U.S. patent application number 11/706229 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for memory card adaptor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hosiden Corporation. Invention is credited to Yasuo Nakai, Akihiro Tanaka.
Application Number | 20070190836 11/706229 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37998307 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070190836 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanaka; Akihiro ; et
al. |
August 16, 2007 |
Memory card adaptor
Abstract
The present invention relates to a memory card adaptor which
enables a small memory card to be used in a card connector for a
large memory card that is larger than the small memory card. Even a
contact spring piece portion of the different shape can maintain
stable contact with a terminal 303a of a micro SD card.
Inventors: |
Tanaka; Akihiro; (Osaka,
JP) ; Nakai; Yasuo; (Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE, FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Hosiden Corporation
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
37998307 |
Appl. No.: |
11/706229 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/0021 20130101;
G06K 19/07743 20130101; G06K 19/07741 20130101; G06K 19/07732
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/159 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/62 20060101
H01R013/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 15, 2006 |
JP |
2006-037365 |
Claims
1. A memory card adaptor comprising: an adaptor body which is
configured by a base, and a cover covering said base, and in which
a card insertion port into which a small memory card is to be
inserted is disposed in a front side face, a card attaching portion
which communicates with said card insertion port, and to which a
small memory card is to be attached is disposed in an inner front
portion, and outer dimensions are identical with outer dimensions
of a large memory card that is larger than the small memory card;
and an electrical connection part between the small memory card and
a card connector for the large memory card, said electrical
connection part being a composite part configured by an insulative
member and plural conductive members, and formed by insert molding,
said insulative member being housed in an inner rear portion of
said adaptor body, cantilevered front end portions of said
conductive members being protruded from said insulative member into
said card attaching portion, and forming contact spring piece
portions which are to be elastically contacted with terminals of
the small memory card attached to said card attaching portion, rear
end portions of said conductive members being exposed from a rear
face side of a rear end portion of said adaptor body, and forming
contact piece portions with which terminals of the card connector
for the large memory card are to be elastically contacted, at least
one of said contact spring piece portions being formed into a
different shape not by a front end portion of a conductive member
protruded from said insulative member into said card attaching
portion of said adaptor body in a straight manner in a plan view,
but by a front end portion of a conductive member protruded in an
L-like shape, wherein said memory card adaptor further comprises a
resin-made pressing member which interposes a root part of said
contact spring piece portion of the different shape between said
pressing member and said adaptor body.
2. A memory card adaptor according to claim 1, wherein a plug
portion which is fitted into a tool insertion hole is disposed
integrally in said the pressing member, said tool insertion hole
being formed in said insulative member when insert molding is
performed on said insulative member and said plural conductive
members in a state where said conductive members are integrally
coupled to a hoop material, and being used for, after the insert
molding, cutting off unwanted coupling portions of plural
conductive members in an integrally coupled state.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Filed of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a memory card adaptor which
enables a small memory card to be used in a card connector for a
large memory card that is larger than the small memory card.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application
Laying-Open No. 2005-243277, a memory card adaptor comprising: a
adaptor body having outer dimensions which are identical with those
of a large memory card that is larger than a small memory card; and
an electrical connection part between a small memory card and a
card connector for a large memory card is known. In the adaptor
body, upper and lower case members are fitted to each other, a card
insertion port into which a small memory card is to be inserted is
disposed in a front side face, and a card attaching portion which
communicates with the card insertion port, and to which a small
memory card is to be attached is disposed in an inner front
portion. The electrical connection part is a composite part
configured by an insulative member and plural conductive members,
and formed by insert molding. The insulative member is housed in an
inner rear portion of the adaptor body. In each of the conductive
members, a cantilevered front end portion that is protruded from
the insulative member into the card attaching portion forms a
contact spring piece portion which is to be elastically contacted
with a terminal of a small memory card attached to the card
attaching portion, and a rear end portion which is exposed from the
rear face side of a rear end portion of the adaptor body forms a
contact piece portion which is to be elastically contacted with a
terminal of the card connector for a large memory card.
[0005] The electrical connection part is produced in the following
manner. Plural conductive members are formed in a state where the
members are integrally coupled to a hoop material. The plural
conductive members in the state where they are integrally coupled
are insert-molded, thereby forming an insulative member.
