WO2004105191A1

WO2004105191A1 - Memory card connector

Info

Publication number: WO2004105191A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/014687
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kwang-Sik Kim
Original assignee: Molex Incorporated
Priority date: 2003-05-14
Filing date: 2004-05-12
Publication date: 2004-12-02
Also published as: TWI237926B; TW200539509A; KR20040098230A

Abstract

A memory card connector includes an insulating housing having an elongated receptacle for receiving a leading end of a memory card. The housing mounts a plurality of terminals in such an arrangement that the memory card is inserted angularly into the receptacle to an insertion position. The card then is pivoted about its leading end to a termination position into engagement with the terminals. A pair of support arms project from the housing generally at opposite ends of the elongated receptacle. Each support arm includes a support portion for engaging a bottom side of the memory card and supporting the card in its termination position. An elastic latch portion of each support arm snaps into latching engagement with a top side of the memory card as the card moves to the termination position to prevent the card from lifting off of the support portion. A locking portion of each support arm engages the memory card and prevents the card from pulling out of the receptacle.

Description

Attorney Reference: A3-358PCT 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 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. Typically, 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 comiector 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 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.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a memory card connector, generally designated 10, according to the prior art. The connector includes an insulating housing structure 12 laterally across the rear of the connector and mounting a plurality of terminals having forwardly projecting contact portions 13a and rearwardly projecting solder tail portions 13b for connection to appropriate circuit traces on a printed circuit board. The housing has two legs 14 projecting forwardly to a pair of support portions 14a. A pair of spring arms 16 also project forwardly at opposite sides of the lateral section of the housing. The spring arms have latch portions 16a and can flex outwardly in the direction of arrows "A" (Fig. 1).

Prior art connector 10 is called a "zero insertion force" connector, in that a memory card 18 (Fig. 2) is inserted into connector 10 at an angle in the direction of arrow "B" with substantially zero insertion forces. The memory card is inserted to an insertion position, as shown, and the card then is rotated downwardly in the direction of arrow "C" about a leading end 18a of the card. The memory card eventually comes to rest on support portions 14a in a termination position whereat contacts on the card engage contact portions 13a of the terminals. As the memory card moves from its insertion position to the termination position, the card biases spring arms 16 outwardly in the direction of arrows "A" until latch portions 16a snap back into latching engagement with the memory card. The memory card now cannot be lifted upwardly from its termination position unless spring arms 16 are spread outwardly to release the engagement of latch portions 16a with the card.

Problems are encountered with prior art connectors as described above. Specifically, spring arms 16 have a tendency of becoming pulled out of or dislodged from the housing. The memory card, itself, is easily pulled out of the housing. The present invention is directed to solving these problems.

Summary of the Invention:

An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved memory card connector of the character described.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory card connector includes an insulating housing having an elongated receptacle for receiving a leading end of a memory card. The housing mounts a plurality of terminals in such an arrangement that the memory card is inserted angularly into the receptacle to an insertion position. The card then is pivoted about its leading end to a termination position into engagement with the terminals. A pair of support arms project from the housing generally at opposite ends of the elongated receptacle. Each support arm includes a support portion for engaging a bottom side of the memory card and supporting the card in its termination position. An elastic latch portion of each support arm snaps into latching engagement with a top side of the memory card as the card moves to the termination position to prevent the card from lifting off of the support portion. A locking portion of each support arm engages the memory card and prevents the card from pulling out of the receptacle.

According to one aspect of the invention, the support arms are separate from the housing, and each support arm comprises a two-part structure. Specifically, each support arm includes a generally rigid part forming the support portion and a generally flexible part forming the elastic latch portion. The two parts of the support arm may be stamped and formed of sheet metal material, while the insulating housing may be molded of plastic material.

According to another aspect of the invention, the locking portion of each support arm is in on the support portion thereof. The locking portion comprises a locking tab positionable in a locking opening in the memory card.

Other features of the invention include the provision of a pair of brackets for mounting the support arms to the housing.

