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
  • H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
  • H01R31/06—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
  • G06K19/07737—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier consisting of two or more mechanically separable parts
  • G06K19/07739—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier consisting of two or more mechanically separable parts comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor

Definitions

• This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to the art of memory card connectors. Specifically, the invention relates to an adapter for a memory card connector to accommodate different sizes of memory cards.
• 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, PDA's, music players, ATM's, 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.
• the present invention is directed to providing an improved, extremely simple adapter for a memory card connector which receives a larger size standard memory card.
• the adapter allows insertion of a smaller size standard memory card into the connector.
• an object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved adapter for a memory card connector which includes a receptacle for receiving a larger size standard memory card.
• the adapter includes a housing having a size and shape on the order of that of the larger size standard memory card for insertion into the receptacle of the connector.
• the housing includes a generally flat receiving area for receiving a smaller size standard memory card for insertion with the housing into the receptacle.
• a clamping member is provided on the housing for holding the smaller size standard memory card in the receiving area of the housing.
• Interengaging means are provided between the housing and the smaller size standard memory card to prevent the card from pulling out of the receiving area.
• the housing is fabricated of dielectric material.
• the clamping member is fabricated of metal material.
• the clamping member is spring loaded to bias the clamping member into engagement with the smaller size memory card.
• the clamping member is oriented to hold the smaller size memory card in a direction generally perpendicular to the generally flat receiving area of the housing.
• the interengaging means are oriented to prevent the smaller size memory card from pulling out of the flat receiving area in a direction generally parallel thereto.
• the interengaging means comprise a projection on either the housing or the smaller size memory card positionable in a recess in the other of the housing or card.
• the generally flat receiving area is at one end of the housing.
• the receiving area is shallow and includes a dead end and an open end, along with opposite side walls extending between the ends.
• the clamping member is located at the dead end of the receiving area.
• the interengaging means are located at one side wall of the receiving area near the open end of the receiving area.
• the clamping member has a generally flat clamping portion and a floor of the generally flat receiving area slopes downwardly from the open end to the dead end thereof. Therefore, the clamping portion of the clamping member does not extend excessively above the housing.
• the clamping member has a width generally the same as the width of the smaller size memory card.
• the clamping member is fabricated of spring metal material and includes a fixing portion fixed to the housing and an integral clamping portion for clamping onto the smaller size memory card.
• the spring metal clamping member is generally L-shaped as defined by a pair of generally perpendicular legs forming the fixing and clamping portions of the clamping member.
• FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a memory card adapter according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken generally along line A-A of FIG. 2
• FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the adapter
• FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the adapter
• FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the adapter
• FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the adapter, looking at the left-hand size of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the adapter, looking at the right-hand side as viewed in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of a smaller size standard memory card ("smaller card");
• FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the smaller card;
• FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the smaller card, looking at the left-hand side of FIG. 9;
• FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the smaller card, looking at the right-hand side of FIG. 9;
• FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken generally along line B-B in FIG. 8;
• FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the adapter with the smaller card mounted therein;
• FIG. 14 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along line C-C in FIG. 13;
• FIG. 15(a)-15(c) are sequential views showing the smaller card in the process of being inserted into the adapter;
• FIG. 16 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14, but with the smaller card inserted into the adapter in an erroneous orientation;
• FIG. 17 is a top plan view showing the relationship of a memory card com ector with a larger size standard memory card as well as the adapter of the invention mounting a smaller size standard memory card;
