Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Patent
1992-05-15
1994-10-18
Picard, Leo P.
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
174 51, 361756, 361220, H05K 500, H05K 502
Patent
active
053574028
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Memory cards commonly include a circuit board that holds integrated circuits, and a connector at the front of the card for connecting to a corresponding connector in an electronic device that receives the card. Standard JEIDA cards have a thickness of five millimeters, which enables them to be inserted into thin electronic devices.
The cards can hold a considerable static charge having a potential of ten thousand volts or more, which should be dissipated prior to mating of signal contacts of the card and device. Memory cards are currently provided with grounding contacts as well as signal contacts at the front of the card, but there is danger that a static discharge can occur between signal contacts prior to mating of the grounding contacts. A static discharge system which provided early discharge of static electricity from a memory card, in a construction that minimized the effects of an electromagnetic pulse created during sudden discharge, and which was of relatively simple and reliable construction, would be of considerable value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a combination card and card-receiving electronic device is provided, which assures early discharge of static electricity on the card and thereafter keeps the rear portion of the card grounded, in a design that minimizes adverse effects of the rapid static electricity discharge, in a low cost and reliable construction. The electronic device includes a card-receiving mechanism having a pair of horizontally-extending tracks for guiding the card into the device. A grounding spring is provided which includes a card-contacting part positioned along one of the guide track, and a downwardly-extending leg whose lower part is connected to a ground plane of a circuit board lying directly under the card-receiving mechanism. The first track has a track hole, and the grounding spring has a substantially 180.degree. loop extending around one edge of the track hole, with one side of the loop connected to the card-engaging part and the other side of the loop connected to the top of the leg.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a memory card and an electronic device in the form of a lap top computer, constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional top view of the memory card and a portion of the electronic device of FIG. 1, shown with the card partially inserted into the electronic device.
FIG. 3 is a partial isometric and sectional view of the card-receiving mechanism of FIG. 2, showing a portion of a card received therein and showing, in phantom lines, a portion of a circuit board on which the mechanism is mounted.
FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the memory card of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional isometric view of a portion of the card and electronic device of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the device of FIG. 5 but without the grounding spring.
FIG. 7 is a partial sectional front view of the card-receiving mechanism and card of FIG. 5, and also showing the mechanism mounted on a circuit board but prior to a soldering operation.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the grounding spring of FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the grounding spring of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10--10 of FIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device 10 in the form of a lap top computer, which has a card-receiving slot 12 that receives an integrated circuit card 14. FIG. 2 shows the card 14 as it is being inserted into the slot 12. The memory card includes a card frame 16 with front and rear ends 20, 22 and opposite sides 24, 26. A connector 30 lies at the front end of the card and has multiple socket contacts 32 t
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ITT Corporation
Ledynh Bot
Peterson Thomas L.
Picard Leo P.
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