Simulated SD memory card converter

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to memory card converters, more particularly to a simulated secure digital (SD) memory card converter for coupling a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card to a standard SD memory card slot.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] To retrieve data from a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card, a user has to insert it into a corresponding slot on a computer device. However, the majority of the computer devices in the market, such as desktop computers, notebook computers, palm computers, pocket computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, mobile phones, electronic dictionaries and MP3 players, are not provided with a slot for the TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card. Therefore, the promotion and utilization of the TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card are limited. The present invention allows the connection of a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card to a computer device through an SD card slot.

[0005] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a simulated SD memory card converter for converting a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card to a standard SD card, whereby a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card, after being inserted into the simulated SD memory card converter, will be used with an SD card connector or a multi-purpose reader. Therefore, the limitation of the TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card can be largely reduced.

[0006] 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 drawings.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, a simulated SD memory card converter according to the present invention comprises lower cover 1 and an upper cover 2. As the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2 are combined, the combined body resembles a standard SD card, whereas the internal structure thereof is different.

[0017] The simulated SD memory card converter further comprises an envelope 3 and a set of conducting terminals 4 having a retaining arm 40, which will be enclosed in a space A defined by the inner space between the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2. There exists a space B within the combined body for the insertion of a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card 6.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the conducting terminals 4 before being disposed between the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2, are provided with a connecting strip 48 running across the conducting terminals 4 and a base strip 49 attached on the wider end of the conducting terminals 4. The connecting strip 48 and the base strip 49 are temperature parts which will be punched away during the process of combining the conducting terminals 4 and the envelope 3. The connecting strip 48 is for retaining each of the conducting terminals 4 in a right position, whereby the conducting terminals 4 will pass uniformly under a slot 38 on the envelope 3 and get retained in the slot 38. This a special production means of this present invention, called pre-confined injection molding, whereby the arrangement of the conducting terminals 4 will not be disturbed by the impact of the plastic envelope 3 during the manufacturing process.

[0019] The retaining arm 40 of the conducting terminals 4 is an extended member from the farthest left one of the conducting terminals 4, which includes a elongated conducting plate 41 retained by the envelope 3 and two upright guiding members 42, 43 respectively on two lateral sides of the conducting plate 41. The free end of the conducting plate 41 is provided with a bent section 44, and the front end of the guiding member 43 is provided with a hook 45.

[0020] The rear end of the lower cover 1 is provided with a row of holes 11 and a deficit corner 12. The one of the holes 11 nearest to the deficit corner 12 is locates in a forward position with respect to the others. Each of the holes 11 is aligned with a corresponding one of the conducting terminals 4 on the wide end of the set of conducting terminals 4.

[0021] On the narrow side, the conducting terminals 4 are converged, their tips being bent. There are nine of them, wherein the wide end of the sixth from the left is electrically connected to the wide end of the fourth by a connecting member 46. Further, the wide ends of the sixth and the fourth are folded upward.

[0022] The middle section of the set of conducting terminals 4 is covered by the envelope 3, and each of the conducting terminals 4 is well retained therein, whereby the conducting terminals 4 will be collaterally shrunk toward the front end of the converter in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the envelope 3 has a corresponding shrunk portion, and the envelope 3 is housed in the rear portion of the converter.

[0023] The lower cover 1 further includes a depressed portion 10 on the central portion on the inner wall thereof. Along two lateral edges and the front edge of the inner wall of the lower cover 1, there form a plurality of projections, which correspond to a plurality of depressions along two lateral edges and the front edge of the inner wall of the upper cover 2. The front edges of the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2 are respectively provided with a lower front opening 15 and a lower front opening 25; after being combined, the front openings form an inserting slot for a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card. The rear edge of the upper cover 2 is further provided with a deficit corner 22 corresponding to the deficit corner 12.

[0024] The front edges of the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2 are respectively provided with upright front flanges 14 and upright rear flanges 13, where the front edge and the rear edge of the upper cover 2 will be immersed in the lower cover 1. Further, the front flanges 14 are erected adjacent to two sides of the lower front opening 15, capable of being engaged with two corresponding depressions 242 formed on the upper cover 2.

[0025] On the left sides of the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2, there respectively form breaches 16, 26. On the opposite sides of the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2 at the same locations, there respectively form slider receptacles 17, 27 for retaining a slider 5. The lower cover 1 is further provided with a slider retaining groove 171 for the embedment of a rail side 51 of the slider 5.

[0026] The left and right lateral sides of the lower cover 1 are respectively provided with flanges 181, 182, 191 and 192. The flanges 181, 191 are located along the outer edges of the corresponding lateral sides, whereas the flanges 182, 192 are located inside for retaining the envelope 3. The flanges 182, 192 are arranged to converge toward the front edge of the lower cover 1, whereby the envelope 3 will not move forward. The flanges 181, 182, 191 and 192 are provided with a plurality of projections 184, 185, 194 and 195, and the upper cover 2 are provided with depressions 284, 285, 294 and 295 at locations corresponding to the flanges 181, 182, 191 and 192, whereby the combination of the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2 will not only enclose the envelope 3 but also form engagements between the flanges 181, 182, 191 and 192 and the depressions 284, 285, 294 and 295 where an ultrasonic welding or a glue connection can be applied.

[0027] To allow a forward movement of the inner guiding member 43, the lower cover 1 and the upper cover 2 are provided with breaches 187, 287 and a depressed portion 288 for the insertion of the guiding members 42, 43. Thereby, the hook 45 can go through a hole formed by the breaches 187, 287 to hook into an opening 61 on a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card 6, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. There exists an inner flange 183 between the flanges 181, 182, on which a plurality of projections 186 are provided. The projections 186 are capable of being engaged with a corresponding plurality of depressions 286 on the upper cover 2. The upper cover 2 is further provided with a shallow recess 289 for the attachment of a label.

[0028] The above structure of a converter is particularly suitable for precision and easy assembly of a set of conducting terminals and the associated envelope. After being inserted, the pins of a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card are connected through the narrow ends of the conducting terminals to the wide ends, where the connection pins of a standard SD card are simulated. Therefore, a TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card will be accepted by electronic devices that are compatible with SD cards, significantly enlarging the applicability of the TRANS FLASH™ micro SD flash memory card.

[0029] The present invention is thus described, and 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.