An extension (40) of a ground plate (6) is bent in the area where it overlaps with sections (22a) of termination sections (22) of electrical contacts (20) bent in a crank-like configuration, thereby forming a space sufficient for the placement of an intermediary connector (80) between a mother board (50) and a board-mounted connector (1). Since openings (46) are located in the extension (40), it does not engage with the bent sections (22a) of the electrical contacts (20).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to board-mounted connectors, especially to 
board-mounted connectors intended for electrical connection of PC memory 
cards. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Board-mounted connectors intended for electrical connection of PC memory 
cards are usually electrically connected to a mother board by means of 
intermediary boards. For example, a board-mounted connector 100 described 
in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-22762 shown in FIG. 5, is known in 
the art. In the board-mounted connector 100, electrical contacts 104,104' 
and ground contacts 106,108,110 retained in housing 102 are electrically 
connected to junction board 112. Junction board 112 is electrically 
connected to electrical contacts 122 of another intermediary electrical 
connector 120, with the connector 100 and the intermediary connector 120 
being electrically connected to the mother board (not shown). In order to 
firmly join the connector 100 to the mother board, lugs 114 are provided 
on the bottom surface of the connector 100 that correspond to the 
intermediary connector 120. 
Since in the above example the connector must be mounted on the mother 
board by means of the intermediary connector 120, the first connector must 
have lugs 114 that have practically the same height as the intermediary 
connector 120. Therefore, one of the disadvantages of this connector is 
that the board-mounted connector 100 occupies considerable space on the 
mother board. 
Considering the above disadvantage, a purpose of the present invention is 
to achieve a low mounting height of the connector including a mounting 
fixture even if such fixtures are needed. 
Another purpose of the present invention is to reduce the height of the 
connector and to move it closer to a junction board. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The board-mounted connector according to the present invention has 
electrical signal contacts and ground contacts extending from a rear of 
the housing, and the ground contacts form a single ground plate which is 
bent in such a manner that it intersects with the signal contacts, the 
ground plate creates a gap between the connector and the board to which it 
is mounted, and the intersecting section of the ground plate has openings 
that accommodate signal contacts so that they are separated from each 
other. 
The board-mounted connector according to the present invention has 
electrical signal contacts and ground contacts, a housing mounted on a 
mother board, and a junction board to which contacts extending from a back 
end of the housing are electrically connected to the mother board by means 
of an intermediary connector mounted on the mother board. The ground 
contacts are fabricated in the form of a single ground plate having a bent 
section intersecting with the signal contacts, which provides space for 
the accommodation of the intermediary connector and has openings to keep 
the signal contacts separated from each other. 
It is desirable that the contacts extending from the housing are bent in 
the form of a crank offset from the board so that they can intersect with 
the ground plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows connector 1 comprising a housing 2 having on both sides 
channel-shaped guides. A frame plate 10 spanning a ground plate 6 and 
guides 8 is inserted from a back end 4 of the housing 2 and secured 
thereto. Connector 1 is intended for the reception of a PC or other type 
of a memory card 70 (see FIG. 4). The card 70 is inserted from the left 
side of FIG. 1, that is, from a front face 12 of the connector. Guides 8 
of the housing 2 have four mounting fixtures 14 having mounting holes 14a. 
The connector 1 is secured on a mother board 50 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) by 
means of screws 7 (see FIG. 2) screwed in the mounting holes 14a. 
From FIGS. 1 and 4, it can be seen that electrical contacts 20 arranged in 
rows extend from a back end 4 of the housing 2. A number of grooves 16 
extends toward the front end from the back end 4 of the housing 2 and are 
located at predetermined intervals. The ground plate 6 has tabs 18 
inserted within the grooves. At both edges of the ground plate 6, 
spring-loaded tongues 33 are formed which are used to secure the ground 
plate on the housing 2 by engaging with housing shoulder 5. The ground 
plate 6 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3A-3C. 
In FIG. 2, the connector 1 is shown in a state when it is mounted under the 
mother board 50 by screws 7 screwed through the upper surface of the board 
50. The housing 2 has card-receiving slots 24a, 24b for the insertion and 
receipt of two PC cards arranged one above the other. The frame plate 10 
has mounting members 10a formed at both edges of the frame plate. Openings 
10b provided in the mounting members 10a are engaged with lugs 28 formed 
on the side walls of the housing 2, thus securing the frame plate 
underneath of the housing 2. At the back end 4 of the housing 2, two side 
walls 26a, 26b are formed which correspond to the two card-receiving slots 
24a, 24b. An ejection arm 32 intended for the ejection of PC cards from 
the card-receiving slots, can be seen between side walls 26a, 26b and 
under the side wall 26b. Since the operation of the ejection arm is known, 
detailed explanation thereof is omitted. 
