Memory card connector

A memory card connector is used for being plugged with a memory card. The memory card connector includes an insulating body having a plugging slot and two pivoting bases, two locking parts, and a plurality of conducting pins received in the insulating body. The memory card is plugged into the plugging slot. The two pivoting bases are respectively located at two sides of the insulating body. The pivoting base that is close to the plugging slot has a blocking portion. The two locking parts are respectively pivoted with the two pivoting bases for holding the memory card and can be entered by the blocking portion. The total height of the memory card connector is reduced. The required space for packaging and shipping the memory card connector is reduced to lower the shipping cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a memory card connector. In particular, the present invention relates to a DDR3 memory card connector that its total height is reduced.

2. Description of Related Art

The memory card connector of the prior art includes an insulating body, a plurality of conducting pins fastened in the insulating body, and a pair of locking devices located at two ends of the insulating body.

The insulating body includes a plug slot and a pair of tower portions, which are located at two opposite sides of the plug slot. Two opposite guiding walls are located under the tower portions and a concave trough is formed between the guiding walls. Each of the guiding walls has a pivoting hole. A position-limit portion is located on the tower portion, and two sides of the position-limit portion respectively have a wedging trough.

The locking device includes a base body and a head portion. The base body is movably received in the concave trough. The head portion extends upwards from the base body. The base body has a pivoting shaft. The pivoting shaft is rotatably pivoted in the pivoting hole. Two sides of the head portion respectively extend to form a holding portion toward the plug slot. The holding portion matches the wedging trough of the position-limit portion. The wedging trough prevents the holding portion from rotating in the direction facing to the plug slot.

The memory card connector has the following drawbacks.

1. The memory card connector is soldered on a mother board. A reflow oven is used for soldering the conducting pins on the mother board. The reflow oven includes a transmission table and a heater above the transmission table. Firstly, the mother board is placed on the transmission table. Next, the memory card connector is placed on a target location of the mother board. The heater is located above the memory card connector. Because the wedging trough prevents the holding portion from rotating in the direction facing to the plug slot, the total height of the memory card connector increases. The heater is far away from the mother board. Therefore, the temperature of the soldering location between the soldering portion and the memory card connector is inadequate. The heating is unstable, or heating is not uniform. The soldering effect is poor.

2. Because the total height of the memory card connector increases, the required space is also increased when the memory card connector is packaged and shipped. The shipment cost increases.

3. Because a lot of the memory card connectors are soldered on the mother board and the space of the mother board is limited, the gap between the memory card connectors is small. Moreover, the holding portion matches the wedging trough of the position-limit portion and the wedging trough prevents the holding portion from rotating in the direction facing to the plug slot, the height in the vertical direction or the length in the lengthwise direction increases. It is not easy to install another row of the memory card connectors, and it is easy to damage the other elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One particular object of the present invention is to provide a memory card connector that its total height is reduced. The memory card connector can be easily packaged and shipped.

The memory card connector is used for receiving a memory card plugged therein. The memory card connector includes an insulating body having a plugging slot and two pivoting bases, two locking parts, and a plurality of conducting pins received in the insulating body. The memory card is plugged into the plugging slot. The two pivoting bases are respectively located at two sides of the insulating body. The pivoting bases respectively have a blocking portion adjacent to the plugging slot. The two locking parts are respectively pivoted with the two pivoting bases for holding the memory card. When the memory card is plugged into the plugging slot, the holding portion locks the memory card, and the locking parts are in a vertical status. When the memory card is taken away from the plugging slot, the locking part is rotated in a direction away from the plugging slot, and the locking part is an outer-folding status. The locking part rotates toward the plugging slot from in the vertical status to make the blocking portion enter, and the locking part is in an inner-folding status.

The memory card connector of the present invention is soldered on a mother board by a reflow oven. The reflow oven includes a transmission table and a heater on the transmission table. Firstly, the mother board is placed on the transmission table. Next, the memory card connector is placed on the target location on the mother board. The heater is located above the memory card connector. Because the locking part rotates toward to the plugging slot from in the vertical status to make the blocking portion enter, the total height of the memory card connector is reduced. Thereby, the heater is close to the mother board so that the temperature of the soldering location between the conducting pins and the mother board is adequate and stable. The soldering effect is good.

Furthermore, because the total height of the memory card connector is reduced, the required space for packaging and shipping the memory card connector is also reduced. The shipment cost is reduced.

Because a lot of the memory card connectors are soldered on the mother board and the space of the mother board is limited, the gap between the memory card connectors is small. However, because the locking part rotates towards the plugging slot from the vertical status to make the locking part enter, the height of the memory card connector in the vertical direction is reduced and the length in the longwise direction is not increased. It is easy to install another row of the memory card connectors, and the other elements are not damaged.

