Electrical connectors – Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-01
2001-04-17
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
C439S946000, C361S737000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217350
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computers. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interface between a connector and a communications card in a computer system, and specifically to an adaptor and housing for a physical/electrical media connector interface for use in a PCMCIA-architecture communications card.
2. The Prior State of the Art
As is well known, telecommunications-type devices—such as modems, network interface cards and the like—require some means for physically and electrically interconnecting with a corresponding communications medium. For instance, a modem will typically interface with the telephone subscriber line with a standard RJ-11 media jack and modular plug type of arrangement. Similarly, a network interface card may be connected to a communications network via a RJ-45 jack and plug.
Where such telecommunications devices are of a larger size, such as an external, desktop size modem for instance, the incorporation of such a media jack connector within the device itself is relatively straight forward. However, the incorporation of this type of connector is more difficult in miniature, or smaller sized communications devices, such as those that conform with the PCMCIA-specified architectures, or similar devices that are incorporated within handheld or notebook sized computer devices.
In these types of devices, the ability to provide a suitable connector arrangement is often limited by the spatial limitations of the device itself. Thus, there have been a variety of attempts to provide a suitable interface with standard modular connection schemes—such as the RJ-type arrangement—that can be implemented within a very limited physical space. Often, such approaches provide a media interface, or media jack, that can be retracted and stored within the physical confines of the device housing when not in use. When needed, the media jack can be extended out from the housing and provide a suitable interface for connecting to a corresponding modular plug. While these types of approaches are very satisfactory in terms of providing a media connection that can be implemented and used within smaller-sized environments, they do present a variety of additional problems. For instance, such connection devices often have a number of parts that can be difficult to assemble, manufacture and service. Moreover, the assemblies may be more prone to failure with prolonged use.
FIG. 1
illustrates one example of a communications card
10
of the prior art. Communications card
10
is of the sort that conforms with the size limitations specified by the PCMCIA architecture standard. It includes a printed circuit board
12
, which contains corresponding circuitry for implementing a particular communications function, such as a modem. Also included is a suitable media jack
14
designed for receiving a corresponding modular plug, such as a standard RJ-type jack and plug arrangement.
The jack is electrically interconnected with the corresponding circuitry on the printed circuit board by way of a suitable internal connector, such as a flexible ribbon cable
16
. In the example shown, the retractability of media jack
14
is provided, in part, by way of a media jack adaptor assembly
18
, which essentially is comprised of a plastic U-shaped frame
20
. Frame
20
includes a track
21
, along which the media jack
14
can be extended and retracted. Moreover, frame
20
may include a spring post
22
. Corresponding spring
19
biases media jack
14
toward the extended position, and can be compressed when media jack
14
is in a retracted position. A suitable arrangement is also provided to retain the jack within the retracted position, and that allows a user to selectively extend the jack when needed. For instance, a cam follower
23
can be positioned between media jack
14
and a cam track
24
configured within frame
20
. Cam follower
23
follows the path of cam track
24
as media jack
14
is extended and retracted.
FIG. 1
a
shows a cutaway view of a front comer portion of assembled card
10
in which spring
19
is mounted on spring post
22
and plates
25
,
26
are mounted on frame
20
. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 1
a
, as a hub
27
of media jack
14
slides along track
21
of frame
20
, tabs
28
,
29
on hub
27
slide within respective opposing slots
30
,
31
of track
21
while opposing tabs
32
,
33
slide along an outside surface of track
21
. Stops
34
,
35
in respective slots
30
,
31
of track
21
limit the extension of media jack
14
out of track
21
.
Also as shown, frame
20
is mounted between upper and lower thin metallic shells
25
,
26
. Shells
25
,
26
are configured with surfaces that correspond in size and shape with the edges of frame
20
. Lips
36
,
37
on the sides of respective shells
25
,
26
extend into respective grooves
38
,
39
in upper and lower portions of frame
20
. A thermally activated adhesive material
41
placed on shells
25
,
26
joins shells
25
,
26
permanently to opposing sides of frame
20
.
Despite the many advantages of adaptor assembly
18
, the sandwiching of frame
20
between shells
25
,
26
is a cumbersome process. For instance, frame
20
is a flimsy molded component and is cumbersome to handle and mate with shells
25
,
26
. Furthermore, the bond accomplished through the use of adhesive material
41
between frame
20
and shells
25
,
26
is subject to failure over time.
FIGS. 2 and 2
a
illustrate yet another example of a communications card
40
assembled in accordance with the teachings of the prior art. Card
40
is shown in a partially assembled, exploded view. Communications card
40
features upper and lower shells
42
,
44
, which substantially surround printed circuit board
45
. A media jack
46
is also shown along with an adapter
48
for slidably receiving jack
46
. A cam follower
50
and leaf spring
52
for biasing cam follower
50
into cam track
53
as jack
46
moves along adaptor
48
are also shown. Spring
54
is provided and mounted on spring post
55
for biasing against jack
46
.
Media jack
46
, circuit board
45
, springs
52
and
54
, cam follower
50
and adaptor
48
are mounted between shells
42
,
44
. Shells
42
,
44
include respective outer plastic rails
56
,
57
mounted on metallic plates
58
,
59
respectively. Plastic rails
56
of shell
42
have a groove
60
therein for receiving a ridge
61
on rails
57
of shell
44
, such that rails
56
,
57
can be coupled in a mating relationship. Rails
56
,
57
are typically permanently joined through ultrasonic bonding.
Tabs
62
,
64
extend from a rail
56
of shell
42
. A phantom view of adaptor
48
is shown adjacent the tabs
62
,
64
in FIG.
2
. Grooves
66
,
68
of adaptor
48
are secured to the tabs
62
,
64
. Tabs
62
,
64
extend from the rail
56
over the metallic plate
58
.
Since cam track
53
is configured within jack
46
, transversely oriented leaf spring
52
is required for biasing cam follower
50
into track
53
. Leaf spring
52
can become bent, causing it to press at the wrong angle against cam follower
50
. Also, leaf spring
52
adds additional complexity to the assembly and the manufacture thereof.
The assembly can present additional problems as well. For instance, cam follower
50
can be difficult to properly mount within adaptor
48
, and can become disconnected during assembly. In addition, the dovetail coupling of adaptor
48
to tabs
62
,
64
results in the adaptor
48
being coupled only to a single shell
42
. Furthermore, a stop
70
is required to be placed on jack
46
to prevent media jack
46
from exiting the assembled communications card housing. In addition, cam track
53
is exposed outside of the assembled card when media jack
46
exits the housing, and can thus be subject to damage.
There is therefore a need in the art for an improved media jack adaptor assembly and associated adapter housing. More specifically, there is a need in the art for a media jack adaptor which c
Johnson Thomas A.
Kunz Ryan A.
3Com Corporation
Patel Tulsidas
Workman & Nydegger & Seeley
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