U.S. patent application number 10/101292 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-26 for card ejection mechanism for electronic card connector.
Invention is credited to Chen, Ming-Ching.
Application Number | 20030119350 10/101292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21687841 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030119350 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Ming-Ching |
June 26, 2003 |
CARD EJECTION MECHANISM FOR ELECTRONIC CARD CONNECTOR
Abstract
An ejection mechanism for an electronic card connector includes
a guiding structure (20), a lid (22), a slide rod (24), a slide
block (26), an elastic element (27) and a retaining assembly (28).
The guiding structure is formed in a housing of the connector. The
guiding structure includes a recess (201) and an arcuate island
(200) formed in a middle of the recess. A protrusion (144) is
formed by the housing and protrudes in the recess. A second end
(244) of the slide rod is slidably fitted in the recess.
Inventors: |
Chen, Ming-Ching; (Tu-Chen,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEI TE CHUNG
FOXCONN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1650 MEMOREX DRIVE
SANTA CLARA
CA
95050
US
|
Family ID: |
21687841 |
Appl. No.: |
10/101292 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 13/0806 20130101;
G06K 13/085 20130101; G06K 13/0825 20130101; H01R 13/635
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/159 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 26, 2001 |
TW |
90222977 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A card ejection mechanism for an electronic card connector,
comprising: an elastic element; a slide block connecting with the
elastic element, the slide block defining a fixing opening, the
slide block being moved by the card and compressing the elastic
element when the card is inserted into the connector; a slide rod
having first and second ends, the first end being secured in the
fixing opening of the slide block; and a guiding structure formed
in a housing of the connector, the guiding structure including a
recess and an arcuate island formed in a middle of the recess, a
protrusion formed by the housing protruding in the recess, the
second end of the slide rod being slidably fitted in the recess;
wherein when an electronic card is fully inserted, the second end
resiliently presses against the protrusion.
2. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess of the
guiding structure has a generally sea horse shaped contour.
3. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card ejection
mechanism further includes a lid covering the guiding structure for
preventing the second end of the slide rod from escaping from the
recess.
4. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card ejection
mechanism further includes retaining means for securely retaining
the card ejection mechanism in the housing.
5. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the retaining means
comprises a base and a pin, the base connecting with the elastic
element such that the elastic element is disposed between the base
and the slide block, the pin fitting in the housing and the
base.
6. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic element
is a compression spring.
7. An electronic card connector comprising: a housing defining a
receiving space therein for receiving an electronic card, and
further defining a receiving cavity; a contact module secured in
the housing; and ejection means received in the receiving cavity of
the housing for facilitating ejection of the card, the ejection
means including: an elastic element; a slide block connecting with
the elastic element, the slide block defining a fixing opening, the
slide block being moved by the card and compressing the elastic
element when the card is inserted into the connector; a slide rod
having first and second ends, the first end being secured in the
fixing opening of the slide block; and a guiding structure formed
in the housing of the connector, the guiding structure including a
recess and an arcuate island formed in a middle of the recess, a
protrusion formed by the housing protruding in the recess, the
second end of the slide rod being slidably fitted in the
recess.
8. The connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing
comprises a top wall and a bottom wall, the contact module being
secured in the bottom wall of the housing.
9. The connector as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a
detecting device for detecting whether the card is inserted into
the connector, the detecting device comprising two contacts.
10. An electrical card connector comprising: a housing with
contacts therein; an ejection mechanism provided in the housing,
said ejection mechanism including: a sea horse like guiding
structure including a recess (201) with an arcuate island (200)
formed in a middle of the recess (201), said recess (201) including
a tail portion (202), a back portion (203), a top portion (204), a
face portion (205), a jaw portion (206) and an abdomen portion
(207) together constituting a continuous cyclic path; a slide block
moveable relative to the housing; a slide rod with one end thereof
receivably moving along said recess; and an elastic element
constantly urging said slide block; wherein a tip of said tail
portion (202) and the jaw portion (206) are two retaining positions
for said end to hold said slide block in retaining positions
relative to the housing; wherein said jaw portion (206) is located
around a neck of a sea horse configuration of said sea horse like
guiding structure, where said end of the slide rod is retainably
located to define an inner position of the slide block relative to
the housing, and alternately said end of the slide rod is
retainably located at the tip of said tail portion (207) to define
an outer position of the slide block relative to the housing.
11. The connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein said recess is
formed in the housing rather than said slide block.
12. The connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the other end of
said slide rod is fastened to said slide block.
13. The connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein said elastic
element is a compressed coil spring urging the slide block
rearwardly constantly.