Thereafter, unwanted coupling portions of the plural conductive
members in the state where they are integrally coupled are cut off
through tool insertion holes which are disposed on the insulative
member in the molding process in portions corresponding to the
coupling portions. Finally, the electrical connection part is
separated from the hoop material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with kinds of memory card adaptors,
arrangement states of contact spring piece portions and contact
piece portions of conductive members, and shapes of insulative
members are different. Depending on arrangement states of contact
spring piece portions and contact piece portions of conductive
members, and shapes of insulative members, there is a case where a
front end part of the conductive members fails to be protruded from
the insulative member into the card attaching portion of the
adaptor body in a straight manner in a plan view, and are protruded
in an L-like shape in a plan view. When a force is applied on a
contact spring piece portion of a different shape (L-like shape)
formed by one end portion of the conductive member which is
protruded in an L-like shape from the insulative member into the
card attaching portion of the adaptor body, stress is applied
concentrically on a root part, and a force acts in a direction
along which the root part is twisted. Unlike the other contact
spring piece portions (contact spring piece portions formed by
one-end portions of the conductive members which are protruded from
the insulative member into the card attaching portion of the
adaptor body in a straight manner in a plan view), therefore, the
root part of the contact spring piece portion of the different
shape is subjected to a very large load. Accordingly, there is the
possibility that the root part of the contact spring piece portion
of the different shape which is joined to the conductive member by
the thickness thereof is separated off (peeled off) from the
conductive member. When the strength reduction occurs only in the
contact spring piece portion of the different shape, the spring
force is reduced. As a result, the contact spring piece portion
produces a spring force which is different from (smaller than)
spring forces of the other contact spring piece portions, and it is
difficult to maintain stable contact (electrical connection) with a
small memory card attached to the adaptor body.
[0007] The invention has been conducted in view of the problem. It
is an object of the invention to provide a memory card adaptor in
which even a contact spring piece portion of a different shape can
maintain stable contact with a small memory card.
[0008] In order to attain the object, the invention provides a
memory card adaptor comprising: an adaptor body which is configured
by a base, and a cover covering the base, and in which a card
insertion port into which a small memory card is to be inserted is
disposed in a front side face, a card attaching portion which
communicates with the card insertion port, and to which a small
memory card is to be attached is disposed in an inner front
portion, and outer dimensions thereof are identical with outer
dimensions of a large memory card that is larger than the small
memory card; and an electrical connection part between the small
memory card and a card connector for the large memory card, the
electrical connection part being a composite part configured by an
insulative member and plural conductive members, and formed by
insert molding, the insulative member being housed in an inner rear
portion of the adaptor body, cantilevered front end portions of the
conductive members being protruded from the insulative member into
the card attaching portion, and forming contact spring piece
portions which are to be elastically contacted with terminals of
the small memory card attached to the card attaching portion, rear
end portions of the conductive members being exposed from a rear
face side of a rear end portion of the adaptor body, and forming
contact piece portions with which terminals of the card connector
for the large memory card are to be elastically contacted, at least
one of the contact spring piece portions being formed into a
different shape not by a front end portion of a conductive member
protruded from the insulative member into the card attaching
portion of the adaptor body in a straight manner in a plan view,
but by a front end portion of a conductive member protruded in an
L-like shape, wherein the memory card adaptor further comprises a
resin-made pressing member which interposes a root part of the
contact spring piece portion of the different shape between the
pressing member and the adaptor body. Since the contact spring
piece portion of the different shape is caused by the pressing
member to be interposed between the pressing member and the adaptor
body, a force acting in a direction along which the root part is
twisted is not produced, and the strength and spring force of the
contact spring piece portion are substantially identical with those
of the other the contact spring piece portions. Therefore, even a
contact spring piece portion of a different shape can maintain
stable contact with a small memory card.
[0009] In the invention, preferably, a plug portion which is fitted
into a tool insertion hole is disposed integrally in the pressing
member, the tool insertion hole being formed in the insulative
member when insert molding is performed on the insulative member
and the plural conductive members in a state where the conductive
members are integrally coupled to a hoop material, and being used
for, after the insert molding, cutting off unwanted coupling
portions of plural conductive members in an integrally coupled
state. When the plug portion which is to be fitted into the tool
insertion hole of the insulative member that is formed for cutting
off the unwanted coupling portions is disposed integrally in the
pressing member as described above, the pressing member can be
surely fixed to the interior of the adaptor body by using the tool
insertion hole, so that the pressing function of the pressing
member can be sufficiently exerted. Moreover, the tool insertion
hole can be closed by the plug portion of the pressing member.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent conductive foreign materials
such as dusts which may cause short circuit, from entering the tool
insertion hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an external view of a memory card adaptor of an
embodiment, as viewed from the front face side;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an external view of the adaptor of the embodiment,
as viewed from the rear face side;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an external view of the memory card adaptor of the
embodiment in a state where a cover is detached for showing the
internal structure, as viewed from the front face side;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a view showing a connecting terminal of the
cover;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a plan view of an electrical connection part;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an external view of the electrical connection
part, as viewed from the rear face side;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a plan view of plural contacts which are formed in
a state where the contacts are integrally coupled to a hoop
material;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a view showing a contact spring piece portion of a
different shape before a root part is pressed by a pressing
member;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a view showing the contact spring piece portion of
a different shape, whose root portion is pressed by the pressing
member;
[0019] FIG. 10 is an external view of the pressing member;
[0020] FIG. 11A is a front face view of a mini SD card, FIG. 11B is
a side view of the mini SD card, and FIG. 11C is a rear face view
of the mini SD card; and
[0021] FIG. 12A is a front face view of a micro SD card, FIG. 12B
is a side view of the micro SD card, and FIG. 12C is a rear face
view of the micro SD card.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the memory card adaptor of the
invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. A
memory card adaptor 100 of the embodiment is used so that a micro
SD card 300 which is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12, and which is a
small memory card is attached to the adaptor, and the micro SD card
is enabled to be used in a card connector (not shown) for a mini SD
card 200 which is shown in FIG. 11, and which is a card connector
for a larger memory card.
