Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Coupling part for receiving edge of planar board moving...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-04-24
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Coupling part for receiving edge of planar board moving...
C439S940000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220882
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an improved IC card connector for connecting an IC card, such as a SIM card, in an IC card reader system such as a cellular phone or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
IC cards have been developed and contain IC's (integrated circuits) including memory circuits, such as rams (random access memories), and controls circuits, such as CPUs (central processing units). A special type of IC card, called a SIM card (subscriber identification module card) is of increasing interest and is used in cellular phones as an identification and storage unit for subscriber related data. SIM cards normally include a terminal array for connection through a card reader system to the external equipment. The connector usually includes some form of IC card socket and a plurality of electrodes or contacts exposed in the socket for engaging the terminal array of the IC card. The card is inserted into and removed from the socket, and the connector contacts are resilient or comprise springy contacts for yieldably engaging the terminal array of the card when the card is inserted into the socket.
With the ever-increasing miniaturization of IC cards and their respective connectors, various problems continue to arise. For instance, the very handling of the miniature IC cards is difficult, and proper positioning of the cards in the connector presents corresponding problems when the card is inserted into and removed from the card-receiving cavity or other receptacle means of the connector. Such card connectors may have locking means for holding the IC card in a locked reading position, but such locking means often have reliability problems. Still further, it often is very difficult to grip and remove the inserted chip card from the connector. This invention is directed to solving these various problems in a miniature SIM card connector which is reliable and simple to manufacture and assemble.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved IC card connector for connecting an IC card having a terminal array, in an IC card reader system or the like.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector includes a base member having a plurality of electrically conductive contacts exposed at least on one side thereof for engaging the terminal array of the IC card. A cover is mounted on the base member for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation toward and away from one side of the base member. The cover includes receptacle means for securing the IC card thereon, whereby closing of the cover onto the base member effects engagement of the IC card terminal array with the contacts on the base member. The IC card is received for sliding movement relative to the cover in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation between a preload position and a latched position.
The invention contemplates the provision of biasing means on the base member for sliding the IC card from its preload position to its latched position automatically in response to closing the cover. Latch means on the base member engage the IC card in its latched position to lock the cover and IC card in a closed position on the base member. Release means are provided on the base member operatively associated with the biasing means for deactivating the biasing means and allowing the IC card to be moved back to its preload position out of engagement with the latch means, whereby the cover and IC card can be pivoted back to an open position.
The connector further includes return means on the base member engageable with the IC card for sliding the IC card from its latched position back to its preload position automatically in response to the release means deactivating the biasing means. In the preferred embodiment, the return means comprises a spring-loaded arm located for engaging a leading edge of the IC card. The arm may be a metal member secured to and independent of the base member.
As disclosed herein, the latch means comprises a latch member engageable with a leading edge of the IC card. Like the return arm, the latch member may be a metal member independent of and secured to the base member.
The biasing means comprises a biasing shoulder on the base member in the path of movement and engageable with a trailing edge of the IC card as the cover and IC card are pivoted toward the base member. The biasing shoulder is formed on a yieldable arm portion of the base member. A push-button portion of the yieldable arm is engageable by an operator to move the yieldable arm and, thereby, to move the biasing shoulder out of engagement with the trailing edge of the IC card.
Other features of the invention include a stop shoulder on the base member defining the preload position of the IC card on the cover. In addition, complementary interengaging opening means are provided between the cover and the base member for automatically moving the cover away from the base member in response to disengagement of the latch means from the IC card. In the preferred embodiment, the opening means comprises a spring member on the cover engageable with the base member for spring loading the cover in its closed position.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5226826 (1993-07-01), Nillson et al.
patent: 5320552 (1994-06-01), Reichardt et al.
patent: 5603629 (1997-02-01), DeFrasne et al.
patent: 5813878 (1998-09-01), Kuwata et al.
Firlej Malgorzata M.
Simmel George M.
Yap Yew Teck
Caldwell Stacey E.
Molex Incorporated
Nasri Javaid
Patel Tulsidas
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