14. The connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the end of the
slide starts from the tip of the tail portion (202), through the
back portion (203), the top portion (204), the face portion (205)
and ends at the jaw portion (206) when said slide block moves from
the outer position to the inner position relative to the housing,
while starts from the jaw portion (206), via the abdomen portion
(207) and ends at said tip of the tail portion (207) when said
slide block moves from the inner position to the outer position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a co-pending application of patent
application with an unknown Ser. No. filed on Mar. 18, 2002,
entitled ELECTRONIC CARD CONNECTOR AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING SAME,
invented by the same inventor and assigned to the same assignee of
this application. The disclosure of the related application is
wholly incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to electronic card connectors,
and more particularly to a card ejection mechanism for an
electronic card connector which has a guiding structure with a
generally sea horse shaped contour.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] As electronics technology advances, electronic cards are
being more widely used with electronic devices such as mobile
phones, personal computers, notebooks, and personal digital
assistants (PDAs). Electronic card connectors are adapted to
connect electronic cards with the electronic devices, so that
processing units in the devices can access information stored in
the electronic cards. The electronic card may be removed and
replaced with another electronic card; for example, when a
different user wants to have access to the same electronic device.
Card ejection mechanisms are thus used in the connectors for
allowing convenient manual changeover of electronic cards when
required.
[0006] An example of a conventional card connector is disclosed in
Japan Patent Application No. 2000-2664. With reference to FIG. 1,
the conventional card connector comprises an upper housing (not
shown), a lower housing 14', a plurality of contacts (not shown),
and a card ejector 2'. The card ejector 2' includes a spring 27', a
slide arm 26', and a slide lever 24' attached to the slide arm 26'.
A heart-shaped block 200' and a corresponding heart-shaped groove
201' surrounding the block 200' are formed in the slide arm 26'.
The block 200' has a pit portion 203' and a tip portion 202'. The
slide lever 24' has an upper end 242' and a lower end 244'. In
operation of the ejector, the lower end 244' of the slide lever 24'
slides in the groove 201'. When a card (not shown) is fully
inserted into the connector, the lower end 244' engages in the pit
portion 203'. When the slide arm 26' is pushed, the lower end 244'
exits the pit portion 203', and the spring 27' pushes the slide arm
26' rearward to drive the inserted card to also move rearward.
Thus, the inserted card is ejected from the connector. However, the
heart-shaped block 200' and the corresponding heart-shaped groove
201' in the slide arm 26' cannot effectively position the slide
lever 24' in a desired position. Therefore the heart-shaped block
200' and the heart-shaped groove 201' occupy an unduly large
width.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a card
ejection mechanism for an electronic card connector that occupies a
relative small space and offers a stable engagement between the
ejection mechanism and the card connector.
[0008] To accomplish the above-mentioned object, an ejection
mechanism for an electronic card connector includes a guiding
structure, a lid, a slide rod, a slide block, an elastic element
and a retaining assembly. The guiding structure is formed in a
housing of the connector. The guiding structure includes a recess
and an arcuate island formed in a middle of the recess. A
protrusion is formed by the housing and protrudes in the recess. A
second end of the slide rod is slidably fitted in the recess.
[0009] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the
following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a
conventional card connector;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic card
connector in accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a card ejection
mechanism of the card connector of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an assembled view of FIG. 2; and
[0015] FIGS. 6-10 are top plan views of the card connector of FIG.
2, sequentially showing a track of an end of a slide rod sliding in
a recess of the card ejection mechanism of the card connector when
the card ejection mechanism is in operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] The present invention will now be introduced in detail by
referring to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3,
an electronic card connector comprises an insulative housing 1, an
ejection mechanism 2, a contact module 3 and a detecting device
4.
[0017] The housing 1 comprises a top wall 12, a bottom wall 14, a
receiving cavity 10, a top opening 15, and a receiving space 18 for
receiving an electronic card. The top opening 15 is defined in a
corner of the top wall 12. A stage 16 is formed in the top opening
15. A slot 162 is defined in the stage 16. A bottom opening 191 is
defined in a middle portion of the bottom wall 14, for receiving
the contact module 3. The receiving cavity 10 is for accommodating
the ejection mechanism 2 at a position adjacent a lateral side of
the housing 1. The receiving cavity 10 comprises a guiding groove
102, a first receiving groove 104, a first through hole 106, and a
second receiving groove 108. The first through hole 106 is defined
in the housing 1 above and below the first receiving groove 104,
and in communication with the first receiving groove 104.
[0018] The ejection mechanism 2 includes a guiding structure 20, a
lid 22, a slide rod 24, a slide block 26, an elastic element 27,
and a retaining assembly 28.
