Reduced-length, low-profile USB device and card-like carrier
First Claim
1. A card-like carrier for a low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device, the USB device including a relatively wide handle structure having a peripheral edge, and a relatively narrow plug structure extending from the handle structure, the plug structure including a plurality of metal contacts exposed on an upper surface thereof, wherein the card-like carrier comprises:
- a base portion having peripheral walls surrounding a relatively wide main chamber;
support structures disposed on lower edges of at least some of the peripheral walls and extending into the main chamber;
one or more locking structures disposed along upper edges of at least one of the peripheral walls and extending into the main chamber; and
an end portion attached to the base portion, the end portion including end walls defining a relatively narrow slot having a first end communicating with the main chamber,wherein the card-like carrier is constructed such that, when the plug structure of the USB device is inserted into the slot and the handle structure of the USB device is pressed into the main chamber, the handle structure of the USB device is restrained by the support structures and the locking structures such that the peripheral wall of the base portion extends along the peripheral edge of the handle structure, and the plug structure is maintained inside the slot.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A USB device in which all of the devices ICs are located on a lower surface of a PCB (i.e., opposite to the metal contacts) to minimize the device'"'"'s thickness, and at least one of the ICs is positioned on a relatively narrow portion of the USB plug to minimize the device'"'"'s length. A card-like carrier for protecting the USB device when not in use includes a frame-like base portion having peripheral walls surrounding a relatively wide main chamber, and an end portion that is attached to the base portion and includes end walls that define a relatively narrow slot communicating with the main chamber. The USB device plug structure is inserted through the main chamber into the slot until a front edge of the handle structure abuts the end walls, and then the device is rotated downward into the main chamber.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A card-like carrier for a low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device, the USB device including a relatively wide handle structure having a peripheral edge, and a relatively narrow plug structure extending from the handle structure, the plug structure including a plurality of metal contacts exposed on an upper surface thereof, wherein the card-like carrier comprises:
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a base portion having peripheral walls surrounding a relatively wide main chamber; support structures disposed on lower edges of at least some of the peripheral walls and extending into the main chamber; one or more locking structures disposed along upper edges of at least one of the peripheral walls and extending into the main chamber; and an end portion attached to the base portion, the end portion including end walls defining a relatively narrow slot having a first end communicating with the main chamber, wherein the card-like carrier is constructed such that, when the plug structure of the USB device is inserted into the slot and the handle structure of the USB device is pressed into the main chamber, the handle structure of the USB device is restrained by the support structures and the locking structures such that the peripheral wall of the base portion extends along the peripheral edge of the handle structure, and the plug structure is maintained inside the slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An assembly comprising:
a low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device including; a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) including; a printed circuit board (PCB) including a relatively wide PCB handle section and a relatively narrow PCB plug section, the PCB having opposing first and second surfaces, a plurality of metal contacts disposed on the first surface of the PCB plug section, and first and second integrated circuits (ICs) mounted on the second surface of the PCB, and a housing attached to the PCBA and including a cover plate extending over both the PCB handle section and the PCB plug section, wherein the cover plate includes a planar surface that is parallel to the PCB, and wherein a first thickness measured between the first surface of the PCB and the planar surface adjacent to the metal contacts is substantially equal to a second thickness between the first surface of the PCB and the planar surface adjacent to the IC; and a card-like carrier including; a base portion having peripheral walls surrounding a relatively wide main chamber; support structures disposed on lower edges of at least some of the peripheral walls and extending into the main chamber; one or more locking structures disposed along upper edges of at least one of the peripheral walls and extending into the main chamber; and an end portion attached to the base portion, the end portion including end walls defining a relatively narrow slot having a first end communicating with the main chamber, wherein the USB device is detachably mounted onto the carrier such that the plug structure of the USB device is received inside the slot and the handle structure is restrained by the support structures and the locking structures such that the peripheral wall of the base portion extends along the peripheral edge of the handle structure. - View Dependent Claims (8)
Specification