Housing for an extended-format releasable plug-in card

A unitary housing for an extended-format releasable plug-in card (15). The housing comprises a first block (12) adapted to the standard plug-in card format and designed to contain the standardized portion of the card (15) inserted into the slot of a microcomputer, as well as a second block (16). The housing is characterized in that the second block (16) can receive at least the extension (Z.sub.2) of the card (15), and includes flanges (18) positionable between the side edges of the card (15) and those of the first block (12). The flanges (18) enable the first and second blocks (12, 16) to be rigidly connected so that they are inseparable and the whole housing thereafter forms a single block. Said housing is useful for mechanically protecting extended-format PCMCIA electronics.

The invention relates to a housing for an extended, detachable plug-in card 
intended to be partially inserted, on a temporary basis, in a personal 
computer (PC). 
Detachable plug-in cards are generally known as PCMCIA cards and are 
achieved on printed circuit cards in accordance with the PCMCIA standard 
defined by the association with the same name ("Personal Computer Memory 
Card Association", 1030 B East Duane Avenue, Sunnyvale, Calif.). They 
include several integrated circuit chips and a 68-pin female connector 
which can be plugged into a corresponding male connector of the PC. These 
cards are mainly mass storage cards which may replace diskettes and other 
mass storage means of magnetic type in the future. They have equivalent 
storage capacities and much faster access times than magnetic memories. 
They can also be used as RAM extensions for the PC. 
Typically, the standard dimensions of the housings, which make it possible 
to protect these PCMCIA cards against any possible physical shocks and 
external aggressions, are of approximately 5.4 cm by 8.5 cm and their 
thickness is of approximately 3 to 5 mm. 
The PCMCIA standard provides for memory extensions in order to increase the 
storage capacities of these cards. This creates a large number of problems 
in terms of practical achievement. Indeed, it is necessary to provide a 
new housing in which to accommodate the card equipped with its extension, 
while observing certain recommendations submitted by the PCMCIA 
association concerning dimensions. The standard part of the extended 
PCMCIA card is always intended to be inserted in the slot of a PC, whereas 
the extended part, which is connected to the standard part, is intended to 
remain outside of the PC. 
The PCMCIA association has provided a few recommendations regarding the 
dimensions of the housing capable of containing the extended part. The 
recommendations are by no means definite and may still evolve. For this 
reason, there is currently no housing marketed with the required 
dimensions. 
Nevertheless, a solution has been considered. This solution consists of 
achieving two independent housings and connecting them. The first housing, 
which exists, contains the standard part of a PCMCIA card. The second 
housing, which will be achieved as per the dimensions of the extension, 
contains the latter. It is then necessary to add a male (or female) 
connector to the existing housing, and the complementary connector to the 
second housing. These two additional connectors will thus make it possible 
to ensure both an electrical link and a mechanical link between the 
standard part of the card and its extension. 
However, it is immediately clear that this solution has many disadvantages. 
Indeed, the achievement of a second connector which can be plugged into a 
standard PCMCIA card leads to a loss of approximately 20 mm of surface out 
of a total surface of 85 mm, which amounts to a loss of available surface 
of approximately 25%. This loss of available surface is considerable 
insofar as the problem to be solved consists of extending the storage 
area, i.e. maximising the available surface on one or more printed circuit 
cards. 
Furthermore, the act of plugging two housings together in order to connect 
the standard part of a PCMCIA card to its extension does not make it 
possible to obtain a reliable mechanical link. Indeed, given the fact that 
the extension is located outside of the PC, a mere shock against its 
housing may produce a deterioration, or even a break of the link between 
the two additional connectors, i.e. a deterioration of the electrical and 
mechanical links created between the standard part and the extension. As a 
result, two independent housings connected together so as to achieve an 
extended detachable plug-in card form a fragile device with a very low 
resistance to mechanical shocks. Finally, the manufacturing cost of these 
housings is too high to enable their large-scale distribution. 
No satisfactory solution to manufacture a housing for an extended 
detachable card has yet been proposed up to now. 
The present invention makes it possible to eliminate all of the 
above-mentioned disadvantages, as it proposes a housing comprising two 
blocks rigidly attached to one another so that they form a single block. 
These two blocks ensure a sturdy mechanical link between the standard part 
of a PCMCIA card and its extension. 
The invention more specifically concerns a housing for an extended 
detachable plug-in card, comprising a first block achieved as per the 
standard size for plug-in cards and intended to contain the standard part 
of the card inserted in the slot of a PC, and a second block. This housing 
is characterised in that the second block is capable of receiving at least 
the extension of the card and comprises couplings intended to be placed 
between the side edges of the card and those of the first block, so as to 
rigidly attach said first and second blocks. 
