Small-size connector enabling selective use of different types of connection objects Number:7,153,166 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Small-size connector enabling selective use of different types of connection objects

Abstract: A connector is capable of selectively connecting different types of cards. The connector has a first connector portion having a first contact for connection to a first card, and a second connector portion having a second contact for connection to a second card. The first contact and the first card are connected together in a fitting/removal direction, while, the second contact and the second card are connected together in a direction crossing the fitting/removal direction. When the first contact and the first card are connected together, the second contact is prevented from contacting the first card. When the second contact and the second card are connected together, the first contact is prevented from contacting the second card.

Patent Number: 7,153,166 Issued on 12/26/2006 to Katoh,   et al.

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Inventors:	Katoh; Katsutoshi (Tokyo, JP), Yasuda; Hiroaki (Kanagawa, JP), Tabo; Mitsuo (Kanagawa, JP), Kato; Nobukazu (Tokyo, JP), Sasaki; Masamichi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee:	Lenovo (Singapore) Pte Ltd. (Singapore, SG) Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited (Tokyo, JP)
Appl. No.:	11/247,440
Filed:	October 11, 2005

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Foreign Application Priority Data

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Oct 12, 2004 [JP]			2004-297798

Current U.S. Class:	439/630 ; 235/492; 439/945
Current International Class:	H01R 24/00 (20060101)
Field of Search:	439/630,945-946,159,260,325,188 235/492

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References Cited [Referenced By]

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U.S. Patent Documents

	6354881		March 2002		Bricaud et al.
	6641413		November 2003		Kuroda
	6749450		June 2004		Chen
	6976879		December 2005		Shishikura et al.

Foreign Patent Documents

	2001188883		Jul., 2001		JP

Primary Examiner: Zarroli; Michael C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Collard & Roe, P.C.

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Claims

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What is claimed is:

1. A connector for connection to a plurality of cards to be inserted differently from one another into the connector, said connector comprising a first connector portion having first contacts having a contact portion for connecting to a first card, and a second connector portion having second contacts having a conductivity terminal for connection to a second card, wherein said first contacts and said first card are connected together in a first direction, said second contacts and said second card are connected together in a second direction which is perpendicular to said first direction, when said first contacts and said first card are connected together, said second contacts are prevented from contacting said contact portion, and when said second contacts and said second card are connected together, said first contacts are prevented from contacting said conductive terminal, wherein said second connector portion comprises an actuator and said second contacts are prevented from contacting said contact portion because of abutment of said actuator with said first card, and wherein said second card is loaded in an adapter, said adapter is formed with a relief portion, and, when said second contacts and said second card are connected together, said actuator enters said relief portion so that predetermined connection is carried out.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a cam portion and said cam portion is brought into abutment with said first card.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a cam portion and said cam portion enters said relief portion.

4. A connector for connecting selectively to a first and a second connection object with relative movement in a first direction, the first and the second connection objects being different to each another in a type, the connector comprising: a first connector portion having a first contact for coming in contact with the first connection object; and a second connector portion placed adjacent to the first connector portion in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, said second connector portion having a second contact for coming in contact with the second connection object, the second connector portion including an actuator for positioning the first connection object in response to the relative movement at a position where the first connection object does not come in contact with the second contact.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the first connection object comprises a first card having a principal surface which is perpendicular to the second direction when connected to the connector, the actuator having a cam portion sliding on the principal surface in response to the relative movement with pushing the principal surface in the second direction.

6. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the first contact has a pin portion extending in the first direction.

7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein the first connection object has a fitting hole provided with a contact portion, the first contact being inserted into the fitting hole in accordance with the relative movement to come in contact with the contact portion.

8. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the second connection object has a relief portion facing the actuator in the second direction when the second connection object is connected to the connector, the relief portion making the second connection object be not displaced by the actuator even on the relative movement.

9. The connector according to claim 8, wherein the second connection object comprises a second card and an adapter for holding the second card, the adapter having a terminal to be electrically connected to the second card and coming in contact with the second contact when the second connection object is connected to the connector.

10. The connector according to claim 9, wherein the adapter has a principal surface perpendicular to the second direction when the second connection object is connected to the connector, the terminal being formed on the principal surface of the adapter.

11. The connector according to claim 10, wherein the second contact has elasticity and comes in press contact with the terminal in the second direction when the second connection object is connected to the connector.

12. The connector according to claim 11, wherein the adapter has a concave portion, the first contact having a pin portion extending in the first direction, the first contact being inserted into the concave portion in accordance with the relative movement.

