Abstract:
A card connector includes a housing defining multiple accommodation chambers, pressure boards respectively and vertically movably accommodated in the accommodation chambers, each pressure board having slots and rear bearing portions protruding over the top wall, and multiple sets of metal terminals mounted in the housing and respectively curving upwardly forwards in the accommodation chambers to support the respective pressure boards in the respective accommodation chamber. By means of the effect of the rear bearing portions of the pressure boards, the inserted memory card touches only the matching metal terminals and the other metal terminals that do not match are kept away from the inserted memory card, preventing damage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to electrical connection devices and more particularly, to a card connector that has means to protect the metal terminals. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Currently, there are four types of commercial memory cards, including MS (Memory Stick), SD (Secure Digital), MMC (Multi-Media Card), and XD (extreme Digital). To facilitate the use of different memory cards, various multi-in-one card connectors are disclosed. A multi-in-one card connector generally has multiple sets of metal terminals mounted inside the housing at different locations corresponding to the contact ends of different memory cards so that different memory cards are insertable into the card connector. 
         [0005]    In a multi-in-one card connector, all the metal terminals extend to the inside of the housing. When inserting one particular memory card into the housing, it may rub on or hit the sets of metal terminals that do not match accidentally, causing these metal terminals to be biased and affecting normal functioning of the card connector. Taiwan Patent Number M249,333 teaches the use of metal terminal protection means to prevent the aforesaid problem. According to this design, a pivoted safety cover is provided. The safety cover is biased to press on the other metal terminals that do not match upon insertion of one memory card. Therefore, the inserted memory card touches only the matching set of metal terminals, and the other sets of metal terminals are well protected. 
         [0006]    However, because the safety cover of the aforesaid design is pivoted to the bottom housing of the card connector, it may wear quickly with a long time use. When the safety cover starts to wear, it may be unable to hold down the non-matching metal terminals or unable to return to its normal position. In this case, the card connector becomes useless. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a card connector that assures accurate contact of the inserted memory card with the matching metal terminals, preventing damage to the other metal terminals that do not match the inserted memory card. 
         [0008]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the card connector comprises a housing, at least one set of metal terminals, and at least one pressure board. The housing has a front side, a rear side, at least one accommodation chamber defined therein between the front side and the rear side, and an opening formed in the front side in communication with the at least one accommodation chamber. The metal terminals each have a body projecting into the at least one accommodation chamber and curving upwardly forwards. The at least one pressure board is vertically movably mounted in the at least one accommodation chamber, each comprising a plurality of slots cut through top and bottom sides thereof and adapted for receiving the at least one set of metal terminals, and at least one bearing portion disposed at a rear side thereof and protruding over a top wall of the respective pressure board. 
         [0009]    By means of the characteristic that each pressure board has at least one bearing portion disposed at the rear side and protruding over the top wall, the inserted memory card touches only the matching metal terminals and the other metal terminals that do not match are kept away from the inserted memory card, preventing damage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a card connector in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates the internal structure of the card connector in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the card connector in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the card connector in accordance with the present invention after removal of the top cover. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the present invention, showing an XD card inserted into the housing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the present invention, showing an SD card inserted into the housing. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the present invention, showing a MS card inserted into the housing. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a card connector  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a housing  11 , three sets of metal terminals  30 , a first pressure board  40 , and a second pressure board  50 . 
         [0023]    The housing  11  is formed of a base frame  12  and a top cover  13 . The housing  11  has a front side  14  and a rear side  15 . The front side  14  defines an opening  16  for the insertion of a memory card. The base frame  12  comprises a first accommodation chamber  20 , a second accommodation chamber  25 , two steps  26  respectively protruded from the top edge of the peripheral wall of the first accommodation chamber  20  and the top edge of the peripheral wall of the second accommodation chamber  25  and respectively suspending in the first accommodation chamber  20  and the second accommodation chamber  25 , a first protrusion  22  protruded from the step  26  in the first accommodation chamber  20 , a second protrusion  27  protruded from the step  26  in the second accommodation chamber  25 , two notches  29  formed on the step  26  in the second accommodation chamber  25  at two sides of the second protrusion  27 , and stop edge  28  at the bottom side of the second protrusion  27 . 
