Card edge connector with detecting structure

A card edge connector includes an ejector (3) with a pushing portion (32) extending from distal end thereof, the ejector (3) moves between an opening station and a locking station, and at least pair detecting contacts (4) which includes two detecting pins (41, 42), one of the detecting pins defines a spring engaging arm having an engaging portion (425) opposite to the pushing portion (32) which presses on the engaging portion (425) in the locking station or leave the engaging portion (425) in the opening station, thereby making the two detecting pins engage or disengage with each other for detecting if a memory card is inserted in the card edge connector or not.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a card edge connector, and more particularly to a card edge connector with detecting structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Card edge connector is usually assembled on a mother board and then engages with a daughter board for interconnecting between the two boards. U.S. Pat. No. 7,922,506 issued to Harlan et al. on Apr. 12, 2011, discloses a card edge connector having an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines an inserting slot for receiving the daughter board. Each of the contacts includes a retaining portion retained in the sidewall, a contacting arm extending into the inserting slot from one end of the retaining portion for contacting with the daughter board and a soldering tail extending outwards to the insulative housing from another end of the retaining portion for connecting with and extending through the mother board. The contacting arms of the contacts are arranged in two rows in a width direction of the sidewall, respectively being received in two sidewalls disposed at both sides of the inserting slot.

However, if the daughter board is not inserted in the inserting slot correctly, the user can not be remaindered in time because of the daughter board has been disposed in an internal of the card edge connector.

Therefore, an improved card edge connector are desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related arts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a card edge connector with detecting function because of added detecting structure.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a card edge connector for engaging with a memory card in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a longitudinal insulative housing having a pair of sidewalls and an inserting slot therebetween for receiving the memory card and a receiving opening communicating with the inserting slot, a plurality of contacts arranged two arrays along a longitudinal direction, an ejector being mounted into the receiving opening and comprising a pushing portion extending towards the insertion slot from distal end thereof, the ejector movably engages with the insulative housing and thus moves between an opening station in which the memory card is permitted inserted into or pushed outwards and a locking station in which the memory card is positioned in the inserting slot, and at least pair detecting contacts which includes a first detecting pin and a second detecting pin received and retained in corresponding receiving slots formed by the insulative housing, the second detecting pin defines a spring engaging arm having an engaging portion protruding to the insertion slot and opposite to the pushing portion which presses on the engaging portion in the locking station or leave the engaging portion in the opening station, thereby making the second detecting pin engage or disengage with the first detecting pin for detecting if the memory card is inserted in the card edge connector or not.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a card edge connector100is adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown) and then engage with a memory card (not shown) for interconnecting between both thereof. The card edge connector100includes a longitudinal insulative housing1, a plurality of contacts2retained in the longitudinal insulative housing1, an ejector3movably engaging with the insulative housing1and thus moving between an opening station in which the memory card is permitted inserted into or pushed outwards and a locking station in which the memory card is positioned in the card edge connector100, and at least one pair of detecting contacts4retained in the insulative housing1for detecting whether the memory card is inserted into the card edge connector100or not.

The insulative housing1includes a pair of longitudinal sidewalls11opposite to each other in a width direction thereof and a pair of tower portions12upwards integrally protruding from both ends of the sidewalls11, thereby forming an inserting slot101for receiving the memory card. The tower portion12has a receiving opening121for receiving the ejector3and an engaging recess123concaved from two opposite inner walls of the receiving opening121for locking the ejector3therein when the ejector3is disposed at the locking station. The ejector3is mounted into the receiving opening121and includes a base portion30, a pair of rotating shafts31protruding from both sides of the base portion30and pivoting in a pair of shaft hole122formed by the tower portion12, a pushing portion or kicker32extending towards the insertion slot101from one end of the base portion30in the opening station for pushing the memory card outwardly, an operating portion33disposed at distal end of the ejector3and a locking portion or locker34disposed at opposite end of the operating portion33and extending towards the insertion slot101from another end of the base portion30for locking the memory card.

