CARD SYSTEM WITH RETAINING LATCHES

Abstract: A memory card system (12) is provided which prevents slippage of a memory card (16) from a header device (14). The header has latch windows (26) at its opposite side end faces. The card has a package having a pair of slits (38) formed at one end face (32b) and latch windows (40) formed one at each side wall (32c) in a direction transverse to the one end face of the card and at those areas corresponding to latch windows of the header device. Latch members (36) provided in the package of the card are normally pushed by compression springs and latched to the latch windows of the header device via the latch windows of the package. The card is unlatched from the header device by manually moving the latch members which are projected out of the slits of the package against an action of the compression springs.

Description: Card System With Retaining Latches Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card system and, for example, to a card system comprising a header device for a computer and its peripheral unit and a card-type data processing medium, such as a memory card, insertable and withdrawable into and out of the header device. The card-type data processing medium and header device as set out above belong to the art of the present invention. 2. Description of the Related Art A card system has been employed for a computer system, such as a personal computer, a laptop computer and a notebook PC, and its peripheral units so as to achieve an application expansion. The card system comprises a header device to be mounted on the computer system and its peripheral unit and a card-type data processing unit insertable and withdrawable into and out of the header device. The card type data processing medium is typically comprised of a memory card. This card is comprised of a card-type package incorporating a module therein which contains a ROM and RAM. The number of pins of an ordinary memory card is, for example, 2 x 30, 2 x 34, etc., for signal transmission. Since the pin-to-connector connection holding power of the ordinary memory card is relatively weak, the memory card is slipped out of the header upon receipt of a direct shock in a moving direction of the memory card. This is obviously undesirable unless the memory card can directly be reloaded by the end user into the header. On the other hand, a new form of design has recently been demanded for memory cards so as to more properly and more rapidly enhance the processing power of the computer system and its peripheral units. This object can be realized by achieving a higher built-in module integration density in a memory card while increasing the number of pins involved for the memory card. It is necessary that the memory card with a larger number of pins arranged in a high density be more positively connected to the header device. Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a card system for positively connecting a card-type data processing medium to a header device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a card-type data processing medium and header device for structuring a card system as set out above. According to one aspect of the present invention, a card system is provided which includes a card-type data processing medium including a card-like package having first and second end sections in a direction to in which the data processing medium is transferred and holding electronic component parts for data processing and a connector mounted at the first end section of the package and a header device including a housing having first and second ends in the transferring of direction the data processing medium and having an insertion inlet on the second end to receive the data processing medium and a header mechanically and electrically connected to the connector of the data processing medium, in which latch holes are provided, near the second end of the housing of the header device, along a direction transverse to the transferring direction of the data processing medium and latch members are provided near the second end section of the package of the data processing medium and releasably latched to the associated latch holes in the housing of the header device when the connector of the data processing medium is connected to the header of the header device. According to another aspect of the present invention, a card-type data processing medium is provided which is adapted to be releasably latched to a header device, the header device including a housing having first and second ends in a direction in which the data processing medium is transferred and having an insertion inlet on the second end to receive the data processing medium and latch holes provided, near the second end of the housing of the header device, along a direction transverse to the transferring direction of the data processing medium, and a header mounted on the first end of the housing, in which the data processing medium comprises a card-like package having first and second end sections in the transferring direction of the data processing medium, holding electronic component parts for data processing and adapted to be received into the corresponding insertion inlet, a connector mounted on the first end section of the package, and latch members provided near the second end section of the package and releasably latched to latch holes in the housing of the header device when the connector of the data processing medium is connected to the header of the header device. According to another aspect of the present invention, a header device is provided which is associated with a card-type data processing medium to releasably connect the data processing medium to the header device, the card type data processing medium including a card-like package having first and second end sections in a direction in which the data processing medium is transferred and holding electronic component parts for data processing, a connector mounted on the first end section of the package and latch members provided near the second end section of the package, in which the header device includes a housing having first and second ends and having an insertion inlet on the second end to receive the data processing medium, latch holes provided, near the second end, along a direction transverse to the transferring direction of the data processing medium and a header mounted on the first end of the housing, the latch holes being associated with the latch members of the data processing medium so that the latch members are releasably latched to the latch holes when the connector of the data processing medium is connected to the header of the header device. In the structure as set out above, when the card-type data processing medium is received into the housing of the header device, the latch members of the card-type data processing medium are latched to the latch holes in the housing of the header device, thus maintaining the connector of the data processing medium and header of the header device in a connected stage. