Abstract:
An electronic device and a Sub Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM card) connector mounted in the same are disclosed. The electronic device includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and the SIM card connector mounted in the PCB. The SIM card connector includes a low surface support having an opening area adapted to receive a SIM card and a contact area adapted to be electrically coupled to the SIM card and, an elastic support disposed near at least one side surface of the opening including one end coupled to the opening, the elastic support having a predetermined width and an elastic force expressed towards an upper surface support, a side surface support having a predetermined height disposed circumferentially at distal edges of the low surface support except for the opening, and the upper surface support coupled to the side surface support and having a top surface formed parallel to the low surface support adapted to partially enclose an upper portion of the SIM card.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Jan. 10, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2014-0003259, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a connector that enables a Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM card) to mount in an electronic device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Communication methods of a portable wireless communication terminal include a Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication method (commonly utilized in Europe) and a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) method. In order to guarantee compatibility between various network service subscribers, the GSM method uses a SIM card mounted within portable wireless terminals. The SIM card encodes and stores information utilized for operating the portable wireless terminal, such as a phone numbers, a network number and personal information of a subscriber such as a password. Accordingly, the portable wireless terminal provides a SIM card connector in a main Printed Circuit Board (PCB) housed in a main body and is designed so that the SIM card is electrically connected to the SIM card connector. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a SIM card connector  1  mounted in an upper surface of a main PCB  3  of a portable wireless terminal. At an upper surface of the main PCB  3 , a plurality of electronic component elements  4  are mounted, and a bottom surface of the SIM card connector  1  close contacts with the main PCB  3  to be securely fixed by soldering. A contact point (not shown) for electrical connection to the SIM card exists within the SIM card connector  1 , and the contact point is connected through the main PCB to be electrically connected to a controller of the portable wireless terminal. In this state, as a user mounts a SIM card  2  in the SIM card connector  1  and detaches the SIM card  2  from the SIM card connector  1 , the SIM card  2  may be electrically connected to the SIM card connector  1  and be electrically separated from the SIM card connector  1 . In this way, the SIM card connector  1  uses a predetermined area of the main PCB as a mounting space. 
         [0005]    In order to more effectively use an area of the main PCB, a size of the SIM card may be reduced.  FIG. 2A  is a diagram illustrating a specification size of a mini SIM card  210 , and  FIG. 2B  is a diagram illustrating a specification size of a micro SIM card  220 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the micro SIM card  220  has a size smaller than that of the mini SIM card  210 , but specifications of contact points c 1 -c 8  to electrically connect to the SIM card connector are the same. The SIM card may be classified into sizes such as a normal SIM card, nano SIM card, and a SIM card built-in to a terminal according to a specification size. SIM card have gradually been reducing down to ever smaller size for use in entire electronic devices. 
         [0006]    Main circuit boards of electronic devices (such as a portable wireless terminals) generally possess a mounted SIM card connector of a predetermined size, and this may allow mounting of a SIM card of different size within the mounted SIM card connector. For example, a connector to mount the micro SIM card  220  is mounted on the main PCB, and when mounting the mini SIM card  210 , a user may cut the mini SIM card  210  to resize it into a micro SIM card size. In contrast, a connector to mount the mini SIM card  210  is mounted on a main circuit board, and when mounting the micro SIM card  220 , a user should insert and use a dummy adaptor  230  of  FIG. 2C  into the micro SIM card  220 . A size of the dummy adaptor  230  is determined according to a size difference between the mini SIM card  210  and the micro SIM card  220 . 
         [0007]    In this way, because a conventional SIM card connector is mounted on a main PCB with a particular predetermined specification size, utilizing a SIM card of a size other than the predetermined specification size requires a user to additionally modify the SIM card, such as by cutting of portions of the SIM card to reduce their size, or the additional attachment of a dummy adaptor. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a SIM card connector. 
         [0009]    In one aspect of this disclosure, an electronic device and a Sub Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM card) connector mounted in the same are disclosed. The electronic device includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and the SIM card connector mounted in the PCB. The SIM card connector includes a low surface support having an opening area adapted to receive a SIM card and a contact area adapted to be electrically coupled to the SIM card and, an elastic support disposed near at least one side surface of the opening including one end coupled to the opening, the elastic support having a predetermined width and an elastic force expressed towards an upper surface support, a side surface support having a predetermined height disposed circumferentially at distal edges of the low surface support except for the opening, and the upper surface support coupled to the side surface support and having a top surface formed parallel to the low surface support adapted to partially enclose an upper portion of the SIM card. 