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 accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are two views of the prior art connector described in the Background, above;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a memory card connector embodying the concepts of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the memory card connector of the invention in assembled condition;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the memory card connector; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment:

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 3-5, the invention is embodied in a memory card connector, generally designated 20, which includes an insulating housing, generally designated 22, which has a lateral section 24 at a rear of the connector for mounting a plurality of conductive terminals 26. The housing may be molded of dielectric plastic material. Lateral section 24 of the housing has an elongated receptacle 28 which faces forwardly, along with a pair of C-shaped mounting grooves 30 at opposite ends of the receptacle. A pair of mounting brackets 32 project forwardly of the housing, also at opposite ends of receptacle 28, just inside the C-shaped mounting grooves. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, a pair of support arms, generally designated 34, project forwardly from the housing near the C-shaped mounting grooves 30 and mounting brackets 32.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of support arms 34, reference is made to FIG. 6 wherein it can be seen that terminals 26 are mounted in pairs, and the pairs of terminals are spaced longitudinally along receptacle 28 of housing 22 as seen in FIG. 3. The terminals have contact portions 26a and solder tail portions 26b for solder connection to appropriate circuit traces on a printed circuit board. Contact portions 26a define a mouth 36 therebetween as can be seen clearly in FIG. 6. A memory card 38 has a leading end 38a. Contact portions 26a of the terminals are arranged within receptacle 28 in such a manner that memory card 38 is inserted into mouth 36 substantially with zero insertion forces. In other words, it can be seen that mouth 36 is substantially wider than the thickness of the memory card. The memory card is inserted at an angle in the direction of arrow "B" until leading end 38a of the card bottoms out within the receptacle of the housing. This is the insertion position of the memory card. The card then is pivoted about leading end 38a in the direction of arrow "C" to a termination position whereat contact portions 26a of terminals 26 engage contacts on the top and bottom sides of the memory card.

Referring back to FIGS. 3-5, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, each support arm 34 is a two-part structure including a support portion, generally designated 40, and an elastic latch portion, generally designated 42. The support portion is a generally rigid part, and the elastic portion is a generally flexible part. The elastic latch portion is assembled to the support portion as will be described hereinafter. Support portion 40 of each support arm 30 includes a C-shaped mounting portion 44 having through openings 46 in the corners of the C-shape. A plurality of teeth 47 are formed adjacent the rearwardly inner proximal end of the support portion. A solder tab 48 projects outwardly and is offset downwardly from each support portion 40. A through hole 50 is formed in a base 52 of the support portion. A small elastic arm 54 is formed out of the base and has an upwardly protruding distal end. Finally, a locking portion in the form of a locking tab 56 projects upwardly from the forward or outer distal end of each support portion 40 of each support arm 34.

Elastic latch portion 42 of each support arm 34 has a pair of coupling wings 58 projecting from the top and bottom edges thereof. A locking protrusion 60 projects downwardly from the bottom edge of the elastic portion forwardly of coupling wings 58. An elastic arm 62 has a rounded, inwardly projecting latch tab 64 near a distal end of the elastic arm, along with a primary latch portion 66 at an upper edge of the elastic arm. The primary latch portion 66 has a chamfered or angled top surface and an abrupt bottom surface 66a. The bottom surface is "abrupt" in the context that the surface is generally horizontal or extends straight across toward the opposite support arm.

Elastic latch portion 42 is assembled to support portion 40 of each support arm 34 by inserting the rear end of the elastic latch portion into the inside of the C-shaped mounting portion 44 of the respective support arm until coupling wings 58 of the elastic latch portion snap into through openings 46 of the support portion. Locking protrusions 60 of the elastic latch portion engages in through hole 50 in the support portion. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the assembled condition of the support arms. The assembled support arms then are mounted to housing 22 by inserting the C-shaped mounting portions 44 of support portions 40, along with the rear ends of elastic latch portions 42, into the C-shaped mounting grooves 30 of the housing. Teeth 47 bite into the plastic material of the housing to prevent the support arms from pulling out of the mounting grooves, as the support arms are vertically supported on mounting brackets 32.

