Personal computer modem card interface construction

• US 5,472,351 A
• Filed: 10/06/1993
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: US Robotics Incorporated
• Inventors: Greco, Gerald A., Sepaniak, Bernard G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US08/132,743
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/353, 439/357, 439/259, 439/260, 439/629, 439/633, 439/651, 439/652, 439/352, 439/358, 235/492, 235/487, 235/443
• US Class Current: 439/353
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0273 having extensions for peripherals, e.g. LAN, antennas details of antennas H01Q1/2275

Abstract

A construction for an interface between a computer and a transmission medium, such as a telephone line. A memory card may be inserted into the computer and interconnected to an interface module, such as a direct access arrangement, which, in turn, is interconnected to a telephone line. The electronic card and interface module each include a connector for transmitting data signals between each other. Each connector includes two rows of contacts. Each contact in the first row is interconnected to a particular contact in the second row. As a result, the electronic card and interface module cannot be attached to each other "upside down." Further, the electronic card and interface module cooperatively define a latch mechanism for releasably holding the two units together. Further, the two units further define a guide assembly for guiding the contacts of the two units into a correct alignment with one another. The latch mechanism and guide assembly add structural integrity to the construction. Accordingly, there is a lower risk that the electronic card and interface module will be unintentionally pulled apart.

Claims

1. A construction for first and second interface units, said units including an electronic card and an interface module, said electronic card and interface module defining a common side, comprising, in combination:

a connector on said first interface unit, said connector including first and second rows of contacts, said first row of contacts being in a sequence of 1, 2 . . . N, starting from said common side, said second row of contacts being in a sequence of N, N-1, . . . 1, starting from said common side, said contacts having similar designations being electrically interconnected;

a connector on said second interface unit, said connector including first and second rows of complimentary contacts, said first row of contacts being in a sequence of 1, 2 . . . N, starting from said common side, said second row of contacts being in a sequence of N, N-1 . . . 1, starting from said common side, said contacts having similar designations being electrically interconnected;

guide means cooperatively defined by;

a pair of elongate guide pins extending from one of said interface units, and

a pair of corresponding guide apertures, within another of said interface units, for receiving said guide pins; and

a latch mechanism for releasably holding said units in a fixed relation, said latch mechanism including;

a catch protruding from one of said units, said catch including a wedge and a stem,

a spring for urging said catch toward a normal position, and

an aperture, within another of said units, to engagingly receive said catch, said aperture being adjacent a ledge,

said wedge of said catch engaging said ledge, as said units are pressed together, and urging said catch away from said normal position until said stem is substantially adjacent said ledge and said spring urges said stem against said ledge.

2. A construction for a pair of interface units, said units including an electronic card and an interface module, said electronic card and interface module defining a common side, comprising, in combination:

a connector on said first interface unit, said connector including first and second rows of contacts, said first row of contacts being in a sequence of 1, 2 . . . N, starting from said common side, said second row of contacts being in a sequence of N, N-1, . . . 1, starting from said common side, said contacts having similar designations being electrically interconnected;

a connector on said second interface unit, said connector including first and second rows of complimentary contacts, said first row of contacts being in a sequence of 1, 2 . . . N, starting from said common side, said second row of contacts being in a sequence of N, N-1 . . . 1, starting from said common side, said contacts having similar designations being electrically interconnected; and

a latch mechanism for releasably holding said interface units in a fixed relation, said latch mechanism including;

a catch protruding from one of said units, said catch including a wedge and a stem,

a spring for urging said catch toward a normal position, and

an aperture, within another of said units, to engagingly receive said catch, said aperture being adjacent a ledge,

said wedge of said catch engaging said ledge, as said units are pressed together, and urging said catch away from said normal position until said stem is substantially adjacent said ledge and said spring urges said stem against said ledge.

3. A construction for first and second interface units, said interface units including an electronic card and an interface module, said electronic card and interface module defining a common side, comprising, in combination:

a connector on said first interface unit, said connector including first and second rows of contacts, said first row of contacts being in a sequence of 1, 2 . . . N, starting from said common side, said second row of contacts being in a sequence of N, N-1, . . . 1, starting from said common side, said contacts having similar designations being electrically interconnected;

a connector on said second interface unit, said connector including first and second rows of complimentary contacts, said first row of contacts being in a sequence of 1, 2 . . . N, starting from said common side, said second row of contacts being ordered in a sequence of N, N-1 . . . 1, starting from said common side, said contacts having similar designations being electrically interconnected; and

guide means cooperatively defined by;

a pair of elongate guide pins extending from one of said interface units, and

a pair of corresponding guide apertures, within another of said interface units, for receiving said guide pins.

4. An interface construction for an electronic card and an interface module, said electronic card and interface module defining a common side, comprising, in combination:

a connector on said electronic card, said connector including first and second rows of complimentary contacts, said first row of contacts being in a sequence of 1, 2 . . . N, starting from said common side, said second row of contacts being ordered in a sequence of N, N-1 . . . 1, starting from said common side, said contacts having similar designations being electrically interconnected; and

a connector on said interface module, said connector including first and second rows of contacts, said first row of contacts being in a sequence of 1, 2 . . . N, starting from said common side, said second row of contacts being ordered in a sequence of N, N-1, . . . 1, starting from said common side, said contacts having similar designations being electrically interconnected, whereby risk of connecting said interface module and electronic card incorrectly is reduced.