IC card connector

• US 6,280,254 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wu, Kun-Tsan, Chen, Yu-Chen, Chen, Chien Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US09/510,109
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 439/630, 439/66, 439/515, 439/862
• US Class Current: 439/630
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2442 with a single cantilevered beam

Abstract

An IC card connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts. A plurality of passageways is defined through the insulative housing for receiving the corresponding contacts therein. Each contact comprises a first contacting arm, a second contacting arm and a retaining portion connected between the first and second contacting arms. The first contacting arm comprises a first arcuate portion for electrically a contacting corresponding circuit of an IC card and a first connecting portion connected between the first arcuate portion and the retaining portion. The second contacting arm comprises a second arcuate portion, a soldering portion downwardly extending from the second arcuate portion, a second connecting portion extending from the retaining portion to the soldering portion, and a pair of fixing portions extending from lateral edges of the second connecting portion. In operation, after the IC card is inserted into the IC connector, the first arcuate portion is downwardly pressed to contact the second arcuate portion. The contact forms a parallel electrical connection between the IC card and the circuit board. Thus the signal transmission path is shortened and the electrical resistance of the contact in the present IC card connector is decreased.

Claims

1. An IC card connector for electrically connecting an IC card to a circuit board, comprising:

an insulative housing defining a plurality of passageways therein; and

a plurality of contacts received in the passageways, each contact comprising a first contacting arm, a second contacting arm and a retaining portion connected between the first contacting arm and the second contacting arm, the second contacting arm downwardly extending from a lower edge of the retaining portion and comprising a second arcuate portion and a soldering portion for soldering onto the circuit board, the first contacting arm upwardly extending from an upper edge of the retaining portion and defining a first arcuate portion for electrically connecting with an inserted IC card, the first arcuate portion being moved by the inserted IC card to contact the second arcuate portion, thereby forming a parallel electrical connection between the IC card and the circuit board;

wherein the second contacting arm comprises a second connecting portion extending from the retaining portion to the soldering portion, and a pair of fixing portions extending from lateral edges of the second connecting portion;

wherein the soldering portion downwardly extends from the second arcuate portion for soldering onto the circuit board;

wherein a slit is formed in the soldering portion for receiving soldering flux to effectuate a reliable connection with the circuit board;

wherein the retaining portion forms a plurality of barbs at lateral edges thereof for securing in the insulative housing.