         [0010]    In a second aspect of this disclosure, a SIM card connector is disclosed, which includes a low surface support having an opening area adapted to receive a SIM card and a contact area adapted to be electrically coupled to the SIM card and an elastic support disposed near at least one side surface of the opening including one end coupled to the opening, the elastic support having a predetermined width and an elastic force expressed towards an upper surface support, a side surface support having a predetermined height disposed circumferentially at distal edges of the low surface support except for the opening, and the upper surface support coupled to the side surface support and having a top surface formed parallel to the low surface support adapted to partially enclose an upper portion of the SIM card. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view illustrating a SIM card connector mounted in a PCB; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view illustrating a SIM card and a dummy adaptor of various particular specification sizes; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view illustrating a SIM card of different particular specification sizes according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a top plan view illustrating a SIM card connector according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a side view illustrating the SIM card connector of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  is a top plan view illustrating a SIM card connector in which a micro SIM card is mounted according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  is a side view illustrating the SIM card connector in which the micro SIM card of  FIG. 5A  is mounted; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a top plan view illustrating a SIM card connector in which a mini SIM card is mounted according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  is a side view illustrating the SIM card connector in which the mini SIM card of  FIG. 6A  is mounted. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms, specific embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in drawings and are described herein in detail, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments illustrated. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0022]    An expression “comprising” or “may comprise” used in the present disclosure indicates presence of a disclosed corresponding function, operation, or element and does not limit additional at least one function, operation, or element. Further, in the present disclosure, a term “comprise” or “have” indicates presence of a characteristic, numeral, operation, operation, element, component, or combination thereof described in a specification and does not exclude presence or addition of at least one other characteristic, numeral, operation, operation, element, component, or combination thereof. 
         [0023]    In the present disclosure, an expression “or” includes any combination or the entire combination of together listed words. For example, “A or B” may include A, B, or A and B. 
         [0024]    An expression of “first”, “second”, “primary”, and “secondary” in the present disclosure may represent various elements of the present disclosure, but do not limit corresponding elements. For example, the expressions do not limit order and/or importance of corresponding elements. The expressions may be used for distinguishing one element from another element. For example, both a first user device and a second user device are user devices and represent different user devices. For example, a first element may be referred to as a second element without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element. 
         [0025]    When it is described that an element is “connected” or “electrically connected” to another element, the element may be “directly connected” or “directly electrically connected” to the other element or may be “connected” or “electrically connected” to the other element through a third element. However, when it is described that an element is “directly connected” or “directly electrically connected” to another element, no element may exist between the element and the other element. 
         [0026]    Terms used in the present disclosure are not to limit the present disclosure but to illustrate example embodiments. When using in a description of the present disclosure and the appended claims, a singular form includes a plurality of forms unless it is explicitly differently represented. 
         [0027]    Unless differently defined, entire terms including a technical term and a scientific term used here have the same meaning as a meaning that may be generally understood by a person of common skill in the art. It should be analyzed that generally using terms defined in a dictionary have a meaning corresponding to that of a context of related technology and are not analyzed as an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined. 
         [0028]    An electronic device according to the present disclosure may be a device that performs a communication function with a GSM method. For example, the electronic device may include at least one of a smart phone, tablet Personal Computer (PC), mobile phone, video phone, e-book reader, desktop PC, laptop PC, Netbook computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), MPEG3 (MP3) player, mobile medical equipment, camera, or wearable device (e.g., Head-Mounted-Device (HMD) such as electronic glasses), electronic clothing, electronic bracelet, electronic necklace, electronic accessory, electronic tattoo, or smart watch. 
         [0029]    According to various example embodiments, the electronic device may be a smart home appliance performing a communication function with a GSM method. The smart home appliance, for example the electronic device may include at least one of a television, Digital Video Disk (DVD) player, audio device, refrigerator, air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, oven, microwave oven, washing machine, air cleaner, set-top box, television box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™, AppleTV™, or Google TV™), game consoles, electronic dictionary, electronic key, camcorder, or electronic frame. 
         [0030]    According to various example embodiments, the electronic device may include at least one of various medical equipment (e.g., a Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) device, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device, Computed Tomography (CT) device, scanning device, and ultrasonic wave device), a navigation device, Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR), a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a vehicle infotainment device, an electronic equipment for ship (e.g., navigation device for ship and gyro compass), avionics, a security device, or an industrial or home robot. 