[0023] In a mini SD card (20.times.21.5.times.1.4 mm:
length.times.width.times.thickness) 200 which is conventionally
provided as a downsized version of an SD card
(24.times.32.times.2.1 mm: length.times.width.times.thickness), as
shown FIG. 11, eleven terminals 204a to 204k are juxtaposed in a
direction (hereinafter, referred to as "lateral direction") which
is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the thickness
direction, in the rear face side of an end portion of the front
side in the case where the mini SD card is inserted in the normal
insertion posture (hereinafter, the front side in this case is
referred to as "rear side"). In the rear side, a cutaway portion
201 is formed by cutting away one edge. A step portion 202 which is
upward directed is formed in each of the right and left side edges
of the surface side of the rear end portion of the mini SD card 200
in which the width is narrowed by the cut-away portion 201. The
cut-away portion 201 cooperates with the step portions 202 to
prevent erroneous insertion into the card connector in a posture
other than the normal insertion posture (insertion in a posture
where the front and rear relationship and the front and back
relationship are inverted) from occurring. A locking cut-away 203
is disposed in each of the right and left sides of the surface in a
wider portion which is in front of the step portions 202, so that,
when the mini SD card is attached to the card connector, locking
members of the card connector are engaged with the locking
cut-aways 203, thereby preventing the mini SD card from dropping
off. In the eleven terminals 204a to 204k of the mini SD card 200,
the first to eleventh terminals 204a to 204k are sequentially
arranged in a direction from the side opposite to the cut-away
portion 201 toward the cut-away portion 201, four or the first,
second, tenth, and eleventh terminals 204a, 204b, 204j, 204k are
used for data, the third terminal 204c is used for a command, two
or the fourth and ninth terminals 204d, 204i are used for
grounding, the seventh terminal 204g is used for power supply, and
the eighth terminal 204h is used for a clock signal. The two or the
fifth and sixth terminals 204e, 204f are preliminarily added to the
mini SD card 200. The effective terminals are nine so as to
correspond to the nine terminals of the SD card.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12, a TransFlash card which is
conventionally provided as a memory card which is smaller than the
mini SD card 200, and a micro SD card (11.times.15.times.1 mm:
length.times.width.times.thickness) 300 in which the TransFlash
specification is applied are provided with a cut-away portion 301
which is formed by cutting away one edge. A locking cut-away 302 is
disposed in one side portion on the side of the cut-away portion
301 and in a wider portion which is in front of the cut-away
portion 301. In the rear face side of an end portion of the rear
side, eight terminals 303a to 303h are juxtaposed in the lateral
direction. In the eight terminals 303a to 303h of the micro SD card
300, the first to eighth terminals 303a to 303h are sequentially
arranged in a direction from the cut-away portion 301 toward the
opposite side thereof, four or the first, second, seventh, and
eighth terminals 303a, 303b, 303g, 303h are used for data, the
third terminal 303c is used for a command, the fourth terminal 303d
is used for power supply, the fifth terminal 303e is used for a
clock signal, and the sixth terminal 303f is used for grounding. In
the micro SD card 300, namely, the grounding terminal is reduced to
one, and the number of terminals is reduced to eight as compared
with the case where an SD card and the mini SD card 200 have the
nine terminals (in the mini SD card 200, the number of effective
terminals).
[0025] The memory card adaptor 100 of the embodiment is configured
by: a mini SD card type adaptor body 1 which is shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, which is formed into outer dimensions (the dimensions of the
length, the width, and the thickness) that are identical with those
of the mini SD card 200, in order to cope with the mini SD card
specification, and to which the micro SD card 300 is to be
attached; an electrical connection part 40 which is housed in the
adaptor body 1, and which is shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6; a pressing
member 70 which is shown in FIGS. 3, 9, and 10; and a locking
member 80 which is shown in FIG. 3.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the adaptor body 1 is configured
by a resin-made (insulative) base 10, and a metal-made (conductive)
cover 20 which is formed by a metal plate.
