Memory card, and receptacle for same

• US 6,295,206 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okaue, Takumi, Sassa, Akira, Kobayashi, Toshiharu, Kondo, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Viet Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/483,974
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 361/736, 361/728, 361/737, 361/741-760, 365/63
• US Class Current: 361/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0856 the locking arrangement comprising a notch in the card and a complementary locking means in the card reading station
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0893 the arrangement comprising means for cleaning the card upon insertion
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07739 comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0047 for reading/sensing record carriers having edge contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0254 High voltage adaptations; Electrical insulation details; Overvoltage or electrostatic discharge protection electrostatic discharge protection for electric apparatus in general H05K9/0067, H05K9/0079; Arrangements for regulating voltages or for using plural voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/946 Memory card cartridge

Abstract

A memory card is disclosed which has a card body (2) having a concavity (9) formed at the forward end thereof in the inserting direction and in which terminals (5) are disposed and projections (10) are formed between the terminals (5) to prevent the terminals (5) from being touched or accessed from outside. A receptacle for the memory card is also disclosed. The memory card has a simple structure designed to positively protect the terminals and easily let out dust or the like from inside, thereby permitting to assure a positive connection with the receptacle.

Claims

1. A memory card comprising;

a card body having a top, a forward end and a rearward end, and incorporating at least one memory chip therein;

a concavity disposed in the top of the card body and open at said forward end;

a plurality of spaced apart terminals disposed side by side in the concavity and extending in an inserting direction of the card body; and

a projection formed in a least part of the space between two terminals disposed in the concavity to protect the terminals from undesired outside contact.

2. The memory card of claim 1 wherein said card body and said projection are formed of the same material.

3. The memory card of claim 1 wherein respective projections are formed between adjacent ones of all of the terminals.

4. The memory card of claim 1 wherein signals are transmitted to and from the memory card in serial form.

5. The memory card of claim 1 wherein said card body is of a generally rectangular shape having a longer side extending in the inserting direction and a shorter side less than half the length of said longer side.

6. The memory card of claim 1 wherein said card body is provided with a cut for preventing said memory card from being incorrectly inserted into a receptacle thereof.

7. The memory card of claim 6 wherein said cut is formed in the direction of the thickness of the card body.

8. The memory card of claim 6 wherein said cut is provided at a corner of said forward end of said card body.

9. The memory card of claim 6 wherein said cut extends over said forward end of the card body.

10. The memory card of claim 6 wherein said card body has a lateral side parallel to the inserting direction of the card body, and said cut is provided on said lateral side.

11. The memory card of claim 1 wherein said card body is provided with a cut for preventing disengagement of the card body from a receptacle therefor.

12. The memory card of claim 11 wherein said card body has a lateral side parallel to the inserting direction of the card body, and said cut is provided on said lateral side.

13. The memory card of claim 11 wherein said cut is of arcuate shape.

14. The memory card of claim 1 wherein said card body has a lateral side parallel to the inserting direction of the card body, and said plurality of terminals are offset from said lateral side.

15. The memory card of claim 14 wherein said card body is provided with a cut at a corner of said lateral side.

16. The memory card of claim 1 wherein the card body has four corners, the shape of one of the corners of the forward end being different from the shapes of any of the other corners for preventing the memory card from being incorrectly inserted into a receptacle therefor.

17. The memory card of claim 1 wherein said card body has a lateral wall provided with recesses for fitting in a receptacle therefor.