Switch for a card connector

• US 6,399,906 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Yamaichi Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Yamaichi Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Shigeru, Furuta, Noriaki
• Primary Examiner(s): LUEBKE, RENEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/703,676
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 200/47, 200/61.59, 200/246, 200/283, 439/188, 439/489, 439/630
• US Class Current: 200/61.59
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7094 with switch operated by engagement of PCB

Abstract

A switch structure for a card connector comprises: a first cantilevered contact spring 20 urged so that a front engagement portion of the first contact spring engages a part of the recessed portion of the inserted card corresponding to one of two slide positions of a write protect button 3; and a second cantilevered contact spring 30 extending along and in the same direction as the first contact spring and urged so that a front engagement portion of the second contact spring engages a part of the recessed portion of the inserted card corresponding to the other slide position of the write protect button 3; wherein the slide position of the write protect button is detected based on whether the first and second contact springs are in or out of contact with each other, thereby determining the position of the write protect button accurately and reliably.

Claims

1. In a card connector for removably holding a card having a write protect button, the write protect button having a predetermined height and being slidable between two positions in a recessed portion formed in an outer surface of the card;

a switch structure comprising;

a first cantilevered contact spring urged so that an engagement portion of the first contact spring engages a part of the recessed portion of the inserted card corresponding to one slide position of the write protect button; and

a second cantilevered contact spring extending along and in a same direction as the first contact spring and urged so that an engagement portion of the second contact spring engages a part of the recessed portion of the inserted card corresponding to the other slide position of the write protect button;

wherein the slide position of the write protect button is detected based on displacements of the first and second contact springs toward or away from each other.

2. A switch structure for a card connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement portions of the first and second contact springs protrude.

3. A switch structure for a card connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the write protect button is arranged in the recessed portion formed in a side surface of the card.

4. In a card connector for removably holding a card having a write protect button, the write protect button having a predetermined height and being slidable between two positions in a recessed portion formed in an outer surface of the card;

a switch structure comprising;

a first cantilevered contact spring urged so that an engagement portion of the first contact spring engages a part of the recessed portion of the inserted card corresponding to one slide position of the write protect button; and

a second cantilevered contact spring extending along and in a same direction as the first contact spring and urged so that an engagement portion of the second contact spring engages an outer wall surface of the inserted card near the write protect button;

wherein the slide position of the write protect button is detected based on displacements of the first and second contact springs toward or away from each other.

5. A switch structure for a card connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the write protect button is arranged in the recessed portion formed in a side surface of the card, and the second contact spring is urged so that its engagement portion engages a side wall surface of the card.