[0027] In the base 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a bottom
plate 10a which is substantially rectangular, and in which one rear
edge is cut away, reinforcing ribs 10b which upstand lengthwise and
widthwise in right and left side areas of the front wide portion of
the bottom plate 10a in which the width is not narrowed by the
cut-away portion, and a side wall 10c which upstands along the
peripheral edge of the rear side of the bottom plate 10a in which
the width is narrowed by the cut-away portion are integrally
formed. A card attaching portion 11 which is to house the micro SD
card 300 is formed between the right and left reinforcing ribs 10b,
and an insulator housing portion 12 for the electrical connection
part 40 is formed continuously with the rear side of the card
attaching portion 11. A large contact exposing window 13 is opened
in the bottom face of the insulator housing portion 12. A locking
member housing portion 15 is formed in adjacent to one side (right
side) of the card attaching portion 11 to communicate with the card
attaching portion 11 through a communication port 16.
[0028] In the base 10, disposed are a cut-away portion 17, step
portions 18, and locking cut-aways 19 for the adaptor which
correspond to the cut-away portion 201, step portions 202, and
locking cut-aways 203 of the mini SD card 200, respectively. Plural
cover engagement hooks 10d are disposed on the right and left outer
side faces of the wide portion of the base 10, and cover engagement
grooves 10e are disposed in right and left inner side portions of
the wide portion of the base 10.
[0029] The longitudinal lengths of the right and left reinforcing
ribs 10b which form the right and left side faces 11a, 11b of the
card attaching portion 11 are made different from each other so
that, between the right and left side faces 11a, 11b of the card
attaching portion 11, a rear end portion of one (right) side face
11b is positionally shifted in the forward direction (toward the
card insertion port) with respect to a rear end portion of the
other (left) side face 11a.
[0030] In the cover 20, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, integrally
formed are: a rectangular plate-like main portion 21 which covers
the upper face of the front wide portion of the base 10; first
elongated portions 22 which hang from the right and left side edges
of the main portion 21 to cover the right and left outer side faces
of the front wide portion of the base 10; a second elongated
portion 23 which is rearward elongated flushly from the rear edge
of the main portion 21 to cover the upper face of the insulator
housing portion 12 of the base 10, and which is narrower than the
main portion 21; first engagement hooks 24 which are downward
elongated from the right and left side edges of a basal part of the
second elongated portion 23; second engagement hooks 25 which are
downward elongated from the right and left side portions of the tip
end side edge of the second elongated portion 23; a folded piece 26
which is elongated in a U-like shape from a substantially middle
portion of the tip end side edge of the second elongated portion
23, and in which an end portion thereof is opposed to the inner
face of the second elongated portion 23; and a connecting terminal
27 which is elastically displaceable, and which is a plate spring
that is elongated in the lateral direction (the juxtaposition
direction of the contacts) on the side of the inner face of the
second elongated portion 23 while an intermediate portion is
continuous to the end portion of the folded piece 26. Plural base
engagement holes 28 serving also as lower holes for caulking are
disposed in the first elongated portions 22.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the electrical connection
part 40 is a composite part which is formed by insert molding, and
which is configured by an insulator 50 serving as an insulative
member, and plural (eight in the case of the micro SD card 300)
contacts 60a to 60h serving as conductive members.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, the eight contacts 60a to 60h are formed
in a state where the contacts are integrally coupled to each other
by applying punching and bending processes on a metal hoop material
60'.
[0033] Each of the contacts 60a to 60h is configured by integrally
forming: a narrow contact spring piece portion 61 which is formed
in a front end portion, which is forward protruded, and which has
an L-like section shape; a rectangular plate-like contact piece
portion 62 which is formed in a rear end portion; and a connecting
piece 63 which integrally connects the contact spring piece portion
61 in the front end portion with the contact piece portion 62 in
the rear end portion. Adjacent ones of the contacts 60a to 60h are
coupled together while maintaining predetermined intervals through
first joining pieces 64, whereby the contacts 60a to 60h are
arranged in a laterally juxtaposed state so that the contact spring
piece portions 61 are arranged in the front end portions of the
contacts 60a to 60h in a laterally juxtaposed state, and the
contact piece portions 62 are arranged in the rear end portions of
the contacts 60a to 60h in a laterally juxtaposed state. The first
to eighth contacts 60a to 60h are sequentially arranged from right
to left in the plane of FIGS. 5 and 7, four or the first, second,
seventh, and eighth contacts 60a, 60b, 60g, 60h are used for data,
the third contact 60c is used for a command, the fourth contact 60d
is used for power supply, the fifth contact 60e is used for a clock
signal, and the sixth terminal 60f is used for grounding, in the
same manner as the eight terminals 303a to 303h of the micro SD
card 300.
[0034] The micro SD card 300 has the eight contacts in contrast to
the eleven terminals of the mini SD card 200. Therefore, one
grounding contact piece portion 62, and two reserve contact piece
portions 62, or three contact piece portions 62 in total are
interposed between the contact piece portion 62 of the third
contact 60c for a command, and the contact piece portion 62 of the
fourth contact for power supply, so as to attain the same
arrangement of the eleven terminals 204a to 204k of the mini SD
card 200. The three contact piece portions 62 in total, or the one
grounding contact piece portion 62 and the two reserve contact
piece portions 62 are coupled integrally to the connecting piece 63
of the third contact 60c for a command through second joining
pieces 65. Therefore, the first to third contacts 60a, 60b, 60c are
in an arrangement state in which the contact piece portions 62 are
largely positionally shifted toward the lateral outer side (in the
rightward direction in FIGS. 5 and 7) with respect to the contact
spring piece portions 61, and formed into a crank-like bent shape.
