with a plurality of chamfered latch bosses 54 formed on the exterior of the rear section 20 and the side wall sections 22, 24 of the housing and a snap latch engagement. Are combined.

  The switching system of the connector 10 is implemented with a first switch terminal 56, a second switch terminal 58, and a third switch terminal 60. All switch terminals are stamped and formed from conductive sheet metal material. The first switch terminal 56 includes a substantially flat body portion 62 and a soldering tab 64 bent outwardly from a lower edge thereof. A resilient contact arm 66 projects substantially horizontally from one side of the body portion. A pair of barbs 68 project outward from both side edges of the main body. A lock opening 70 is stamped into the body portion 62 and extends along the body portion via the joint between the body portion and the solder tab 64. Further, a locking tab 72 is stamped out of the upper edge of the body portion 62 and bent outwardly therefrom.

  The first switch terminal 56 is attached to the side wall section 22 of the housing 12 by pushing it downward in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 1) to push the flat body portion 62 into the narrow retaining slot 30. The terminal is pushed down until the lock opening 70 moves over the lock boss 39 and the terminal body portion 62 moves into the lock space or slot 39a behind the boss. Therefore, the terminal is prevented from being pulled out of the side wall section 22. When the body rests behind the lock boss, the soldering tab 64 is flush with the circuit board and soldering is possible. The barbs 68 on the side edges of the body portion 62 cut into the plastic material of the housing in the retaining slot 30. Further, as the terminal 56 is pushed down into the slot 30, the locking tab 72 snaps behind a pair of locking shoulders 74 of the side wall section 22 to prevent the body portion from being pulled above the side wall section.

  The second switch terminal 58 is substantially L-shaped and includes an L-shaped body portion 76 and first and second resilient contact arms 78 and 80 extending at right angles to each other. A solder tab 82 projects outwardly from the lower edge of the body portion. Also, barbs 84 protrude outward from both edges of the main body. Like the switch terminal 56, the body portion 76 of the switch terminal 58 also includes a lock opening 85 that extends along the body portion through the junction between the body portion and the solder tab 82. This second switch terminal 58 is attached to the housing 12 in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 1), so that the L-shaped body portion 76 is narrow in the housing until the solder tab 82 is flush with the circuit board. Pushed into slots 32 and 34. When the switch terminal 58 is pressed down, the lock opening 85 is moved onto the lock boss 39 outside each mounting post 22a, and the body portion 76 is moved into the lock space or slot 39a behind the boss. . This prevents the switch terminal 58 from being pulled out of the side wall section 22. Barbs 84 cut into the plastic material of the housing in slot 32.

The third switch terminal 60 includes a body portion 86 mounted in the narrow slot 36 of the rear section 20 of the housing. A resilient contact arm 88 projects from this body portion and is cantilevered at the rear of the cavity 18. A soldering tab 90 projects outwardly from the lower surface of body portion 86 and is soldered to the circuit board.
The solder tabs 64 and 90 of the switch terminals 56 and 60 are connected, such as by soldering, to the appropriate signal circuit traces on the printed circuit board. The solder tab 82 of the switch terminal 58 is connected, for example, to the ground circuit trace of the printed circuit board by soldering or the like.

  FIG. 4 shows that the resilient contact arm 80 of the switch terminal 58 and the resilient contact arm 88 of the switch terminal 60 are relatively close to each other. These two resilient contact arms are cantilevered at the rear of the cavity 18 and are usually kept apart until the memory card is fully inserted into the cavity. When fully inserted, the leading edge of the memory card engages the resilient contact arm 88 and pushes it back in the direction of arrow D, which eventually engages the resilient contact arm 80 of the switch terminal 58. Combine. This closes the circuit and allows the memory card to function through its connector 10 with its write or read capabilities. Such switches provided by the contact arms 80 and 88 of terminals 58 and 60 are often referred to as end-of-position switches or card detection switches.

  FIG. 4 also shows that the resilient contact arm 78 of the switch terminal 58 and the resilient contact arm 66 of the switch terminal 56 are relatively close. It is clear that these resilient contact arms do not engage each other when the memory card is not present in the cavity 18 and are normally open. These resilient contact arms of switch terminals 56 and 58 form a write-protect switch for connector 10.

More specifically, in the writable state, the memory card pushes the resilient contact arm 78 in the direction of arrow E to engage the resilient contact arm 66 and electrically connect the two resilient contact arms. Therefore, signals can be transmitted between the memory card and the printed circuit board.
In the write protected state, the cavities or depressions of the memory card are aligned with the contact portions 78a of the resilient contact arms 78, so that the resilient contact arms 78 do not engage the resilient contact arms 66. When the two resilient contact arms are separated, signal transmission between the memory card and the printed circuit board is prohibited.

  FIG. 3 shows how to securely lock the first switch terminal 56 to the side wall section 22 of the housing 12. More specifically, this switch terminal cannot move downward in the direction of arrow E. That is, the body portion 62 of the terminal is engaged with the lock boss in the lock space 39a (FIG. 1) behind the lock boss 39 to prevent the body portion and the switch terminal from being pulled out of the side wall section. Because you do. Also, this terminal cannot move upward in the direction of arrow F. This is because the locking tab 72 of the terminal interengages behind the locking shoulder 74 of the side wall section. Eventually, the switch terminals cannot move back and forth substantially parallel to the printed circuit board as the barbs 68 cut into the plastic material of the housing in the retaining slots 30. Therefore, it is clear that the switch terminal 56 is securely locked in a fixed position in all directions and prevents the terminal from being loosened even when the memory card is repeatedly inserted or pulled out of the connector cavity 18. is there. The switch terminal 58 also includes a lock opening 85 interengaged behind the lock boss 39, and the switch terminal 58 also has a lock barb 84, the functions of which have been described above.

  It will be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the examples given here are merely illustrative of the invention in every respect and do not limit the invention in any way.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a memory card connector according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows a connector in an assembled state. FIG. 4 is a side view of the connector with a cover removed. FIG. 4 is a top view of the connector with a cover removed.

Claims (12)

A memory card connector having an internal cavity for receiving a memory card,
An insulating housing having a terminal mounting rear section at the rear of the cavity and at least one longitudinal side wall section extending forward from one end of the rear section on one side of the cavity, the insulating housing being mountable to a circuit board. A housing,
A plurality of terminals attached to the terminal mounting rear section of the housing, the terminals having contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card;
A pair of switch terminals mounted on the side wall section of the housing, one of the switch terminals having a resilient contact arm engageable by a memory card received in the cavity, and the other of the switch terminals having a contact. A pair of switch terminals movable to engage the arm,
Complementary interengaging mounting means provided between at least one of said switch terminals and said longitudinal side wall section of said housing, wherein there is an L-shaped lock boss outside said side wall section; A lock space is defined behind the boss, and an opening is provided in a body portion of at least one of the switch terminals. The lock boss is inserted into the lock boss to position the body portion in the lock space behind the boss. Complementary inter-engaging attachment means that can be set and prevent the body portion from being pulled outwardly of the sidewall section;
Wherein the at least one switch terminal has a solder tab protruding from a lower edge of the main body portion for solder connection to the circuit board.   The memory card connector of claim 1, wherein the opening of the at least one switch terminal extends along the body portion through a joint between the body portion and the soldering tab.   The at least one switch terminal includes a locking tab projecting from the body portion, the locking tab engaging a locking shoulder of the side wall section to allow the body section to be pulled above the side wall section. 2. The memory card connector according to claim 1, wherein the memory card connector prevents the memory card connector.   The body portion is engaged with a retaining slot formed in the side wall section, and the locking tab is provided with a pair of locking shoulders provided on both sides of the retaining slot when the body portion is inserted into the slot. The memory card connector according to claim 3, wherein the memory card connector is snap-engaged with the portion.   4. The memory card connector of claim 3, wherein said at least one switch terminal is stamped and formed from sheet metal material, and wherein said lock tab is stamped and bent to an upper edge of said body portion.   The body portion of the at least one switch terminal is engaged with a retaining slot formed in the side wall section, and the body portion includes a barb engageable with the slot of the side wall section. Memory card.   The memory card connector of claim 1, wherein the lock boss is located outside a mounting post projecting downward from the side wall section.   2. The memory card connector according to claim 1, wherein both the switch terminals have the openings in the main body portion, and these can be engaged with a pair of the L-shaped lock bosses provided in the side wall section.   9. The memory card connector according to claim 8, wherein both of said switch terminals have soldering tabs projecting outward from a lower edge of said body portion.   The memory card connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact arms of the two switch terminals are resilient.   The resilient contact arm of the one switch terminal has one end adjacent to the longitudinal side wall section of the housing and an opposite end of the one switch terminal near the terminal mounting rear section of the housing. 2. The memory card connector of claim 1, further comprising a second resilient contact arm that is engaged with a third switch terminal in response to the memory card being inserted into the cavity. The memory card connector according to claim 11, wherein the one switch terminal is substantially L-shaped.

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