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Description

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This application claims priority to prior Japanese patent application JP 2004-297798, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a connector capable of selectively connecting different types of connection objects.

JP-A-2001-188883, for example, discloses a plurality of types of connection adapters each mounted on a device of a personal computer for connecting a connection object such as a memory card. Those connection adapters include the first type connection adapter and the second type connection adapter each having a plurality of slots for selectively mounting therein different types of connection objects. In the first type connection adapter, the plurality of slots extend in parallel while overlapping each other and open to the same plane. In the second type connection adapter, the plurality of slots extend perpendicular to each other and open to the different planes. Each of the first and second type connection adapters enables selective use of the different types of connection objects in the device.

In the first type connection adapter, however, since the plurality of slots extend while overlapping each other, its dimension in a direction of the overlapping, i.e. in a thickness direction, necessarily increases. On the other hand, in the second type connection adapter, since the plurality of slots extend perpendicular to each other, its dimension in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction necessarily increases. That is, these connection adapters each enable selective use of the different types of connection objects, but increase in size. Therefore, the device requires a large dedicated space for mounting the connection adapter and, further, it is necessary to increase the size of a connector provided in the device for connecting the connection adapter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a connector that is capable of selectively using different types of connection objects and, further, that can be reduced in size.

Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for connection to a plurality of cards, said connector comprising a first connector portion having first contacts for connection to a first card, and a second connector portion having second contacts for connection to a second card, wherein said first contacts and said first card are connected together in a fitting/removal direction, said second contacts and said second card are connected together in a direction crossing said fitting/removal direction, when said first contacts and said first card are connected together, said second contacts are prevented from contacting said first card, and when said second contacts and said second card are connected together, said first contacts are prevented from contacting said second card.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for connecting selectively to a first and a second connection object with relative movement in a first direction, the first and the second connection objects being different to each another in a type, the connector comprising a first connector portion having a first contact for coming in contact with the first connection object and a second connector portion placed adjacent to the first connector portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and having a second contact for coming in contact with the second connection object, the second connector portion including an actuator for displacing the first connection object in the second direction in response to the relative movement to a position where the first connection object does not come in contact with the second contact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a connector according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along line Ia--Ia in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is an enlarged front view of the connector;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a first card connectable to the connector;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views, respectively, for explaining the process of connecting the first card to the connector;

FIG. 4A is a front view of an adapter used for connecting a second card to the connector;

FIG. 4B is a plan view of the adapter;

FIG. 4C is a rear view of the adapter;

FIG. 4D is a side view of the adapter;

FIG. 4E is a bottom view of the adapter;

FIG. 5A is a front view of the state where the second card is loaded in the adapter;

FIG. 5B is a plan view of the same state;

FIG. 5C is a rear view of the same state;

FIG. 5D is a side view of the same state;

FIG. 5E is a bottom view of the same state;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 5A; and

FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views, respectively, for explaining the process of connecting the second card to the connector by the use of the adapter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, 3A, and 3B, description will be made about a connector according to an embodiment of this invention.

The connector 1 is generally mounted on a board 2 and comprises a first connector portion 3 and a second connector portion 6. The first connector portion 3 comprises an insulator 4 and a number of first conductive contacts 5 retained by the insulator 4. The first contacts 5 are each formed in a crank shape and are arranged parallel in two rows. Each first contact 5 has a tip portion extending linearly in a fitting/removal direction with respect to a first card 21. In other words, each first contact 5 has a pin portion extending in a first direction A1.

The second connector portion 6 is disposed on the lower front side of the insulator 4. More particularly, the second connector portion 6 is placed adjacent to the first connector portion 3 in a second direction A2 perpendicular to the first direction A1.

The second connector portion 6 comprises an insulator 7, a number of second conductive contacts 8 retained by the insulator 7, and an actuator 9 fixed to the second contacts 8. Each second contact 8 has an elastically deformable portion 8a projecting from the insulator 7 and supporting the actuator 9. The elastically deformable portion 8a has elasticity and is provided with a curved projecting portion 8a1 at a position facing the first card 21 when connected to the first contacts 5. The actuator 9 is provided with a pair of cam portions 9a. The actuator 9 may be provided with a single cam portion 9a at the center in its longitudinal direction or with three cam portions 9a at the center and both ends in its longitudinal direction. There is no particular limitation to the number of the cam portions 9a.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B and also to FIG. 2, description will be made about the first card 21 being a first type connection object and about connection thereof to the connector 1.