In the first contact 60a which is positioned at the endmost,
accordingly, an end portion of the connecting piece 63 on the side
of the contact spring piece portion 61 extends in the lateral
direction which is perpendicular to the contact spring piece
portion 61, and, in front of rear end portions of the contact
spring piece portions 61 of the other seven or second to eighth
contacts 60b to 60h, extends in the lateral direction which is
perpendicular to the contact spring piece portion 61. Therefore,
the rear end portion of the first contact 60a which is positioned
at the endmost is positionally shifted toward the front side with
respect to the rear end portions of the contact spring piece
portions 61 of the other seven or second to eighth contacts 60b to
60h.
[0035] The eight contacts 60a to 60h which are integrally coupled
together in the above-described arrangement state are coupled at
the contacts 60a, 60h at the both ends to a carrier 67 through
right and left connecting pieces 66, and formed so that they can be
supplied to a molding machine. When insert molding is performed by
a molding machine, the insulator 50 is formed.
[0036] In the insulator 50, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the
connecting pieces 63 which are in rear of the root parts of the
contact spring piece portions 61 of the eight integrally coupled
contacts 60a to 60h, and the contact piece portions 62 are
integrally surrounded by a resin. The insulator is formed into a
rectangular parallelepiped shape which laterally elongates, to be
allowed to enter the insulator housing portion 12 of the base 10.
As a result, the connecting pieces 63 and the contact piece
portions 62 are joined by dimensions corresponding to their
thicknesses to the rear face (lower face) of the insulator 50, the
contact piece portions 62 are flushly held (fixed) to the rear face
of the insulator 50 in a laterally juxtaposed state, the tip end
portions in front of the root parts of the contact spring piece
portions 61 of the eight integrally coupled contact spring pieces
60a to 60h are inclinedly protruded in a forward upward sloping
manner in the front side of the insulator 50.
[0037] The front side face of the insulator 50 is formed into a
step-like shape so that the front side face which is outside the
contact spring piece portion 61 of the first contact 60a is partly
forward protruded, and integrated with the connecting piece 63 on
the side of the contact spring piece portion 61 of the first
contact 60a by a protrusion 51 in one front side of the insulator
50. The front side face of the protrusion 51 of the insulator 50
forms a joining face 51a which is to butt against the rear side
face of the longitudinally shorter reinforcing rib 10b of the card
attaching portion 11. The front side face of the insulator 50 other
than the protrusion 51 forms a joining face 51b which is to butt
against the rear side face of the longitudinally longer reinforcing
rib 10b of the card attaching portion 11, and an inner rear end
wall 50c of the card attaching portion 11. A step face formed by
the front side face of the protrusion 51 of the insulator 50, and
that of the insulator 50 other than the protrusion 51 forms a
partial side face 50d of the card attaching portion 11 which is
flushly continuous to a rear end of the side face 11b of the
longitudinally shorter side (right side) of the card attaching
portion 11, and which aligns the rear end (length) of the side face
11b with the rear end (length) of the side face 11a of the
longitudinally longer side (left side). The rear end wall 50c of
the card attaching portion 11, and a rear end portion of the one
side face 11b are formed by the insulator 50.
[0038] An end portion of the connecting piece 63 which is on the
side of the contact spring piece portion 61 of the first contact
60a is protruded into the card attaching portion 11 from the
partial side face 50d of the card attaching portion 11 which is
formed by the insulator 50, whereby the contact spring piece
portion 61 of the first contact 60a is juxtaposed with the spring
piece portions 61 of the seven or second to eighth contacts 60b to
60h which are forward protruded from the inner rear end wall 50c of
the card attaching portion 11 which is formed by the insulator 50,
into the card attaching portion 11 in a straight manner in a plan
view. In accordance with this configuration, at least one of the
plural (eight) contact spring piece portions 61, i.e., in the
embodiment, the contact spring piece portion 61 of the first
contact 60a is formed into a different shape not by the front end
portions of the contacts protruded from the insulator 50 into the
card attaching portion 11 in a straight manner in a plan view, but
by the front end portion of the contact 60a protruded in an L-like
shape.
[0039] In the insulator 50, a circular tool insertion hole 52, an
elliptic tool insertion hole 53, and a terminal housing hole 54 are
disposed. One of the plural joining pieces 64 disposed in the
region of the insulator 50, or the first joining piece 64 through
which the end portion of the first contact 60a disposed in the
region of the insulator 50 is coupled with that of the connecting
piece 63 on the side of the contact piece portion 62 of the second
contact 60b must be cut off after insert molding. For this purpose,
the tool insertion hole 52 is formed on the first joining piece 64.