For further understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description illustrating the embodiments and examples of the present invention. The description is for illustrative purpose only and is not intended to limit the scope of the claim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made toFIG. 1. The memory card connector1of the present invention includes a lengthwise insulating body11, a plurality of conducting pins13received in the insulating body11, and two locking parts12pivoted at two sides of the insulating body11.

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 and 6. The insulating body11has a pair of pivoting bases111located at two sides of the insulating body11. Each of the pivoting bases111has an inner side wall112and an outer side wall113. The gap between the two inner side walls112is shorter than the gap between the two outer side walls113. Moreover, the insulating body11further has a pair of wall portions114, a center plugging slot115formed between the two wall portions114, and a horizontal connection surface1151. The plugging slot115has two inner side surfaces1152and a bottom surface1153, and its opening is located on the horizontal connection surface1151.

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 and 3. The pivoting bases111are integrally formed at the opposite ends of the insulating body11into one piece. Each of the pivoting bases111has two guiding walls1111. A concave trough1112is formed between the two guiding walls1111. The concave trough1112is linked with the plugging slot115of the insulating body11. The two guiding walls1111respectively have an upper surface1113, a lower surface1114, and an inner surface1115. There is a guiding trough1116formed concavely on the inner surface1115. The guiding trough1116passes through the upper surface1113upwardly, and becomes narrow from the upper side to the lower side. Each of the guiding walls1111has a pivoting hole1117adjacent to the lower surface1114. The pivoting hole1117is located at an rear end of the guiding trough1116. There is a cutout1118, which is formed on the inner surface1115and is close to the upper surface1113and the outer side wall113. Only one side of the cutout1118is linked with the guiding trough1116.

The pivoting base111has a blocking portion1119that is close to the inner side wall112. The blocking portion1119includes a pair of flexible arms1120formed oppositely. Two flexible arms1120respectively have a narrow portion1121and a wide portion1122(as shown inFIG. 2). The narrow portion1121is close to the inner side wall112, and the wide portion is far away from the inner side wall112. The two narrow portions1121respectively have a first inner side wall1123and a first outer side wall1124. The two wide portions1122respectively have a second inner side wall1125and a second outer side wall1126which are formed oppositely. The two first inner side walls1123are aligned to the inner side surface1152of the plugging slot115. The first outer side wall1124and the second outer side wall1126have the same surface. The gap between the two first inner side walls1123is larger than the gap between the two second side walls1125, which means that the gap between the narrow potions1121is larger than the gap between the wide portions1122.

The lower end of the two flexible arms1120respectively has a leaning portion1127. The two outer side walls1124respectively have a wedging point1128.

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 and 3. The locking part12has a base body121and a head portion122located at the top of the base body121. The base body121has two third outer side walls1211. Each of the third outer side walls1211has a pivoting shaft1212. The pivoting shaft1212is pivotally received in the pivoting hole1117and can be rotated. The two third outer side walls1211respectively have a convex point1213. The concave point1213matches with the cutout1118.

The locking part12has a lengthwise opening trough1214formed on the base body121, and two third inner side walls1215formed oppositely in the opening trough1214. The two third inner side walls1215respectively have a first wedging trough1216and a second wedging trough1217. The first wedging trough1216is adjacent to the second wedging trough1217and both are wedged with the wedging point1128. One side of the head portion122that is close to the plugging slot115has a slanted surface1221. The top of the slanted surface1221has a holding portion1222. A holding trough1223is formed concavely on the slanted surface1221. Two sides of the holding trough1223respectively have a supporting portion1224. The lower end of the base body121has a push portion1218. The top of the push portion1218has a position-limit portion1219.

Concerning the operation, reference is made toFIGS. 5 and 8. The memory card connector1is used for receiving a memory card2plugged therein. The memory card connector1is soldered on a mother board3, and the memory card2is plugged into the memory card connector1so that the memory card2is electrically connecting with the mother board3. The memory card2includes a body portion21and a plugging portion22extended downwardly from the body portion21. Two sides of the body portion21respectively have has a holding through23. The holding trough23is wedged with the holding portion1222. In this embodiment, the memory card connector1and the mother board3are soldered in a reflow oven. The reflow oven includes a transmission table4, at least one heater5located above the transmission table4, and a cover body (not shown in the figure) for covering the transmission table4and the heater5.

Firstly, a plurality of conducting pins13are respectively installed into the two wall portions114of the insulating body11. Part of the conducting pin13enters into the plugging slot115, and part of the conducting pin13exposes to outside of the bottom of the insulating body11.

Next, the locking part12is installed on the pivoting base111of the insulating body11from top to down. The pivoting shaft1212of the base body121slides downwardly into the pivoting hole1117via the guiding trough1116. The push portion1218and the position-limit portion1219are located below the leaning portion1127of the blocking portion1119. The third outer side wall1211of the base body121is adjacent to the inner surface1115of the guiding wall1111. The third inner wall1215of the opening trough1214is adjacent to the first outer side wall1124of the flexible arm1120. The slanted surface1221of the head portion122faces to the plugging slot115.