[0019] The guiding structure 20 is formed in the bottom wall 14 of
the housing 1. The guiding structure 20 includes a recess 201
defined in the bottom wall 14, and an arcuate island 200 formed in
a middle of the recess 201. In this embodiment, the recess 201 has
a generally sea horse shaped contour. In cooperation with the
island 200, the recess 201 comprises the following portions: a tail
portion 202, a back portion 203, a top portion 204, a face portion
205, a jaw portion 206, and an abdomen portion 207. The top portion
204 is disposed between and in communication with the back portion
203 and the face portion 205. The bottom wall 14 also forms a
protrusion 144 protruding into the jaw portion 206 adjacent the
abdomen portion 207 and opposite the island 200.
[0020] The lid 22 is used to cover the guiding structure 20 when
they are assembled into the housing 1. The lid 22 includes a
position tab 222 for inserting into the slot 162 of the housing 1,
and a solder pad (not labeled) for soldering to a printed circuit
board (PCB) on which the connector is mounted. Three independent
solder pads (not labeled) are for mounting to lateral sides of the
housing 1.
[0021] The slide rod 24 has a first end 242 and a second end 244.
Both ends 242, 244 are bent downwardly, with the second end 244
being for movably fitting in the recess 201 of the housing 1.
[0022] The slide block 26 has a generally Z-shaped configuration.
The slide block 26 includes a support arm 260 forming a flange 262,
a resisting arm 261 perpendicularly extending from a rear end of
the support arm 260 in a first direction, and a fixing arm 263
perpendicularly extending from a front end of the support arm 260
in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. A
fixing opening 265 is defined in the fixing arm 263, and a fixing
portion 267 of the fixing arm 263 is thus formed adjacent the
fixing opening 265. A first engaging pin 269 extends rearward from
the fixing arm 263, parallel to the support arm 260.
[0023] The elastic element 27 is preferably a helical compression
spring, a front end of which is for engaging with the first
engaging pin 269 of the slide block 26.
[0024] The retaining assembly 28 is used to fix the ejection
mechanism 2 in the housing 1. The retaining assembly 28 includes a
locking pin 280, a base portion 282 defining a second through hole
286, and a second engaging pin 284 for engaging with a rear end of
the elastic element 27.
[0025] The contact module 3 comprises two contact elements. Each
contact element has three contacts (not labeled) for transmitting
electronic signals between an electronic card inserted into the
connector and a mainframe incorporating the connector. The
detecting device 4 comprises two contacts for detecting whether the
electronic card is fully inserted into the connector. The detecting
device 4 is conventional, and further description thereof is
omitted herefrom for brevity.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows the ejection mechanism 2 fully assembled.
Assembly of the ejection mechanism 2 is well known by those skilled
in the art, therefore a detailed description thereof is omitted
herefrom.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, the ejection mechanism 2 is received in
the receiving cavity 10 of the housing 1. The flange 262 of the
support arm 260 slidably engages in the guiding groove 102 of the
receiving cavity 10, and the resisting arm 261 fits in the second
fixing groove 108 of the receiving cavity 10. The retaining portion
28 is fitted in the first fixing groove 104. The first through hole
106 of the receiving cavity 10 is aligned with the second through
hole 286 of the retaining portion 28. The locking pin 280 is
inserted into the first and second through holes 106, 286. The
ejection mechanism 2 is thus mounted into the housing 1. The
position tab 222 of the lid 22 is inserted into the slot 162 of the
stage 16 of the housing 1. The lid 22 is thus fixed in the top
opening 15, and covers the guiding structure 20 to prevent the
slide rod 24 from escaping from the housing 1.
[0028] FIGS. 6-10 sequentially show a track of the second end 244
of the slide rod 24 sliding in the recess 201 when the ejection
mechanism 2 is in operation. When the electronic card is not
inserted into the connector, the second end 244 of the slide rod 24
is retained in the tail portion 202 of the recess 201 of the
housing 1. When the electronic card is inserted, the resisting arm
261 is pushed inwardly, the slide block 26 drives the second end
244 to slide in the recess 201, and the elastic element 27 is
compressed. The second end 244 slides in a same direction along the
recess 201 past the back portion 203 and to the top portion 204.
Subsequently the second end 244 slides past the face portion 205
and into the jaw portion 206. When the electronic card is fully
inserted, the second end 244 resiliently presses against the
protrusion 144. When the electronic card is ejected, the electronic
card is manually pushed slightly forward. The ejection mechanism 2
releases the compression of the elastic element 27. The slide block
26 is moved forwardly. The second end 244 is freed from the
protrusion 144, and slides past the abdomen portion 207 to the tail
portion 202. The second end 244 thus returns to its original
position retained in the tail portion 202.
[0029] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *