PCMCIA connector

Details PCMCIA connector PCMCIA connector

1999-07-01

2001-07-31

Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2841)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S741000, C361S802000, C439S138000, C439S148000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06269005

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) connector, and in particular to a PCMCIA connector having a dust shielding member for preventing dust from entering into the connector.
2. The Prior Art
PCMCIA cards have been widely used for expanding resources of a computer. Examples of PCMCIA cards are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application No. 82211048 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,519,577 and 5,546,278. Three types of PCMCIA cards are available in the market, namely type I, type II and type III.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
of the attached drawings show a type I PCMCIA card which has a uniform thickness (h) of 3.3 mm.
FIGS. 2A and 2B
show a type II PCMCIA card which has a central raised portion with a thickness (H) of 5.0 mm and two thin edges with a thickness (h) of 3.3 mm. A type III PCMCIA card is shown in
FIGS. 3A and 3B
and includes a hard disk drive (HDD) and a central raised portion with a thickness (H) of 10.5 mm and two thin edges with a thickness (h) of 3.3 mm.
All three types have edges of 3.3 mm receivable in guide channels of a PCMCIA connector. However, for a PCMCIA connector to accommodate all three types of PCMCIA cards, the PCMCIA connector must define a space capable of receiving the 10.5 mm thickness of the type III card. Accordingly, space within the PCMCIA connector is not fully utilized when a type I or type II card is inserted therein. Thus, dirt and dust may enter the PCMCIA connector through the space.
Thus, it is desired to provide a PCMCIA connector comprising a dust shielding device in order to solve the above problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a PCMCIA connector comprising a dust shielding member for protecting the connector from contamination caused by external dust and dirt when a type I or type II card is inserted therein.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a PCMCIA connector comprising a removable dummy card receivable therein for occupying unused space when a type I or type II card is inserted therein.
To achieve the above objects, a PCMCIA connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative header retaining contact elements therein and a shielding casing having a top panel attached to the header. The shielding casing has two side panels extending from the top panel thereby defining a primary space adapted to receive a type I or type II PCMCIA card. A raised section is formed on the top panel and has a top wall located above the top panel. Two side walls extend from the top wall and are connected to the top panel for defining a secondary space in communication with and substantially continuous with the primary space whereby the primary and secondary spaces together can accommodate a type III PCMCIA card. A dummy card is selectively received in the secondary space without interfering with insertion of the type I or type II PCMCIA card into the primary space. The dummy card includes a flat body receivable in the secondary space and defines a recess in which a panel is pivotally supported for selectively shielding the primary and secondary spaces. The flat body has two resilient arms each forming a projection for engaging with a hole defined in a corresponding side wall of the raised section thereby retaining the dummy card in the secondary space.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5537293 (1996-07-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5662482 (1997-09-01), Shin
patent: 5716221 (1998-02-01), Kantner

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