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a card system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top view showing a header device in the card system shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view showing the header device in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 1, showing the header device of the system of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view showing a latching mechanism in the system of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a memory card and associated hand tool in another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view, partly taken away, for explaining how to use the hand tool of Fig. 6. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows a card system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The card system 12 of the present invention is equipped with a header device 14 and a memory card 16 insertable and withdrawable into and out of the header 14. The header device 14 is fitted in a casing (not shown) of a computer system, not shown. The header device 14 includes a substantially u-shaped housing 18 and a header 20 mounted at a closed end 18a of the housing 18. An opening is provided at the opposite end 18b of the housing 18 to receive the memory card 16. Slots 24 are provided in the inner surface portions of both opposed walls 22 of the housing 18 to allow the memory card 16 to be inserted and withdrawn into and out of the side walls 22 of the housing 18 along a direction (Y-axis) of movement of the memory card 16. One or more pairs of slots (two pairs in Fig. 1) are provided, as slots 24, along a height direction (z-axis) of the housing 18. Latch windows 26 are provided in the respective slots 24 near the open end 18b of both the respective side walls 22. The respective slots 24 extend in a direction (x-axis direction) transverse to the moving direction of the memory card 16. The housing 18 has mount holes 28b through which screws 28a are inserted for mounting to a computer's casing, or mount members 28 which have mount holes 28b. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 , one end 30a of each of the pins 30 on the header 20 is projected toward an inside of the closed end 18a of the housing 18 and is mechanically and electrically connectable to an 1/0 connector 34, as will be set out below, provided in the memory card 16. The other end 30b of each of the respective pins 30 on the header 20 extends out of the closed end 18a of the housing 18 and is connectable, by soldering for instance, to a circuit, not shown, in the casing of the computer. The memory card 16 is equipped with a card type package 32 with a built-in module (not shown) including a ROM and RAM. Further, the memory card 16 has the aforementioned I/O connector 34 mounted at one longitudinal end face 32a of the package 32 and connectable to the pins 30 on the header 20, and one pair of latching mechanisms 36, 36 provided at the other longitudinal end face 32b of the package 32 and adapted to latch the memory card 16 to the header device 14. The package 32 has slits 38 provided on both the side portions of the longitudinal end face 32b of the package 32 along an x-axis direction and latch windows 40 provided one at each of a pair of shorter opposite side walls 32c in a direction perpendicular to the end face 32b so as to correspond to the latch window 26 of the housing 18 of the header device 14. Fig. 5 is an enlarged, exploded view showing the latching mechanism 36. The latching mechanism 36 has a latch member 42 operated in cooperation with the slit 38 and latch window 40 and a compression metal spring 44 for moving the latch member 42 along the x-axis direction. In place of the compression metal spring 44, use may be made of an elastic plastic member having the same function as that of the metal spring 44. The latch member 42 is comprised of a substantially T-shaped member and has a plate-like member 46 extending in the X-axis direction and a slide member 48 projecting from the plate-like member 46 in the Y-axis direction. Most of the latch member 42 is held in the package 32 except that the slide member 48 projects from the slit 38 in the package 32 and that one end of the plate-like member 46, that is, the latch projection 46a, is projectable out of the latch window 40 in the package 32. The slide member 48 extends from the end face 32b of the package 32 so as to be readily operated by the fingers of the operator. The plate-like member 46 has a guide hole 46c extending approximately from one end 46a to the other end 46b thereof. A pin, not shown, is inserted into the guide hole 46c inside the package 32. The end 46b of the plate-like member 46 is normally urged toward the latch window 40 by the spring 44 provided inside the package 32. With the spring 44 in a stretched position, the end 46a of the plate-like member 46 is projected out of the latch window 40 of the package 32. With the spring 44 in a compressed position, the end 46a of the plate-like member 46 is not projected out of the latch window 40. The stretching and compression of the spring 44 can be adjusted by slidably moving the slide member 48 along the slit 38 and guide hole 46c. The slit 38 and latch window 40 can be formed without increasing the dimension of the package 32. That is, the dimension of the memory card 16 is 85.60 mm long x 54.00 mm wide as in the case of, for example, a normal memory card. In contrast with the normal memory card, the 1/0 connector 34 is