Compact ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices

• US 8,564,965 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sloey, Jason, Yu, Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US12/793,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20110255252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/06 Guiding cards; Checking correct operation of card-conveying mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0831 the ejection arrangement comprising a slide, carriage or drawer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/003 means for pressing the connector contacts in the direction of the card contacts to assure trustworthy electrical connection between card and connector
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0091 Housing specially adapted for small components for resistors H01C; for capacitors H01G; for integrated circuits H01L23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0282 Adapters for connecting cards having a first standard in receptacles having a second standard
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0286 Receptacles therefor, e.g. card slots, module sockets, card groundings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies. Each ejectable component assembly may include a tray that can be loaded with one or more types of removable module, such as a mini-SIM card and a micro-SIM card, and inserted into the device. Each assembly may also include a base coupled to a circuit board for electrically coupling with the removable module, a cage for biasing the module down against the base, and a guide for retaining the module at a functional insertion position within the device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a guide disposed within the housing;

a tray operable to be inserted through the opening and along the guide;

a biasing mechanism configured to bias a module onto the tray when the tray is at least partially inserted through the opening; and

a cane having a to wall portion, and wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled to the to wall portion.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a cage, and wherein the biasing mechanism is constructed as part of the cage.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the biasing mechanism is further operable to bias the module towards the plurality of electrical contacts.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the module comprises at least one of an integrated circuit card, a chip card, a memory card, a flash memory card, a microprocessor card, a smart card, a subscriber identity module card, a mini-subscriber identity module card, or a micro-subscriber identity module card.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the guide includes at least one rail portion that promotes insertion of the tray.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the tray includes at least one protrusion that complements the at least one rail portion to promote insertion of the tray.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cage includes at least one stiffening rib.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the guide includes at least one wedge ramp that assists in retaining the module in the tray.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a circuit board disposed within the housing and comprising at least one recess;

a base coupled to the circuit board and comprising at least one gap;

an electrical pin extending away from the base; and

a module operable to be inserted into the device through the opening and to contact the electrical pin, wherein the electrical pin is operable to deflect through the at least one gap and into the at least one recess in response to the module contacting the pin.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the gap is aligned with the recess.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a guide for guiding the module into the device, wherein the guide and the base are a single unitary component.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the module comprises at least one of an integrated circuit card, a chip card, a memory card, a flash memory card, a microprocessor card, a smart card, a subscriber identity module card, a mini-subscriber identity module card, or a micro-subscriber identity module card.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the module contacts the electrical pin via at least one electrical contact of the module.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a guide disposed within the housing;

a tray operable to be inserted through the opening and along the guide;

a biasing mechanism configured to bias a module onto the tray when the tray is at least partially inserted through the opening; and

a cage wherein the biasing mechanism is constructed as part of the cage.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the electronic device further comprises a cage having a top wall portion, and wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled to the top wall portion.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the biasing mechanism is further operable to bias the module towards the plurality of electrical contacts.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the module comprises at least one of an integrated circuit card, a chip card, a memory card, a flash memory card, a microprocessor card, a smart card, a subscriber identity module card, a mini-subscriber identity module card, or a micro-subscriber identity module card.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the guide includes at least one rail portion that promotes insertion of the tray.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the tray includes at least one protrusion that complements the at least one rail portion to promote insertion of the tray.

20. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the guide includes at least one wedge ramp that assists in retaining the module in the tray.