1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a memory card adapter, and more particularly to a memory card adapter with a locking mechanism for mating with a corresponding mini memory card.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In accordance with advances in miniaturization of small portable apparatuses such as a mobile phone, a digital still camera and a PDA, also the size of a memory card used among the electronic apparatuses is being reduced.
Nowadays, there is no uniform standard or specification in memory card area. There are multiple kinds of memory cards such as a CF card, a MMC card, a SD card, a MS card and a Micro SD card etc. What puzzles the electronic device manufactures is how to solve the compatibility of the cards, for example, how to use only one SD card connector for capitally electrically connecting with a complementary SD card and an uncorresponding Micro SD card which is much smaller than the SD card. Under this circumstance, a card adapter for accommodating a Micro SD card therein and electrically connecting with the SD card connector is needed.
Such memory card adapter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,295 B1. The unveiled card adapter comprises a bottom cover, a top cover attached to the bottom cover and a contact module positioned between the top and bottom covers. The contact module comprises plural contacts, plural pads, multiple transition portions connecting the contacts and the pads, and an insulator over-molding the transition portions. The contact module further includes a locking arm integrally stamped from a metal sheet and connecting with a lateral side pad. However, such metal locking arm can't assure excellent precision because the thin thickness of the metal sheet. Besides, the locking arm is probable so flexible that it may can't provide enough intensity for locking the inserted memory card.
Hence, it is desired to have a memory card adapter solving the problems above.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a memory card adapter with improved locking mechanism for mating with a corresponding mini memory card and preventing the mini memory card from being extracted abnormally.
In order to attain the objective above, a memory card adapter for receiving a memory card comprises an upper cover, a lower cover engaging with the upper cover and defining a card receiving space therebetween, a contact module and a conductive member. The contact module comprises a plurality of contacts, an insulative beam over-molding the contacts and an insulative locking arm integrally extending from the beam. The contacts comprise a plurality of contact portions extending into the card receiving space and a plurality of soldering portions. The conductive member has multiple conductive pads and a plurality of conductive wires electrically connecting with the conductive pads. The soldering portions of the contacts are soldered with the conductive wires so that the conductive pads can connect with the contact portions. Besides, The locking arm has a hook at a distal end thereof and extending into the receiving space for mating with the memory card. With this arrangement, the insulative locking arm integrally protruding from the beam can simplify the manufacture of the contact module through molding process. The insulative locking arm can provide excellent precision especially the dimension of the hook for freely mating with the memory card. Further more, the insulative locking arm can easily ensure enough intensity for locking the inserted memory card.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to
Further referring to
Each contact 31 of the contact module 3 comprises a contact portion 311 extending backwardly into the card receiving space 10 and a soldering portion 312 extending forwardly for electrically connecting with the conductive module 4. Both of the contact portions 311 and the soldering portions 312 extend beyond the beam 32. The beam 32 defines a pair of holes 321 for receiving the second positioning posts 153 to fasten the contact module 3 on the lower cover 1. The insulative locking arm 33 integrally extends from a lateral side of the beam 32 and comprises a hook 331 at a distal end thereof. The hook 331 protrudes into the mating depression 14 and further includes a slant face 332 for guiding the insertion of the memory card 6.
The conductive member 4 in the preferred embodiment is a printed circuit board (PCB) which defines a plurality of conductive wires 41 on a bottom surface 40 thereof and a plurality of conductive pads 42 electrically connecting with the conductive wires 41 as shown in
In assembly, the soldering portions 312 of the contacts 31 are soldered to corresponding conductive wires 41 to combine the contact module 3 together with the conductive member 4. The combination is positioned to the front portion 15 of the bottom wall 11 through the first and second positioning posts 152, 153 received in the holes 43, 321, respectively. The contact portions 311 of the contacts 31 as well as the locking arm 33 protrude into the card receiving space 10 for mating with the memory card 6. The conductive pads 42 of the conductive module 4 are positioned corresponding to the through openings 151 and expose outside of the lower cover 1. The upper cover 2 is attached to the lower cover 1 with the engaging members 12 abutting against the mating members 21 so that the upper and lower covers 2, 1 can be combined together. The memory card adapter 100 further comprises a button 7 slideably assembled in a side of the memory card adapter 100 for protecting read and write while using the memory card adapter 100. In the preferred embodiment, the whole configuration of the memory card adapter 100 is same as a standard SD card connector. The function of the button 7 is familiar to that of the standard SD card, so the detailed description about the button 7 is omitted herein. The memory card adapter 100 is adapter for receiving the memory card 6 which is a Micro SD card in the preferred embodiment.
Referring to
Comparing with the prior art, the insulative locking arm 33 made through molding process integrally with the beam 32 can provide excellent precision especially the dimension of the hook 331 for freely mating with the memory card 6. Besides, the insulative locking arm 33 can easily ensure enough intensity for locking the inserted memory card 6.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of number, 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 |
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2006 2 0070000 U | Mar 2006 | CN | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070207676 A1 | Sep 2007 | US |