GB2198595A - Circuit card connectors - Google Patents
Circuit card connectors Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2198595A GB2198595A GB8727427A GB8727427A GB2198595A GB 2198595 A GB2198595 A GB 2198595A GB 8727427 A GB8727427 A GB 8727427A GB 8727427 A GB8727427 A GB 8727427A GB 2198595 A GB2198595 A GB 2198595A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- card
- connector
- carrier member
- carrier
- mating direction
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
- G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
- G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
- G06K13/0806—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card
- G06K13/0831—Feeding or discharging cards using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card the ejection arrangement comprising a slide, carriage or drawer
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/0013—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers
- G06K7/0021—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/70—Coupling devices
- H01R12/82—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force
- H01R12/85—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force contact pressure producing means, contacts activated after insertion of printed circuits or like structures
- H01R12/89—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force contact pressure producing means, contacts activated after insertion of printed circuits or like structures acting manually by moving connector housing parts linearly, e.g. slider
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
A zero insertion force connector for a circuit card, especially a 'smart' or 'soft' card, includes a main body member supporting contacts for engaging with those on the card. A carrier member engages the card and carries it into engagement with the connector body by sliding in a predetermined mating direction in the plane of the card. Limited relative movement in the mating direction is allowed between the card and the carrier member, and a spring or other resilient means urges the card towards the limit of its movement in the mating direction. When the card has been advanced sufficiently to align the mating contacts, an abutment is engaged to prevent it moving further and the carrier then engages ramps which compel it to move tranversely and urge the card in a direction perpendicular to its own plane to make contact and apply adequate contact pressure. The carrier is then releasably latched in position in the body.
Description
Circuit Card Connectors
This invention relates to edge connectors for circuit cards (or boards), that is electrical connectors designed to make direct contact with tracks (or pads) on a card carrying electronic (or other) components. It is primarily, but by no means exclusively, concerned with edge connectors for use with 'smart' cards in which microelectronic components are embedded within the circuit cards; these are also referred to as 'soft' cards because they are usually made of relatively flexible themoplastic materials in contrast to the relatively stiff thermoset sheet materials used for cards to which surface-mounted components are soldered.
Electrical performance requirements demand an appropriate contact pressure and if the card has to be inserted against equivalent resilient forces the contact surfaces are liable to be damaged, and gross distortion of resilient contacts can occur, especially when a card with a large number of contacts (and correspondingly large aggregate contact pressure) has to be installed in a connector in a position where access is difficult (for instance in a domestic appliance or a motor vehicle).
There is therefore a need for a "zero insertIon force" connector in which contact pressure is applied only after the circuit card is correctly located in its connector (though some force may need to be applied to locate it).
she present invention provides a zero lnsertior force connector that is of compact design, made from relatively simple parts, and which is easy to operate even In conditions of difficult access.
In accordance with the invention, a zero-insertion force connector for a circuit card comprises:
a connector body member supporting contacts for engagement with contacts on the card;
a carrier er member for engaging the card and carrying it into engagement with the connector body in a predetermined mating direction in the plane of the card and for withdrawing it in the opposite direction if required whIle allowing limited relative movement In the mating direction between the card and the carrier member resIlIent means for urgIng the card towards the limit of its movement in the mating direction with respect to the carrier;
abutment means for stopping further movement of the card in the mating direction with respect to the connector body when the contacts are aligned;;
ramp means acting between the connector body and the carrier member on further movement of the carrier member In the mating direction after the said abutment means has stopped movement of the card to urge the carrier member transversely to the mating direction and thereby urge the card in a direction perpendicular to its own plane to generate contact pressure between the contacts on the body member and those on the card;
and releasable latching means acting between the body member and the carrier member to retain the parts in their engaged positions.
Preferably the connector body and the carrier member are nesting tray-like or frame-like members entirely surrounding the periphery of the card, but other shapes can be used provided they give adequate control over the direction of relative movement. Each will usually be a plastics mouldings or an assembly of plastics mouldings.
The contacts in the body may be conventional spring contacts, or in some cases it might be possible to use rigid stud contacts if the body and/or the card are suitably flexible.
The resilient means acting between the card and the carrier may comprise helical wire springs (preferably several spaced along the relevant side of the card) or at least one metallic or non-metallic leaf spring. In some cases, a non-metallic leaf spring could be integral with the carrier member. The limit of movement in the direction of the biassing force applied by the resilient means may be set by one or more simple abutments on the carrier member engaging the edge of the card in a place (or places) that will not interfere with its engagement with the abutment means In the connector body; or the card and the carrier member could be formed with suitable interengaging formations (e.g. pegs and slots) within the area of the card.
The abutment means may be an elongate shoulder enagaglng all, or the greater part, of the relevant edge of the card, or it could be a number of separate short abutments spaced along that edge.