         [0024]    The three sets of metal terminals  30  are mounted in the housing  11 , including a set of first metal terminals  31 , a set of second metal terminals  32  and a set of third metal terminals  33 . These three sets of metal terminals  30  respectively extend from the base frame  12  to the space in between the base frame  12  and the top cover  13 . The first set of metal terminals  31  is mounted in the rear side  15  of the base frame  12  for the connection of a MS (Memory Stick) card. The set of second metal terminals  32  is mounted in the bottom side of the base frame  12  for the connection of a SD (Secure Digital) or MMC (Multi-Media Card) card. The second metal terminals  32  extend into the first accommodation chamber  20  and then curve forwardly upwards and then slightly downwards. The set of third metal terminals  33  is mounted in the bottom side of the base frame  12  near the front side  14  for the connection of a XD (eXtreme Digital) card. The third metal terminals  33  extend into the second accommodation chamber  25  and curves forwardly upwards. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 3  again, the first pressure board  40  comprises a first board body  41  that has a configuration fitting the first accommodation chamber  20 , two first bearing portions  43  disposed at one side, namely, the rear side of the first board body  41 , and a plurality of shoulders  42  respectively disposed at the other side, namely, the rear side of the first board body  41  and the bottom side of each of the first bearing portions  43 . The first bearing portions  43  protrude over the top wall of the first board body  41 . The first board body  41  further has a plurality of first elongated slots  44 , a first support portion  45  at the front bottom side of each first elongated slot  44 , and a first press portion  46  at the rear bottom side of each first elongated slot  44 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 4  again, the first pressure board  40  is mounted in the first accommodation chamber  20  inside the base frame  12 , holding the two first bearing portions  43  at two sides of the first protrusion  22 . The second metal terminals  32  extend upwardly through the first elongated slots  44  and are stopped against the respective first support portions  45  to lift the first pressure board  40 , keeping the first bearing portions  43  in proximity to the rear side  15  of the housing  11 . Further, when the first pressure board  40  is lifted by the spring power of the second metal terminals  32 , the shoulders  42  will be stopped against the step  26  in the first accommodation chamber  20  and therefore the first pressure board  40  will never escape out of the first accommodation chamber  20 . 
         [0027]    The second pressure board  50  comprises a second board body  51  that has a configuration fitting the second accommodation chamber  25 , two shoulders  55  respectively disposed at the front bottom side and rear bottom side of the second board body  51 , two protruding guide portions  52  bilaterally disposed at the front side of the second board body  51 , two second bearing portions  53  bilaterally disposed at the rear side of the second board body  51 , and a locating notch  54  disposed on the middle of the shoulder  55  at rear side of the second board body  51  between the two second bearing portions  53 . The protruding guide portions  52  and the second bearing portions  53  protrude over the top wall of the second board body  51 . The second board body  51  further has a plurality of second elongated slots  56 , a second support portion  57  at the front bottom side of each second elongated slot  56 , and a second press portion  58  at the rear bottom side of each second elongated slot  56 . 
         [0028]    The second pressure board  50  is mounted in the second accommodation chamber  25  inside the base frame  12 , holding the two second bearing portions  53  in the notches  29  and having the locating notch  54  receive the second protrusion  27 . The third metal terminals  33  extend upwards through the second elongated slots  56  and are stopped against the second support portions  57  to lift the second pressure board  50 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the second pressure board  50  is lifted by the spring power of the third metal terminals  33 , the shoulders  55  will be stopped against the step  26  in the second accommodation chamber  25  and therefore the second pressure board  50  will never escape out of the second accommodation chamber  25 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 5  again, when the card connector is not inserted with any memory card, the first pressure board  40  and the second pressure board  50  are respectively lifted by the set of second metal terminals  32  and the set of third metal terminals  33 . When an XD card  60  is completely inserted into the housing  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the XD card  60  presses the protruding guide portions  52  of the second pressure board  50 , and the metal contacts of the XD card  60  are kept in positive contact with the third metal terminals  33  that protrude through the second elongated slots  56  of the second pressure board  50 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , when a SD card  70  is inserted into the housing  11 , the bottom wall of the SD card  70  is directly pressed on the protruding guide portions  52  and second bearing portions  53  of the second pressure board  50  to force the second pressure board  50  downwards, causing the second press portions  58  to force the third metal terminals  33  downwards, preventing contact between the third metal terminals  33  and the inserted SD card  70 . After the SD card  70  has been fully inserted in the housing  11  into position, the metal contacts of the SD card  70  are kept in positive contact with the second metal terminals  32  that protrude through the first elongated slots  44  of the first pressure board  40 . When removing the inserted SD card  70  from the card connector, the third metal terminals  33  will return to their former position only after the SD card  70  has been completely moved away from the second pressure board  50 , achieving protection of the third metal terminals  33 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , when a MS card  80  is fully inserted into the housing  11 , the bottom wall of the inserted MS card  80  is directly pressed on the first bearing portions  43  of the first pressure board  40  and the second bearing portions  53  of the second pressure board  50 , causing the first press portion  46  and the second press portion  58  to force the second metal terminals  32  and the third metal terminals  33  downwards, preventing contact between the second and third metal terminals  32  and  33  and the inserted MS card  80 , and allowing direction contact of the metal contacts of the inserted MS card  80  with the first metal terminals  32 , achieving protection of the second and third metal terminals  32  and  33 . 
         [0032]    In conclusion, the invention has the advantages as follows: 
         [0033]    1. Positive terminal holding-down function: Because the first and second pressure boards are vertically movably supported in the respective accommodation chambers by the respective metal terminals, the respective pressure boards will positively force the respective metal terminals downwards upon insertion of a memory card into the housing. 
         [0034]    2. Simple structure design: By means of matching the first pressure board and the second pressure board with the configurations of the respective accommodation chambers to fit different memory cards, the pressure boards are vertically movable along the peripheral walls of the respective accommodation chambers to achieve the desired metal terminal protection function without any complicated pivot structure. 
         [0035]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.