The housing according to the invention is achieved in such a manner that, 
once assembled, it appears in the form of a single block. It is intended 
to contain a single printed circuit card which supports both the standard 
part and the extension. With this housing, printed circuit surface 
available is maximised, as there is no additional fastening element, such 
as a plug-in connector, capable of causing a loss of surface. The 
couplings ensure a good mechanical rigidity for the entire housing. 
Furthermore, the manufacturing cost is significantly reduced, as it is no 
longer necessary to provide additional fastening elements.

The housing according to the invention, for an extended detachable card 
with a plug-in connector, is indicated by reference number 10. This 
housing comprises two blocks: a first block 12 is achieved as per the 
standard size for plug-in cards and is intended to contain the standard 
part of a PCMCIA card, which is inserted in the slot 31 of a PC 30; a 
second block 16 is provided to contain a memory extension of the PCMCIA 
card. The extended part of the card is intended to remain outside of the 
slot 31 of the PC. In theory, the standard part contained in the first 
block 12 comprises a 68-pin external female connector 11 which can 
penetrate the root of the slot 31, the latter being equipped with a 
corresponding 68-pin male connector. This male connector makes up a 
parallel input-output port for the PC and the communication between the 
detachable plug-in card and the PC is a parallel type communication. 
The PCMCIA card comprises one or more integrated circuit chips and 
connections are achieved between this/these chip(s) and the various pins 
of the external plug-in connector 11. But the card may have other 
functions and comprise, for example, a microprocessor, etc. 
Typically, the dimensions of the first standard block 12, according to the 
PCMCIA standard, are of approximately 5.4 cm by 8.5 cm, with a thickness 
of approximately 3 to 5 mm. 
The housing 10 containing the detachable plug-in card is shown outside of 
the slot 31 of the PC 30. The block 12 is inserted in the slot 31 along 
the direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 1. 
As far as the dimensions of the block 16 provided for the extension of the 
card are concerned, the PCMCIA association has issued a few 
recommendations, but nothing has been clearly decided to date. As a 
result, the housing according to the invention has been achieved with 
dimensions which may be adapted to future standards possibly falling 
within the scope of these recommendations. 
The length L.sub.1 of the block 16 is defined as being parallel to the 
longitudinal sides of the standard block 12, and its width l is defined as 
being parallel to the small sides of the standard block 12. 
Details of the housing of FIG. 1 will be more clearly understood upon 
examining FIG. 2. Indeed, in this figure the housing is shown in exploded 
form. 
In an advantageous manner, the standard part and the extended part of the 
PCMCIA card are achieved on the same printed circuit card 15. This card 
comprises two regions: the first region Z.sub.1 corresponds to the 
standard part of the card and the second region Z.sub.2 corresponds to the 
extended part. The first region Z.sub.1 is of the printed circuit card 15 
is therefore intended to be placed in the first block 12 of the housing, 
whereas the other region Z.sub.2 is intended to be placed in the second 
block 16. 
The first block 12 consists of a rear surface 13 and a front surface 14 
whose assembly is preferably performed by means of clips. These clips are 
for example lugs, provided on the lower face of the front surface 14, 
which interlock with recesses provided on the upper face of the rear 
surface 13. These clips are not visible in FIG. 2. There are for example 
four of them: two on each side, along the longitudinal edges of the block 
12; but there can be more or less of them. When the rear 13 and front 14 
surfaces are assembled, the maximum width of the printed circuit card 15, 
inside the block 12, is approximately equal to 53.5 mm. 
In an advantageous manner, couplings 18 are provided in the prolongation of 
the second block 16. These couplings 18 are intended to be placed between 
the side edges of the card 15 and those of the first block 12. They thus 
make it possible to rigidly attach the two blocks 12 and 16, in such a 
manner that they become inseparable and that the housing, taken as a 
whole, forms a single block. Furthermore, the couplings 18 ensure a good 
mechanical rigidity for the entire housing. 
Preferably, each coupling 18 comprises, at its end for example, a lug 26 
capable of interlocking with a recess 27 provided in the printed circuit 
card 15. The lugs 26 thus make it possible to lock the second block 16 in 
the standard block 12, and to avoid the slightest possible backward 
movement of the second block 16 with respect to the printed circuit card 
15. In an optional embodiment, it is absolutely possible to provide these 
lugs somewhere on the couplings, in the middle for example. 
The frame 17 of the second block 16 is for example achieved using a 
stainless steel sheet. This sheet has the advantage of being flexible and 
easy to work, thus simplifying its shaping. Due to this flexibility, the 
couplings 18 tend to separate from or come closer to one another when they 
are not retained. In the housing according to the invention, the lateral 
retention of the couplings is therefore ensured, on the one hand, by means 
of the card 15 and, on the other hand, by means of the side edges of the 
standard block 12. 
The front surface 19 of the second block 16 is preferably achieved using a 
plastic material. 
In FIG. 2, the second block 16 is wider than the standard block 12. This 
width is not fixed, and may vary from one housing to another. 