The first card 21 is in the form of a substantially flat plate having an upper surface 21a and a lower surface 21b parallel to each other and has one end surface 21c formed with a number of fitting holes 21d. Each of the upper and the lower surfaces 21a and 21b will be referred to as a principal surface. The fitting holes 21d are arranged parallel in two rows so as to be in one-to-one correspondence with the first contacts 5. Each fitting hole 21d is provided with a contact portion 21e for connection to the corresponding first contact 5. The contact portions of the fitting holes 21d are not led out either to the upper surface 21a or to the lower surface 21b of the first card 21.

In order to connect the first card 21 to the connector 1, relative movement is caused therebetween in the first direction A1. More particularly, the first card 21 is moved parallel to the connector 1 from a state before connection shown in FIG. 3A so as to approach the connector 1. During this event, the upper and the lower surfaces 21a and 21b are kept perpendicular to the second direction A2. Then, the first contacts 5 are inserted into the corresponding fitting holes 21d of the first card 21 so as to contact the contact portions, respectively, thereby reaching a connected state shown in FIG. 3B. In this event, since the cam portions 9a of the actuator 9 are brought into abutment with the lower surface 21b of the first card 21, the curved projecting portions 8a1 of the second contacts 8 are prevented from contacting the first card 21.

More particularly, the cam portions 9a of the actuator 9 slides on the lower surface 21b of the first card 21 in response to the relative movement. In this event, the cam portions 9a push upwardly the lower surface 21b in the second direction A2. Therefore, the first card 21 is displaced in the second direction A2 to a position where the first card 21 does not come in contact with the first contacts 5.

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4E and 5A to 5E and further to FIG. 6, description will be made about a second card 31 being another type of connection object and about an adapter 11 used for connecting the second card 31 to the connector 1.

The second card 31 is in the form of a substantially flat plate having an upper surface 31a and a lower surface 31b parallel to each other and has one end surface 31c formed with a slot. The slot is provided therein with a number of contact portions (not shown) for connection to the corresponding second contacts 8.

In order to connect the second card 31 to the connector 1, the adapter 11 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4E is used. The adapter 11 is of a generally U-shape in plan view and has a fitting projection 1a on the inner side thereof. The adapter 11 is provided with a number of conductive terminals 11b each extending from the fitting projection 11a to the front end of the adapter 11 at its bottom or principal surface. The terminals 11b are arranged at the front end bottom of the adapter 11 so as to be in one-to-one correspondence with the second contacts 8. Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 6, the adapter 11 is formed with a pair of relief portions 11c for receiving the cam portions 9a of the actuator 9, respectively. Each of the relief portions 11c may be a recessed portion recessed from the bottom of the adapter 11 in a thickness direction thereof. There is no particular limitation to the number of the relief portions 11c.

The second card 31 is loaded on the inner side of the adapter 11 as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E. In this event, the fitting projection 1a is inserted into the slot of the second card 31. As a result, the terminals 11b are brought into contact with the contact portions provided in the slot of the second card 31. In this manner, the adapter 11 and the second card 31 are integrated together as a single card. A combination of the adapter 11 and the second card 31 is referred to as a second type connection object.

Referring also to FIGS. 7A and 7B, description will be made about connection of the second card 31 to the connector 1.

The adapter 11 loaded with the second card 31 is moved parallel to the connector 1 from a state before connection shown in FIG. 7A so as to approach the connector 1. Then, the terminals 11b of the adapter 11 are brought into press contact with the curved projecting portions 8a1 of the corresponding second contacts 8 in the second direction A2, thereby reaching a connected state shown in FIG. 7B. As a result, the second contacts 8 are connected to the corresponding contact portions of the second card 31, respectively. In this event, the cam portions 9a of the actuator 9 enter the relief portions 11c of the adapter 11, respectively, and the first contacts 5 enter concave portions 11d of the adapter 11, respectively, so that the connector 1 and the adapter 11 are smoothly fitted together.

The connector 1 can be made in a thin thickness in spite of being capable of selectively connecting the first card 21 and the second card 31 different to each another in the type or a standard.

In the foregoing embodiment, the second card 31 is connected to the adapter 11. However, it is also possible to directly connect the second card 31 to an electronic device without using the adapter 11.

While the present invention has thus far been described in connection with a single embodiment thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, only a single contact may be provided in each of the first and the second connector portions. In this case, the adapter may be designed to have a single relief portion.

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