Electrical connectors – Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-03
2001-11-13
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
C439S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315583
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to removable data storage systems. More particularly, the invention relates to card connectors for use with data storage cards such as an integrated (IC) card used in a storage medium for a personal computer or the like and a flash memory card for use in an electronic apparatus such as a digital camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data storage cards provide portable memory for electronic devices and include integrated circuit (IC) cards, flash memory cards such as Compactflash (CF) cards, I/O cards, and other removable memory storage cards or systems. Data Storage cards are used in various electronic devices including personal computers, digital cameras, cellular telephones, facsimile machines, and the like.
An electronic device uses a card connector to read and write data to a data storage card. Typically, the data storage card is slid or inserted into a compartment formed by the card connector. Electrical contacts on the data storage card engage electrical connectors on the card connector, which connect to the electronic device.
Many card connectors have a discharge mechanism to discharge the data storage card, thus improving operability when attaching or detaching the data storage card. A conventional integrated circuit (IC) card discharge mechanism usually has a slide member for conveying and IC card. The slide member has a lock mechanism portion and a spring member. The lock mechanism portion retains the IC card at an attachment position. The spring member biases the slide member in a discarge direction when the lock mechanism portion is released. The IC card is pushed out of the card connector in a discharge direction by the biasing force of the spring member.
In many conventional IC card connectors, the spring member biasis the IC card in the discharge direction together with the slide member for conveying the IC card. The biasing force of the spring member against the slide member may cause the IC card to exit completely and unexpectedly from the IC card connector in which case the IC card may be damaged or lost.
To prevent the IC card from exiting completely when relevant from the card connector, the biasing force of the spring member may be adjusted. However, when the biasing force of the spring member is weakened, it is difficult to obtain the requisite stroke for discharging the IC card. As a result, it is often difficult to extract the IC card.
Accordingly, there is a need for a card connector having the requisite stroke to discharge a data storage card and to keep the data storage card from exiting the card connector when released.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a card connector with a card discharge mechanism, in which a data storage card does not exit from the card connector due to the biasing force of the spring member, in which the biasing force of the spring member biasing the slide member is not weakened, and in which the card is easily extracted.
In one aspect, the card connector includes a housing, an eject arm, a slide member, a return spring, a retaining member, and an operation restriction device. In one aspect, the card connector includes a data storage card that attaches and detaches to and from the housing. The data storage card may be any removable memory device such as an integrated circuit (IC) card and a flash memory card.
The housing has a compartment or an accommodating portion configured to receive the card. The eject arm may engage the card and may be provided to be rotatable in the card inserting and discharging directions of the housing. The eject arm may be mounted on the slide member, which can slide in the card inserting and discharging directions. The return spring may bias the slide member in the card discharging direction. A retaining member may retain the slide member at a card insertion position against the biasing force of the return spring.
The operation restricting mechanism may restrict the movement of the eject arm during the sliding of the slide member. The operation restricting mechanism may have a rotation restricting portion to restrict the rotation of the eject arm during the sliding of the slide member in the card inserting and discharging directions. The operation restricting mechanism may have a rotation permitting portion to permit the rotation of the eject arm after the slide member stops sliding at a discharge position in the card discharge direction.
In one aspect, the card connector also has a coil spring against which the slide member abuts when the slide member moves to the card discharging position. The coil spring may effect positioning, and may draw out the card. The eject arm and the slide member may move in the discharging direction due to the deflection of the coil spring. The eject arm may rotate with this movement.
The card connector may move the card from the discharge position to the card attaching position, the slide member may move the card in the card discharging direction. The card may be extracted when the slide member has moved to the card discharging position. The movement of the eject arm may be restricted by the operation restricting mechanism such that the card can be attached again from the discharge position to the card attaching position.
In one aspect, the eject arm has first and second arm portions. When inserting the card, the first arm portion may engage the card to rotate the eject arm. When discharging the card, the second arm portion may engage the card to rotate the eject arm.
The operation restricting device may comprise a cam pin and a stationery member. The cam pin may be provided on the eject arm. The stationary member may be equipped with a cam groove portion engaged to the cam pin.
The stationary member may be formed by the housing. The stationary member also may be formed by a frame mounted to the housing.
The cam groove portion may have a loop-like configuration. The first rotation restricting device may have a first longitudinal groove and a first inclined groove. The first longitudinal groove may extend along the sliding direction of the slide member. The first inclined groove may be connected to the first longitudinal groove. The second rotation restricting device may have a second longitudinal groove and a second inclined groove. The second longitudinal groove may extend parallel to the first longitudinal groove. The second inclined groove may connect to the second longitudinal groove. The rotation permitting portion may have a lateral groove connected to the end portion of the second inclined groove. The lateral groove may be connected to the end portion of the first longitudinal groove.
In one aspect, the card connector has a stopper portion formed on the wall portion of the connecting portion between the first longitudinal groove and the first inclined groove. The stopper portion may abut the cam pin and may prevent the cam pin from moving in the inserting direction when the card is inserted upside down or in the reverse direction.
When inserting the card, the slide member may move in the inserting direction. The first arm portion may be engaged with the card. During movement of the slide member, the cam pin may move along the first longitudinal groove and the first inclined groove, which in one aspect constitutes the first rotation restricting portion. The eject arm may rotate while being restricted in its movement. The second arm portion may engage a recess provided in the card. The slide member may be locked by the retaining member to retain the card at the attaching position. When discharging the card, the slide member may move in the discharging direction. The second arm portion may be engaged with the card with the releasing of the lock of the retaining member. During the movement of the slide member, the cam pin may move along the second longitudinal groove and the second inclined groove, which in one aspect constitutes the second rotation restricting member. The eject arm may rotate while being restricted in its movement. The slide member may abut the
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Prasad Chandrika
Sircus Brian
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