Electrical connectors – With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision – Grounding to connector container or housing
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-23
2004-09-21
Patel, Tulsidas C. (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision
Grounding to connector container or housing
C439S189000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06793508
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a receptacle connector assembly structure for an electronic memory card, and particularly to a receptacle connector assembly structure that is effective in providing and maintaining a ground connection between the cover plates of the memory card despite fluctuations in assembly and manufacturing tolerances.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Due to the increasing frequency and efficiency of electrical products, the demands of grounding these products are similarly increasing and often becoming an essential element of avoiding electrical problems during the use of the products.
An electronic memory card generally comprises a receptacle connector assembly sandwiched between a pair of upper and lower cover plates. Referring to the
FIG. 1
, a receptacle connector assembly is shown (without the upper and lower cover plates). The receptacle connector assembly
1
A includes an insulative housing
10
A formed with two rows of terminal receiving cavities
11
A, a plurality of signal terminals
12
A received in the terminal receiving cavities
11
A, a first ground terminal
20
A, a second ground terminal
30
A, and a ground element
40
A. Each row of terminal receiving cavities
11
A includes first and second distal or end terminal receiving cavities
50
A and
60
A, which respectively receive first and second ground terminals
20
A and
30
A (first and second ground terminals
20
A and
30
A use the same configuration as the signal terminal, but functionally are used to ground, not to transmit signals.) A slot is formed between the distal end of insulative housing
10
A and first and second distal terminal receiving cavities
50
A and
60
A for receiving ground element
40
A. A central portion of ground element
40
A contacts first and second ground terminals
20
A and
30
A, and two wings of ground element
40
A contact the upper and lower cover plates thereby electrically commoning the upper and lower cover plates.
However, ground element
40
A of the receptacle connector assembly
1
A utilizes a surface contact requiring specific and sensitive tolerances in order to contact first and second ground terminals
20
A and
30
A. Accordingly, this configuration has some disadvantages. For example, during manufacturing, the tolerances between first distal terminal receiving cavity
50
A and first ground terminal
20
A and second distal terminal receiving cavity
60
A and second ground terminal
30
A must be very accurate. If any of the tolerances is not accurate, ground element
40
A may not be effective in contacting the first or second ground terminals which could result in the cover plates not being at the same ground potential and damaging the electrical performance of the memory card.
Because the tolerances between the terminal receiving cavities and the ground terminals must be accurate, the manufacturing process becomes more difficult and costly in terms of time and money.
It would be desirable if the above problem inherent in the prior art could be resolved. This problem is addressed and resolved by the present invention as set forth below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector assembly for an electronic memory card in which the receptacle connector assembly is effective in providing and maintaining an improved ground connection between cover plates of the memory card and avoid problems such as intermittencies due to sensitive manufacturing and assembly tolerances.
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention according to one aspect thereof provides a receptacle connector assembly for an electronic memory card connector, wherein the card includes upper and lower cover plates, and a receptacle connector assembly is positioned between the cover plates. The receptacle connector assembly comprises an insulative housing having two rows of terminal receiving cavities including distal terminal receiving cavities at at least one end of each row. The distal terminal receiving cavities include first and second partitions defining first and second ground terminal receiving cavities on one side, and a single insertion slot on the other side. The first and second partitions are each formed with a cutout. Signal terminals are received in the terminal receiving cavities. A first ground terminal is received in the first ground terminal receiving cavity. A second ground terminal is received in the second ground terminal receiving cavity. A ground element is received in the insertion slot and includes a body, two wings extending from opposite ends of the body, and first and second resilient contacts extending from the body inward of the wings. When the ground element is properly positioned in the housing the wings are positioned at opposite ends of the insertion slot and contact the upper and lower cover plates to electrically ground the plates to a common potential, and the first and second resilient contacts contact the first and second ground terminals, respectively.
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patent: 5934941 (1999-08-01), Hirai et al.
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patent: 6247967 (2001-06-01), Wu et al.
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patent: 6540556 (2003-04-01), Fu
Caldwell Stacey E.
Molex Incorporated
Patel Tulsidas C.
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