Electronic card connector

Details Electronic card connector Electronic card connector

1999-06-16

2001-05-15

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield

Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...

C439S095000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06231389

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electronic card connector mounted in an electronic card for establishing electrical connection between the card and an external device, and in particular, to a compact electronic card connector having an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield.
2. The Prior Art
The memory and functional ability of a computer, especially a notebook computer, is often expanded by means of an electronic card releasably and selectively connected thereto. The electronic card is provided with a connector for connecting with the notebook computer.
FIG. 11
of the attached drawings shows a conventional electronic card connector
6
.
FIG. 12
is a cross-sectional view of the conventional connector
6
fixed in a metal casing
91
of an electronic card. The conventional connector
6
comprises an insulative housing
61
having an exposed outer face
62
for engaging a mating connector (not shown) mounted in a notebook computer and an inner face
63
. A slot
64
is defined in the housing
61
and exposed to the outer face
62
for receiving the mating connector. A tongue
65
is fixed in the slot
64
and defines a plurality of passageways
66
in opposite surfaces thereof. The passageways
66
are further defined with channels
67
exposed to the inner face
63
.
A contact element
7
is received in each of the channels
67
and has a mating end section
71
located in the corresponding passageway
66
for electrically engaging with the mating connector and a mounting end section
72
extending beyond the inner face
63
of the housing
61
for electrically engaging with a circuit board
8
of the electronic card.
However, since the mating connector is simply inserted into the slot
64
and retained by a frictional force formed therebetween, the connection is not sound and an unexpected disengagement may easily occur. Furthermore, although the casing
91
of the electronic card is made of metal engaging with grounding pins
73
of the connector
6
for providing a grounding path for electrostatic discharge, due to manufacturing tolerance, gaps exist between the metal casing
91
of the electronic card and the connector
6
thereby weakening EMI protection thereof.
It is thus desirable to provide an electronic card connector capable of securely retaining a mating connector therein and comprising an EMI shield for improving EMI protection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic card connector comprising latching members for engaging with a mating connector inserted therein to securely retain the mating connector.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic card connector comprising a shielding member for providing EMI protection.
To achieve the above objects, an electronic card connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing fixed in a casing of an electronic card with an outer face thereof being exposed through an opening defined in the casing. The housing defines a slot for receiving a mating connector and retains a plurality of contact elements therein for electrically engaging with the mating connector. A pair of deflectable arms extend into the slot. Each arm resiliently supports a barb for engaging with and retaining the mating connector in the slot. A third arm is formed on a bottom side of the slot and supports a tab for engaging with the mating connector. A shielding member is positioned on and attached to the housing with two J-shaped end sections of the shielding member fit over two end blocks of the housing. The shielding member has two inclined resilient arms engaging with a flange of the casing thereby retaining and electrically grounding the connector.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5158473 (1992-10-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 5306196 (1994-04-01), Hashiguchi
patent: 5749741 (1998-05-01), Bellas et al.
patent: 6008994 (1999-12-01), Bates

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Electronic card connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Electronic card connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronic card connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2467243