• FIG. 18 is a top plan view showing the adapter and smaller card being inserted into the connector; and
• FIG. 19 is a view similar to that of FIG. 18, but with the adapter and smaller card fully inserted into the connector.
• adapter 20 for a memory card connector, generally designated 22 (Figs. 17-19), which has a receptacle 24 for receiving a larger size standard memory card ("larger card”), generally designated 26 (Fig. 17).
• the housing may be molded of plastic material.
• adapter 20 includes a dielectric housing, generally designated 28, which has a size and shape generally the same as larger card 26 as can be seen clearly in FIG. 17.
• the housing has a generally flat receiving area 30 which is shallow and includes a floor 30a, a pair of side walls 30b, an open end 30c and a closed or dead end 30d.
• the receiving area receives a smaller size standard memory card ("smaller card”), generally designated 32 (Figs. 8-12).
• small card is inserted into receiving area 30 in the direction of arrow "D" in FIG. 1.
• a semi-circular engagement recess 34 is formed at one side of the receiving area, and an engagement protrusion 36 is formed at an opposite side of the receiving area.
• a card guide arm 38 projects outwardly at the open end 30c of the receiving area.
• Adapter 20 is grasped by an operator at a grasping end 40 of housing 28.
• a clamping member is mounted on housing 28 for holding a smaller card 32 in receiving area 30 of the housing.
• the clamping member is fabricated of spring metal material and is mounted in a mounting section 44 of housing 28.
• Clamping member 42 is generally L-shaped in cross-section and includes a first leg which defines a clamping portion 42a and three fixing portions or legs 42b which extend generally at right angles to clamping portion or leg 42a.
• Clamping portion 42a is generally flat and has a width equal to the width "Wl" of receiving area 30.
• the clamping portion is cantilevered from fixing portions 42b forwardly into receiving area 30.
• a pair of side resilient walls 42c are integral with and depend at right angles to clamping portion 42a at opposite side edges thereof.
• Fixing portions 42b are press-fit into three slits 46 in mounting section 44 of the housing.
• the clamping portion is formed with an integral stiffening rib 42d.
• the floor 30a of receiving area 30 slopes downwardly from open end 30c toward dead end 30d to facilitate insertion of smaller card 32 into the receiving area and under clamping portion 42a of clamping member 42.
• the sloping of floor 30a prevents top surface 42d of clamping portion 42a from projecting above side walls 30b of the receiving area when the smaller card is inserted into the adapter.
• smaller size standard memory card 32 is generally rectangular and has a width "W2" (Fig. 8) generally equal to width "Wl” (Fig. 1) of receiving area 30 in housing 28 of adapter 20.
• the smaller card has a top surface 50 and a bottom surface 52.
• a plurality of contact pads 54 are arranged in a parallel array in bottom surface 52 at the front of the smaller card.
• An engagement recess 56 is formed at one side of the card and a semicircular engagement recess 58 is formed at the opposite side of the card.
• a guide slot 60 for receiving guide arm 38 opens at the trailing edge of the card outside contact pads 54.
• FIGS. 15(a)-15(c) show smaller card 32 being inserted obliquely in the direction of arrow "E" into receiving area 30 of adapter 20. The leading edge of the smaller card is inserted into recess 48 in floor 30a of the receiving area and under clamping portion 42a of clamping member 42.
• FIG. 16 shows smaller card 32 inserted into adapter 20 in an erroneous orientation (i.e., upside-down).
• FIG. 17 shows memory card module 32, including adapter 20 and smaller card 32, alongside the larger size standard memory card 26. It can be seen that module 62 is substantially the same size and configuration as the larger card. Therefore, either the larger card can be inserted in the direction of arrow "G" into receptacle 24 of memory card connector 22, or module 62 can be inserted into receptacle 24 in the direction of arrow "H".
• the connector has an eject mechanism, generally designated 70, which engages within semi-circular recess 58 of the smaller card or a semicircular recess 72 of the larger card to eject the card or the module as is known in the art.
• the larger card has contact pads 74, like contact pads 54 of the smaller card, for engaging appropriate contacts within memory card connector 22.
• FIGS. 18 and 19 show memory card module 62 in the process of being inserted into memory card connector 22 in the direction of arrow "I" (Fig. 18). The module is shown fully inserted into the connector in FIG. 19. 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.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=34510127

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2003
  • 2003-10-24 JP JP2003364799A patent/JP4347018B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-10-21 WO PCT/US2004/035485 patent/WO2005041113A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2004-10-21 KR KR1020067009998A patent/KR100817346B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-10-21 CN CNB2004800340027A patent/CN100458821C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-10-22 TW TW093132212A patent/TW200521873A/zh unknown

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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