Card connection adaptor

• US 20020032813A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaori Yasufuku, Taiji Hosaka
• Original Assignee: Kaori Yasufuku, Taiji Hosaka
• Inventors: Hosaka, Taiji, Yasufuku, Kaori
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/945 Adapter for pcb or cartridge

Abstract

A card connection adaptor is provided which is used for connecting, to a connector of a card slot compliant with a first standard, a card compliant with a second standard. The adaptor includes: a first connector compliant with the first standard and adapted to be electrically connected to the connector of the card slot; a second connector compliant with the second standard; and signal conversion circuitry for performing signal conversion between a first-standard-compliant signal and a second-standard-compliant signal. A card retaining space for retaining the second-standard-compliant card inserted therein is formed in a housing which holds the first connector, the second connector and the signal conversion circuit. The card retaining space has a card insertion port which opens generally perpendicularly to an insertion direction in which the card connection adaptor is inserted into the card slot.

Claims

1. A card connection adaptor for connecting, to a connector of a card slot compliant with a predetermined first standard, a card compliant with a second standard which is different from the first standard, the card connection adaptor comprising:

a first connector compliant with the first standard and adapted to be electrically connected to the connector of the card slot;

a second connector compliant with the second standard;

signal conversion circuitry connected to the first connector and the second connector for performing signal conversion between a first-standard-compliant signal and a second-standard-compliant signal; and

a housing which holds the first connector, the second connector and the signal conversion circuitry, the housing having a card insertion port which opens generally perpendicularly to an adaptor insertion direction in which the card connection adaptor is inserted into the card slot, and a card retaining space for retaining therein the second-standard-compliant card inserted from the card insertion port.

2. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the first standard is a standard which stipulates that an input/output control circuit be provided in a card to be fitted into the card slot.

3. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the signal conversion circuitry includes the input/output control circuit for controlling input and output of the second-standard-compliant card.

4. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the second standard is a standard which stipulates that an input/output control circuit be provided in the second-standard-compliant card.

5. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the card connection adaptor has a card shape conformal to the first-standard-compliant card slot.

6. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the card retaining space is closed on its rear side as seen in the adaptor insertion direction so that the second-standard-compliant card cannot be inserted or withdrawn from the rear side of the card retaining space.

7. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the first connector is adapted to be contact-connected to the connector of the card slot.

8. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the card connection adaptor is adapted to be powered through the connector of the card slot and the first connector.

9. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the second connector is capable of powering there through the second-standard-compliant card fitted in the card connection adaptor.

10. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the card slot is a PC-standard memory card slot.

11. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the card retaining space is configured so as not to allow the second-standard-compliant card to project outwardly of the card retaining space when the card is retained in the card retaining space.

12. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising

a wiring board provided within the housing, on which the first connector, the second connector and the signal conversion circuitry are mounted.

13. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the signal conversion circuitry includes a pin configuration conversion circuit for converting a pin configuration between a first-standard-compliant card and a second-standard-compliant card.

14. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the signal conversion circuitry includes a signal processing circuit for converting signal format between the first-standard-compliant signal and the second-standard-compliant signal to ensure inter-standard compatibility.

15. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the second-standard-compliant card is a memory card which incorporates therein a memory IC and has a data storage function.

17. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 16, wherein

the indication mechanism includes a switch member which is operative when the second-standard-compliant card is fitted in the card retaining space, and an indication lamp provided on the rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction and adapted to be energized or de-energized by the switch member.

18. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 17, further comprising

a power supplying mechanism through which the indication lamp is powered from the card slot.

19. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 16, wherein

the indication mechanism includes a displacement member which is displaceable in response to insertion and withdrawal of the card with respect to the card retaining space, and a visual mechanism for allowing visual observation of the displacement of the displacement member from the outside of the housing on the rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction.

20. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 19, wherein

the displacement member includes a spring member which is deformable in abutment against the card inserted into the card retaining space.

21. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 20, wherein

the visual mechanism includes a window formed in the rear face of the housing, and an indicator member which is displaceable in response to the deformation of the spring member inside the window so as to get into or out of sight from the window.

22. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 21, wherein

the indicator member is colored differently from the rear face of the housing.

23. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 19, wherein

the displacement member is displaceable in the card insertion direction in abutment against a front face of the card as the card is inserted into the card retaining space.

24. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 19, wherein

the displacement member is displaceable generally perpendicularly to the card insertion direction in abutment against either of upper and lower faces of the card as the card is inserted into the card retaining space.

25. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 19, wherein

the displacement member includes an engagement member which is engageable with an engagement portion formed in a side face of the card.

26. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 16, wherein

the indication mechanism includes a card visual mechanism for allowing visual observation of the card retained in the card retaining space from the outside of the housing on the rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction.

27. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 26, wherein

the card visual mechanism includes a window extending through the rear face of the housing to the card retaining space.

28. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 27, wherein

at least periphery of the window in the rear face of the housing is imparted with a color which is distinguishable from a color of the card.

29. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 16, wherein

the card retaining space of the housing is closed on its rear side as seen in the adaptor insertion direction.

30. A card connection adaptor as set forth in claim 16, wherein

the indication mechanism is visually perceivable from an opening of the card slot when the card connection adaptor is fitted in the card slot.

16. A card connection adaptor for connecting, to a card slot compliant with a predetermined first standard, a card compliant with a second standard which is different from the first standard, the card connection adaptor comprising:

a first connector compliant with the first standard;

a second connector compliant with the second standard;

a housing which holds the first connector and the second connector, the housing having a card insertion port which opens generally perpendicularly to an adaptor insertion direction in which the card connection adaptor is inserted into the card slot, and a card retaining space for retaining therein the second-standard-compliant card inserted from the card insertion port; and

an indication mechanism for providing an indication of whether or not the second-standard-compliant card is retained in the housing on a rear face of the adaptor as seen in the adaptor insertion direction.