Memory card, and receptacle for same

• US 6,783,076 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Fureman, Jared J.
• Application Number:
  US10/013,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492, 235/441, 235/490, 710/62, 361/737, 361/736, 361/760, 439/140, 439/630, 439/59, 439/377, 439/945, 439/946, 439/299, 439/345, 439/350, 439/355, 439/680, 131/82, 365/52, 257/679
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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. An electric device comprising:

a card body having a top and a forward end, and incorporating at least one controlling integrated circuit 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, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

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

an angled cut provided at only one corner of said forward end of the card body for preventing said electric device from being incorrectly inserted into a receptacle therefor, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

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

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

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

5. The electric device 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 electric device of claim 1 wherein said card body has a top surface and an opposite surface, and said top surface includes a notch therein that does not open to said opposite surface.

7. The electric device of claim 1 wherein said forward end of the card body slopes downward from said top.

8. The electric device of claim 1 wherein said card body has a lateral side parallel to the inserting direction of the card body, and a notch provided on said lateral side.

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

10. The electric device of claim 9 wherein said card body has a lateral side parallel to the inserting direction of the card body, and a notch is provided on said lateral side for preventing disengagement of the card body from a receptacle.

11. The electric device of claim 10, wherein said notch is of arcuate shape.

12. The electric device 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.

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

14. The electric device of claim 1, wherein said card body has a top surface and a notch in said top surface located in the vicinity of said rearward ends of said terminals.

15. The electric device of claim 1, wherein said card body has a notch disposed in the vicinity of the rearward ends of said terminals, and a recess that extends from said cut to said notch.

16. An information processing system comprised of an electric device and a receptacle connected to said electric device, said electric device comprising:

a card body having a top and a forward end, and incorporating at least one controlling integrated circuit therein;

a concavity disposed on 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, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

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

an angled cut provided at only one corner of said forward end of the card body for preventing said electric device from being incorrectly inserted into a receptacle therefor, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals; and

said receptacle comprising;

a plurality of terminals connected to the plurality of spaced apart terminals of the electric device; and

an incorrect insertion preventive member to prevent said electric device from being inserted incorrectly into said receptacle.

17. The information processing system of claim 16, wherein said card body has longitudinal walls and at least three corners and further includes three recesses disposed in said longitudinal walls, at said three corners;

and said receptacle further comprises a substantially rectangular concavity to receive said electric device, said substantially rectangular concavity having side walls with projections thereon to engage respective ones of said three recesses.

18. The information processing system of claim 16, wherein said card body includes a notch integrable with said cut;

and said receptacle further comprises a projection having an incorrect insertion-preventive member cooperating with said corner.

19. The information processing system of claim 16, wherein said card body has longitudinal edges and two notches disposed in said respective longitudinal edges, said notches being opened to said top;

and said receptacle comprising a disengaged-preventive member engaged with one of said two notches.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said card body has a notch disposed in the vicinity of the rearward ends of said terminals, and a recess that extends from said cut to said notch.

21. An electrical device comprising:

a card body having a top surface, a forward end and a rearward end, and incorporating at least one controlling integrated circuit 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, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

projections formed between respective terminals disposed in the concavity to protect the terminals from undesired outside contact, all of the projections rising to substantially a same height that is less than a height of said top surface; and

an angled cut provided at only one corner of said forward end of the card body for preventing said electric device from being incorrectly inserted into a receptacle therefor, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

22. An electrical device comprising:

a substantially rectangular card body having first and second surfaces;

electrical terminals disposed side by side proximate a front edge of said first surface and positioned in recesses that open to said first surface, each terminal extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

at least one controlling integrated circuit in said card body;

projections formed in respective spaces between adjacent terminals and rising to a height less than a height of said first surface; and

said card body having four corners, three of which are of substantially the same shape and the fourth of which is of a different shape to prevent incorrect insertion of said card body into a receptacle therefor, said fourth corner being an angled cut disposed at a forward end of said card body, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

23. An electrical device comprising:

a card body having a top surface, a forward end and a rearward end, and incorporating at least one controlling integrated circuit 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, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

projections formed between respective terminals disposed in the concavity to protect the terminals from undesired outside contact, the projections having front edges inclined to said inserting direction; and

an angled cut provided at only one corner of said forward end of the card body for preventing said electric device from being incorrectly inserted into a receptacle therefor, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

24. An electrical device comprising:

a substantially rectangular card body having first and second surfaces;

electrical terminals disposed side by side proximate an edge of said first surface and positioned in recesses that open to said first surface, each terminal extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

at least one controlling integrated circuit in said card body;

projections formed in respective spaces between adjacent terminals having inclined front edges; and

said card body having four corners, three of which are of substantially the same shape and the fourth of which is of a different shape to prevent incorrect insertion of said card body into a receptacle therefore, said fourth corner being an angled cut commencing from from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

25. An electrical device comprising:

a card body incorporating at least one controlling integrated circuit therein and having a length, a top surface, a forward end and a lateral wall;

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

an arcuate cut disposed in and extending partially downward from said top surface and accessible from said lateral wall; and

wherein said lateral wall includes a slit whose length is less than the length of the card body for fitting in a receptacle to receive said card body, said slit extending to said arcuate cut.

26. An electrical device comprising:

a card body incorporating at least one controlling integrated circuit therein and having a top surface, a forward end and a lateral wall;

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, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to the rearward end of the terminal;

an angled cut formed in the direction of the thickness of the card body and provided at only a corner of said forward end of said card body, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals; and

an arcuate-shaped recess disposed in the top of the card body and adjacent said cut.

27. An electrical device comprising:

a card body having a top surface, a forward end and a rearward end;

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

a plurality of spaced apart terminals of substantially equal width disposed side by side in the concavity, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

projections formed between respective terminals disposed in the concavity to protect the terminals from undesired outside contact, all of the projections rising to substantially a same height that is less than a height of said top surface and each of said projections having a width narrower than the width of said terminals; and

an angled cut provided at only one corner of said forward end of the card body, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

28. An electrical device comprising:

a substantially rectangular card body having first and second surfaces;

electrical terminals disposed side by side proximate a front edge of said first surface and positioned in recesses that open to said first surface, each terminal extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

projections formed in respective spaces between adjacent terminals and rising to a height less than a height of said first surface; and

said card body having four corners, three of which are of substantially the same shape and the fourth of which is of a different shape to prevent incorrect insertion of said card body into a receptacle therefor, said fourth corner being an angled cut disposed at a forward end of said card body, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

29. An electrical device comprising:

a card body having a top surface, a forward end and a rearward end;

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, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

projections formed between respective terminals disposed in the concavity to protect the terminals from undesired outside contact, the projections having front edges inclined to said inserting direction at an angle greater than 90°

; and

an angled cut provided at only one corner of said forward end of the card body, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

30. An electrical device comprising:

a substantially rectangular card body having first and second surfaces;

electrical terminals disposed side by side proximate an edge of said first surface and positioned in recesses that open to said first surface, said terminals extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

projections formed in respective spaces between adjacent terminals having front edges inclined at an angle greater than 90°

to an inserting direction of the card body; and

said card body having four corners, three of which are of substantially the same shape and the fourth of which is of a different shape to prevent incorrect insertion of said card body into a receptacle therefor, said fourth corner being an angled cut disposed at a corner and commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals.

31. An electrical device comprising:

a card body having a length, a top surface, a forward end and a lateral wall;

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

an arcuate cut disposed in and extending partially downward from said top surface and accessible from said lateral wall; and

wherein said lateral wall includes a slit whose length is less than the length of the card body for fitting in a receptacle to receive said card body, said slit extending to said arcuate cut.

32. An electrical device comprising:

a card body having a top surface, a forward end and a lateral wall;

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, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

an angled cut formed in the direction of the thickness of the card body and provided at only a corner of said forward end of said card body, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals; and

an arcuate-shaped recess disposed in the top of the card body and adjacent said cut.

33. An information processing apparatus connectable to an electric device, said electric device comprising:

a card body having a top and a forward end, and incorporating at least one controlling integrated circuit therein;

a concavity disposed on 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, each extending in an inserting direction of the card body from a forward end to a rearward end of the terminal;

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

an angled cut provided at only one corner of said forward end of the card body for preventing said electric device from being incorrectly inserted into a receptacle therefor, said cut commencing from said forward end of the card body and extending no greater than the rearward ends of said terminals; and

said information processing apparatus comprising;

a plurality of terminals connected to the plurality of spaced apart terminals of the electric device; and

an incorrect insertion preventive member to prevent said electric device from being received incorrectly in said information processing apparatus.

34. The information processing system of claim 33 wherein said card body has a notch disposed in the vicinity of the rearward ends of said terminals, and a recess that extends from said cut to said notch.