Registers – Records – Conductive
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-02
2004-08-03
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
Conductive
Reexamination Certificate
active
06769621
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
An object of the present invention is a pack provided with an antenna extension for electronic cards. An object of the invention is also a method for the assembling of such a pack. It can be used more particularly in the field of packs designed to contain cards meeting the criteria fixed by the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) standard. Electronic cards of this kind are widely used, especially to add memory capacities and/or functions to a computer and more particularly to portable computers. These cards are present in packs provided with a connector at their front end. This end meets precise dimensional criteria.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
In the prior art, it is sought, by means of such cards, to provide for a plurality of additional functions. In general, to combine several functions within a card of this kind, it is necessary, given the strict criteria imposed on card formats and pack formats, to connect an extension module to a rear part of the pack. The value of the invention is that it proposes a single-block pack complying with PCMCIA standards, and comprising both a shielded pack and an unshielded antenna extension.
In the prior art, there is a known electronic card provided with a pack. The pack has two metal shells positioned on either side of the card and directly fixed to each other without the use of a mounting frame. In particular, the document WO 98/20451 teaches the use of a pack comprising shells such that these shells have a front end to present a connector and two borders perpendicular at this front end. The borders of the shells have shoulders, the shoulder corresponding to an approximately 90° fold of one plane of the metal shell. These shoulders furthermore have projecting blades and complementary notches for these blades. The shells are designed in such a way that the planes of the two shells are positioned in parallel and a notch of a shoulder of a first shell is positioned facing a projecting shoulder of the second shell. The projecting blades get fitted into the notches irreversibly because the non-return devices of the blades abut the edges of the notches.
The card mounted between the two metal shells is then shielded irreversibly. However, when an RF application is desired, it is necessary that an antenna extension should not be contained between these two shielded shells. To this end, the prior art, especially the document WO-A-99/14993, teaches the assembly of a second unshielded pack on the first pack. To this end, the second pack has a specific connector to be connected to a complementary connector presented at the level of a rear end of the first pack. Indeed, since the front end and the borders perpendicular to this first end have to comply with the PCMCIA card standards, the complementary connector can only be placed at the rear end.
This prior art approach is costly because it requires the positioning of a set of two complementary connectors to provide for a link between the first pack and the second pack used as an antenna extension module. Furthermore, this approach makes it necessary to provide for means to hold this second pack on the first pack of the electronic card, to prevent disconnection. Therefore, this system is cumbersome.
The teaching of the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,149 describes a known pack for electronic cards provided with an antenna extension. This antenna extension is connected by a flexible printed circuit to the electronic card of the pack. The antenna extension module, according to this teaching, is connected to a first section by a hinge. This hinge lets through the printed circuit. The hinge places the extension module in variable positions with respect to the first section. For example the extension module may be positioned at 90° with respect to the first pack.
The use of a hinged system of this kind to connect an extension module is fragile. Indeed, there is a risk that the flexible printed circuit contained in this hinge may be damaged by being gripped. Furthermore, there is the risk that clumsy handing of the antenna extension with respect to the first pack might quite simply break this hinge.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,074 describes a known first pack comprising an electronic card having, at a first end, a connector that meets PCMCIA criteria and, at a second end opposite this first end, a second connector to be connected with a complementary connector of an extension module, for example an antenna extension module. This extension module has means of latching on to the pack and the latching means are designed to be inserted into the pack when it is totally closed. Indeed, the module according to the device is designed so that it can be detachably mounted. The means designed on either side of the complementary connector are therefore force-fitted into recesses designed for this purpose on the pack. This force-fitting corresponds to the fitting-in of a ridge into a channel or vice versa.
This last-named solution of the prior art raises a problem. It is costly because it requires the positioning of two complementary connectors to link the first pack to the extension module. Secondly, this approach does not provide for a solid and sure connection. When the PCMCIA pack is inserted, for example, into the connection port of a computer, then the way to withdraw the card is to pull on the rear end of the pack. In the present case, the tensile force is therefore exerted on the extension module. If the extension module is not solidly held, which is the case in the prior art, there is a risk that the exertion of the tensile force will cause the release of extension module of the pack and not the disconnection of this pack from the port of the computer.
The prior art solutions are fragile and costly, firstly because they require high precision means to set up a suitable connection between the extension module and the pack containing the electronic card. Secondly, these approaches generally lead to proposing an extension module with a thickness greater than that of the pack containing the electronic card.
It is an object of the invention to overcome the problems cited by proposing a pack containing an electronic card provided with an extension module such that the extension module is fixedly joined to the pack containing the electronic card, this extension module forming an integral part of the pack when it is closed. Indeed, the solution of the invention provides for the association, before the mounting of the electronic card in the pack, of the shielded shells of the pack with protective shells of the extension module. The electronic card is then mounted so as to be sandwiched between these two combined shells thus obtained. Indeed, the invention consists of a pack provided with a shielded lower shell on which a lower extension lid is mounted and, secondly, an upper shielded shell that is itself designed to be connected to an upper extension lid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
During the assembly, the upper extension lid is designed to be positioned so as to face the lower extension lid. The mounting of a lid on a shell is irreversible just as the joining of the two shells is also irreversible. There is therefore no longer any need for a connector between the module card and the extension module.
The mounting of the lower plastic lid on the lower shielded shell is achieved by fitting in along a direction orthogonal to a plane of extension of the shielded shell. To this end, when the electronic card is inserted in the lower shielded shell and when the upper shielded is mounted irreversibly in the lower shielded shell, then the extension lids are themselves held irreversibly to the pack. A tensile force exerted on the rear end in no way detaches the plastic lids from the shielded shell. Indeed, elastic tongues positioned on at least one shoulder of a shielded shell abut the lateral projections on either side of at least one of these plastic lids.
In a preferred example, the electronic card comprises a portion extendi
Hautier Frédéric
Saillard Laurent
FCI
Frech Karl D.
Perman & Green LLP
Taylor April
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