U.S. patent application number 09/811385 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-04 for electrical connector with card-ejecting device.
Invention is credited to Chuang, Shun-Jung, Hsu, Chan-Ming, Liu, Wen-Yen, Wang, Fang-Ping, Wang, Leland.
Application Number | 20020038476 09/811385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21673287 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020038476 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang, Leland ; et
al. |
April 4, 2002 |
Electrical connector with card-ejecting device
Abstract
An electrical connector includes a base plate with an
accommodating groove, an integrated circuit board, and a
card-ejecting device. The accommodating groove has an open front
end and a closed rear end, and is adapted to receive a smart card
therein. The smart card has a front end extending from the front
end of the groove, and a rear end that is spaced apart from the
rear end of the groove at a small distance. When the front end of
the smart card is pressed inwardly to move the rear end of the
smart card to the rear end of the groove, and is subsequently
released, the card-ejecting device pushes the smart card outwardly
relative to the connector. Accordingly, the smart card can be
ejected with ease.
Inventors: |
Wang, Leland; (Taipei City,
TW) ; Liu, Wen-Yen; (Taoyuan Hsien, TW) ; Hsu,
Chan-Ming; (Chung-Li, City, TW) ; Wang,
Fang-Ping; (Hsinchu City, TW) ; Chuang,
Shun-Jung; (Ping-Chen City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER BOTTS LLP
C/O INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
THE WARNER, SUITE 1300
1299 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20004-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
21673287 |
Appl. No.: |
09/811385 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/415 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 13/0825 20130101;
G06K 13/0806 20130101; G06K 13/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/415 |
International
Class: |
E03D 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 29, 2000 |
TW |
089216936 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An electrical connector adapted for insertion of a smart card
therein, the smart card having a front end and a rear end, said
electrical connector comprising: an elongated base plate having a
first side surface, a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right
side, and an accommodating groove that is formed in said first side
surface of said base plate and that extends from said front end of
said base plate to said rear end of said base plate, said groove
having an open front end and a closed rear end and being adapted to
receive the smart card therein in such a manner that the smart card
is disposed at a retracted position, where the front end of the
smart card extends from said open front end of said groove and
where a space is present between the rear end of the smart card and
said closed rear end of said groove; an integrated circuit board
connected fixedly to said base plate and including a first side
surface, a second side surface that is opposite to said first side
surface of said integrated circuit board and that abuts against
said first side surface of said base plate in such a manner that
said base plate and said integrated circuit board are adapted to be
disposed generally parallel to the smart card, a plurality of pin
holes that are formed through said integrated circuit board, and a
plurality of terminal pins that are fastened to said first side
surface of said integrated circuit board, said terminal pins
extending through said pin holes and projecting from said second
side surface of said integrated circuit board so as to be adapted
to connect electrically with the smart card when the smart card is
disposed at the retracted position; and a card-ejecting device
adapted to push the smart card outwardly relative to said groove to
an extended portion in a longitudinal direction of said base plate
when the front end of the smart card is pressed inwardly within
said groove to move the rear end of the smart card to said closed
rear end of said groove, and is subsequently released, said
card-ejecting device including a slide slot formed in said right
side of said base plate and extending along length of said base
plate; a movable member, which is formed with an integral
positioning element that is adapted to abut against the rear end of
the smart card so as to move said movable member and the smart card
synchronously when the smart card is pressed inwardly relative to
said base plate, said movable member being retained at a first
position, where the smart card is disposed at the retracted
position, and being moved, when the front end of the smart card is
pressed inwardly relative to said base plate to move the rear end
of the smart card to said closed rear end of said groove and is
subsequently released, to a second position, where the smart card
is disposed at the extended position so as to disconnect
electrically from said pins and where the front end of the smart
card can be pressed inwardly once again relative to said base plate
to move the rear end of the smart card to said closed rear end of
said groove, and subsequently released, thereby biasing the smart
card to the retracted position by means of said card-ejecting
device, said movable member being disposed slidably within said
slide slot and being slidable relative to said base plate in the
longitudinal direction of said base plate, said movable member
being formed with an integral first resilient arm; a spring
disposed between said movable member and said base plate for
biasing said movable member to move forward on said base plate; a
link rod having a front end that is connected pivotally to said
movable member, and a rear end with an integral tongue that extends
perpendicularly therefrom, said first resilient arm of said movable
member pressing against said link rod, thereby biasing said link
rod to rotate in a predetermined direction; and a guide slot formed
in said first side surface of said base plate for receiving said
tongue of said link rod slidably therein, said guide slot having an
annular slot portion and a longitudinal front slot portion that
extends forward from a portion of said annular slot portion and