mounted at the longitudinal end face 32a side of the package 32 so as to correspond to a larger number of pins, such as 2 x 60 pins. The operation steps of inserting the memory card 16 into the card system 12 set out above are as set out below, provided that the header device 14 is mounted in the computer casing. (i) The memory card 16 is inserted via the open end 18b. (ii) The 1/0 connector 34 of the memory card 16 is connected to the header 20 of the header device 14 by slidably moving the slide members 48, 48 along the slit 38, by the fingers of the operator, in a direction to compress the spring 44. (iii) After the 1/0 connector 34 has been positively connected to the corresponding header 20, the slide members 48, 48 are manually released. As a result, the end 46a of the plate-like member 46 is projected, under the influence of the spring 44, out of the latch window 40 in the package 32 and snap-fitted to the latch window 26 in the housing 18 of the header 14. This can be ascertained with a clicking sound. By the aforementioned operation, the memory card 16 is connected to the header device 14 so that the memory card 16 is latched to the header device 14. Withdrawing the memory card away from the header device is achieved as will be set out below. (i) The memory card 16 is unlatched from the header device 14 by slidably moving the slide members 48, 48, by the fingers of the operator, in a direction to compress the spring 44 along the slit 38. (ii) After the memory card 16 has been unlatched from the header device 14, the memory card 16 is withdrawn away from the header 20 of the header device 14. By so doing it is possible to completely withdraw the memory card 16 out of the header device 14. Figs. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that (1) in place of the direct manual operation of the latching mechanism 36, use is made of an elongated hand tool 50 for operating a corresponding latching mechanism 36 from outside the computer casing and that (2) the latch member 42 in the latching mechanism 36 is design-modified due to the use of the elongated hand tool 50. Except for the aforementioned differences (1) and (2) , the card system 12 is similar to that of the first embodiment, unless stated otherwise, and any duplicate explanation as well as the disclosure of the associated drawing is, therefore, omitted for brevity's sake. The elongated hand tool 50 is comprised of a substantially W-shaped means made of plastic or other elastic materials. A taper-like projection 52 is provided at each end of the elongated hand tool 50, noting that the respective taper-like projections 52 serve as a substitute for the operator' s fingers. As shown in Fig. 7, slide members 48 of a pair of latch members (only one member shown) 42, 42 in the second embodiment are provided such that, with a latch projection 46a projected out of a latch window 40, a clearance 54 is created between the slide member 48 and the end edge 38a of slit 38 which is situated on the latch window 40 side. The clearance 54 has such a size as to allow the insertion of one taper-like projection 52 of the elongated hand tool 50. According to the second embodiment, since the slide members 48 need not be operated by the operator's fingers, the slide member 48 is not necessarily projected via an end face 32b of the package 32. Since the end face 32b of the package 32 is flat and free from any projection, a memory card 16 is properly protected from any shock involved. The latching of the memory card to a header 20 with the use of the hand tool 50 will be set out below. (i) The taper-like projections 52, that is, both the ends, of the hand tool 50 are inserted into the corresponding clearances 54 defined relative to the slits 38. (ii) The hand tool 50 has its ends pressed inwardly toward each other as indicated by the arrows 56 in Fig. 6. As a result, latch members 42 are moved against the springs 44 so that the latch projections 46a are retracted via the corresponding windows 40 of the package 32. In this state, the package 32 is gripped by the hand tool 50. (iii) In the state (i) , the memory card 16 is pushed, by the hand tool 50, toward the header 20 side so that the 1/0 connector 34 of the memory card 16 is connected to the header 20. (iv) When the taper-like projections 52 of the hand tool 50 are withdrawn via the clearances 54, the latch members 42 are moved under the influence of the springs 44 so that the latch projections 46a are latched to the latch windows 18 in a housing 18 of a header device 14. By so doing, the memory card 16 is latched to the header device 14. When the memory card 16 is unlatched from the header device 14, it is only necessary to withdraw the memory card 16 out of the header device 14 after the same operation as set out in step (i) has been done. It is particularly useful to use the hand tool in the case where access of human fingers to a narrow inner space-of a computer casing is difficult. A card type data processing medium 16 for the card system 12 of the present invention is restricted neither to a memory card with a ROM or a RAM package built therein nor to a memory card having such a dimension and pin number as set out above. In place of the memory card, use may be made of a card incorporating therein a package having, for example, an interface circuit, a hybrid circuit with various electronic component parts for data processing, etc. The I/O connector 34 may be mounted on a shorter side, instead of a longitudinal side, of the memory card 16. The header device 14 may be mounted not only on the computer casing but also a casing of a peripheral unit for the computer system. In the card system of the present invention, the header device 14 and card 16 can of course be separately manufactured. According to the card system of the present invention, when the connector of the card type data processing medium is connected to the header of the header device, the package of the card type data processing medium is latched to the housing of the header device. Therefore, a highly reliable connection can be achieved when comparison is made with a system where a connection state is achieved by only a holding power between the connector and the header. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents .

Claims: What is claimed is : 1. A card system comprising: a card-type data processing medium having first and second end sections in a direction in which the data processing medium is transferred and holding electronic component parts for data processing and a connector mounted at the first end section thereof; a header device having a housing with first and second ends in the transferring direction of the data processing medium and having an insertion inlet on the second end to receive the data processing medium and a header mechanically and electrically connected to the connector of the data processing medium; there being latch holes provided, near the second end of the housing of the header device, along a direction transverse to the transferring direction of the data processing medium, and latch members provided near the second end section of the package of the data processing medium and releasably latched to the associated latch holes in the housing of the header device when the connector of the data processing medium is connected to the header of the header device. 2. A card-type data processing medium adapted to be releasably latched to a header device wherein the header device comprises a housing having first and second ends in a direction in which the card-type data processing medium is transferred, said housing having an insertion inlet on the second end to receive the data processing medium and having latch holes provided, near the second end of the housing, along a direction transverse to the transferring direction of the data processing medium, and a header mounted on the first end of the housing, said card-type data processing medium comprising: a card-like package having first and second end sections in the transferring direction of the data processing medium, said package holding electronic component parts for data processing and adapted to be received into the corresponding insertion inlet; a connector mounted on the first end section of the package; and latch members provided near the second end section of the package and releasably latched to latch holes in the housing of the header device when the connector of the data processing medium is connected to the header of the header device. 3. A header device associated with a card-type data processing medium to releasably connect the data processing medium to the header device, wherein the card type data processing medium comprises a card-like package having first and second end sections in a direction in which the data processing medium is transferred and holding electronic component parts for data processing, a connector mounted on the first end section of the package, and latch members provided near the second end section of the package, said header device comprising: a housing having first and second ends and having an insertion inlet on the second end to receive the data processing medium; latch holes provided, near the second end, along a direction transverse to the transferring direction of the data processing medium; and a header mounted on the first end of the housing, the latch holes being associated with the latch members of the data processing medium so that the latch members are releasably latched to the latch holes when the connector of the card-type data processing medium is connected to the header of the header device. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 16 February 1994 (16.02.94); original claims 1-3 replaced by amended claims 1 new claims 4-15 added; other claims unchanged (5 pages)] " 1. A card system comprising: a card-type data processing medium having an outer casing that houses electronic component parts for data processing, the outer casing having substantially parallel 5 opposite side edges and a connector disposed within a forward end thereof; a header device having a pair of opposing side walls spaced at an interval substantially equal to a width of said card-type data processing medium and an array of 10 contacts disposed at one end of said opposing side walls, the other end of said opposing side walls defining an insertion port for receiving said card-type data processing medium, at least one of the opposing side walls of said header device having a latch hole extending at least partially therethrough 15 in a direction substantially transverse to the lengthwise extension of said at least one side wall; and a latch member movably mounted within the casing of said card-type data processing medium and having a latch projection that protrudes outward from said casing through an 20 opening in one of the side edges thereof when said latch member is moved toward said one side edge in a width direction of said casing, the latch projection being adapted to releasably engage the latch hole in the side wall of said header device when the card-type data processing medium is 25 inserted into said header device. 2. A card system as recited in claim 1 wherein the latch member is disposed within said casing proximate a rearward end thereof, and wherein the rearward end of said 0 casing has an elongated slit formed therein proximate the latch member and extending in the direction of movement of the latch member, and further wherein the latch member has a slide member integrally formed therewith that extends outward from said casing through said slit, whereby an operator of 5 the card system may operate the slide member to move the latch member in the width direction of the card-type data processing medium. 3. A card system as recited in claim 2 further comprising a hand tool having a projection adapted engage said slide member through said slit for operating said slide member to move the latch member in the width direction of the card-type data processing medium. 4. A card system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a spring disposed within said casing and operatively coupled to said latch member to bias said latch member toward said one side edge such that in the absence of an external force applied to the latch member, the latch projection protrudes through the opening in said one side edge of the casing. 5. A card system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the opposing side walls of said header device has a latch hole extending at least partially therethrough in a direction substantially transverse to the lengthwise extension of the respective side wall, and wherein the card system comprises a pair of latch members movably mounted within the casing of said card-type data processing medium on opposite sides thereof, each of the latch members having a latch projection that protrudes outward from said casing through an opening in a respective side edge of the casing when the latch member is moved toward that side edge, the latch projection of each latch member being adapted to releasably engage with the latch hole in the corresponding side wall of the header device. 