Memory card connector

[0001] a. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a memory card connector and more particularly, to such a memory card connector, which is practical for receiving a SD (Secure Digital) card as well as a mini SD (Secure Digital) card.

[0003] b. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Following market trend toward the design concept to be lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller, a variety of compact and mobile electronic apparatus have been developed and have appeared on the market. In order to fit mobile electronic apparatus, mini-sized memory devices are developed. For example, mini SD (Secure Digital) card is designed to substitute for SD (Secure Digital) card for use in a mobile electronic apparatus, for example, a mobile phone. Regular electronic apparatus simply provide a memory card connector for receiving a specific memory card.

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a memory card connector, which is practical for receiving a SD (Secure Digital) card as well as a mini SD (Secure Digital) card.

[0006] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the memory card connector comprises an electrically insulative casing, the casing comprising an upper receiving space adapted to accommodate a SD (Secure Digital) card, a lower receiving space adapted to accommodate a mini SD (Secure Digital) card, two locating holes respectively symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof, and a plurality of terminal slots spaced between the locating holes in communication with the upper receiving space and the lower receiving space; a plurality of terminals respectively mounted in the terminal slots inside the casing and adapted to contact respective contacts of a memory card insertable into the casing; a cover closed on a top side of the casing, the cover comprising a springy retaining frame suspended on a middle part thereof, the springy retaining frame comprising a holding down tongue downwardly extended from a front side thereof and adapted to hold down a memory card in one of the upper receiving space and the lower receiving space, and two protruding flanges downwardly extended from two opposite lateral sides of the holding down tongue and respectively terminating in an outwardly extended retaining portion; and two clamping strips respectively mounted in the locating holes of the casing and pressed on the protruding flanges of the cover at an outer side, the clamping strips each having a front end respectively terminating in an inwardly protruded retaining portion for clamping a mini SD (Secure Digital) card in the lower receiving space of the casing.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1˜4, a memory card connector in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of an electrically insulative casing 10, a plurality of terminals 40, an electrically insulative cover 50, and two clamping strips 60.

[0016] The casing 10 defines a relatively wider and deeper upper receiving space 11 and a relatively narrower and shorter lower receiving space 12 for accommodating a SD (Secure Digital) card 20 and a mini SD (Secure Digital) card 30 respectively, having two locating holes 14 respectively symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof and a plurality of terminal slots 13 spaced between the locating holes 14.

[0017] The terminals 40 are respectively mounted in the terminal slots 13 inside the casing 10, each having a first upwardly protruded contact portion 41 and a second upwardly protruded contact portion 42.

[0018] The cover 50 is closed on the top side of the casing 10, comprising a springy retaining frame 51 suspended on the middle. The springy retaining frame 51 comprises a holding down tongue 52 downwardly extended from the front side thereof, two protruding flanges 53 downwardly extended from two opposite lateral sides of the holding down tongue 52 and respectively terminating in an outwardly extended retaining portion 531.

[0019] The two clamping strips 60 are narrow elongated clamping members respectively mounted in the locating holes 14 of the casing 10 and attached to the protruding flanges 53 of the cover 50 at an outer side, each having a front end respectively terminating in an inwardly protruded retaining portion 61.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when inserted a mini SD card 30 into the lower receiving space 12 of the casing 10, the mini SD card 30 does not stretch the clamping strips 60, and the contacts (not shown) of the mini SD card 30 are maintained in contact with the second upwardly protruded contact portions 42 of the terminals 40. At this time, the clamping strips 60 impart a pressure to the outwardly extended retaining portions 531 of the protruding flanges 53 of the cover 50 to force the springy retaining frame 51 downward, thereby causing the holding down tongue 52 to hold down the mini SD card 30.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, when inserted a SD card 40 into the upper receiving space 11 of the casing 10, the SD card 40 forces the protruding flanges 53 of the cover 50 outwards against a middle part of each of the clamping strips 60, and the contacts (not shown) of the SD card 40 are maintained in contact with the first upwardly protruded contact portions 41 of the terminals 40. At this time, the inwardly protruded retaining portions 61 of the clamping strips 60 are clamped on two opposite lateral sides of the SD card 40, and the holding down tongue 52 of the springy retaining frame 51 is pressed on the top side of the SD card 40, and therefore the SD card 40 is held in position.

[0022] Further, the clamping strips 60 may be made having different lengths such that the shorter clamping strip (see the left-side clamping strip in FIG. 7) detects the position of the write-protect tab 21 of the SD card 20.

[0023] As indicated above, the present invention provides a memory card connector, which is practical for receiving a SD card as well as a mini SD card.

[0024] A prototype of memory card connector has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜7. The memory card connector functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0025] Although a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes could be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed.