IC card connector having two grounding contacts

An IC card connector having two grounding contacts is disclosed. The IC card connector comprises a connector body for connecting onto a mainboard, a carrier for accommodating IC cards, and grounding means for grounding the two grounding contacts of the IC card to the wiring on the mainboard without hindering assembling and disassembling of said carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to card connectors, and in particular, to 
those connectors for holding IC cards having grounding contacts on sides. 
The development trend for personal computers has been for more compact and 
mobile versions. While computers are getting smaller in size, various 
evolutionary technologies have enhanced their capabilities and functions. 
For example, a notebook computer incorporating an IC card (e.g., a PCMCIA 
card) bearing the function of a modem is capable of sending electronic 
data through telephone lines. A conventional modem IC card has two 
grounding contacts, one on each side. When such a modem card is inserted 
into the carrier, it produces electromagnetic noise which exceeds most EMI 
requirements. 
As can be seen, there is a need for reducing the electromagnetic noise 
caused by the insertion of IC cards to meet EMI requirements. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide an IC card 
connector which grounds the inserted IC card effectively, thereby 
decreasing the EMI level without hindering the assembling and 
disassembling of the connector to and from the mainboard. 
The IC card connector according to the present invention comprises a 
connector body for connecting onto a mainboard and a carrier body for 
accommodating the IC card. The two grounding contacts on the IC card can 
be electrically conducted through the carrier to the wiring on the 
mainboard to achieve grounding. The invention further comprises grounding 
means for effectively performing such grounding without causing 
inconvenience in assembling and disassembling of the carrier. 
The carrier comprises two grounding devices for contacting with the two 
grounding contacts of the IC card. The carrier also comprises a pair of 
bosses for installing in a pair of through holes on the mainboard. In this 
event, the grounding means comprises a pair of grounding pieces for 
electrically connecting to the wiring on the mainboard, the grounding 
pieces each comprise a first end electrically connected to one of the 
bosses and a second end electrically connected to one of the grounding 
devices. 
The first end may further comprise a hold for accepting one of the bosses. 
The first end may further comprise an upright portion, preferably curvy, 
for fittingly surrounding and stabilizing the boss. 
The second end may further comprise an opening for electrically connecting 
one of the grounding devices. The opening is preferably rectangular, and 
can be soldered to the grounding device. 
The mainboard may further comprise two grounding pads, each electrically 
connected to one of the first ends, for a better EMI grounding effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a connector for grounding IC cards. As 
shown, the connector assembly includes a connector body 2 and a carrier 5 
for mounting onto a mainboard 1. The connector body employs bosses 13 to 
elevate it above the components, such as memory modules 9, located on the 
mainboard. Carrier 5 also employs bosses 53 which are inserted into 
mounting holes 11 located on the mainboard. Each boss may be recessed on 
the end to create a ledge so as to maintain the carrier in a fixed 
position relative to the mainboard. Additionally, extensions 70 on carrier 
5 are fitted to slots 71 on the connector body to ensure proper alignment 
between the pieces of the connector. 
Carrier 5 includes recesses 51 for guiding an IC card 4 which is to be 
inserted into the connector body. The IC card has grounding contacts 3 
located on its edges 4. Recesses 51 of the carrier contain grounding 
devices 52. Generally, the number of grounding devices 52 equals the 
number of grounding contacts 3. As shown, IC card 4 has two grounding 
contacts that are to be grounded through wiring on mainboard 1. The 
grounding devices are situated such that they contact the grounding 
contacts 3 on IC card 4 when it is inserted into the connector. 
To create a connection between the grounding devices and the wiring on the 
mainboard, grounding pieces 61 and 62 are employed. This connection is 
established by connecting one end of grounding piece 61 to a portion 59 of 
grounding device 52 and the other end to boss 53. In one embodiment, 
portion 59 protrudes beneath carrier 5. Optionally, grounding pads may be 
located at hole 11 to improve contact between grounding piece 61 and the 
wiring on the mainboard 1. In a similar manner, grounding piece 62 is 
connected to the grounding device and wiring on the mainboard. Grounding 
pieces 61 and 62, although similar in design, may have different lengths 
due to distance variations between the connection points for each 
grounding device. 
