Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Nonconducting pusher
Utility Patent
1999-06-02
2001-01-02
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Nonconducting pusher
C439S924100
Utility Patent
active
06168446
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electronic card connector, and in particular to an electronic card connector which performs a smooth card release operation and occupies a limited space.
2. The Prior Art
The dimension of a computer is becoming increasingly smaller but the performance thereof is becoming more sophisticated. To support the improved functional capabilities thereof, a computer is often equipped with an electronic card connector for releasably connecting an electronic card, such as a memory card, for expanding the resources of the computer.
FIG. 1
of the attached drawings shows an example of the electronic card connector that is designated by reference numeral
1
. The electronic card connector
1
comprises an insulative header
11
having a terminal receiving section
111
which forms a card facing side
112
and a board facing side
113
. Contact terminals
14
are received and retained in the terminal receiving section
111
having one end extending beyond the card facing side
112
for engaging with an electronic card (not shown) and an opposite end extending beyond the board facing side
113
for being mounted to a circuit board (not shown). Two guide rails
131
are attached to the header
11
at opposite sides of the terminal receiving section
111
thereby defining a space therebetween for receiving the electronic card.
A card release mechanism
13
comprises a card release bar
132
which is movably disposed outside one of the guide rails
131
and guided by guiding members
1311
mounted to the guide rail
131
. An actuator
133
is pivotably engaged with a retainer plate
12
or the header
11
, and an end of the actuator
133
is coupled to the card release bar
132
and an opposite end is pivotably connected to an ejection plate
134
. In operation, when the card release bar
132
is moved inward, the actuator
133
is pivoted and drives the ejection plate
134
outward thereby forcing an electronic card out of the card connector. Examples of such conventional electronic card connectors are disclosed in Taiwan patent application Nos. 84210015, 85208532 and 86204066.
A problem associated with the conventional electronic card connector is that the guiding members
1311
for the card release bar
132
are basically arranged on the guide rail
131
thus the front end of the card release bar
132
that is coupled to the actuator
133
is unsupported. Therefore, the card release bar
132
may be deflected and damage the electronic card connector or the bar may become lodged in the connector.
Furthermore, the electronic card connector usually comprises contact terminals having three different sizes (lengths), namely 3.5 mm, 4.25 mm and 5 mm. The overall dimension of the electronic card connector must be large enough to accommodate the different sizes of the contact terminals. Thus, reduction of the overall dimension of the connector cannot be promoted.
It is thus desirable to have an electronic card connector that overcomes the above-discussed problems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic card connector having a stably supported card release bar for providing a smooth card release operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic card connector having a header which can accommodate an extra length of contact terminals received therein thereby reducing the overall dimension of the connector.
To achieve the above objects, an electronic card connector in accordance with the present invention is adapted to be mounted to a circuit board and receive and electrically connect an electronic card to the circuit board. The electronic card connector comprises an insulative header having a board facing side. Long and short contact terminals are received and retained in the header with tail ends thereof extending beyond the board facing side to electrically engage with the circuit board. The board facing side of the header has a recess defined therein corresponding to each of the long contact terminals. The recess has a depth sufficient to accommodate the difference of length between the long and short contact terminals, thereby reducing the overall dimension of the connector. The electronic card connector comprises a card release mechanism for releasing the electronic card from the connector. The card release mechanism comprises a card release bar that is movable with respect to the header to pivot an actuator that drives the electronic card out of the connector. The header has an arm extending therefrom with a groove defined therein for guidingly receiving and supporting a front end of the card release bar. The electronic card connector has a casing enclosing the header. The casing has an inner side wall and an outer side wall defining a channel therebetween for guidingly and movably receiving a rear section of the card release bar thereby more securely supporting the card release bar with respect to the header.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5197895 (1993-03-01), Koike
patent: 5286207 (1994-02-01), McHugh
patent: 5421737 (1995-06-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5536180 (1996-07-01), Ishida et al.
Abrams Neil
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Nasri Javaid
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