Electronic system with compact card ejector

• US 5,440,448 A
• Filed: 05/25/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Okonsky, Christian G., Stewart, Gregory N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/248,831
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 360/99.02, 439/152, 439/159, 439/160, 439/76, 439/157, 364/708.1, 235/479, 235/485, 235/486, 361/679, 361/683-687, 361/725-727, 361/731, 361/737, 361/754, 361/798, 361/753
• US Class Current: 361/679.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0265 of PCMCIA type
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0295 having ejection mechanisms

Abstract

A small computer having a card interface slot in a side of the computer. An inserted electronic card, the connector on its inserted end mates firmly with a connector at the inner end of the recess behind the slot. The user ejects an inserted card by sliding a slider which is positioned in a shallow recess on the bottom of the computer, near the slot. The slider is connected to an ejector which actually presses against the inner end of the card. By moving the slider with his thumb, the user can push the card out far enough to disengage the contacts of the card, and then can readily remove the card by hand or allow it to drop out.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a housing having, in at least one position thereof, a generally flattened shape, with first and second exterior surfaces which are substantially parallel to each other and a third exterior surface which is substantially perpendicular to said first and second exterior surfaces;

at least one central processing unit (CPU) mounted within said housing;

a card interface slot located on said third exterior surface and in proximity to, but not on, said first and second exterior surfaces of said housing, and dimensioned for accepting a card having a substantially rectangular broad surface and having connectors thereon in substantially predetermined locations;

a card connector comprising a header configured to accommodate an electrical interface to said connectors of said card when said card is inserted in said card interface slot;

at least one ejector including a body portion and a pair of arms extending from said body portion, wherein said pair of arms are positioned to bear on said card adjacent to the connectors of said card, and wherein said pair of arms are spaced on opposite sides of said card connector during times in which said card is positioned in said slot, and wherein said body portion of said ejector extends adjacently along said broad surface of said card during times in which said card is positioned in said slot, and wherein said ejector is enclosed between said first and second exterior surfaces of said housing such that said body portion of said ejector is slidably movable along an interior surface of a wall forming said second exterior surface of said housing;

a recess formed in said second exterior surface of said housing; and

a slider slidably positioned in said recess and mechanically connected to said ejector, wherein a user can push said slider to eject said card from said slot.

2. The computer system as recited in claim 1 wherein said ejector further comprises a pair of grounded side extensions dimensioned to electrically contact a respective pair of ground clips arranged upon the outer periphery of said card.

3. A computer system comprising:

a housing having, in at least one position thereof, a generally flattened shape, with first and second exterior surfaces which are substantially parallel to each other and a third exterior surface which is substantially perpendicular to said first and second exterior surfaces;

at least one central processing unit (CPU) mounted within said housing;

a card interface slot located on said third exterior surface and in proximity to, but not on, said first and second exterior surfaces of said housing, and dimensioned for accepting a card having a substantially rectangular broad surface and having connectors thereon in substantially predetermined locations;

a card connector comprising a header configured to accommodate an electrical interface to said connectors of said card when said card is inserted in said card interface slot;

at least one ejector including a body portion and a pair of arms extending from said body portion, wherein said pair of arms are positioned to bear on said card adjacent to the connectors of said card, and wherein said pair of arms are spaced on opposite sides of said card connector during times in which said card is positioned in said slot, and wherein said body portion of said ejector extends adjacently along said broad surface of said card during times in which said card is positioned in said slot, and wherein said ejector is enclosed between said first and second exterior surfaces of said housing such that said body portion of said ejector is slidably movable along an interior surface of a wall forming said second exterior surface of said housing;

a recess formed in said second exterior surface of said housing;

a slider slidably positioned in said recess and mechanically connected to said ejector, wherein a user can push said slider to eject said card from said slot; and

a circuit board on which said card connector is mounted, wherein a wiping contact is fabricated on said circuit board and is positioned such that a surface of said ejector contacts and is slidably movable along said wiping contact, wherein said ejector is conductive and is grounded by said wiping contact.

4. The computer system as recited in claim 3 wherein said ejector further comprises a pair of grounded side extensions dimensioned to electrically contact a respective pair of ground clips arranged upon the outer periphery of said card.