Compact mechanism for removable insertion of multiple integrated circuit cards into portable and other electronic devices

• US 5,933,328 A
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Corporation (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Harari, Eliyahou, Wallace, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Application Number:
  US09/123,888
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 361/727, 361/728, 361/737, 361/741, 361/747, 361/752, 361/753, 361/759, 361/796, 361/797, 361/802, 361/803, 361/814, 439/326, 235/492, 257/678, 257/679, 902/26
• US Class Current: 361/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0862 the locking arrangement being of the rotate-slide and lock type, such as, e.g. common in mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/003 means for pressing the connector contacts in the direction of the card contacts to assure trustworthy electrical connection between card and connector
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0034 the connector being capable of simultaneously receiving a plurality of cards in the same insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0043 the plurality of cards being cards of different formats, e.g. SD card and memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3818 Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module

Abstract

Two integrated circuit cards, such as those having semiconductor memory for storing user identification codes and/or data, are removably inserted into an opening of a host electronic device by means of a carrier that causes electrical contacts of the cards to be properly aligned with mating device contacts within the opening. The carrier described is hinged in the opening so that at least one of the cards is removably inserted into the carrier by hand when the carrier is swung out of the opening. In one embodiment, both cards are inserted into the carrier. When the carrier is swung into the opening, the cards are electrically connected with the device. Multiple cards held in this manner take up little more space in the electronic device than a single card currently used. This compact, easy to use connector mechanism is particularly advantageous for cellular telephones, palm organizers and computers, and other small hand held, battery powered, portable electronic devices but also finds application in other electronic equipment as well.

Claims

1. A connector of first and second integrated circuit cards within an enclosure of a host electronic device, comprising:

an opening extending into the electronic device enclosure that accepts said first and second cards,

a first surface within the opening that contains a first set of a plurality of electrical contacts positioned thereacross in a pattern corresponding to a pattern of contacts across a broad surface of the first card, wherein said first set of contacts are resiliently urged out of the first surface in a manner to be pushed into the first surface when the first card is positioned thereagainst, and

a second surface within the opening that contains a second set of a plurality of electrical contacts positioned thereacross in a pattern corresponding to a pattern of contacts across a broad surface of the second card, wherein said second set of contacts are resiliently urged out of the second surface in a manner to be pushed into the second surface when the second card is positioned thereagainst,

whereby both of the first and second cards are simultaneously held within the opening of the host electronic device.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first and second surfaces are parallel with each other, thereby causing the broad surfaces of the first and second cards to be parallel with each other.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is positioned within a battery powered portable host electronic device.

4. The connector of claim 1, additionally comprising means operated by hand for removably inserting said first and second cards into the opening in a manner to cause electrical contact to be made between the first and second cards and respective contacts of the first and second surfaces.

5. The connector of claim 1, additionally comprising a carrier positionable within the enclosure opening and adapted to hold at least one of the first and second cards.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein said carrier is affixed to the host device enclosure by a hinge connection along one side thereof within the enclosure opening in a manner to be rotated between a first position out of the opening to accept said at least one of the first and second cards and a second position within the enclosure opening with said at least one of the first and second cards positioned against its respective first or second surface.

7. The connector of claim 1, additionally comprising a carrier positionable within the enclosure opening and adapted to hold both of said first and second cards.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein said carrier is affixed to the host device enclosure by a hinge connection along one side thereof within the enclosure opening in a manner to be rotated between a first position out of the opening to accept said first and second cards and a second position within the enclosure opening where both of said first and second cards are positioned against their respective first and second surfaces.

9. A mechanism for connecting first and second integrated circuit cards with a host electronic device within an enclosure, comprising:

an opening extending into the electronic device enclosure over an area of the enclosure sufficient to accept a broad surface of the first card, said opening extending a first depth to first surface extending over an area sufficient to accept a broad surface of the second card, the first surface being surrounded by a second surface extending into the opening a second depth that is less than the first depth,

a first set of a plurality electrical contacts positioned across the first surface in a pattern corresponding to contacts on a broad surface of the second card, wherein said first set of contacts are resiliently urged out of the first surface in a manner to be pushed into the first surface when the second card is positioned against the first surface,

a second set of a plurality electrical contacts positioned across the second surface in a pattern corresponding to contacts on a broad surface of the first card, wherein said second set of contacts are resiliently urged out of the second surface in a manner to be pushed into the second surface when the first card is positioned against the second surface, and

a carrier that accepts the first card being hingedly connected along one side thereof to the device enclosure within said opening in a manner to permit the first card to be inserted into or removed from the carrier by hand when pivoted out of the opening and with the second card having its contacts held against the first set of contacts when the carrier is pivoted into the opening to a position against the second surface, said carrier additionally including a surface on one side thereof that resiliently urges the second card against the first surface,

whereby both of said first and second cards are compactly removably held within the opening in electrical contact with the host electronic device.

10. A mechanism for connecting first and second integrated circuit cards with a host electronic device within an enclosure, comprising:

an opening extending into the electronic device enclosure over an area of the enclosure sufficient to accept a broad surface of the first card,

a first set of a plurality electrical contacts positioned within the opening in a pattern corresponding to contacts on a broad surface of the first card, wherein said first set of contacts are resiliently held in a manner to be pushed against their resilience when the first card is positioned against the first set of contacts,

a second set of a plurality electrical contacts positioned within the opening in a pattern corresponding to contacts on a broad surface of the second card, wherein said second set of contacts are resiliently held in a manner to be pushed against their resilience when the second card is positioned against the second set of contacts, and

a carrier that accepts both the first and second cards being hingedly connected along one side thereof to the device enclosure within said opening in a manner to permit the first and second cards to be inserted into or removed from the carrier by hand when pivoted out of the opening and with the first and second cards having their contacts held respectively against the first and second set of contacts when the carrier is pivoted into the opening about the hinge,

whereby both said first and second cards are compactly removably held within the opening in electrical contact with the host electronic device.