Patent Application
20070131777
The present invention generally relates to chip card retaining mechanisms and, more particularly, to a chip card retaining mechanism for seating a chip card in an electronic device such as a mobile phone.
Nowadays, electronic devices such as mobile phones are widely used and bring convenience to our lives, as such, electronic devices have become a part of modern life. Every electronic device has a chip card such as a SIM (subscriber identification module) card for carrying information necessary for operating the mobile phone. The chip card may also contain personal information for the subscriber, for example, a listing of frequently used telephone numbers. However, it is necessary to provide a chip card retaining mechanism to hold the chip card in the electronic device.
Referring to
Although the locking element 54 can be easily moved to assemble the SIM card, when a mobile phone inadvertently undergoes impact, this impact may result in an outer force which removes the locking element 54 from the receiving groove 520, which can result in an ineffective electrical connection between the SIM card and the connector 50. At worst, the SIM card may become completely separated from the receiving groove 520, which badly affects stability of the mobile phone.
What is needed, therefore, is a chip card retaining mechanism, which overcomes the above-described shortcomings.
In a first preferred embodiment, a chip card retaining mechanism for retaining a chip card mounted in an electronic device which includes a housing. The chip card retaining mechanism includes a receiving portion, and a locking assembly. The receiving portion is formed on the housing for fittingly receiving the chip card therein. The receiving portion has an open end facing the battery compartment of the electronic device. The locking assembly includes a first stopper mechanism and a second stopper mechanism. The first stopper mechanism includes a pair of wings extending from two opposite sides of the receiving portion over the receiving portion, and a second wings extending from one end of the receiving portion and spanning over the receiving portion. The second stopper mechanism is configured for restricting movement of the chip card out of the receiving portion along a horizontal direction.
Other advantages and novel features of the preferred embodiments of the present chip card retaining mechanism and its applications will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Many aspects of the present chip card retaining mechanisms and their applications can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the chip card retaining mechanisms. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
A chip card retaining mechanism is adapted for retaining a chip card in an electronic device such that the chip card is electronically connected with a connector in the electronic device. Referring to
Referring to
The receiving portion 20 is disposed adjacent to the battery compartment 14. The receiving portion 20 is substantially rectangular, and shape and size of the receiving portion 20 corresponds to the chip card 40. The receiving portion 20 is formed by an upper surface 122 of the partition 12, and a strip 22. The strip 22 includes a pair of side portions 222 parallel to each other, and an end portion 224 connecting to each of side portion 222. The end portion 224 is arranged to be adjacent to a peripheral edge of the housing 10 and away from the battery compartment 14. The receiving portion 20 has an open end 24 facing the battery compartment, for insertion or withdrawl of the chip card 40. The open end 24 is arranged to face the battery compartment 14.
The chip card 40 carries information that is necessary for operating the telephone and personal information of the owner and may be an integrated circuit card. The chip card 40 is electrically connected to a printed circuit board (PCB, not shown) by a connector 42. The connector 42 is secured in the housing 10 and disposed in a middle of the receiving portion 20. The connector 42 has a plurality of elastic contacts 422. The elastic contacts 422 protrude from an upper surface 122 of the partition 12. The chip card 40 is mounted in the receiving portion 20 in contact with the elastic contacts 422 of the connector 42.
Referring also to
Referring to
When removing the chip card 40, the chip card 40 is pressed downward to align with the open end 24 of the receiving portion 20. The chip card 40 is pushed out of the receiving portion via the open end 24. As such, the chip card 40 can be removed from the housing 10.
In an alternative embodiment, the second wing 324 may be omitted.
In a further alternative embodiment, the receiving portion 20 may be recessed from the upper surface 122 of the partition 12, thus the strip 22 may be omitted.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, 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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200510102294.X | Dec 2005 | CN | national |