The three second joining pieces 65 through which the one grounding
connecting piece 63 and the two reserve connecting pieces 63 are
coupled to the connecting piece 63 of the third contact 60c must be
collectively cut off after insert molding. For this purpose, the
tool insertion hole 53 is formed on the three second joining pieces
65. The terminal housing hole 54 is disposed over the two grounding
connecting pieces 63 in order that the folded piece 26 and
connecting terminal 27 disposed on the cover 20 are housed, and
that the one end of the connecting terminal 27 is contacted from
the upper side with the one grounding connecting piece 63, and the
other end is contacted from the upper side with the other grounding
connecting piece 63.
[0040] In the insulator 50, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the
peripheral side face of the elliptic tool insertion hole 53 is
partly broken to form a cutaway portion 55 which is opened directly
behind the contact spring piece portion 61a of the different shape,
and a low-profile engaging piece 56 is standingly disposed between
two cut-away end faces 55a which are opposed to each other across
the cutaway portion 55.
[0041] The eight contacts 60a to 60h which are integrally coupled
together are insert-molded to form the insulator 50. Thereafter, a
punching process is applied on the semifinished product of the
electrical connection part 40, whereby the first joining piece 64
and second joining pieces 65 in the region of the insulator 50 are
cut off through the circular tool insertion hole 52 and elliptic
tool insertion hole 53 which are previously formed in the insulator
50. At the same time, also the remaining first joining pieces 64
outside the region of the insulator 50 are cut off to separate the
eight contacts 60a to 60h which are integrally coupled together,
and separate also the one grounding connecting piece 63 and two
reserve connecting pieces 63 which are integrally coupled to the
connecting piece 63 of the third contact 60c. Finally, coupling
portions between the end contacts 60a for a command, 60h and the
right and left connecting pieces 66 are cut off by a punching or
bending process to be separated from the carrier 67, whereby a
product of the electrical connection part 40 is completed as shown
in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0042] The pressing member 70 is made of a resin (insulative). As
shown in FIGS. 3, 9, and 10, the pressing member is configured by:
a long columnar plug portion 71 which is to be fitted into the
elliptic tool insertion hole 53 of the insulator 50 that is formed
for cutting off the second joining pieces 65; a hook-like
connecting portion 72 which is protruded from the plug portion 71
into the cutaway portion 55 that is above the engaging piece 56,
and which is vertically hung in front of the engaging piece 56; and
a pressing portion 73 which is continuously integrally formed at
the tip end of the connecting portion 72, and in which the lower
face is flat. The pressing portion is to overlap with a range from
the end portion of the connecting piece 63 on the side of the
contact spring piece portion 61 of the first contact 60a which is
protruded into the card attaching portion 11 from the partial side
face 50d of the card attaching portion 11 formed by the insulator
50, to the rear end portion of the contact spring piece portion 61
of the first contact 60a, i.e., the root part of the contact spring
piece portion 61 of the different shape.
[0043] The front side face of the connecting portion 72 is
substantially flush with the rear end wall 50c of the card
attaching portion 11 which is formed by the insulator 50, so as to
constitute a part of the rear end wall 50c. The upper face of the
pressing portion 73 is tapered so that the thickness is further
reduced as more advancing toward the tip end, so that, when the
micro SD card 300 is attached to the card attaching portion 11, the
pressing portion is fitted into a chamfered region of the lower
edge of the rear end portion of the micro SD card 300.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the locking member 80 is formed by a
plate spring of a thin metal plate which is folded back at a middle
portion, and has a card engagement portion 81 on the tip end side
of a movable spring piece which is on one side of the folded
portion. Alternatively, the locking member 80 may be formed
integrally with the base 10 by a resin.
