Card socket for electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10707612-B2
Application number	US-201916522654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2019
Priority date	Oct 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a card socket for an electronic device and, more particularly, to a card socket for an electronic device having an improved card insertion confirmation structure, wherein the structure of a card insertion confirmation terminal, which senses full insertion of a card or a tray into a card socket, is changed so as to improve stability of insertion of the card or the tray.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A card socket for use in an electronic device, the card socket configured to receive a card/tray therein, the card socket comprising:
a housing having a base and a frame, the base extends from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof, the frame extends upwardly from at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the base, the frame having a rear wall, the housing defining an insertion space above the base and between the frame and the front and rear ends, the insertion space configured to receive the card/tray therein via the front end thereof, the insertion space defining a first direction from the front end to the rear end by which the card/tray is inserted and removed from the insertion space; and
a card insertion confirmation terminal assembly operatively associated with the frame, the card insertion confirmation terminal assembly comprising:
a switch terminal having a switch fixing part and a switch contact part, the switch fixing part being fixed to the frame at or proximate to the rear end of the housing, the switch contact part extending from the switch fixing part in a cantilevered fashion and generally parallel to the rear wall of the frame;
a detect terminal having a detect fixing part and a detect contact part, the detect fixing part being fixed to the frame at or proximate to the rear end of the housing, the detect contact part extending from the detect fixing part in a cantilevered fashion and generally parallel to the rear wall of the frame,

wherein, prior to the insertion of the card/tray into the insertion space, a gap is provided between the detect contact part and the switch contact part and the detect contact part is positioned in a generally horizontal state while the switch contact part is sloped upwardly toward the detect contact part, and
wherein, upon full insertion of the card/tray into the insertion space, an end of the detect contact part is in contact with an end of the switch contact part and the switch contact part is positioned in a generally horizontal state while the detect contact part is sloped downwardly to the switch contact part.

2. The card socket as defined in claim 1 , wherein the detect terminal has a push-guide part extending forward from the detect contact part toward the front end, the push-guide part being positioned distal from the end of the detect contact part.

3. The card socket as defined in claim 2 , wherein the base has a through-hole provided proximate to the rear end thereof, wherein the push-guide part extends forward from the detect contact part toward the front end and downwardly toward the through-hole.

4. The card socket as defined in claim 3 , wherein insertion of the card/tray into the insertion space causes the card/tray to push the push-guide part downwardly into the through-hole.

5. The card socket as defined in claim 2 , wherein the push-guide pan has a height that is less than a thickness of the base of the housing.

6. The card socket as defined in claim 1 , wherein the frame has a catch lip extending into the insertion space, the catch lip being configured to prevent upward movement of the end of the detect contact part.

7. The card socket as defined in claim 1 , wherein the detect terminal is furnished above the switch terminal, and wherein when the card/tray is inserted into the insertion space the detect terminal is in contact with the switch terminal vertically.

8. The card socket as defined in claim 1 , wherein the switch fixing part is fixed to the rear wall of the frame.

9. A card socket for use in an electronic device, the card socket configured to receive a card/tray therein, the card socket comprising:
a housing having a base and a frame, the base extends from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof, the frame extends upwardly from at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the base, the frame having a rear wall, the housing defining an insertion space above the base and between the frame and the front and rear ends, the insertion space configured to receive the card/tray therein via the front end thereof, the insertion space defining a first direction from the front end to the rear end by which the card/tray is inserted and removed from the insertion space; and
a card insertion confirmation terminal assembly operatively associated with the frame, the card insertion confirmation terminal assembly comprising:
a switch terminal having a switch fixing part and a switch contact part, the switch fixing part being fixed to the frame at or proximate to the rear end of the housing, the switch contact part extending from the switch fixing part in a cantilevered fashion and generally parallel to the rear wall of the frame;
a detect terminal having a detect fixing part, a detect contact part and a push-guide part, the detect fixing part being fixed to the frame at or proximate to the rear end of the housing, the detect contact part extending from the detect fixing part in a cantilevered fashion such that a free end of the detect contact part is defined, the detect contact part extending generally parallel to the rear wall of the frame, the free end of the detect contact part being configured to contact the switch contact part, the push-guide part extending forward from the detect contact part toward the front end of the housing, the push-guide part being positioned distal from the free end of the detect contact part,

wherein, upon full insertion of the card/tray into the insertion space, the detect contact part is forced downwardly to have the free end of the detect contact part contact the switch contact part, and
wherein, upon full insertion of the card/tray into the insertion space, a downward distance moved by the push-guide part is less than a downward distance moved by the free end of the detect contact part.

10. The card socket as defined in claim 9 , wherein the base has a through-hole provided proximate to the rear end thereof, wherein the push-guide part extends forward from the detect contact part toward the front end and downwardly toward the through-hole.

11. The card socket as defined in claim 10 , wherein insertion of the card/tray into the insertion space causes the card/tray to push the push-guide part downwardly into the through-hole.

12. The card socket as defined in claim 9 , wherein the push-guide part has a height that is less than a thickness of the base of the housing.

13. The card socket as defined in claim 9 , wherein the frame has a catch lip extending into the insertion space, the catch lip being configured to prevent upward movement of the end of the detect contact part.

14. The card socket as defined in claim 9 , wherein a friction zone is formed between the detect contact part and the switch contact part when the detect contact part is forced downwardly, so as to remove impurities or oxide films formed on the detect contact part and/or the switch contact part.

15. The card socket as defined in claim 9 , wherein the switch fixing part is fixed to the rear wall of the frame.

Assignees

• Molex Llc

Inventors

• Yang In Chull
• Park Jeong Yong

Classifications

• H01R13/7033 Primary

  making use of elastic extensions of the terminals · CPC title

• H01R13/629 Primary

  Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} · CPC title

• H01R13/2492

  multiple contact points · CPC title

• G06K13/0831

  the ejection arrangement comprising a slide, carriage or drawer · CPC title

• H01R12/71 Primary

  for rigid printing circuits or like structures · CPC title