that has a rear end, and a closed front end, said tongue of said
link rod being biased by said spring to said front end of said
longitudinal front slot portion when said movable member is located
at said second position, said annular slot portion having a
generally straight left slot portion extending rearward and
leftward from said rear end of said longitudinal front slot portion
and having a rear end, a generally V-shaped rear slot portion
extending rightward from said rear end of said left slot portion
and having a left end, a right end, and a curved middle portion
that is located midway between and in front of said left and right
ends, said tongue of said link rod being disposed at said curved
middle portion when said movable member is located at said first
position, and a generally straight right slot portion extending
forwardly and rightward from said right end of said rear slot
portion to said rear end of said longitudinal front slot portion,
said tongue being movable from said curved middle portion of said
V-shaped rear slot portion to said right end of said V-shaped rear
slot portion by pressing inward the front end of the smart card so
as to move the rear end of the smart card to said closed rear end
of said groove, after which said tongue is biased, upon release of
the smart card, by said spring and said first resilient arm to said
front end of said longitudinal front slot portion via said right
slot portion, said tongue being movable from said longitudinal
front slot portion to said left end of said V-shaped rear slot
portion via said left slot portion by pressing inward the front end
of the smart card so as to move the rear end of the smart card to
said closed rear end of said groove, after which said tongue is
biased, upon release of the smart card, by said spring and said
first resilient arm to said curved middle portion of said V-shaped
rear slot portion.
2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
movable member is made of metal, said positioning element being
shaped as a plate, which is parallel to said base plate and which
is formed with a pressed abutment portion that extends into said
groove and that is adapted to abut against the rear end of the
smart card.
3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
movable member is formed with an integral second resilient arm,
said first and second resilient arms abutting against two opposite
sides of said link rod with no pressure being applied by said first
and second resilient arms to said link rod when said movable member
is disposed at said second position, in such a manner to direct
said link rod toward a junction between said left slot portion and
said longitudinal front slot portion, thereby guiding said tongue
to move into said left slot portion when said movable member is
moved from said second position to said first position.
4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
right end of said V-shaped rear slot portion is generally in line
with said longitudinal front slot portion, whereby, when said
tongue moves along said left slot portion, said first resilient arm
flexes relative to said positioning element so as to generate a
restoration force, which biases said tongue to move from said left
end of said V-shaped rear slot portion to said curved middle
portion of said V-shaped rear slot portion, and subsequently from
said curved middle portion of said V-shaped rear slot portion to
said right end of said V-shaped rear slot portion.
5. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a cover plate, which is mounted fixedly on said base
plate and which is parallel to said base plate so as to confine
said integrated circuit board between said base plate and said
cover plate, thereby preventing removal of said movable member from
said slide slot in said base plate.
6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
integrated circuit board is formed with a plurality of positioning
holes therethrough, said first side surface of said base plate
being formed with a plurality of integral projections that engage
respectively said positioning holes in said integrated circuit
board, thereby positioning said integrated circuit board relative
to said base plate.
7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
cover plate has a front side, which is formed with a trapezoid
notch at a middle portion thereof that is adjacent to said open
front end of said groove and that is adapted to facilitate
insertion of the smart card into said groove.
8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
base plate is generally rectangular, and has two long sides and two
short sides, said front end of said base plate having a curved
notch formed in one of said short sides, which is aligned with said
trapezoid notch in said cover plate, thereby further facilitating
the insertion of the smart card into said groove.
9. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
first side surface of said base plate has two inclined guiding
faces, which are formed on said one of said short sides and which
are located on two sides of said curved notch, thereby further
facilitating the insertion of the smart card into said groove.
10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
base plate is formed with two aligned integral limiting elements,
which extend respectively from said left and right sides toward
each other and which define said open front end of said groove
between said base plate and said limiting elements.
11. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
integrated circuit board has a through hole that is formed
therethrough, said cover plate being formed with an integral
pressing arm that extends through said through hole in said
integrated circuit board and that is adapted to press the smart
card against said base plate.
12. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
base plate is formed with a plurality of retaining holes along an
outer periphery thereof, said cover plate being formed integrally
with a plurality of L-shaped clamping sheets that engage
respectively said retaining holes so as to clamp said base plate
and said board between said cover plate and said clamping sheets,
thereby interconnecting said base plate and said cover plate
fixedly.
13. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
integrated circuit board includes a ribbon cable that is attached
thereto and that is in electrical contact with said pins for data
transmission.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an electrical connector for a
smart card, more particularly to an electrical connector, which is
provided with a card-ejecting device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional electrical
connector 100 for a smart card 16 is shown to include an insulator
body 11, a cover 13, and an integrated circuit board 15, which are
rectangular. The insulator body 11 has two rectangular holes 111,
within which a plurality of terminal pins 113 are disposed, a
plurality of projecting posts 115, and a plurality of notches 117
that are formed in short sides of the insulator body 11. The cover
plate 13 includes a plurality of holes 131 that are formed
therethrough and that engage the posts 115 of the insulator body
11, and a plurality of projecting posts 133 that project integrally
from the cover plate 13 and that extend through the notches 117 in
the insulator body 11 to engage holes 153 in the integrated circuit
board 15. The board 15 is formed with a plurality of small holes
151 for insertion of the pins 113 therein. A card-receiving space
14 (see FIG. 2) is formed between the cover plate 13 and the
insulator body 11. When it is desired to remove the smart card 16
from the connector 100, an ejecting rod (not shown) is inserted
into the space 14 so as to push the smart card 16 outwardly from
the connector 100, thereby resulting in inconvenience to the
user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of this invention is to provide an electrical
connector with a card-ejecting device, which can push a smart card
outwardly relative to the connector when the card is pressed
inwardly to move a small distance within the connector and is
subsequently released.
[0006] According to this invention, an electrical connector
includes a base plate with an accommodating groove, an integrated
circuit board, and a card-ejecting device. The accommodating groove
has an open front end and a closed rear end, and is adapted to
receive a smart card therein. The smart card has a front end
extending from the front end of the groove, and a rear end that is
spaced apart from the rear end of the groove at a small distance.
When the front end of the smart card is pressed inwardly to move
the rear end of the smart card to the rear end of the groove, and
is subsequently released, the card-ejecting device pushes the smart
card outwardly relative to the connector. Accordingly, the smart
card can be ejected with ease.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features and advantages of this invention
will become apparent in the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a
conventional electrical connector for a smart card;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional electrical
connector shown in FIG. 1, illustrating how a smart card is
inserted therein;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of the
preferred embodiment of an electrical connector for a smart card
according to this invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred
embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment,
illustrating how the smart card is disposed at a retracted
position, where the smart card is in electrical connection with a
plurality of terminal pins of an integrated circuit board;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred
embodiment, illustrating how the smart card is disposed at an
extended position;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred
embodiment, illustrating how a sliding tongue is moved in a guide
slot when the smart card is pressed inwardly within an
accommodating groove in order to move the smart card from the
extended position to the retracted position;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred
embodiment, illustrating where the tongue is located in the guide
slot when the smart card is pressed inwardly to its rear limit
position in order to move the smart card from the extended position
to the retracted position;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred
embodiment, illustrating how the tongue is biased, upon release of
the smart card, by a coiled tension spring from the position shown
in FIG. 8 to a curved middle portion of a generally V-shaped rear
slot portion of the guide slot so as to retain the smart card at
the retracted position;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred
embodiment, illustrating where the tongue is located in the guide
slot when the rear end of the smart card is moved to its rear limit
position in order to move the smart card from the retracted
position to the extended position;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a schematic fragmentary view of the preferred
embodiment, illustrating how the tongue is biased, upon release of
the smart card, from the position shown in FIG. 10 to a right slot
portion of the guide slot; and
[0019] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment,
illustrating how the smart card is disposed at the extended
position, where the smart card is disconnected electrically from
the terminal pins of the integrated circuit board.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of
an electrical connector according to this invention is shown to
include an elongated base plate 3, an integrated circuit board 4, a
card-ejecting device 5, and a cover plate 7. The electrical
connector is adapted for insertion of a smart card 20 therein.
[0021] The base plate 3 has a first side surface 30, a front end
31, a left side (32L), a right side (32R), a rear end 33, a
plurality of retaining holes 34, an accommodating groove 35, a
plurality of integral projections 37, and two aligned integral
limiting elements 38. The retaining holes 34 are formed along an
outer periphery of the plate 3. The groove 35 is formed in the
first side surface 30, and extends from the front end 31 of the
plate 3 to the rear end 33 of the plate 3. The limiting elements 38
extend respectively from the left and right sides (32L, 32R) toward
each other, and define an open front end (35F) of the groove 35
between the plate 3 and the limiting elements 38. The smart card 20
is disposed at a retracted position shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, where a
front end 21 of the smart card 20 extends from the open front end
(35F) of the groove 35 and where a space 39 is present between a
rear end 22 of the smart card 20 and a closed rear end (35R) of the
groove 35. As illustrated, the rear end 22 is spaced apart from the
rear end (35R) at only a small distance. The plate 3 is generally
rectangular, and has two long sides, two short sides, and a curved
notch 115 formed in one of the short sides, thereby facilitating
insertion of the smart card 20 into the groove 35. On two sides of
the curved notch 315, two inclined guiding faces 313 are formed on
the first side surface 30 of the plate 3, thereby further
facilitating the insertion of the smart card 20 into the groove
35.