[0045] The memory card adaptor 100 (adaptor body 1) of the
embodiment is assembled by the thus configured components in the
following manner. As shown in FIG. 3, first, the insulator 50 of
the electrical connection part 40 is fitted from the upper side
into the insulator housing portion 12 of the base 10. The eleven
contact piece portions 62 which are flushly held in a juxtaposed
state on the rear face of the insulator 50 are exposed through the
contact exposing window 13 to the rear face of the rear end portion
of the base 10, and the eight contact spring piece portions 61
which are inclinedly protruded in a juxtaposed state in a forward
upward sloping manner in the front side of the insulator 50 are
placed in a rear portion of the card attaching portion 11 of the
base 10, to incorporate the electrical connection part 40 into the
base 10.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, next, the plug portion 71 of the
pressing member 70 is fitted from the upper side into the elliptic
tool insertion hole 53 of the insulator 50 which is formed for
cutting off the second joining pieces 65. The pressing portion 73
which is integrally coupled with the plug portion 71 via the
connecting portion 72 is superimposed on the root part of the
contact spring piece portion 61 of the different shape. The root
part of the contact spring piece portion 61 of the different shape
is interposed between the pressing portion 73 and the bottom plate
10a of the base 10. In a state where the root part of the contact
spring piece portion 61 of the different shape is pressed by the
pressing portion 73, the pressing member 70 is incorporated into
the base 10 by using the elliptic tool insertion hole 53 of the
insulator 50. Alternatively, before the electrical connection part
40 is incorporated into the base 10, the pressing member 70 may be
incorporated into the electrical connection part 40 by using the
elliptic tool insertion hole 53 of the insulator 50, and then
integrally incorporated together with the electrical connection
part 40 into the base 10.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the locking member 80 is incorporated
into the locking member housing portion 15 of the base 10, the
other side with respect to the folded portion of the locking member
80 is fixed, and the card engagement portion 81 which is formed on
the tip end side of the movable spring piece that is on one side of
the folded portion is protruded and held into the card attaching
portion through the communication port 16 by the spring force of
the movable spring piece.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, next, the first engagement hooks
24 of the cover 20 are inserted from the upper side into the cover
engagement grooves 10e of the base 10, and the second engagement
hooks 25 of the cover 20 are inserted from the upper side into the
other cover engagement grooves of the base 10 formed by gaps
between the side wall 10c of the base 10 and the right and left
side faces of the insulator 50. The cover 20 covers from the upper
side the base 10 while the folded piece 26 and connecting terminal
27 of the cover 20 are fitted from the upper side into the terminal
housing hole 54 of the insulator 50, so that the open upper faces
of the right and left reinforcing ribs 10b, card attaching portion
11, and locking member housing portion 15 in the front wide portion
of the base 10 are integrally covered by the main portion 21 of the
cover 20. The second elongated portion 23 of the cover 20 is
flushly superimposed on the upper face of the insulator 50, and the
insulator 50 is interposed between the bottom plate 10a of the base
10 and the second elongated portion 23 of the cover 20. The
pressing member 70 is interposed between the insulator 50 and the
second elongated portion 23 of the cover 20, and the first
elongated portions 22 of the cover 20 are superimposed on and cover
the right and left outer side faces in the front wide portion of
the base 10. The cover engagement hooks 10d of the base 10 are
fitted into the base engagement holes 28 of the cover 20.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, finally, the lower edges of the
base engagement holes 28 of the first elongated portions 22 of the
cover 20 are inward caulked to fittingly fix the cover 20 to the
base 10 in the covered state, thereby completing the assembly.
[0050] In the assembly-completed state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the memory card adaptor 100 of the embodiment has the outer
dimensions (the dimensions of the length, the width, and the
thickness) which are identical with those of the mini SD card 200.
In the same manner as the mini SD card 200, the eleven contact
piece portions (terminals) 62 are exposed from the rear face of the
rear end portion with being laterally juxtaposed, the cut-away
portion 17 is formed in the rear side by cutting away one rear
edge, the upward step portions 18 are disposed in the right and
left side edges of the surface of the rear end portion in which the
width is narrowed by the cut-away portion 17, and the locking
cut-aways 19 are disposed on the right and left sides of the
surface of the wide portion which is on the forward side with
respect to the cut-away portion 17. Therefore, the adaptor can be
attached to a card connector for the mini SD card 200.
[0051] A card insertion port 2 is opened in the front face, the
card attaching portion 11 communicates with the card insertion port
2, and the eight cantilevered contact spring piece portions 61 are
laterally juxtaposed in the rear portion (inner portion) of the
card attaching portion 11. Therefore, the micro SD card 300 can be
attached to the card attaching portion 11 through the card
insertion port 2, and the free end portions of the eight contact
spring piece portions 61 can be contacted with the eight terminals
303a to 303h of the attached micro SD card 300 to be electrically
connected thereto.
[0052] The connecting terminal 27 which is formed integrally with
the cover 20 is placed together with the folded piece 26 inside the
terminal housing hole 54 of the insulator 50, and, by the
elasticity of the terminal itself from the upper side, one end is
pressed against and contacted with one grounding contact piece
portion 62, and the other end is pressed against and contacted with
the other grounding contact piece portion 62. As a result of the
contacts, electrical connection is established between the two
grounding contact piece portions 62 which are not adjacent to each
other, and between the grounding contact piece portions 62 and the
cover 20. The joining faces between the base 10 and the main
portion 21 and first elongated portions 22 of the cover 20, and the
joining face of the insulator 50 with the second elongated portion
23 of the cover 20 are recessed from their outer peripheries by a
degree corresponding to the thickness of the cover 20, so that the
surfaces of the main portion 21 and first elongated portions 22 of
the cover 20 are flush with the surface of the base 10 surrounding
them, and the surface of the second elongated portion 23 of the
cover 20 is flush with the surface of the insulator 50 surrounding
it.
