Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Nonconducting pusher
Patent
1996-10-28
1998-11-17
Abrams, Neil
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Nonconducting pusher
H01R 1362
Patent
active
058367756
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector apparatus for mounting, in an electronic data processing device, a memory card or other card-like electronic data processing medium, such as a thin-type hard disc drive package.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A connector apparatus for connecting card-like data processing mediums to an electronic device, such as a computer, is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication 4-52265. The connector apparatus includes a rectangular housing having an insertion inlet at its front end and a plurality of male terminals at a rear end. A slide plate is arranged over an upper surface of the housing and is slidable along a length of the housing from the front end to the rear end. The slide plate has hooks designed to engage the forward end of a card-like data processing medium when the medium is inserted in the housing. A manual operation member, such as a push rod, is mounted on one side of the housing and is slidable along the length of the housing. The slide plate and push rod are coupled together through a swing lever rotatably mounted on the upper plate of the housing. Movement of the push rod toward the rear end of the housing is translated through the swing lever into movement of the slide plate in the opposite direction. The connector apparatus is typically mounted in the casing of an electronic device such as a personal computer or one of its peripheral devices. The push rod usually protrudes from the casing of the computer to allow manual operation thereof.
When a card-like data processing medium is inserted in the housing of the connector device and pushed toward the male terminals, the female terminals disposed in the front end of the card-like data processing medium electrically connect to the male terminals of the connector apparatus so that the card-like data processing medium is connected to the electronic device. To eject the card-like data processing medium, the push rod is pushed toward the rear end of the housing causing the slide plate to move in the opposite direction, i.e., toward the insertion inlet. As the slide plate moves toward the insertion inlet, the hooks on the slide plate engage the forward end face of the card-like data processing medium thereby disconnecting the card-like data processing medium and urging it backward out of the connector apparatus.
Inadvertent ejection or removal of a card-like data processing medium from such a connector apparatus can adversely affect the operation of an electronic apparatus, such as a computer, to which the connector is attached. Accordingly, there is a need for a connector apparatus that prevents inadvertent removal and/or ejection of a card-like medium from the connector apparatus. The present invention satisfies this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a connector apparatus for a card-like data processing medium. According to the present invention, the connector apparatus comprises a frame having opposing side walls spaced at an interval substantially equal to the width of the card-like data processing medium. The opposing side walls define a storage space. One end of the frame defines an insertion inlet for inserting the card-like data processing medium into the storage space. A header is coupled to the end of the frame opposite the insertion inlet. The header contains a terminal array for electrically connecting with a mating terminal array disposed in a forward end face of the card-like data processing medium. The connector apparatus further comprises an ejection mechanism for ejecting the card-like data processing medium from the storage space of the connector apparatus. The ejection mechanism includes a push rod that is coupled to the ejection mechanism for manually operating the ejection mechanism.
In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the connector apparatus further comprises means responsive to a control signal for automatically decoupling the push rod from the ejection mechanism thereby disabling the
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pat
DiMondi Vincent D.
Hiyama Naoki
Lwee Nai Hock
Masuda Hiroshi
Shimauchi Hiroaki
Abrams Neil
Berg Tehnology, Inc.
Wittels Daniel
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