Next, the memory card connector1is soldered on the mother board3. The mother board3is placed on the transmission table4. The conducting pins13of the memory card connector1are placed on the target location of the mother board3. The heater5is located above the memory card connector1. At this time, the locking part12is rotated toward the plugging slot115from the vertical status so that the total height of the memory card connector1is reduced.

Finally, the memory card2is installed into the insulating body11of the memory card connector1soldered on the mother board3. The plugging portion22is plugged into the plugging slot115via the connection surface1151. The plugging portion22contacts the conducting pin13. The bottom of the plugging portion22contacts the bottom surface1153of the plugging slot115. The memory card2enters into the gap between the two narrow portions1121.

When the memory card2is plugged into the plugging slot115, the locking part12locks the memory card2. At this time, the locking part12is in a vertical status. The memory card2pushes the push portion1218. The push portion1218leans against the lower side of the plugging portion22. One side of the position-limit portion1219leans against two sides of the memory card2. The holding portion1222is wedged into the holding trough23. Part of two ends of the memory card2enters into holding trough1223. The cutout1118prevents the convex point1213from rotating away from the plugging slot115. When the locking part12rotates to a predetermined position relative to the pivoting bases111, the top of the locking part12is located at the highest location relative to the pivoting bases111, which is also the vertical status. The above structure is used for stably holding the memory card2in the memory card connector1.

When the memory card2is taken away from the plugging slot115, the locking part12rotates in a direction that is away from the plugging slot115. At this time, the locking part12is in an outer-folding status. The convex point1213crosses over the cutout1118. The push portion1218pushes the lower side of the plugging portion22so that the position-limit portion1219leans against the leaning portion1127of the flexible arm1120. Thereby, the leaning portion1127prevents the locking part12from rotating in the direction from the plugging slot115. The above structure is used for taking off the memory card2easily.

When the locking part12rotates toward the plugging slot115from the vertical status, the head portion122is located above the plugging slot115. At this time, the locking part12is in an inner-fold status. During the locking part12rotates from the outer-fold status to the vertical status, the convex point1213is blocked at the outer side wall113, and then enters into the cutout1118. Next, the wedging points1128of the two flexible arms1120enter into the two second wedging troughs1217of the opening trough1214. The second wedging trough1217is used for blocking the locking part12from rotating toward the plugging slot115. Next, the wedging point1128crosses over the second wedging trough1217and enters into the first wedging trough1216. Finally, the locking part12continuously rotates toward the plugging slot115so that the head portion122enters into the upper area of the plugging slot115. The support portion1224leans against the connection surface1151. At this time, the slanted surface1221is parallel to the connection surface1151.

When the locking part12rotates from the inner-fold status to the vertical status, the wedging point1128enters into the first wedging trough1216. The first wedging trough1216prevents the locking part12from rotating in a direction away from the plugging slot115.

The memory card connector of the present invention has the following characteristics.

1. Because the locking part can be rotated to the plugging slot from the vertical status to make the blocking portion enter, the total height of the memory card connector is reduced. Thereby, the heater is closer to the mother board to assure that the soldering temperature between the conducting pins and the mother board is adequate and stable. The soldering effect is good.

2. Because the total height of the memory card connector is reduced, the required space for packaging and shipping the memory card connector is also reduced. The shipping cost is lowered.

3. When the memory card is plugged into the plugging slot, the cutout blocks the convex point from rotating toward a direction away from the plugging slot so that the locking part stably holds the memory card in the plugging slot. The memory card is not easily escaped from the plugging slot. The memory card is conducted with the mother board well.

4. When the support portion leans against the connection surface of the insulating body, the locking part cannot rotate to the vertical status due to the first trough of the opening trough blocks the wedging point of the flexible arm. Thereby, the locking part cannot arbitrarily rotate on the pivoting base so that the memory card connector cannot be easily damaged.

5. The slanted surface of the locking part has the support portion. When the locking part is rotated toward the inner-fold status to a predetermined position, the support portion leans against the connection surface of the insulating body and the slanted surface is parallel to the connection surface. Therefore, the wedging portion does not need to directly lean against the connection surface to prevent the wedging portion from being worn. When the memory card is plugged into the plugging slot, the wedging portion is wedged into the wedging trough to hold the memory card in the memory card connector stably.

6. Because a lot of the memory card connectors are soldered on the mother board and the space of the mother board is limited, the gap between each of the memory card connectors is small. However, because the locking part rotates toward the plugging slot from the vertical status to make the locking part enter, the height of the memory card connector in the vertical direction is reduced and the length in the longwise direction is not increased. It is easy to install another row of the memory card connectors, and the other elements are not damaged.

The description above only illustrates specific embodiments and examples of the present invention. The present invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the present invention, provided they fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following appended claims.