         [0031]    According to various example embodiments, the electronic device may include at least one of a portion of furniture or building/construction, an electronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, or various measuring devices (e.g., water supply, electricity, gas, or electric wave measuring device) performing a communication function with a GSM method. An electronic device according to the present disclosure may be at least one combination of the foregoing various devices. Further, an electronic device according to the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing devices. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view illustrating a SIM card of different specification sizes according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0033]    For example, a first SIM card  310  may be a micro SIM card, and a second SIM card  320  may be a mini SIM card. However, the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320  are not limited thereto. 
         [0034]    The first SIM card  310  may have a size smaller than that of the second SIM card  320 . The first SIM card  310  may have a first predetermined width w 1  and a first predetermined length  11 . The second SIM card  320  may have a second predetermined width w 2  and a second predetermined length  12 . Widths of the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320  may be different by the sum of a first width a 1  and a second width a 2 . Lengths of the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320  may be different by a first length b. Although not shown in  FIG. 3 , the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320  may be formed in a predetermined equal thickness. 
         [0035]    In order to be electrically connected to the SIM card connector, both the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320  include a circuit including a plurality of contact points. The circuit may be formed at one surface of the SIM card, and a surface in which the circuit is formed is a low surface and a surface opposite thereto is an upper surface. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4A  is a top plan view illustrating a SIM card connector  400  according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0037]    The SIM card connector  400  may mount the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320  having different sizes. Hereinafter, the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320  are referred to as a SIM card, and when distinguishing respective SIM cards, the SIM card is distinguished as the first SIM card  310  or the second SIM card  320 . 
         [0038]    The SIM card connector  400  of  FIG. 4  may include a low surface support  410 , a side surface support  420 , an upper surface support  430 , and an elastic support  440 . 
         [0039]    As the low surface support  410  closely contacts with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) of the electronic device, the SIM card connector  400  may be mounted on the electronic device. The low surface support  410  may include a contact point  411  to electrically connect to the circuit of the SIM card. The contact point  411  may include a plurality of contact points, and the contact points may correspond with one-to-one to a plurality of contact points included in the circuit of the mounted SIM card. 
         [0040]    The low surface support  410  may include an open area (i.e. a slot or groove for insertion)  412  to insert the SIM card into the SIM card connector  400 . The low surface support  410  is enclosed by the side surface support  420 , and in this case, an area that is not enclosed by the side surface support  420  and that is opened in a direction that inserts the SIM card may be the open area  412 . 
         [0041]    The elastic support  440  is extended with a predetermined width from at least one side surface of the open area  412  and may have an elastic force in a direction of the upper surface support  430 . Therefore, in a state in which pressing is not performed, the elastic support  440  may form a predetermined angle to the low surface support  410 . The angle may be set in consideration of a height of the side surface support  420 . When a pressing action is performed, the elastic support  440  moves in a direction of the low surface support  410  and may form the same plane as the low surface support  410 . When pressing is not again performed, the elastic support  440  reforms its original angle in a direction of the upper surface support  430  by elastic force. 
         [0042]    For example, the elastic support  440  may be formed by cutting a side surface, except for the open area  412  to have a predetermined width at the circumference of the low surface support  410 . Alternatively, the elastic support  440  may be formed with a method of connecting the respective distinguished elastic support  440  and low surface support  410  in the same layer (i.e., as a single piece or portion). The elastic support  440  may be formed with a leaf spring according to one example embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the elastic support  440  may include a first second inclined portion  441  and a second inclined portion  442  and a connection portion  443  that connects the first second inclined portion  441  and the second inclined portion  442 . In the first inclined portion  441 , for example, one end thereof may be connected to the left side of the open area  412  to be extended with a first width a 1 . In the second inclined portion  442 , one end thereof may be connected to the right side of the open area  412  to be extended with a second width a 2 . The sum of the first width a 1  and the second width a 2  may be approximately the same as the difference between widths of the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320 . The connection portion  443  may be extended with a third width a 3  from the other end of the first inclined portion  441  to be connected to the other end of the second inclined portion  442 . The third width a 3  may be set in consideration of a length difference between the first SIM card  310  and the second SIM card  320  and a length of the open area  412 . When the first SIM card  310  is completely inserted into the SIM card connector  400 , a circuit formed in the first SIM card  310  may be set to correspond to the contact point  411  formed in the low surface support  410 . 
