Dual usage memory card connector

[0001] a. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a memory card connector and more particularly, to a dual usage memory card connector, which is practical for use with a Sony MS (Memory Stick) memory card as well as a MS Duo memory card.

[0003] b. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Following fast development of information industry, a variety of mobile personal electronic apparatus have been developed, and have appeared on the market. These mobile personal electronic apparatus include PDA, digital camera, digital video camera, and electronic dictionary. These mobile electronic apparatus commonly have an expansion slot for receiving a memory card, for example, a CF (Compact Flash), SM (Smart Media), SD (Secure Digital), MMC (MultiMedia Card), MS (Memory Stick), or MS Duo memory card. However, the expansion slot of a conventional mobile electronic apparatus is specifically designed for receiving one particular model of memory card only.

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a dual usage memory card connector, which is practical for use with a Sony MS (Memory Stick) memory card as well as a MS Duo memory card.

[0006] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the dual usage memory card connector comprises an electrically insulative housing, the housing comprising a forwardly extended receiving open chamber, which fits a MS (Memory Stick) memory card, a top opening, two spring arms suspended at two opposite lateral sides thereof and movable between a first position for holding a MS Duo memory card in the receiving open chamber and a second position for holding a MS memory card in the receiving open chamber, the spring arms each having a front clamping tip projecting into the receiving open chamber, and two retaining blocks disposed at the two opposite lateral sides in front of the spring arms; a plurality of terminals respectively mounted in the housing and extended to a rear side of the housing; and a metal top cover covered on the housing, the top cover comprising two retaining holes disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof and respectively coupled to the retaining blocks of the housing, a transversely extended top suspension spring plate, a curved holding down portion forwardly extended from the top suspension spring plats and projecting through the top opening into the inside of the front receiving open chamber for holding down a memory card in the front receiving open chamber, and two limiters respectively formed integral with two distal ends of the top suspension spring plats and adapted to hold the spring arms in the first position. When inserted a MS Duo memory card into the receiving open chamber, the limiters hold the spring arms in the first position, the spring arms and the curved holding down portions of the spring plate of the top cover hold down the inserted MS Duo memory card in contact with the terminals. When inserted a MS memory card into the receiving open chamber, the limiters are forced by the inserted MS memory card to disengage the spring arms from the first position, enabling the spring arms to move to the second position by spring power thereof, and the curved holding down portions of the spring plate of the top cover hold down the inserted MS Duo memory card in contact with the terminals.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1˜4, a dual usage memory card connector in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of an electrically insulative housing 10, a top cover 20, and a plurality of terminals 14.

[0021] The housing 10 comprises a forwardly extended receiving open chamber 11, which fits a MS memory card, a top opening 12, two spring arms 13 suspended at the two opposite lateral sides thereof, each spring arm 13 having a front clamping tip 131 projecting into the receiving open chamber 11 and a raised portion 132 protruded from the top side of the front clamping tip 131, and two retaining blocks 15 disposed at the two opposite lateral sides in front of the spring arms 13.

[0022] The terminals 14 are respectively mounted in the housing 10 and extended to the rear side of the housing 10.

[0023] The top cover 20 is a metal shell comprising two retaining holes 21 disposed at two opposite lateral sides and respectively coupled to the retaining blocks 15 of the housing 10, a transversely extended top suspension spring plate 22, a curved holding down portion 221 forwardly extended from the top suspension spring plate 22 and projecting through the top opening 12 into the inside of the front receiving open chamber 11 for holding down a MS or MS Duo memory card in the front receiving open chamber 11, and two limiters 23 respectively formed integral with the two distal ends of the top suspension spring plate 22 corresponding to the spring arms 13 of the housing 10. The limiters 23 each comprise a locating hole 231 corresponding to the raised portion 132 of each of the two spring arms 13 of the housing 10.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, normally, the locating hole 231 of each limiter 23 is respectively coupled to the raised portion 132 of each of the spring arms 13 to hold the spring arms 13 in a first position where the front clamping tip 131 of each spring arm 13 is held projecting into the receiving open chamber 11 for holding a MS Duo memory card 2.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 7˜12, when inserting a MS memory card 3 into the receiving open chamber 11, the MS memory card 33 will touch the front side of the curved holding down portion 221 of the top suspension spring plate 22 at first and will then force the top suspension spring plate 22 upwards from the aforesaid first position to a second position where the locating holes 231 of the limiters 23 are disengaged from the raised portions 132 of the spring arms 13, and therefore the MS memory card 3 can be inserted into position and kept in positive contact with the terminals 14.

[0026] As indicated above, by means of the design of the spring arms 13 of the housing 10 to match with the locating holes 231 of the top cover 20, the dual usage memory card connector is practical for use with a MS Duo memory card 2 as well as a MS memory card 3.

[0027] FIG. 13 shows an alternate form of the dual usage memory card connector according to the present invention. According to this alternate form, the limiters 23 each are comprised of a hook 232 respectively hooked on the spring arms 13 to hold the spring arms 13 in a first position where the front clamping tip 131 of each spring arm 13 is held projecting into the receiving open chamber 11 for holding a MS Duo memory card 2. When inserting a MS memory card 3 into the receiving open chamber 11, the top suspension spring plate 22 will be forced upwards from the aforesaid first position to a second position where the hooks 232 of limiters 23 are disengaged from the spring arms 13 and therefore the MS memory card 3 can be inserted into position and kept in positive contact with the terminals 14.

[0028] A prototype of dual usage memory card connector has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜13. The dual usage memory card connector functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0029] Although particular embodiments of the present invention have 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.