PC card connector

Abstract: A plurality of contact elements (5) extend through a support member (4) and having a connection portion (5A) on the PC card side and a wiring portion on the side opposite to the PC card side. The wiring portions (5B) are connected to corresponding signal circuits of a connection board (7). The ground member (6) has on the non-PC card side a connection leg (6A) connected to a ground circuit of the connection board 7, which is designed to be fitted into an intermediate connector 9 for connection with a circuit of the equipment.

Description: The present invention relates to PC card connectors. PC card connectors receive PC cards. Contact elements of the PC card connectors for contact with contact elements of the PC cards have wiring portions which are bent to project under the housing. When the PC card connectors are mounted on circuit boards of equipment, the wiring portions are soldered to corresponding conductors of the circuit boards. Such a connector is described in U.S. Patent 5,288,247. As shown in Fig. 7, a housing 51 includes a pair of guide sections 52 for receiving a PC card P in a direction of A. A rear wall 53 of the housing supports a plurality of contact elements 54 and 55 in two tiers. The contact elements 54 and 55 have contact portions 54A and 55A on the PC card side and are bent downwardly at a rear side with respect to the rear wall 53 to form wiring portions 54B and 55B. The wiring portions 54B and 55B are arranged in a zigzag fashion for connection with a circuit board. Guide holes 56A of a guide board 56 guide the wiring portions 54B and 55B to accurate positions. A plate-like ground member 57 is provided over the housing 51. The left portion of the ground plate 57 is folded back to form a contact portion 57A. The contact portion 57A is cantilevered and has a spring property so that when a PC card is inserted, it makes a resilient contact with a ground portion of the PC card. The ground member 57 is bent so as to cover the rear wall 53 on opposite sides and has a connection leg 57B for connection with a ground circuit of equipment. As shown by phantom line in Fig. 7, U.S. Patent 5,288,247 also discloses that the ground member 57 is bent downwardly at the right end so as to cover the wiring portions 54B and 55B of the contact elements 54 and 55. Thus, the contact elements 54 and 55 are shielded by the ground member 57. In the above conventional PC card connector, the ground member 57 is placed over the contact elements 54 and 55 to provide shielding effects. When the ground member has the portion 57C as shown by phantom line, the shielding effects are enhanced. However, the wiring portions are arranged in a zigzag fashion for facilitating the soldering operation of a large number of contact elements which are closely packed. Even if the ground member 57 has the shield portion 57C, the wiring portions 54B, especially at the left side, are spaced apart from the shield portion 57C, having poor shielding effects. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a PC card connector having excellent shielding effects on the wiring portions of contact elements to thereby meet high speed transmission requirements. This object is met by the invention claimed in Claim 1. A PC card connector according to the pre-characterised part of claim 1 is described in FR-A-2558975. However, this prior connector does not disclose a ground member. Also, the prior connector has vertically bent contact elements and a horizontal connection board, quite the opposite of the present invention. Finally, the prior connector has no intermediate connector for connection to an external circuit. It is another object of the invention to provide a removable PC card connector capable of being plugged in and out of a circuit board. It is still another object of the invention to provide a PC card connector capable of receiving a plurality of PC cards. This object is met by the invention claimed in Claim 2. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a PC card connector according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an essential part of the connector of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a ground member and a connection board of the connector of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an ejector lever and a plate of the connector of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a PC card connector according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a connection board according to still another embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional connector. In Fig. 1, the connector 1 has a pair of guide sections 2 made from an insulating material and extend in parallel to each other. A pair of guide channels 2A extend in the guide sections 2 so as to face each other for guiding a PC card which is inserted upwardly from a lower position in the figure. Mounting faces 3 extend outwardly from the guide sections 2 in a plane parallel to the sheet for placing a number of connectors one upon another. Through holes 3A are provided in the mounting faces 3 for receiving screws to unite the connectors. A support member 4 of an insulating