         [0043]    The side surface support  420  may be formed to have a predetermined height at a side surface, except for the open area  412  of the outermost circumference of the low surface support  410  and the elastic support  440 . The side surface support  420  may be connected in a portion meeting with the outer circumference of the low surface support  410 . However, because a portion in which the side surface support  420  meets with the outer circumference of the elastic support  440  may vertically move according to an elastic force of the elastic support  440 , the side surface support  420  and the elastic support  440  are not connected. A height of the side surface support  420  may be set in consideration of a thickness of the SIM card. 
         [0044]    The upper surface support  430  is connected to the side surface support  420 , and when inserting the SIM card, in order to cover an upper portion of the SIM card, the upper surface support  430  may be formed parallel to the low surface support  410 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 4B  is a side view illustrating the SIM card connector  400  according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0046]    For a more detailed description, a configuration of the side surface support  420  and the upper surface support  430  is omitted. 
         [0047]    The low surface support  410  may have a predetermined thickness t. As described above, the elastic support  440  may be formed at the remaining circumference, except for the open area  412  of the low surface support  410  and may be formed to have the same layer and the same thickness as those of the low surface support  410 . However, because the elastic support  440  has an elastic force in a direction of the upper surface support  430 , when pressing is not performed, the elastic support  440  may form a predetermined angle to the low surface support  410 . For example, as the SIM card is inserted, when the elastic support  440  is pressed, the elastic support  440  and the low surface support  410  may form the same plane. That is, upon pressing, a space in which the elastic support  440  is to be located may be formed between the low surface support  410  and the side surface support  420 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a top plan view and a side view, respectively, illustrating a SIM card connector  400  in which a first SIM card, for example a micro SIM card  310  is mounted according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0049]    The micro SIM card  310  may be inserted into the SIM card connector  400  through an open area. The micro SIM card  310  may be inserted between an elastic support  440  advancing in a direction of an upper surface support  430  by an elastic force. A width of the elastic support  440  may be approximately the same as that of the micro SIM card  310 . When the micro SIM card  310  is completely inserted into the SIM card connector  400 , a circuit formed in the micro SIM card  310  and a contact point formed in a low surface support  410  of the SIM card connector  400  may correspond to be electrically connected. When the micro SIM card  310  is completely inserted into the SIM card connector  400 , as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a low surface of the micro SIM card  310  may be supported by the low surface support  410 , a side surface may be supported by the elastic support  440 , and an upper surface may be supported by the upper surface support  430 . In  FIG. 5B , a configuration of a side surface support  420  and the upper surface support  430  is omitted. For easy detachment of the inserted micro SIM card  310 , a groove  444  may be formed in the elastic support  440 , as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a top plan view and a side view, respectively, illustrating a SIM card connector in which a second SIM card, for example a mini SIM card is mounted according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0051]    A mini SIM card  320  may be inserted into a SIM card connector  400  through an open area. A width of the mini SIM card  320  may be approximately the same as that of a side surface supports  420 . That is, when the mini SIM card  320  is inserted, an elastic support  440  is pressed by the mini SIM card  320  to move in a direction of a low surface support  410 , and when the mini SIM card  320  is completely inserted, the elastic support  440  is located to form the same layer as the low surface support  410  at a space between the low surface support  410  and the side surface support  420 . Therefore, a circuit formed in the mini SIM card  320  and a contact point formed at the low surface support  410  of the SIM card connector  400  may physically contact and transmit and receive an electrical signal. When the mini SIM card  320  is completely inserted into the SIM card connector  400 , as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a low surface may be supported by the low surface support  410  and the elastic support  440 , a side surface may be supported by the side surface support  420 , and an upper surface may be supported by an upper surface support  430 . In  FIG. 6B , a configuration of the side surface support  420  and the upper surface support  430  is omitted. 
         [0052]    As described above, according to the present disclosure, even when a SIM card connector of a larger size is mounted on a main PCB, a SIM card of a smaller size can be mounted without using a dummy adaptor. 
         [0053]    Further, according to the present disclosure, a SIM card of various sizes can be mounted in an electronic device using one SIM card connector without an additional user manipulation. 
         [0054]    Although example embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein described, which may appear to those skilled in the art, will still fall within the ambit of the example embodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.