Preferably the ramp means Includes two ramp surfaces (or two sets of ramp surfaces) spaced apart In the mating direction and with the same taper angle, so that the card ls moved in translation without any substantial rotation.
The connector may be and preferably is latched by direct engagement between appropriate latching formations o the body and the carrier member, at least one formation being suitably flexible.
The accompanying drawings are diagrammatic cross sections through one form of edge connector in accordance with the invention, Figure 1 showing it in a released position, Figure 2 in a position in which the circuit card has been advanced longitudinally to its engaged position but not yet moved laterally, and
Figure 3 in a fully engaged position.
Referring to Figure 1, the body 1 of the connector is of tray-like form, with a solid base 2, a channel section 3, bearing two rows of contacts 4, at one edge and another channel section 5 at the opposite edge. The ends of the connector body (behind and In front of the plane of the paper) may be open, or may be closed, depending on stiffness requirements.
Inside the tray-like body 1 is the carrier member 6 which receiv-es the circuit card 7. The carrier member 6 Is rectangular, and sheet-like apart from a channel section 8 at one end and hooks 9 for engaging the edge of the card 7, at the other. If the body member is open at the ends, the carrier member 6 may be slid into position perpendicular to the plane of the paper and retained by a snap engagement or auxillary members, and the hooks 9 may then lie in front of and behind the body 1. If the body 1 has solid ends, then the carrier member needs to be Inserted by bending it and/or the channel part 5 of the connector body 1 to gain admittance through the open top of the connector body, and in this case the hooks 9 will need to work in slots (19, Figure 3) provided in the body.
Inside the channel section 8 is mounted a spring assembly 10 (or other resilient means) which urges the card 7 into contact with the hooks 9. On the inside of the base 2 of the connector body are ramps 11, 12, and a hole is left in the centre of the carrier 6 so that the ramp 11 is not engaged with the carrier when in the position shown in Figure 1.
When the circuit card 7 has been Inserted In place in the carrier, the carrier is advanced towards the right hand end of the connector body as seen in the drawings (by gripping its exposed ends or by suitable formations provided on it) and it simply moves forward, carrying the circuit card with it, until the position shown in Figure 2 is reached. The leading edge of the card 7 now engages an abutment 13 on the inside of the channel section 3 of the connector body 1, whereupon forward movement of the circuit card ceases . The resilience of the spring 10, however, allows the carrier 6 to continue advancing, and it almost immediately engages the ramp surfaces 11 and 12, which compel it to move upwards (as shown in the drawings) as it continues to advance to the right. It thus lifts the circuit card 7 until the contacts thereon (not visible) engage the contacts 4 of the connector and adequate contact pressure Is applied thereto.
The dimensions of the two channel sections 5 and 8 at the left hand side of the drawing are such that at least one of them is resiliently reflected during the movement of the carrier member up the ramp surfaces, and when the carrier member is fully advanced, the resulting deflectIon is released to provide a latching engagement between the back face 14 of the carrier member and the front face 15 of the channel section 5. This engagement can be released, when required, by pressing down the left hand end of the carrier member, and it can then be slid back to the Figure 1 position for removal of the circuit card.
Claims (1)
- Claims1. A zero insertIon force connector for a circuit card comprising; a connector body member supporting contacts for engagement with contacts on the card; a carrier member for engaging the card and carrying it into engagement with the connector body in a predetermined mating direction in the plane of the card and for withdrawing it in the opposite direction if required while allowing limited relative movement in the mating direction between the card and the carrier member; resilient means for urging the card towards the limit of its movement in the mating direction with respect t o the carrier; abutment means for stopping further movement of the card in the mating direction with respect to the connector body when the contacts are aligned;; ramp means acting between the connector body and the carrier member on further movement of the carrier member in the mating direction after the said abutment means has stopped movement of the card to urge the carrier member tranversely to the mating direction and thereby urge the card In a direction perpendicular to its own plane to generate contact pressure between the contacts on the body member and those on the card; and releasable latching means acting between the body member and the carrier member to retain the parts in their engaged positions.2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 in which the connector body and the carrier body are nesting tray-like or frame-like members entirely surrounding the periphery of the card.3. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the said ramp means includes two ramp surfaces, or two sets of ramp surfaes, spaced apart in the mating direction and with the same taper angle so that the card is moved in translation without any substantial rotation.5. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is latched by direct engagement between latching formations on the body and the carrier member, at least one said formation being suitably flexible.6. A zero insertIon force connector for a circuit card substantially as described with reference to and as shown In the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8628017A GB8628017D0 (en) | 1986-11-24 | 1986-11-24 | Circuit card connectors |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8727427D0 GB8727427D0 (en) | 1987-12-23 |