The two blocks 12 and 16 making it possible to achieve the housing for an 
extended PCMCIA card according to the invention are assembled without 
additional fastening elements, in a specific order. Once assembled, these 
blocks cannot be easily separated. The assembly of the blocks of the 
housing first consists of separating the rear surface 13 from the front 
surface 14 of the standard block 12. The couplings 18 of the second block 
16 are then placed along the longitudinal edges of the printed circuit 
card 15 so that the lugs 26 interlock with the recesses 27. Then, the 
assembly consisting of the block 16 secured to the card 15 by means of the 
couplings 18 is engaged in the standard block 12. The last step of the 
assembly consists of securing the front surface 14 of the standard block 
12 to the rear surface 13, and the front surface 19 of the second block 
16, intended for the extension, to the frame 17. 
FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the second block 16 of the housing 
according to the invention, i.e. a view of the block intended to contain 
the second region Z.sub.2 of the card 15 forming the extension of the 
PCMCIA card. The frame 17 of this block 16 preferably has a cubical shape 
as shown in FIG. 2. However, according to one embodiment, it may have a 
different shape. Thus, in FIG. 3, the longitudinal edges of the block do 
not have the same height at each of their ends and thus have generally 
quadrilateral shapes. 
Furthermore, it is advantageous to achieve such a block 16 so that it has a 
height sufficiently great to enable it to contain one or more additional 
printed circuit cards. Thus, the additional card(s) is/are stacked 
connected (together and) with the extended card 15. The connection between 
the cards is performed by means of conducting wires for example. This 
stacking of the cards thus makes it possible to further increase, in a 
significant manner, the available printed circuit surface, i.e. the memory 
area and the storage capacity. 
The bottom 20 of the block 16 is assembled with the frame 17 by welding for 
example. It is placed in such a manner that its inner face 21 rests 
against tabs 22 and 23 provided on the lower part of the frame 17. The 
bottom 20 is then welded, or bonded for example, onto the tabs 22 and 23. 
Preferably, additional small tabs 24 are provided on the bottom 20, at both 
sides of its front end intended to be accommodated between the two 
couplings 18 of the block 16. These tabs 24 are also welded, or bonded, 
onto the couplings 18. They provide additional reinforcement and 
contribute to the lateral retention of the couplings 18 and to obtaining a 
good mechanical rigidity for the entire housing according to the 
invention. The front surface of the block 16 is not shown in FIG. 3 but, 
as previously mentioned, it is preferably achieved using a plastic 
material. 
The dimensions of the block 16 intended to receive the region Z.sub.2 of 
the printed circuit card 15, i.e. the memory extension region, are 
provided herein as an example. The invention is by no means limited to 
these dimensions. Indeed, they are fully adaptable to future standards 
possibly defined by the PCMCIA association. 
The second block 16 can thus have a height H.sub.1, comprised between 10 
and 25 mm, a width l comprised between 54 and 70 mm, and a length L.sub.1 
comprised between 40 and 50 mm. 
The couplings 18 preferably have a length L.sub.2 comprised between 50 and 
60 mm so as to properly enter the standard block 12, a height H.sub.2 
comprised between 2 and 3 mm, and a thickness e comprised between 0.1 and 
0.7 mm. The couplings 18 are separated from one another by a value 
comprised between 53.7 mm and 52.5 mm. 
With the housing according to the invention, the available surface on the 
printed circuit card 15 is maximised. Indeed, the width of the card is 
only decreased by the value of the thickness of the couplings and the 
total length (L.sub.1 +L.sub.2) is fully available since there is/are no 
additional element(s), such as plug-in connectors, capable of causing a 
loss of surface. In addition, since the second block 16 of the housing is 
manufactured using an inexpensive stainless steel sheet, which folds 
easily to create various shapes, and the standard block 12 is not 
modified, the manufacturing cost of the housing according to the invention 
is relatively low and adapted to large-scale distribution. Finally, the 
housing has a good mechanical rigidity, since the two blocks are assembled 
in such a manner that they become inseparable. 
FIG. 4 shows a top view of a housing according to the invention, partially 
inserted in the slot 31 of a PC 30. The front surfaces 14 and 19 of the 
blocks 12 and 16 are not shown in this figure. In addition, the parts 
common to the previous figures are indicated by the same reference numbers 
and shall not be described. 
The clips making it possible to close the housing are illustrated with 
small circles and indicated by reference number 9. The tabs 24 belonging 
to the bottom 20, of the block 16 intended for the extended part, are 
preferably welded or bonded onto the couplings 18. They thus make it 
possible to contribute to the lateral retention of the couplings and to 
obtaining a good mechanical rigidity for the entire housing. 
An optional embodiment consisting of stacking an additional printed circuit 
card 7 on the card 15 is shown in FIG. 4. The additional card 7 is 
connected to the card 15 by means of conducting wires for example, passing 
through holes provided in the additional card 7 and not shown in FIG. 4.