Electronic signal adapter module of flash memory card

[0002] The present invention relates to electronic signal adapters, and particularly to electronic signal adapter module of a flash memory card.

[0003] With the advance of computer technology, the storage mediums developed from silicon semiconductor technologies become more and more popular. Flash memory cards are especially important in the silicon storage medium. Comparing with the floppy disks and compact disks, the flash memory cards are convenient, rapid, repeatable, shock-and-wet proofed, and consumes less power.

[0004] Various flash memory cards are developed by for example Sony, TOSHIBA, Siemens, Matsushita, Samaung, SanDisk, etc. Moreover, the flash memory cards are widely used to various digital products, such as PAMCIA cards, Compact Flash cards, SM cards (Smart Media cards), MMC cards (MultiMedia Cards), MS cards (Memory Stick Cards), SD cards (Secure Digital Cards), etc.

[0005] Flash memory cards are used in various portable digital devices, for example, digital cameras, digital recorders, PDAs, etc. for storing drawings, cartoons, music, and other software data. To enhance the data transformation connected the flash memory cards and mainframes (such as a personal computer, an industrial computer, a video decorder, etc. ), various reader for reading data in the flash memory card are developed.

[0006] One prior art data reader only serves for one flash memory card, while the various specifications of flash memory cards are developed. Therefore, one reader can not match to different kinds of flash memory cards. The manufactures develop novel devices for supporting different kinds of flash memory cards so that the user may use flash memory cards conveniently.

[0007] However, these prior arts have a defect of poor contact between the pins of the flash memory card and the conductive elements of an electronic signal adapter module. FIG. 1 shows a reader for supporting various flash memory cards. Since the inlet A of the slots must have a maximum compatible size for receiving flash memory cards having a larger size, such as SD cards and MMC cards. Although this prior art design may receive other kinds of flash memory cards, the positioning and stability of the flash memory cards are poor. Therefore, the prior art design of FIG. 1 only receives flash memory cards, but can not afford a preferred positioning and stability to the flash memory cards. As a consequence, the flash memory cards are possibly loose, slide or even fall out.

[0008] To achieve above objects, the present invention provides an electronic signal adapter module of a flash memory card. A seat serves for storing one or a plurality of flash memory cards of different specifications. These flash memory cards uses a same storage space in the seat and are inserted into the space at different timings. At least one substrate is combined with the seat. After the flash memory card is inserted into the seat; the substrate transfers signals between the flash memory cards and a reading and writing device. An inserted flash memory card is connected to a reader, thereby, the signals of the flash memory card being sent to the reader through the electronic signal adapter module. The feature of the present invention is that one end of the seat for being inserted by a flash memory card has two wings. Each wing is arranged with an elastic reed. By the reeds of the two wings, the flash memory card inserted into the seat generates an elastic force so that the pins on the flash memory card have preferred contact effect with the conductive elements of the substrates. Thereby, positioning and signal transformation between the flash memory card and the electronic signal adapter module are improved greatly.

[0009] The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a prior art electronic signal adapter module of a flash memory card.

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the application of the data reader of a flash memory card.

[0014] FIG. 5 shows that a SM card is inserted into the signal adapter module of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a lateral cross sectional view showing that a SM card is inserted into the signal adapter module of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 7 is an assembled view of FIG. 6.

[0017] FIG. 8 shows that a SD card is inserted into the signal adapter module of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 9 shows that an MS card is inserted into the signal adapter module of the present invention.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the electronic signal adapter module of a flash memory card of the present invention is illustrated.

[0020] The electronic signal adapter module of a flash memory card of the present invention includes the following components.

[0021] A seat 1 serves for storing one or a plurality of flash memory cards of different specifications. These flash memory cards can use the same storage space and can be inserted into the space at different timing.

[0022] At least one substrate is combined with the seat 1. After the flash memory card is inserted into the seat 1, the substrate can transfer the signals between the flash memory cards and a reading and writing device. In this the present invention, the seat 1 allows a plurality of flash memory cards to be inserted at different timing. The substrates 11, 12 are arranged at a top or a bottom of the seat 1. Furthermore, the surfaces of the two substrates 11, 12 facing toward the seat 1 are installed with conductive elements 13, 14, and 15 which are arranged to be corresponding to the pins of flash memory cards inserted into the seat 1.

[0023] After the electronic signal adapter module of a flash memory card of the present invention is formed; a plurality of slots 16 are formed. These slots can be used by a plurality of different flash memory cards which are inserted into the slots at different timing. Then the flash memory card is connected to a flash memory card data reader 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4, through the connecting components of the substrates. Thereby, the signals of the flash memory card 3 can be sent to the reader 2 through the electronic signal adapter module.

[0024] The feature of the present invention will be described in the following. The two wings 1a, 1bat the flash memory card inserting end of the seat 1 are arranged with elastic reeds 41, 42. Referring to FIG. 5, by the reeds 41, 42, the flash memory card 3 inserted into the seat 1 generates an elastic force (referring to FIGS. 6 and 7) so that the pins 31 on the flash memory card 3 have preferred contact effect with the conductive elements of the substrates 11. Thereby, the positioning and signal transformation between the flash memory card and the electronic signal adapter module are improved greatly.

[0025] In above reeds 41, 42 of the present embodiment, one end of each of the reeds 41, 42 is connected to an elastic piece 43, 44. Another ends of the elastic piece 43, 44 face another ends of the reeds 41, 42, respectively, so as to be connected to the two wings 1a, 1b. Thereby, in normal condition, the reeds 41, 42 curl upwards.

[0026] The two wings 1a, 1bat positions positioning the elastic pieces 43, 44 are installed with grooves 18, 19 for receiving the elastic pieces 43, 44 and for adjusting the heights of the reeds 41, 42. Moreover, each of the reeds 41, 42 have respective guide portions 411, 421 at positions adjacent to the inserting portions of the flash memory card and towards the seat 1 so that the flash memory card can slide to the reeds 41, 42 successfully.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the adapter module serves to receive different flash memory card. FIG. 8 shows an SD card 5 and FIG. 9 shows an MS card 6. Referring to FIG. 6, since after the SD card is inserted, in general, the width thereof is smaller than a maximum allowance of the module. Therefore, the prior art adapter module used with a flash memory card is possible that the flash memory card is loose or has no preferred contact ability, while in the present invention, two wings 1a, 1bat the seat 1 are used to compensate the prior art defect about the flash memory card. Namely, the sides of the guide portions 411, 421 of the reeds 41, 42 near the flash memory card are installed with notches 412, 422 so that the flash memory card can be inserted successfully. By the elasticity of the reeds 41, 42, the flash memory card (SD card) is confined between the reeds 41, 42 and the substrates 12. Thereby, the flash memory card is positioned by a preferred way.

[0028] The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.