| GB2198595A true GB2198595A (en) | 1988-06-15 |
Family
ID=10607819
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8628017A Pending GB8628017D0 (en) | 1986-11-24 | 1986-11-24 | Circuit card connectors |
| GB8727427A Withdrawn GB2198595A (en) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-11-23 | Circuit card connectors |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8628017A Pending GB8628017D0 (en) | 1986-11-24 | 1986-11-24 | Circuit card connectors |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB8628017D0 (en) |
Cited By (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2628901A1 (en) * | 1988-03-18 | 1989-09-22 | Francelco Sa | IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTOR HOUSINGS FOR MICROCIRCUIT BOARDS |
| EP0351103A3 (en) * | 1988-07-13 | 1990-02-28 | Technophone Limited | Card reader |
| EP0360345A1 (en) * | 1988-09-23 | 1990-03-28 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Reading apparatus for a chip card |
| US5179505A (en) * | 1990-09-28 | 1993-01-12 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Ejector for memory card |
| FR2692704A1 (en) * | 1992-06-22 | 1993-12-24 | Alcatel Radiotelephone | Smart card reader. |
| US5392134A (en) * | 1989-06-16 | 1995-02-21 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Facsimile apparatus with mount for receiving data memory card |
| GB2301492A (en) * | 1995-05-19 | 1996-12-04 | Nec Corp | Flexible-board connector |
| US5613866A (en) * | 1992-09-08 | 1997-03-25 | Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. | Card receiver electrically for contacting a card medium having a plurality of electrical connecting terminals |
| US5674080A (en) * | 1994-09-29 | 1997-10-07 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | IC card information processing apparatus |
| WO1998024044A1 (en) * | 1996-11-26 | 1998-06-04 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Contacting device for chip cards |
| EP1271387A3 (en) * | 2001-06-20 | 2003-09-10 | AMPHENOL-TUCHEL ELECTRONICS GmbH | Chipcard reader with lockable carriage |
| WO2004100056A1 (en) * | 2003-05-12 | 2004-11-18 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Card reading device |
| US7892034B2 (en) | 2005-12-22 | 2011-02-22 | Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics Gmbh | Smart card connector comprising landing contacts and a cover spring as a card stopper |
| DE102015224025B4 (en) | 2014-12-02 | 2022-03-10 | Hirschmann Car Communication Gmbh | Standard card reader for mobile application |
-
1986
- 1986-11-24 GB GB8628017A patent/GB8628017D0/en active Pending
-
1987
- 1987-11-23 GB GB8727427A patent/GB2198595A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2628901A1 (en) * | 1988-03-18 | 1989-09-22 | Francelco Sa | IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTOR HOUSINGS FOR MICROCIRCUIT BOARDS |
| EP0333530A3 (en) * | 1988-03-18 | 1989-11-02 | Francelco, Societe Anonyme | Connecting housing for microcircuit cards |
| EP0351103A3 (en) * | 1988-07-13 | 1990-02-28 | Technophone Limited | Card reader |
| EP0360345A1 (en) * | 1988-09-23 | 1990-03-28 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Reading apparatus for a chip card |
| US5055970A (en) * | 1988-09-23 | 1991-10-08 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Scanning apparatus for chip card |
| US5392134A (en) * | 1989-06-16 | 1995-02-21 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Facsimile apparatus with mount for receiving data memory card |
| US5179505A (en) * | 1990-09-28 | 1993-01-12 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Ejector for memory card |
| US5380997A (en) * | 1992-06-22 | 1995-01-10 | Alcatel Radiotelephone | Smart card reader |
| EP0576338A1 (en) * | 1992-06-22 | 1993-12-29 | Alcatel Mobile Communication France | Chip card reader |
| FR2692704A1 (en) * | 1992-06-22 | 1993-12-24 | Alcatel Radiotelephone | Smart card reader. |
| US5613866A (en) * | 1992-09-08 | 1997-03-25 | Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. | Card receiver electrically for contacting a card medium having a plurality of electrical connecting terminals |
| US5674080A (en) * | 1994-09-29 | 1997-10-07 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | IC card information processing apparatus |
| GB2301492A (en) * | 1995-05-19 | 1996-12-04 | Nec Corp | Flexible-board connector |
| GB2301492B (en) * | 1995-05-19 | 1997-11-26 | Nec Corp | Flexible-board connector |
| WO1998024044A1 (en) * | 1996-11-26 | 1998-06-04 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Contacting device for chip cards |
| EP1271387A3 (en) * | 2001-06-20 | 2003-09-10 | AMPHENOL-TUCHEL ELECTRONICS GmbH | Chipcard reader with lockable carriage |
| WO2004100056A1 (en) * | 2003-05-12 | 2004-11-18 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Card reading device |
| US7892034B2 (en) | 2005-12-22 | 2011-02-22 | Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics Gmbh | Smart card connector comprising landing contacts and a cover spring as a card stopper |
| DE102015224025B4 (en) | 2014-12-02 | 2022-03-10 | Hirschmann Car Communication Gmbh | Standard card reader for mobile application |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8628017D0 (en) | 1986-12-31 |
| GB8727427D0 (en) | 1987-12-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |