Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Nonconducting pusher
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-13
2001-01-16
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Nonconducting pusher
C439S328000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174180
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the engagement of data cards with connectors and the ejection of the cards from the engaged position. It more particularly relates to a system of preventing unintended disengagement by mounting a latch member on the connector and biasing a blocking portion of the latch member into a pathway along which an ejector moves the card into an ejected position.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Data cards, such as compact flash cards, are used in various types of electronic devices. Such devices include notebook computers and various types of devices for reading bar codes and other symbologies. The reading devices include hand-held scanners and digital cameras. In hand-held bar code scanners, bar code data may be stored in a compact flash card preparatory to transfer to a host computer. The transfer may occur by wireless communication, i.e. radio frequency communication, an infrared signal, or use of a modem. Digital cameras are sometimes used for reading two-dimensional symbologies, which are in effect a two-dimensional version of the standard one-dimensional bar code. Digital cameras are also used for broader purposes, such as high quality photography of subjects unrelated to bar codes. In digital cameras, the picture may be stored in a compact flash card and later transferred to a computer for editing and printing. Compact flash cards and other types of data cards have a variety of known uses in notebook computers.
A problem that has been encountered in connection with the use of data cards is the inadvertent loss of data stored on the card. For example, a hand-held device might be dropped or in some other manner subjected to a shock during use of the device. The shock can cause unintended disconnection of the card from its connector. If the disconnection occurs during a card memory writing process, the entire memory will be erased. This results in data loss and the added expense of personnel time spent in recollecting the data. In some situations, it may not be possible to recollect the data. For example, in a warehouse environment, the data might include the identification of shipping units that have left the warehouse and are on their way to their destinations.
Currently available mounting mechanisms for data cards in hand-held bar code scanners and digital cameras have the drawback of not providing for protection against unintended disconnection of the data card when the device is subjected to shock, vibrations, or even an unintentional pull on the card. The conception of the present invention began with the applicant's recognition of the need for a mechanism that would prevent unintended disengagement of a data card from its connector and also allow or facilitate ejection of the card when removal is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A subject of the invention is an ejector and latch mechanism for a data card inserted in a device and releasably engaging a connector mounted in the device. As used herein, the term “device” is intended to include various types of devices including but not limited to hand-held bar code scanners, digital cameras, notebook computers, and any other hand-held devices which utilize data cards. The term “data card” includes compact flash cards, modem cards, memory cards, radio and other communications cards, and similar cards used in devices having electronic components.
According to an aspect of the invention, the mechanism comprises an ejector and a latch member. The ejector is operable to move an ejector member against a data card in engagement with the connector, to move the card along a pathway into an ejected position out of engagement with the connector. The latch member is mounted on the connector and has a blocking portion. The blocking portion has a latch position in which it extends into the pathway to block movement of the card out of engagement with the connector. It also has an unlatch position in which it is clear of the pathway to allow the card to move out of engagement with the connector into the ejected position.
Preferably, the blocking portion is biased into the latch position. The preferred form of the blocking portion comprises a leaf spring having a spring force that resists movement from the latch position to the unlatch position. A preferred feature is a latch member having a projection extending from the leaf spring and configured to be engaged by an operator to depress the leaf spring into the unlatch position.
The ejector portion of the combination preferably includes an ejector slide button slidably mounted on the connector. In embodiments in which the latch member includes a leaf spring with a projection thereon, the slide button is preferably mounted inwardly of and adjacent to the projection. In any case, the latch member or, if applicable, the leaf spring is preferably attached to the slide button to slide therewith. The slide button is engageable by an operator to slide the slide button inwardly.
In the preferred form of the ejector, the ejector member comprises a pivotally mounted lever having first and second ends and a pivot point between the ends. The lever is positioned so that the slide button engages the first end of the lever to move the first end inwardly as the slide button moves inwardly to cause the lever to pivot about its pivot point. As the lever pivots, its second end moves against the card to push the card outwardly into its ejected position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the mechanism comprises an ejector and a latch member. The ejector is operable to move the card along the pathway into an ejected position out of engagement with the connector. When not in operation, the ejector allows the card to move along the pathway toward the ejected position in response to an external shock. The latch member is mounted on the connector. It operates automatically to block movement of the card out of engagement with the connector, to provide a position latch action to maintain the card in engagement with the connector. The latch member is operable to disengage the positive latch action to allow the card to move out of engagement with the connector into the ejected position.
The preferred forms of the structures of the latch member and ejector are discussed above. The ejector preferably comprises a lever and a slide button. When an operator attempts to operate the ejector by sliding the slide button without disengaging the latch member, the positive latch action blocks movement of the card and thereby blocks sliding of the slide button and pivoting of the lever.
Another subject of the invention is a method of preventing unintended disengagement of a data card from a connector mounted in a device and allowing desired removal of the card. The device has an ejector that is operable to move the card along a pathway into an ejected position out of engagement with the connector. When not in operation, it allows the card to move along the pathway toward the ejected position in response to an external shock. According to an aspect of the invention, the method comprises mounting a latch member on the connector. A blocking portion of the latch member is biased into the pathway. When it is desired to remove the card from the device, the blocking portion is manually moved into an unlatch position out of the pathway. With the blocking portion in the unlatch position, the ejector is operated to move the card into the ejected position. The method is preferably practiced using the preferred forms of the ejector and latch member described above.
The apparatus and method of the invention solve the problem discussed above of unintended disengagement of data cards and possible consequent loss of data. The invention provides a positive interlock between the card and its connector. Therefore, disconnection of the card from the connector is prevented even if there is movement of the connector relative to other portions of the device. The invention thus provides effective and reliable protection against unintended disengagement of the card and consequent loss of data and added operator t
Abrams Neil
Intermec Technologies Corporation
Nasri Javaid
Pauly Joan H.
LandOfFree
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