Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-29
2001-10-23
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
C439S079000, C439S733100, C439S636000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305952
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical card connector, and particularly to an electrical card connector which has a reduced length thereby reducing occupying area on a printed circuit board.
2. Description of Prior Art
As the popularity of notebook computers increases, integrated circuit (IC) cards are becoming more common for increasing storage capacity or for interfacing the notebook computers with other devices. Card connectors are commonly used to connect mother boards of the computers with the cards. Most current IC cards and card connectors conform to the standard of Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA).
Conventional PCMCIA card connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,438 and Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 84206174 and 84206175. Referring to
FIG. 4
, a conventional PCMCIA card connector
7
comprises a dielectric housing
71
and a plurality of terminals
72
,
73
arranged in upper and lower rows. The dielectric housing
71
defines a plurality of receiving passageways
711
,
712
in upper and lower rows for receiving corresponding terminals
72
,
73
. The terminals
72
,
73
define mounting portions
72
a
,
73
a
received in the receiving passageways
711
,
712
. Contact potions
72
b
,
73
b
extend forwardly from the mounting portions
72
a
,
73
a
beyond the dielectric housing
71
to mate with an electronic card (not shown) inserted into the connector
7
. Solder tails
72
c
,
73
c
extend rearwardly and downwardly from the mounting portions
72
a
,
73
a
and are soldered to a printed circuit board
8
.
The terminals
72
,
73
are mounted to the housing
71
by inserting the terminals
72
,
73
into the housing
71
from a rear side of the housing
71
. In order to have the solder tails
72
c
,
73
c
suitably spaced so that a short circuit between the tails
72
c
,
73
c
will not happen, the solder tails
72
c
,
73
c
are arranged in front and rear rows behind the housing
71
. Such an arrangement causes the card connector
7
to have a large length, which in turn causes the card connector
7
to occupy a relative large area of the printed circuit board
8
of the notebook computer. The real estate of the printed circuit board is more and more precious due to the minimization of the notebook computer.
Hence, an improved electrical card connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional electrical card connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a PCMCIA card connector having a reduced length thereby reducing its occupying area on a printed circuit board.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a PCMCIA card connector in accordance with the present invention includes a dielectric housing and a plurality of first and second terminals received in the dielectric housing. The dielectric housing defines a mating face for engaging with an electronic card, a rear face opposite the mating face and a lower interface facing a printed circuit board. The dielectric housing further defines a plurality of mounting holes for receiving the first and second terminals. The first and second terminals are inserted into the dielectric housing from front and rear sides thereof, respectively. Each terminal defines a contact portion, a solder tail and a mounting portion. The contact portions extend out of the mating face for mating with the electronic card. The solder tails are soldered to the printed circuit board. The mounting portions are secured in receiving passageways defined by the dielectric housing thereby securing the terminals to the dielectric housing. The solder tails of the first terminals extend forwardly beyond the mating face. The solder tails of the second terminals extend rearwardly beyond the rear face of the housing.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5037316 (1991-08-01), Fukushima et al.
patent: 5836780 (1998-11-01), Mizumura et al.
patent: 5839913 (1998-11-01), Fumikura
patent: 5894708 (1999-11-01), Yu
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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