Patent Application
20090325414
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a secure digital memory card (SD card) retaining mechanism, and particularly to a multifunctional SD card retaining mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
Secure digital memory card (SD card) are widely used in many portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants and digital cameras. The SD card is configured for storing information therein. Retaining mechanisms are used in these portable electronic devices for receiving the SD cards. The retaining mechanism is mounted on a circuit board of a portable electronic device. When the SD card is received in the retaining mechanism, it is electronically connected to the circuit board through the retaining mechanism.
The retaining mechanism usually takes up a lot of space in a portable electronic device when mounted therein. Further, the retaining mechanism generally does not have other functionality except for receiving and retaining the SD card. Thus, the retaining mechanism may prevent miniaturization of the portable electronic device.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of the present secure digital memory card (SD card) retaining mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present SD card retaining mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures.
The retaining mechanism 100 includes a receiving member 10, an antenna 20 and a circuit board 40. The receiving member 10 is integrated with the antenna 20 to form a rectangular box 30 to receive the SD card therein. The circuit board 40 is part of the inner circuitry of the portable electronic device. Both the receiving member 10 and the antenna 20 are mounted on the circuit board 40 to form electronic connections.
The receiving member 10 is a substantially rectangular case made of conductive materials, such as metal. A conventional circuit (not shown) configured for connecting the SD card to the circuit board 40 is formed in the receiving member 10. A first surface 101 of the receiving member 10 is secured and electronically connected to the circuit board 40. When the SD card is received in the receiving member 10, it is electronically connected to the circuit board 40 through the receiving member 10. The receiving member 10 defines a gap 12 having a shape and a size corresponding to the antenna 20 on an exposed surface 102.
The antenna 20 is a planar antenna, such as an inverted F antenna or other microstrip antenna. The portable electronic device can receive and send wireless electronic signals through antenna 20. The antenna 20 is made of the same material as the receiving member 10, or other conductive materials, and includes an insulated portion 21 formed on its peripheral region. The antenna 20 is mounted on the circuit board 40, and engages in the gap 12, thus integrates with the receiving member 10 to form a box 30 to receive the SD card therein. In use, the insulated portion 21 insulates the antenna 20 with the receiving member 10 to prevent a short circuit.
During fabrication, the receiving member 10 and the antenna 20 can each be made through conventional methods, such as injection molding, and the antenna 20 is engaged in the gap 12 of the receiving member 10 to form the box 30. The box 30 is fixed on the circuit 40, and the receiving member 10 and the antenna 20 are respectively electronically connected to the circuit board 40. Thus, the retaining mechanism 100 and the antenna 20 integrated therein can be used.
Further, since the receiving member 10 and the antenna 20 can be made of the same materials, the retaining mechanism 100 can also be fabricated using another method. In this method, a box 30 made of conductive materials is provided. A part of the box 30 having a predetermined shape of the antenna 20, such as an inverted F, is separated from the box 30 by, e.g., cutting, thereby defining the gap 12 in the box 30. The insulated portion 21 is formed on a peripheral region of the antenna part by conventional means, such as spraying insulated print to form a print layer. In this way, the antenna 20 is provided. Circuits configured for connecting with an SD card are formed in another part of the box 30, which defines the receiving member 10. Finally, the antenna 20 is received in the gap 12. Both the antenna 20 and the receiving member 10 are mounted and electronically connected to the circuit board 30, thus the retaining mechanism 100 is provided.
The gap 12 can be defined at any portion of the receiving member 10 to receive the antenna 20. However, advantageously, the gap 12 is usually defined on exposed parts, such as the second surface 102 of the receiving member 10 allowing the antenna 20 received to have a better communicating effect. Additionally, the insulated portion 21 can also be formed on parts of the receiving member 10 that contacts the antenna 20.
Referring to
The receiving member 50 is a substantially rectangular case having a shape similar to the box 30. The receiving member 50 can be made of insulated materials, such as plastics, and includes a plurality of connectors 51 formed thereon. When the SD card is received in the receiving member 50, it is electronically connected to the circuit board 40 through the connectors 51.
The antenna 60 is a planar antenna made of conductive materials, such as metal. The antenna 60 is directly formed on a part of a surface of the receiving member 50. The shape of the antenna 60 can be similar to that of the antenna 20. The antenna 60 includes a plurality of connecting portions 61, which are parts of the antenna 60 extending to a side of the receiving member 50. When the receiving member 50 is mounted on the circuit board 40, the antenna 60 can be electronically connected to the circuit board 40 through the connecting portions 61. Further, the antenna 60 can also be electronically connected to the circuit board 40 through the connectors 51, if only the connectors 51 connecting the antenna 60 with the circuit board 40 are insulated with other connectors 51 connecting the SD card with the circuit board 40.
During fabrication, the receiving member 10 is made by means of conventional means, such as injection molding. The antenna 60 is then formed on an exposed surface of the receiving member 10 by means of spraying, plating, etc. Finally, the receiving member 10 is fixed on the circuit board 40. The receiving member 10 is electronically connected to the circuit board 40 through the connectors 51, and the antenna 60 is electronically connected to the circuit board 40 through the connecting portions 61 and/or the connectors 51. Thus, the retaining mechanism 200 is provided.
In the exemplary embodiments, the antenna 20/60 is integrated with the receiving member 10/50, without occupying any additional space. Therefore, space for a conventional antenna in a portable electronic device is saved. Thus, the retaining mechanism 100/200 becomes multifunctional, without increasing its size, and at the same time, achieves miniaturization requirement of the portable electronic device.
It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various 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 present 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200810302440.7 | Jun 2008 | CN | national |