FIGS. 3A-3C show the ground plate 6. As can be seen from FIG. 3A, the 
ground plate 6 has a number of tabs 18 extending forward from base section 
32 in a longitudinal direction. Latches 34 are provided on both sides of 
tabs 18, at the edges of the base section 32. Latches 34 have 
spring-loaded tongues 33 extending backward that are formed by U-shaped 
slots 36. The spring-loaded tongues 33 are bent in the direction of the 
reverse side of the page containing FIG. 3A and extend from a bottom 
surface of the latches 34. Free ends 38 of the spring-loaded tongues 33 
are engaged with shoulders 5 of housing 2 (see FIG. 1), thus preventing 
ground plate 6 from removal. On the opposing sides of central tabs 18 are 
formed barbs 9 the purpose of which is to secure the ground plate in the 
housing 2. 
An extension 40 formed at the back end of the base section 32 has 
termination members 44 extending in a backward direction from a back edge 
of the extension 40 at predetermined intervals therealong. In extension 40 
are formed rectangular openings 46, and openings 48, 52 of a larger size 
than openings 46 are also provided. 
From FIG. 3B, it can be seen that the extension 40 is bent downward. The 
configuration of ground plate 6 is clearly shown in FIG. 3C. The tab 18 
extends to the front via a step section 18a, after which it is bent down 
and then up to the tip 18b. Extension 40 is configured as a slanted 
intermediary piece extending down from the back end 42 of base section 32 
with a horizontal end section 43 from which termination members 44 extend. 
FIG. 4 represents a partial cross-sectional view along line 4--4 in FIG. 1. 
In the back end 4 of the housing 2, signal contacts 20,20' corresponding 
to card-receiving slots 24a, 24b are pressed into and retained in their 
respective contact-receiving cavities 54. Termination sections 22 of 
contacts 20 extending from the back end of the housing 2 are shaped like 
cranks with downward bends. Because of this, a sufficient space is formed 
between the mother board 50 and front sections 23 of termination sections 
22. The front sections 23 are inserted in through holes (not shown) of an 
intermediary or junction board 60 and connected thereto by soldering. 
Termination sections 22' of contacts 20' are also deflected down and 
connected to the junction board 60 by soldering. 
The ground plates 6, 6' are inserted in grooves 16 from the back end of the 
housing 2. Tabs 18, 18' of the ground plates 6, 6' are positioned in the 
upper parts of the card-receiving slots 24a, 24b, respectively. PC cards 
70 are inserted in card-receiving slots 24a, 24b as shown by dotted lines. 
At this time, tabs 18, 18' engage with multiple grounding lugs 72 located 
on the upper surfaces of PC cards 70, thus connecting them to ground. 
Termination members 44, 44' of extensions 40,40' of the ground plates 6,6' 
are inserted in through holes of junction board 60 and soldered thereto. 
Since the sections 22a of the contacts 20 bent at a right angle overlap 
with the slanted extension 40 of the ground plate 6, the right-angle 
sections 22a are aligned with respective openings 46 and can extend 
through openings 46 of extension 40 without engaging therewith. Since a 
rather large space is formed between the extension 40 and mother board 50, 
an intermediary or junction connector 80 can be placed therebetween. As 
shown in FIG. 4, junction connector 80 can be made of rather small 
dimensions only slightly extending above an upper surface 7 of housing 2. 
Since the extension 40' of the ground plate 6' in this embodiment does not 
have to be slanted very much, it does not intersect with the termination 
sections 22' of contacts 20'. 
A front edge 60a of junction board 60 is inserted in the junction connector 
80 and respective conductive pads thereon form electrical connections with 
electrical contacts 82. Therefore, the distance from the back end 4 of the 
housing to the junction board 60 can be made short and the junction 
connector 80 can be placed closer to connector 1, thus making it possible 
to reduce the area occupied by the connecting elements on the mother board 
50 and the overall area contributing to general reduction of the connector 
size. Therefore, both the actual height of connector 1 and the area 
occupied by it on the mother board 50 is reduced. 
Above, a detailed explanation concerning a board-mounted connector 
according to this invention has been provided. However, the present 
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment only but also covers 
various changes and modifications thereof. 
In the board-mounted connector according to the present invention, the 
space between a board and a ground plate is increased due to the fact that 
the ground plate is bent so that it intersects with the electrical 
contacts, and the bent section has openings to accommodate sections of 
signal contacts, thereby providing for the effect that the area occupied 
by a back portion of the connector is reduced along with an actual height 
of the connector, thus making it possible to reduce the area on the board 
occupied by the connector.