As stated above in describing FIG. 6, memory card 38 is inserted in the direction of arrow "B" into receptacle 28 of housing 22 and into mouth 36 between contact portions 26a of terminals 26. This is the zero-force insertion position of the memory card. The card then is pivoted about its leading end 38a downwardly in the direction of arrow "C" until the bottom side of the memory card comes into engagement with base 52 (Fig. 3) of support portions 40 of support arms 34. This defines the termination position of the memory card whereat contact portions 26a of terminals 26 are in engagement with or terminated to the contacts on opposite sides of the memory card.

As the memory card is pivoted downwardly from its insertion position to its termination position, its bottom surface at the sides of the memory card engage the chamfered or angled top surfaces of primary latch portions 66 of elastic portions 42 of the support arms and bias elastic arms 62 outwardly until the bottom abrupt surfaces 66a of primary latch portions 66 clear the top surface of the memory card. The elastic arms 62 then snap back inwardly, and bottom abrupt surfaces 66a prevent the card from lifting off of support portions 40 of the support arms. Elastic arms 62 flex about protrusions 60 which act as fulcrums. In this termination position of the memory card, the card is sandwiched between bases 52 of support portions 40 of the support arms and bottom abrupt surfaces 66a of primary latch portions 66. The small elastic arms 54 on support portions 40 take up any slack or looseness in the memory card.

When the memory card is pivoted to its termination position as described above, locking tabs 56 engage within slots or recesses 70 at opposite side edges of the memory card to prevent the card from pulling out of receptacle 28 and away from the connector. Rounded latch portions 64 also engage within recesses 70 of the memory card.

It can be seen from the above that bases 52 of support portions 40 of support arms 34 engage the bottom surface of the memory card; primary latch portions 66 of elastic latch portions 42 of the support arms engage the top surface of the memory card; and locking tabs 56 prevent the restrained memory card from pulling out of the connector.

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 insulating housing having an elongated receptacle for receiving a leading end of a memory card and mounting a plurality of terminals in such an arrangement that the memory card is inserted angularly into the receptacle to an insertion position and then is pivoted about its leading end to a termination position into engagement with the terminals; and a pair of support arms projecting from the housing generally at opposite ends of the elongated receptacle and each support arm including a support portion for engaging a bottom side of the memory card and supporting the card in said termination position, an elastic latch portion for snapping into latching engagement with a top side of the memory card as the card moves to the termination position to prevent the card from lifting off of the support portion, and a locking portion for engaging the memory card and preventing the card from pulling out of the receptacle.

2. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein each of said support arms comprises a two-part structure including a generally rigid part forming said support portion and a generally flexible part forming said elastic latch portion.

3. The memory card connector of claim 2 wherein said two parts of the support arms are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.

4. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein said support arms are separate from the housing.

5. The memory card connector of claim 4, including a pair of brackets for mounting the support arms to the housing.

6. The memory card connector of claim 4 wherein said insulating housing is molded of plastic material, and said support arms are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.

7. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein said locking portion is on the support portion of each support arm.

8. The memory card connector of claim 1 wherein said locking portion comprises a locking tab positionable in a locking opening in the memory card.

9. A memory card connector, comprising: an insulating housing having an elongated receptacle for receiving a leading end of a memory card and mounting a plurality of terminals in such an arrangement that the memory card is inserted angularly into the receptacle to an insertion position and then is pivoted about its leading end to a termination position into engagement with the terminals; and a pair of support arms separate from and projecting from the housing generally at opposite ends of the elongated receptacle and each support arm being a two-part structure including a generally rigid part forming a support portion for engaging a bottom side of the memory card and supporting the card in said termination position, a generally flexible part forming an elastic latch portion for snapping into latching engagement with a top side of the memory card as the card moves to the termination position to prevent the card from lifting off of the support portion, and a locking portion on the support portion for engaging the memory card and preventing the card from pulling out of the receptacle.

10. The memory card connector of claim 9 wherein said two parts of the support arms are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.

11. The memory card connector of claim 9, including a pair of brackets for mounting the support arms to the housing.

12. The memory card connector of claim 9 wherein said insulating housing is molded of plastic material, and said support arms are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.

13. The memory card connector of claim 9 wherein said locking portion comprises a locking tab positionable in a locking recess in an edge of the memory card.

14. The memory card connector of claim 9 wherein said generally flexible part includes a rounded latch tab engageable in said recess in the edge of the memory card.