6. A card system as recited in claim 5 further comprising a pair of springs disposed within said casing, each spring being operatively coupled to a respective latch member to bias that latch member toward its respective side edge of the casing. 7. A card system as recited in claim 5 wherein the latch members are disposed within said casing proximate a rearward end thereof, and wherein the rearward end of said casing has a pair of elongated slits formed therein, each slit being formed proximate a respective one of the latch members and extending in the direction of movement of the latch member, and further wherein each latch member has a slide member integrally formed therewith that extends outward from said casing through a respective slit, whereby an operator of the card system may operate the slide members in order to move the respective latch members in the width direction of the card-type data processing medium. 8. A card system as recited in claim 7 further comprising a hand tool having a pair of flexible projections spaced at an interval substantially equal to the distance between the respective slits formed in the rearward end of the casing of the card-type data processing medium, each projection being adapted to engage a respective one of said slide members through its corresponding slit in the rearward end of the casing, the projections being manually operable to flex inwardly toward each other thereby moving the respective latch members away from their respective side edges of the casing to facilitate insertion and removal of the card-type data processing medium from the header device. 9. A card system as recited in claim 8 wherein the hand tool has a substantially W-shaped configuration. 10. A card-type data processing medium adapted to be releasably latched to a header device wherein the header device comprises a pair of opposing side walls spaced at an interval substantially equal to a width of said card-type data processing medium and an array of contacts disposed at one end of said opposing side walls, the other end of said opposing side walls defining an insertion port for receiving said card-type data processing medium, said card-type data processing medium comprising: an outer casing that houses electronic component parts for data processing, said outer casing having substantially parallel opposite side edges and a connector disposed within a forward end thereof, one of said side edges having an opening; and a latch member movably mounted within said casing and having a latch projection that protrudes outward from said casing through the opening in the side edge thereof when said latch member is moved toward the side edge in a width direction of said casing, the latch projection being adapted to releasably engage a latch hole formed in a corresponding side wall of said header device when the card-type data processing medium is inserted into said header device. 11. A card-type data processing medium as recited in claim 10 wherein the latch member is disposed within said casing proximate a rearward end thereof, and wherein the rearward end of said casing has an elongated slit formed therein proximate the latch member and extending in the direction of movement of the latch member, and further wherein the latch member has a slide member integrally formed therewith that extends outward from said casing through said slit, whereby an operator of the card system may operate the slide member to move the latch- member in the width direction of the card-type data processing medium. 12. A card-type data processing medium as recited in claim 10 further comprising a spring disposed within said casing and operatively coupled to said latch member to bias said latch member toward the side edge of said casing such that in the absence of an external force applied to the latch member, the latch projection will protrude through the opening in the side edge of the casing. 13. A card-type data processing medium wherein both side edges of said casing have an opening formed therei and wherein the card-type data processing medium comprises a pair of latch members movably mounted within said casing, each latch member being disposed within the casing proximate a respective side edge of the casing and having a latch projection that protrudes outward from said casing through the opening in the respective side edge when the latch member is moved toward that side edge, the latch projection of each latch member being adapted to releasably engage with a corresponding latch hole formed in a respective side wall of the header device. 14. A card-type data processing medium as recited in claim 13 further comprising a pair of springs disposed within said casing, each spring being operatively coupled to a respective latch member to bias that latch member toward its respective side edge of the casing. 15. A card-type data processing medium as recited in claim 14 wherein the latch members are disposed within said casing proximate a rearward end thereof, and wherein the rearward end of said casing has a pair of elongated slits formed therein, each slit being formed proximate a respective one of the latch members and extending in the direction of movement of the latch member, and further wherein each latch member has a slide member integrally formed therewith that extends outward from said casing through a respective slit, whereby an operator may operate the slide members in order to move the respective latch members in the width direction of the casing. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 In response to the International Searching Authority's (ISA) Search Report, Applicant has amended the claims of this international application. Original claims 1-3 have been replaced and new claims 4-15 have been added. Applicant respectfully submits that, as amended, claims 1-15 patentably define over the prior art cited in the ISA Search Report . None of the cited references teach or suggest a card- type data processing medium having "a latch member movably mounted wi thin the casing of said card- type data processing medium and having a latch projection that protrudes outward from said casing through an opening in one of the side edges thereof . . . " Claim 1, lines 17-20 (emphasis added) ; See also Claim 10, lines 15-17.

Inventors: LWEE NAI HOCK, LWEE, NAI, HOCK
Applicants: BERG TECH INC, LWEE NAI HOCK, BERG TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H05K7
IPC codes: G06K17, H01R12, H01R13, H01R43, H05K5, H05K7