[0022] The integrated circuit board 4 includes a first side surface
41, and a second side surface 43 that is opposite to the first side
surface 41 and that abuts against the first side surface 30 of the
base plate 3. The base plate 3 and the board 4 are adapted to be
disposed generally parallel to the smart card 20. The board 4
further includes a plurality of pin holes 451, 452, 453, a
plurality of positioning holes 456, a plurality of positioning
notches 457, and a plurality of terminal pins 47 that are fastened
to the first side surface 41 and that are in electrical contact
with a ribbon cable 48 for data transmission. The cable is attached
to the board 4, and is in electrical connection with an electronic
device (not shown), such as a mother board of a computer. The
positioning holes and notches 456, 457 engage respectively the
projections 37 of the base plate 3, thereby positioning the board 4
on the plate 3. The pins 47 extend through the pin holes 451, 452,
453, and project from the second side surface 43.
[0023] The card-ejecting device 5 includes a metal movable member
51, which is formed with an integral positioning element 511 that
is shaped as a plate and that is parallel to the plate 3. The
positioning element 511 is formed with a pressed abutment portion
513 that extends into the groove 35 and that is adapted to abut
against the rear end 22 of the smart card 20. The movable member 51
is formed with an integral sliding element 512 which has an
inverted L-shaped crosssection and which is disposed slidably
within a slide slot 321 that is formed in the right side (32R) of
the plate 3 and that extends along the length of the plate 3. As
such, when the smart card 20 is pressed inwardly in the groove 35
in a longitudinal direction of the plate 3, the movable member 51
moves synchronously with the smart card 20. When the smart card 20
is located at the retracted position shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the
movable member 51 is disposed at a first position, where resilient
contacts 471 of the pins 47 are in electrical connection with a
conductive plate 201 of the smart card 20.
[0024] The cover plate 7 is made of a metal, and includes a front
end 71, an opening 72, a rear end 73, an integral pressing arm 75,
two integral side walls 76, and a plurality of clamping sheets 77
that engage respectively the retaining holes 34 in the base plate 3
and that are straight before assembly of the connector, as shown in
FIG. 3. During assembly, the clamping sheets 77 are bent into an
L-shape, thereby clamping the base plate 3 and the board 4 between
the cover plate 7 and the clamping sheets 77. As such, the base
plate 3 and the cover plate 7 are interconnected fixedly so as to
confine the board 4 between the base plate 3 and the cover plate 7
and thereby preventing removal of the movable member 51 from the
slide slot 321 in the plate 3, as shown in FIG. 4. The pressing arm
75 extends through a through hole 454 in the board 4, and is
adapted to press the smart card 20 against the plate 3. When the
smart card 20 is disposed at the retracted position, the pins 47
are positioned within the opening 72, thereby preventing electrical
contact between the cover plate 7 and the pins 47. The cover plate
7 has a front side, which is formed with a trapezoid notch 711 at a
middle portion thereof that is adjacent to the open front end (35F)
of the groove 35 and that is aligned with the curved notch 315 in
the base plate 3, thereby further facilitating the insertion of the
smart card 20 into the groove 35.
[0025] The movable member 51 is formed with a pair of generally
straight integral first and second resilient arms 515, 517, which
extend respectively from the positioning element 511 and the
sliding element 512. The card-ejecting device 5 further includes a
coiled tension spring 53, a link rod 55, and a guide slot 57. The
spring 53 is disposed between the movable member 51 and the base
plate 3 for biasing the movable member 51 to move forward on the
base plate 3. The link rod 55 is disposed between the first and
second resilient arms 515, 517, and has a front end that is
connected pivotally to the movable member 51, and a rear end with
an integral sliding tongue 551 (see FIG. 6) that extends
perpendicularly therefrom.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, the guide slot 57 is formed in the
first side surface 30 of the base plate 3 for receiving the tongue
551 of the link rod 55 slidably therein, and has an annular slot
portion and a longitudinal front slot portion 571. The annular slot
portion includes a generally V-shaped rear slot portion 573, and a
pair of generally straight left and right slot portions 575, 576.
The longitudinal front slot portion 571 extends forward from a
front end portion of the left slot portion 575, and has a closed
front end 577. The left slot portion 575 extends rearward and
leftward from a rear end of the longitudinal front slot portion
571. The generally V-shaped rear slot portion 573 extends rightward
from a rear end of the left slot portion 575, and has a left end
578, a right end 579 that is generally in line with the
longitudinal front slot portion 571, and a curved middle portion
580 that is located midway between and in front of the left and
right ends 578, 579. The right slot portion 576 extends forwardly
and rightward from the right end 579 of the rear slot portion 573
to the rear end of the longitudinal front slot portion 571.
[0027] The guiding action of the guide slot 57 and the biasing
actions of the spring 53 and the first resilient arm 515 are
described in the succeeding paragraphs.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, when the movable member 51 is
located at a first position, because the spring 53 is stretched so
as to generate a restoration force that biases the movable member
51 forwardly, the tongue 551 is biased by the spring 53 to the
curved middle portion 580. In this situation, the first resilient
arm 515 is pressed by the link rod 55 to flex relative to the
positioning element 511, and thus generates a restoration force
that biases the tongue 551 to the right. When it is desired to
eject the smart card 20, the front end 21 of the smart card 20 is
pressed inwardly until the rear end 22 of the smart card 20 arrives
at the rear end (35R) of the groove 35, i.e. a rear limit position
of the smart card 20, thereby moving the tongue 551 to the right
end 579 of the V-shaped rear slot portion 573 with the assistance
of the flexed first resilient arm 515, as shown in FIG. 10.
Thereafter, the smart card 20 is released so that the tongue 551 is
pulled by the spring 53 to the right slot portion 576, as shown in
FIG. 11, and subsequently to the closed front end 577 (see FIG. 6)
of the longitudinal front slot portion 571, as shown in FIG. 6, in
a direction shown by an arrowhead (A) in FIG. 6 by virtue of the
biasing forces of the first resilient arm 515 and the spring 53.
When the tongue 551 moves to the position shown in FIG. 6, the
movable member 51 moves to a second position so that the smart card
20 is moved by the abutment portion 513 of the positioning element
511 to an extended position shown in FIG. 12, where the conductive
plate 201 (see FIG. 12) is disconnected electrically from the pins
47 and where the first and second resilient arms 515, 517 abut
respectively against two opposite sides of the link rod 55 with no
pressure being applied thereby to the link rod 55. As such, the
link rod 55 extends toward the junction between the longitudinal
front slot portion 571 and the left slot portion 575. When the
smart card 20 is located at the extended position shown in FIG. 12,
it can be taken easily out from the electrical connector.
[0029] When it is desired to connect the smart card 20 electrically
to the pins 47, the smart card 20 is inserted into the groove 35
until the rear end 22 of the smart card 20 contacts the abutment
portion 513 of the positioning element 511. That is to say, the
smart card 20 is placed at the extended position. Then, the smart
card 20 is pressed inwardly from the extended position shown in
FIG. 12 so as to move the tongue 551 into the left slot portion 575
in a direction shown by an arrowhead (B) in FIG. 6 by virtue of the
guidance of the first and second resilient arms 515, 517. When the
tongue 551 moves to the rear end of the left slot portion 575, as
shown in FIG. 7, the first resilient arm 515 is pressed by the link
rod 55 to flex relative to the positioning element 511 so as to
generate a restoration force that biases the link rod 55 to rotate
clockwise, thereby moving the tongue 551 to the left end 578 of the
V-shaped rear slot portion 571, as shown in FIG. 8, in which the
rear end 22 of the smart card 20 reaches the rear end (35R) of the
groove 35, i.e. the rear limit position of the smart card 20,
thereby preventing further rearward movement of the smart card 20
on the base plate 3. Subsequently, the smart card 20 is released so
that the tongue 551 is moved by the spring 53 and the flexed first
resilient arm 515 to the curved middle portion 580 of the V-shaped
rear slot portion 573, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0030] As described above, in order to move the smart card 20 from
one of the extended and retracted positions to the other one, the
steps needed to be performed include only pressing the smart card
20 to its rear limit position and subsequently releasing the same.
Accordingly, electrical connection and disconnection of the smart
card 20 can be accomplished easily by means of the electrical
connector of this invention.
[0031] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that
numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing
the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended
that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended
claims.
* * * * *