IC memory card with an anisotropic conductive rubber interconnector

• US 5,153,818 A
• Filed: 12/06/1990
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fukuma, Toshio, Mukougawa, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US07/623,195
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/495, 361/392, 361/394, 361/395, 361/399, 439/86, 439/89, 439/91, 439/136, 439/271, 439/278, 439/587
• US Class Current: 361/737
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/325 by abutting or pinching, i.e. without alloying process; mechanical auxiliary parts therefor adaptations of leads inserted in holes for press-fit connections H05K3/308
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/026 having standardized interfaces flash memory cards G06K19/077
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/946 Memory card cartridge

Abstract

An IC memory card having a connector structure adapted to be connected with the terminal pins of an external read/writer. A card case has in its end surface a row of openings for receiving the terminal pins. An interconnector receiving chamber is disposed rearwardly of the row of openings and communicates therewith. In the interconnector receiving chamber, an elastic interconnector of anisotropic conductive rubber, which is conductive in the direction of thickness, is mounted. When the terminal pins are inserted, they are electrically conducted with a printed circuit board via the interconnector so that the connector structure inside the memory card can be automatically accomplished. The interconnector is in the form of a thin strip; the memory card can be assembled very simple by merely mounting this interconnector in the interconnector receiving chamber. A retainer plate of insulating rubber is placed over the interconnector to airtightly seal the latter from the external.

Claims

1. An IC memory card comprising:

(a) an electrically insulating card case having a row of openings for receiving terminal pins of a read/writer and an interconnector receiving chamber communicating with said openings;

(b) a printed wiring board fixed to said card case and carrying an IC memory, said printed wiring board being provided with a lead terminal which is disposed in said interconnector receiving chamber and is electrically connected with said IC memory at positions corresponding to said openings;

(c) an interconnector being conductive in a direction of thickness and being made of an anisotropic conductive rubber, said interconnector being mounted in said interconnector receiving chamber and being, at one end of the direction of thickness, electrically coupled with said IC memory and being at the other end adapted to engage the terminal pins when the terminal pins are inserted through said openings, whereby the terminal pins are electrically conducted with said IC memory; and

(d) a second interconnector in said card case mounted on a second interconnector receiving chamber and a second printed wiring board identical with said printed wiring board in said card case, and wherein said row of openings and said interconnector receiving chamber are disposed one over the other in said card case, wherein the two printed wiring boards are disposed on opposite surfaces of said card case, there being an IC memory carried by each of said printed wiring boards.

2. An IC memory card comprising:

(a) an electrically insulating card case having a row of openings for receiving terminal pins of a read/writer and an interconnector receiving chamber communicating with said openings;

(b) a printed wiring board fixed to said card case and carrying an IC memory, said printed wiring board being provided with a lead terminal which is disposed in said interconnector receiving chamber and is electrically connected with said IC memory at positions corresponding to said openings;

(c) an interconnector being conductive in a direction of thickness and being made of an anisotropic conductive rubber, said interconnector being mounted in said interconnector receiving chamber and being, at one end of the direction of thickness, electrically coupled with said IC memory and being at the other end adapted to engage the terminal pins when the terminal pins are inserted through said openings, whereby the terminal pins are electrically conducted with said IC memory; and

(d) a retainer plate of elastic insulating rubber disposed in said interconnector receiving chamber in a laminated relationship with said interconnector, said retainer plate having at least one longitudinally extending ridge formed by at least one concave groove in said retainer plate.

3. An IC memory card according to claim 2, wherein entire surfaces of said interconnector and said retaining plate are disposed in intimate contact with each other when the terminal pins are not inserted through said openings.

4. An IC memory card according to claim 3, wherein there is a lubricant applied between said interconnector and said retainer plate.

5. An IC memory card according to claim 2, wherein said interconnector is in the form of an anisotropic conductive rubber strip corresponding to said row of openings.

6. An IC memory card according to claim 2, wherein there is in said card case a second interconnector mounted on a second interconnector receiving chamber and a second printed wiring board identical with said printed wiring board in said card case, and wherein said row of openings and said interconnector receiving chamber are disposed one over the other in said card case.

7. An IC memory card according to claim 6, wherein the two printed wiring boards are disposed on opposite surfaces of said card case, there being an IC memory carried by each of said printed wiring board.

8. An IC memory card according to claim 2, wherein said row of openings and said interconnector receiving chamber are disposed one over the other, said printed wiring board carrying two IC memories, one on each of opposite surfaces of said printed wiring board.