According to some embodiments, carrier 5 is secured on the mainboard by 
screws 10. By loosening screws 10, the carrier can easily be removed from 
the mainboard for convenient maintenance of the components 9 located on 
the mainboard beneath the carrier. 
FIGS. 2-5 illustrate grounding pieces 61 and 62 in greater detail. 
Specifically, FIGS. 2 and 3 show the top and side view of grounding piece 
61 and FIGS. 4-5 show the top and side view of grounding piece 62. As 
previously discussed, the grounding pieces 61 and 62 may have different 
lengths. As shown, the grounding pieces each includes a first end 7 and a 
second end 8. A hole 71, through which a boss is inserted, is located at 
first end 7. Optionally, a curvy upright portion 72 may be formed to fit 
around the boss. At second end 8, an opening 81 is provided to accommodate 
the grounding contact. The grounding contact may be soldered to opening 81 
in order to ensure a good electrical connection. In one embodiment, 
opening 81 may be specifically shaped (i.e., rectangle) to match the 
portion of the grounding device that is inserted through the opening. 
Thus, first end 7 is electrically connected to the boss and the second end 
8 is electrically connected to the grounding device so as to create an 
effective grounding means to reduce excessive EMI noise. 
Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of the invention employed in 
a computer system is illustrated. The computer system includes a mainboard 
7 encased by a bottom housing 11 and a top housing 9. Mainboard 7 is 
mounted with a connector assembly 1 for holding an IC card. The connector 
assembly includes a connector body 31 and a carrier 33. The carrier is 
provided with recesses 53 to guide the IC card into the connector body. As 
shown, the carrier includes two sets of recesses to accommodate two IC 
cards. Recesses 53 of the carrier comprises grounding devices 5. In some 
embodiments, screws are inserted through holes 55 and into receptacles 18 
on bottom housing 11 to attach the grounding devices to the carrier. The 
grounding devices are situated such that they contact the grounding 
contacts on the IC cards when they are inserted into the connector. 
The bottom housing is provided with raised sections 15 having holes 153 to 
support mainboard 7. Holes 153 are aligned with holes 17 on the mainboard 
and receptacles 13 on the top housing. Fasteners, such as screws or bolts, 
are inserted through holes 153, holes 17, and into receptacles 13 for 
assembling the computer system. 
FIG. 7 illustrates the grounding devices in greater detail. As shown, the 
carrier has a plurality of recess members 40 for holding IC cards. The 
carrier may contain cut portions for locating grounding contacts 60. Each 
grounding contact wraps around the top, cut portion, and the bottom of the 
carrier. An adhesive may be used to attach the grounding contacts to the 
carrier. 
Grounding pieces 62 having a first end and a second end are coupled to the 
carrier at the cut portions 65. The first end comprises a flat portion 
having a hole and the second end comprises a curved portion. Each 
grounding piece is coupled to the carrier by inserting a screw 64 through 
the hole in the first end and the hole on the carrier. As previously 
discussed, the screw is attached to a receptacle located on the bottom 
housing. Once attached, the second end of the grounding pieces are 
elevated from the top surface of the carrier. When the computer system is 
assembled, the top housing presses down on the grounding pieces 62, 
thereby grounding the IC card. Thus, the grounding devices effectively 
ground the IC cards to reduce excessive EMI noise. 
The scope of protection intended in this invention is set forth in the 
following claims. Any equivalent modification by persons skilled in the 
art, for example, omitting the grounding devices 52 and placing the second 
end 8 directly in the recess 51 for electrically contacting with grounding 
contacts on the IC card, is deemed to be covered by the claims.