material links the guide sections 2 on the rear portion (upper portion in the figure). A number of straight contact elements 5 extend through the support member 4 and have a connection portion 5A for connection to a PC card and a wiring portion 5B on the side opposite to the connection portion. The contact elements 5 are disposed in two tiers as shown in Fig. 2. A ground member 6 is provided on the support member 4. The ground member 6 is made from a substantially flat metal sheet as shown in Figs. 1-2 and extend across the guide sections 2 and forwardly beyond the connection portions 5A and rearwardly up to the wiring portions 5B. A number of resilient ground tabs 6A extend diagonally rearwardly from the front portion of the ground member 6 by means of C-shaped cutouts. See also Fig. 2. Leg portions 6B extend rearwardly from the ground member 6 as shown in Fig. 3. As best shown in Fig. 2, a bend portion 6C is provided between the support member 4 and the leg portions 6B so that the leg portions 6B become close to the wiring portions 5B. The wiring portions 5B of the contact elements 5 and the leg portions 6B of the ground member 6 are soldered to the signal and ground circuits, respectively, of a connection board 7 which extends in a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the wiring portions 5B and the leg portions 6B. The signal and ground circuits may be formed on both sides of the connection board 7. Where they are formed on one side, it is preferred that the ground circuit is formed between the signal circuits. Where the signal and ground circuits are formed on different sides, it is preferred that the ground circuit is formed over the substantially entire surface. The connection board 7 is plugged in an intermediate connector 9. Contact pads of the signal and ground circuits are disposed on the lower portion of the connection board 7 at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the sheet in Fig. 2. Contact elements 10 are arranged in the intermediate connector 9 at intervals corresponding to those of the connection board 7 for contact with the contact pads. The contact elements 10 are disposed in an insulation housing 11 and have a U-shaped portion for receiving the contact pads of the connection board 7. Leg portions 10A of the contact elements 10 extends laterally beyond the housing 11 for connection to a predetermined circuit of a circuit board when the intermediate connector is disposed in a predetermined position on a circuit board of equipment. Referring back to Fig. 1, a PC card ejector includes a guide cylinder 12 provided along one of the guide sections 2, a push button 13 disposed in the guide cylinder 12, and an ejector bar 14 connected to the push button 13 such that when the push button 13 is depressed, the ejector bar 14 is moved rearwardly. An ejector lever 15 is rotatably connected to the ejector bar 14. The ejector lever 15 extends under the support member 4 and rotates about a stud 16 which extends downwardly from the support member 4. In Fig. 4, when the ejector lever 14 is pushed in a direction A, it rotates about the stud 16 in a direction B. A slit 17 is provided in an end portion of the ejector lever 15 while a movable plate 18 is provided for sliding movement under the support member 4 along the guide sections 2 in directions C1 and C2 in Fig. 2 or 4. An engaging tab 19 extends downwardly from the central portion of the movable plate 18 for engagement with the slit 17 of the ejector lever 15. A pair of pushing tabs 20 extend upwardly from both end portions of the movable plate 18 for abutment with the leading end of an inserted PC card. When the ejector lever 15 rotates in the direction B, the pushing tabs 20 are moved in the direction C1 by means of the engaging tab 19. As a result, the connection between the PC card and the connector is released so that the PC card can be removed. In Fig. 2, another connector 31 of the same type as the connector 1 is provided under the connector 1 to form a two-tier structure. The wiring portions 35 of contact elements in the lower connector 31 are shorter than those of the upper connector 1 and are connected to a separate connecting board 37 which is shorter than the connection board 7 for the upper connector 1. The intermediate connector 9 has other contact elements 40 for receiving the connection board 37. A protruded base 36 extends downwardly from a housing of the lower connector 31 for mounting the connector on a circuit board in cooperation with the intermediate connector 9 and assuring connection of the wiring portions 10A to circuitry of the circuit board. The connectors 1 and 31 for connecting PC cards to the circuitry of equipment are shielded by the ground plate 6 and the connection boards 7 and 37, respectively. Since the signal circuit is close to the ground circuit on the connection board, very effective shielding is obtained. Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 5 wherein two completely identical connectors 41 are used to eliminate the necessity for use of connectors having different wiring portions as shown in Fig. 2. In addition, it is sufficient to provide only one common connection board 42. It follows that an intermediate connector 43 is simplified and that contact elements 44 can be arranged in a row. As shown by phantom line in Fig. 5, another ground member 45 is provided under the lower connector 41 to provide complete shielding for the two connectors in cooperation with the upper ground members 6. By making the connection board of the multiple layers, it is possible to further enhance the shield effects. In Fig. 6, a connection board 51 is made up of an intermediate layer 52 and a pair of outer layers 53 and 54 provided on opposite sides of the intermediate layer 52. The intermediate and outer layers 52, 53, and 54 are made from an insulation material. Signal circuits 55 are formed between the outer layers 53 and 54 and the intermediate layer 52 while ground circuits or surfaces 56 are formed on the outside of the outer layers 53 and 54. The signal circuits 55 are connected to contact portions 55A which are formed on the outside of the outer layers and brought into contact with contact elements 57 of the intermediate connector. Contact portions 56A of the ground surfaces 56 extend downwardly between the connection portions 55A of the signal circuits 55 and come into contact with contact elements 58 of the intermediate connector. The ground surfaces 56 cover almost all of the outer layers, thus providing better shielding effects than the above embodiment. As described above, according to the invention, the connection portions of contact elements for a PC card connector are brought into contact with the connection board, which is plugged in the intermediate connector mounted on a circuit board of equipment so that the ground and signal circuits of the connection board are so close to each other as to provide good shielding effects and high speed transmission. In addition, by plugging out of the intermediate connector it is easy to repair the circuitry. A number of identical connectors can be placed one upon another, and only one common connection board is necessary. The multiple layered structure provides better shielding effects.

Claims: A PC card connector for a PC card having a plurality of first contact elements such that contact portions of said first contact elements are arranged in a front area of said PC card and a ground portion provided at a front portion of said PC card, the connector comprising: a housing having a pair of guide sections (2) for guiding opposite sides of said PC card; a support section (4) extending between said guide sections in a rear area of said housing; a plurality of second contact elements (5) extending through said support section for contact with said first contact elements of the PC card; each of said second contact elements (5) having a contact portion (5A) on a first side of said support section where said PC card is inserted and a wiring portion (5B) on a second side opposite to said first side; and a connection board (7) having a signal circuit connected to said wiring portions; characterised in that: the second contact elements (5) are substantially straight in the insertion direction of the PC card; the connection board (7) is provided on the second side of the support section substantially at right angles to the second contact elements, a ground member (6) is supported by the housing so as to extend along the second contact elements, the ground member having a leg portion (6B) on the second side of the support section connected to a ground circuit of the connection board; and an intermediate connector (9) is provided for connecting the connection board to an external circuit. A PC card connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one further housing disposed upon the firstmentioned housing for receiving a further PC card, the further housing having an associated support section, ground member and plurality of second contact elements as specified for the firstmentioned housing; the said connection board (42) being common to both the firstmentioned and second housings. A PC card connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one further housing disposed upon the firstmentioned housing for receiving a further PC card, the further housing having an associated support section, ground member, connection board (37) and plurality of second contact elements as specified for the firstmentioned housing; the said connection boards (7, 37) of the firstmentioned and further housings being disposed at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the second contact elements. A PC card connection according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the or each connection board (7, 37) comprises an intermediate layer (52) on which a signal circuit (55) is provided and an outer layer (54) having an outside surface on which a ground circuit (56) is provided, said outside surface also having a contact portion (55A), for connection with contact elements of said intermediate connector, to which said signal circuit (55) is connected.

Inventors: TOMIOKA SHOICHI, TOMIOKA, SHOICHI
Applicants: HIROSE ELECTRIC CO LTD, HIROSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H01R12
IPC codes: H01R12, H05K7, H01R13, H05K5, G06K7, G06K17