Connector for connecting an electronic device to a communications card

• US 6,109,934 A
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Madsen, Brent D., Oliphant, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUVERNE, JEAN F
• Application Number:
  US09/201,647
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 439/79, 439/395, 439/396, 439/638-654, 439/928.1
• US Class Current: 439/79
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0295 adapted for choosing between different types or different locations of mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09145 Edge details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09954 More mounting possibilities, e.g. on same place of PCB, or by using different sets of edge pads

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for interconnect modularity of an electronic communication card such as a PCMCIA card where a printed circuit board has a peninsular electrical lead configuration upon a finger section thereof and an electronic device that is slidably disposed upon the peninsular lead configuration. The electronic device preferably has a standardized footprint and the device may be an electrical interconnect such as a cable, a jack such as an RJ-11 jack, an IRDA transceiver, a combination cable and 4-pin connector, and an electronic video interface. The system provides a solution to insufficient spacing between tip and ring leads and remaining leads on a 15-pin connector required by various international safety standards. The system may also include a translucent portion of the electronic device and a light source that, in combination provide a visual diagnostic output for the user.

Claims

1. A PCMCIA card comprising:

a printed circuit board having a peninsular electrical lead configuration upon a printed circuit board finger;

electronic communication means, wherein said electronic communication means makes electrical contact with said peninsular electrical lead configuration;

wherein said peninsular electrical lead configuration has a plurality of leads upon an upper surface of said printed circuit board and a plurality of leads upon a lower surface of said printed circuit board, wherein said upper surface and said lower surface are substantially parallel planar;

wherein said upper surface contains a gap greater than the width of any of said leads between at least two of said leads, and wherein said lower surface contains a gap greater than the width of any of said leads between at least two of said leads.

2. A communication system comprising:

solid state electronic circuitry support means;

electrical contact means disposed upon said solid state electronic circuitry support means;

electronic communication means slidably disposed upon said electrical contact means wherein said electronic communication means has at least a portion thereof that is translucent;

means for guiding said slidably disposed electronic communication means;

first locking means for holding said slidably disposed electronic communication means in a recessed position;

second locking means for holding said slidably disposed electronic communication means in an extended position; and

a light source, wherein said light source illuminates at least a portion of said electronic communication means.

3. An electrical apparatus comprising:

a printed circuit board including a main body portion with an upper surface, a lower surface and a first outer edge;

an elongated finger including a first end connected to said printed circuit board at an origin, said elongated finger including a second end with an outer edge distal said origin, said outer edge of said elongated finger being generally aligned with at least a portion of said first outer edge of said printed circuit board; and

a sliding structure being slidably disposed on said elongated finger, said sliding structure being sized and configured to be positioned in a first position with an outer edge of said sliding structure being generally aligned with at least a portion of said first outer edge of said printed circuit board.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising one or more electrical leads connected to said elongated finger and one or more electrical runners connected to said sliding structure;

wherein at least one of said one or more electrical leads and at least one of said one or more electrical runners electrically connect said sliding structure and said elongated finger when said sliding structure is slidably disposed on said elongated finger.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said one or more electrical leads extends substantially the entire length of said elongated finger.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a locking mechanism to secure said sliding structure in contact with said one ore more electrical leads.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a port connected to said sliding structure, said port being sized and configured to allow communication to be established between an electronic device and said printed circuit board.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a cable connected to said sliding structure, said cable being sized and configured to allow communication to be established between an electronic device and said printed circuit board.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sliding structure is sized and configured to be removed from said elongated finger and replaced with another sliding structure.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a second position wherein said sliding structure i s slidably disposed on said elongated finger and wherein a portion of said sliding structure extends beyond said outer edge of said printed circuit board.

11. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sliding structure includes a body with a generally rectangular first portion that is connected to a generally rectangular second portion.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a translucent housing of said sliding structure and a light source positioned proximate to said translucent housing, said light source providing light to said translucent housing of said sliding structure.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a frame connected to said printed circuit board, said frame including a rail generally positioned generally parallel to said elongated finger, said rail being sized and configured to contact said sliding structure.

14. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an opening in said sliding structure, said opening being sized and configured to receive said elongated finger.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a first outer surface of said sliding structure and a second outer surface of said sliding structure, wherein a first distance generally measured from said opening to said first outer surface is larger than a second distance generally measured from said opening to said second outer surface.

16. An electronic communications card comprising:

a printed circuit board including a main body portion with an upper surface, a lower surface and a first outer edge;

an elongated finger connected to said printed circuit board at an origin, said finger including an upper surface, a lower surface and a length, said elongated finger extending generally along an axis;

one or more electrical leads disposed on said elongated finger, said electrical leads extending generally parallel to said axis of said elongated finger, said electrical leads extending substantially the entire length of the finger;

a connector slidably disposed on said elongated finger; and

one or more electrical runners connected to said connector, at least one of said one or more runners being sized and configured to be electrically connected to at least one of said one or more electrical leads to allow electrical communication to be established between said connector a nd the electronic communications card.

17. The electronic communications card according to claim 16, wherein said connector is readily replaceable to allow various devices to be electrically connected to the communications card.

18. The electronic communications card according to claim 16, further comprising a first position wherein said connector is positioned with an outer edge of said connector being generally aligned with at least a portion of said first outer edge of said printed circuit board.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a printed circuit board including a main body portion with an upper surface, a lower surface, a first outer edge and a second outer edge;

one or more elongated electrical traces being positioned proximate said first outer edge of said printed circuit board, said one or more elongated electrical traces being exposed on said upper surface of said printed circuit board;

a sliding structure being slidably disposed on said one or more elongated electrical traces; and

one or more electrical runners connected to said sliding structure, at least one of said one or more electrical runners being electrically connected to at least one of said one or more electrical traces to allow electrical communication between said sliding structure and said printed circuit board.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a first position in which an outer edge of said sliding structure is generally aligned with at least a portion of said second outer edge of said printed circuit board.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a second position in which said sliding structure is electrically connected to said printed circuit board and a portion of said sliding structure extends beyond said second outer edge of said printed circuit board.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a translucent housing of said sliding structure and a light source positioned proximate to said translucent housing, said light source providing light to said translucent housing of said sliding structure.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a frame with a rail and a rail slot, said sliding structure being mounted on said rail and in said rail slot.

24. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said sliding structure is removable and replaceable with another sliding structure to allow electrical communication to be established between an electronic device and the printed circuit board.

25. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a frame and a locking mechanism that releasably locks said sliding member to the frame.

26. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the sliding structure is slidably disposed upon substantially the entire length of said one or more elongated electrical traces.

27. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a communication port connected to said sliding member, said communication port being sized and configured to receive a communication plug.

28. An electronic communications card comprising:

a printed circuit board including a main body portion with a first edge and a second edge;

an elongated finger having a length extending along an axis, a first end of said finger connected to said printed circuit board and a second end of said finger being generally aligned with at least a portion of said first edge of said printed circuit board;

one or more electrical traces extending substantially the entire length of said finger; and

a frame enclosing at least a portion of said printed circuit board, said frame including a rail that is generally aligned with said axis of said finger, said rail being sized and configured to guide a connector along said finger, the connector being sized and configured to allow electrical communication to be established between an electronic device and the electronic communications card.

29. The electronic communications card according to claim 28, further comprising a rail slot that is generally aligned with said axis of said finger.