[0053] In the contact spring piece portion 61 of the different
shape, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the root part is pressed firmly
and surely by the pressing portion 73 of the pressing member 70
which is fixed by fitting the plug portion 71 into the elliptic
tool insertion hole 53 of the insulator 50 which is formed for
cutting off the second joining pieces 65, to be interposed between
the insulator 50 and the cover 20. The elliptic tool insertion hole
53 of the insulator 50 is closed by fitting the plug portion 71 of
the pressing member 70. Therefore, it is possible to prevent
conductive foreign materials such as dusts which may cause short
circuit, from entering the tool insertion hole 53.
[0054] The micro SD card 300 is attached to the thus assembled
memory card adaptor 100 in the following manner. As shown in FIG.
1, the micro SD card 300 in the normal insertion posture in which
the longitudinal and front/back directions are oriented to the
normal directions is inserted into the card attaching portion 11
through the card insertion port 2. The micro SD card 300 is
inserted to an inner area of the card attaching portion 11 while
the side portion where the locking cut-away 302 is disposed pushes
back the card engagement portion 81 of the locking member 80
against the spring force of the movable spring piece. The eight
terminals 303a to 303h which are disposed on the rear face of the
rear end portion of the micro SD card 300 are elastically contacted
with the free end portions of the eight contact spring piece
portions 61 which are juxtaposed in the rear portion of the card
attaching portion 11, to be electrically connected thereto. Since
the root part of the contact spring piece portion 61 of the
different shape is pressed firmly and surely by the pressing
portion 73 of the pressing member 70, a force acting in a direction
along which the root part is twisted is not produced, and the
strength and spring force of the contact spring piece portion are
substantially identical with those of the other the contact spring
piece portions 61. Therefore, even the contact spring piece portion
61a of the different shape can maintain stable contact with the
terminals of the micro SD card 300. When the micro SD card 300 is
further inserted into the card attaching portion 11, the rear end
portion of the micro SD card 300 bumps against the rear end wall
50c of the card attaching portion 11 which is formed by the
insulator 50, thereby restricting further insertion. The card
engagement portion 81 of the locking member 80 is opposed to the
locking cut-away 302 of the micro SD card 300, and engaged with the
locking cut-away 302 by the spring force of the movable spring
piece, thereby preventing the micro SD card 300 from dropping
off.
[0055] When the micro SD card 300 attached to the memory card
adaptor 100 is to be extracted, the front-end portion of the micro
SD card 300 is nipped, and the micro SD card 300 is forward
extracted against the spring force of the movable spring piece of
the locking member 80. Then, the engagement state between the
locking cut-away 302 of the micro SD card 300 and the card
engagement portion 81 of the locking member 80 is canceled, and the
micro SD card 300 can be extracted from the memory card adaptor
100.
[0056] In the micro SD card 300 attached to the memory card adaptor
100, the eight terminals 303a to 303h are electrically connected to
the corresponding eight contacts 60a to 60h. When the memory card
adaptor 100 is attached in the normal insertion posture to a card
connector for the mini SD card 200, therefore, the eight terminals.
303a to 303h of the micro SD card 300 are electrically connected to
corresponding contacts of the card connector for the mini SD card
200 through the corresponding eight contacts 60a to 60h of the
memory card adaptor 100. In the same manner as the mini SD card
200, as a result, the micro SD card 300 is enabled to be used in
the card connector for the mini SD card 200.
[0057] The thickness of the mini SD card 200 is not largely
different from that of the micro SD card 300. Therefore, one of the
components constituting the adaptor body 1, i.e., the base 10 is
formed as a resin molded product (insulative), and the other
component, or the cover 20 is formed by punching and bending a
metal plate. A principal surface portion of the metal-made cover 20
which constitutes one principal face (surface) of the adaptor body
1 is thinned as far as possible while ensuring sufficient rigidity,
and a principal surface portion of the resin-made base 10 which
constitutes the other principal face (rear face) of the adaptor
body 1 is thickened as far as possible to ensure sufficient
rigidity, whereby the rigidity of the whole adaptor body 1 can be
enhanced.
[0058] The connecting terminal 27 for electrically connecting
(short circuiting) between the two grounding contact piece portions
62 which are not adjacent to each other is integrally formed on the
metal-made (conductive) cover 20 which constitute the surface of
the adaptor body 1. Therefore, the number of components can be
reduced, the assembling process can be facilitated, and the
production cost can be lowered. Furthermore, the cover 20 and the
grounding contact piece portions 62 are electrical connected with
each other through the connecting terminal 27, and therefore also a
countermeasure against electrostatic breakdown is simultaneously
realized.
[0059] The cover 20 is fixed to the base 10 by caulking a part of
the cover. Therefore, the base 10, the cover 20, and the electrical
connection part 40 which is an interior component can be firmly
coupled and integrated in a reduced space.
[0060] In the above embodiment, an example of the preferred
embodiment of the invention has been described. The invention is
not restricted to it, and may be variously modified without
departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the
invention can be preferably applied also to memory card adaptors of
other kinds except a memory card adaptor which enables the micro SD
card 300 to be used in a card connector for the mini SD card
200.
* * * * *