The insulative housing1defines a plurality of receiving grooves110for receiving the contacts2therein. The contacts2are arranged two arrays along a longitudinal direction, while opposite to each other in the width direction, respectively being disposed at both sidewalls11. Each of the contacts2includes a retaining portion21retained in the insulative housing1, a contacting arm22extending into the inserting slot13upwardly from one end of the retaining portion21and having a protecting portion221engaging on receiving grooves110for limiting the contacting arm22moving overly and a first contacting portion222for contacting with the memory card and a soldering tail23extending outwards from another end of the retaining portion21for being soldered to the PCB.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 5, the detecting contacts4are retained in the tower portion12and occupy original structure of the card edge connector100, i.e. do not need change present lay-out on the PCB. The pair of detecting contacts4includes a first detecting pin41and a second detecting pin42both received in corresponding receiving slots124of the tower portion12and opening downwards for making the detecting contacts4being mounted upwards to the receiving slots124. The first detecting pin41and the second detecting pin42are both bended from metal strips and are spring for being capable of engaging or disengaging with each other.

The first detecting pin41includes a main body411received in the tower portion12, a retaining portion412extending from the main body411and positioned in the tower portion12, a soldering tail413extending outwards from the main body411for positioning on the PCB, a positioning portion414extending from one side of the main body411for preventing the first detecting pin41from moving in the longitudinal direction and an second contact portion415extending from another side of the main body411and movable engaging with a spring engaging arm420formed by the second detecting pins42.

The second detecting pins42has a similar structure and also defines a main body421, a retaining portion422, a soldering tail423and a positioning portion424, except the above-mentioned spring engaging arm420extending one side of the main body421and being different from the engaging portion415. The soldering tails413,423both define an arc-shaped locking sections (respectively marked as4131,4231) for elastically extending through and steadily locking on the PCB. The spring engaging arm420includes an engaging portion425protruding into the insertion slot101and opposite to the pushing portion32of the ejector3, a third contact portion426moveable contacting with and opposite to the second contact portion415, i.e. the contact portion426engage or disengage with the second contact portion415because the engaging portion425moving along with the ejector3.

The pushing portion32includes an inner section320extending towards the insertion slot101for engaging with the memory card in the opening station and an outer section321opposite to the inner section320and thus pressing on the engaging portion425of the second detecting pin42in the locking station. When the ejector3is turned outwards and disposed at the opening station in which the pushing portion32leaves the engaging portion, the second contact portion415and the third contact portion426are both in original status and disengage with each other, the memory card is permitted to insert into the insertion slot101.

When the memory card is inserted into the insertion slot101, the memory card pushes downwards the pushing portion32for driving the ejector3rotate to the locking station. The outer section321of the pushing portion32presses on the engaging portion425which moves and drives the third contact portion426engage with the second contact portion415because of a pressing force (marked as arrow F) generated by the pushing portion32, the locking portion34presses on the memory card until the memory card is received in the insertion slot101. The base portion30further defines a protruding tuber301engaging with the engaging recess122for locking the ejector3in the locking station. When the ejector3is again turned outwards, the memory card is pushed outwards by the inner section320of the pushing portion32which withdraws the pressing force F pressing on the second detecting pins42. The second contact portion415and the third contact portion426disengage with each other again.

The PCB defines an LED light which electrically connects with the first detecting pin41and the second detecting pin42, thereby forming a series circuit or a parallel circuit. If it is a series circuit, the first detecting pin41and the second detecting pin42form a switch controlling the LED light off or on. When the first detecting pin41and the second detecting pin42are connected, the LED light is turn on for telling user the memory card is inserted. Otherwise the LED light is turn off for telling user the memory card is taken out. If it is a parallel circuit, the first detecting pin41and the second detecting pin42are disposed on one divided circuit and work as a switch for making the LED light disposed on the other divided circuit be short or not, then controlling the LED light be on or off.

Referring toFIG. 6, in another embodiment, a first detecting pin51and a second detecting pin52respectively defines a pin-shaped soldering tails511,521different from the soldering tails413,423in the first embodiment for easily being mounted in the PCB. The first detecting pin51and a second detecting pin52also worked as a switch in a series circuit or a parallel circuit for reminding user if the memory card is inserted or not.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the board general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.