Abstract:
A card edge connector for mating with a memory card includes a longitudinal insulative housing, a plurality of contact terminals received in the insulative housing, at least one pair of ejectors and two detect pins having spring and being moveable relatively each other. The ejectors are moveable between locking station and release station. One of the detect pins defines an engaging portion protruding into an inserting slot of the insulative housing for engaging with a bottom edge of the memory card and pushing the detect pins to connect disconnect with each other. Furthermore LED is combined with the detect pins for testing if the memory card is inserted into the connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to card edge connectors, more particularly to card edge connectors for mating with a memory card. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Card edge connectors are widely employed in computer device to receive a memory card, such as serial DDR3 and serial DDR4. The connector usually has an elongated housing, a plurality of contacts retained in the housing for electrically connecting a corresponding memory card, and two ejectors at both ends thereof for locking the memory card. The housing has a pair of sidewalls and a central slot for receiving the memory card. Each side wall defines a plurality of passageways extending therethrough. The passageways communicate with the center slot. The contacts are arranged in two rows retained in the passageways of two side walls respectively, and the contacts extend into the center slot to sandwich the memory card and ensure the electronic contact with the card. The memory card has a pair of notches at a middle position of two side edges thereof. The ejectors has a lock portion at an upper side thereof for locking the notches respectively to keep a stable working state, and an ejecting portion at a lower side thereof for ejecting the memory card to a convenient replacement. 
     With the development of the electronic industry, the number of the gold fingers increases to broaden the signal transmission channel and improve the signal transmission speed. Of course, the number of the contacts in the card edge connector increase codependent. When the memory card is inserted into the connector, it need overcome a big insertion force to insert the memory card into the central slot, therefore, we could not be aware of whether the card is in place or not, and it always makes inconvenience and confuse for users. 
     Hence, an improved card edge connector is desired to overcome the above problems. 
     BRIEF 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 mating with a memory card according to the present invention, comprises: an elongate insulative housing defining a pair of opposed side walls, a central slot between the side walls; a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing and each having a mating portion extending into the central slot; and at least a ejector rotatably attached to the housing, and the ejector is moveable between locking station and release station; the connector at least has a first detect pin and a second detect pin, and the detecting contacts have spring and are moveable relatively each other. The first detect pin and the second detect pin define a first contact portion and a second contact portion respectively, and the first detect pin or the second detect pin defines an engaging portion protruding into an inserting slot of the insulative housing for engaging with a bottom edge of the memory card and pushing the first and the second contact portion to connect disconnect with each other. Furthermore LED is combined with the detecting contacts for testing if the memory card is inserted in the connector or not. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view and a partially exploded view of a card edge connector according to a first aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially top view of the card edge connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pair of detecting contacts of the card edge connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the card edge connector taken along a broken line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section showing a memory card inserted into the card edge connector; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross section view of the card edge connector taken along a broken line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view and a partially exploded view of a card edge connector according to a second aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the card edge connector shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a pair of detecting contacts of the card edge connector shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross section view of the card edge connector taken along a broken line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section showing a memory card inserted into the card edge connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , according to a first aspect of the present invention, a card edge connector  100  is adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown) and then engage with a memory card  200  for interconnecting between both thereof. The card edge connector  100  comprises an elongate insulative housing  1 , a plurality of contacts  2  retained in the insulative housing  1 , a pair of ejectors  3  retained on two opposed ends of the insulative housing  1 , and at least a pair of detecting contacts  4  retained in the insulative housing  1 . 
     The insulative housing  1  has a pair of opposed sidewalls  11  extending upwardly from a bottom wall and located in a width direction thereof and a pair of tower portions  12  upwards integrally protruding from both ends of the sidewalls  11 , thereby forming an inserting slot  101  for receiving the memory card  200 . The tower portion  12  has a receiving opening for receiving the ejector or latch  3 . The ejector  3  is mounted into the receiving opening and includes a base portion  30 , a pair of rotating shafts  31  protruding from both sides of the base portion  30  and pivoting in a pair of shaft hole (not shown) formed in the tower portion  12 , a pair of protrusions  301  formed on both sides of the base portion  30 , a pushing portion  32  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) extending towards the insertion slot  101  from one end of the base portion  30  in the opening station for pushing the memory card  200  outwardly, an operating portion  33  disposed at distal end of the ejector  3  and a locking portion  34  disposed at opposite end of the operating portion  33  and extending towards the insertion slot  101  from another end of the base portion  30  for locking the memory card  200 . 
     The insulative housing  1  defines a plurality of receiving grooves  110  for receiving the contacts  2  therein. The contacts  2  are arranged in two arrays along a longitudinal direction, while opposite to each other in the width direction, respectively being disposed at both sidewalls  11 . Each of the contacts  2  includes a retaining portion  21  retained in the insulative housing  1 , a contacting arm  22  extending into the inserting slot  101  upwardly from one end of the retaining portion  21  and having a protecting portion  221  engaging on receiving grooves  110  for limiting the contacting arm  22  moving overly and a mating portion  222  for contacting with the memory card and a soldering tail  23  extending outwards from another end of the retaining portion  21  for being soldered to the PCB. The detecting contacts  4  are retained in the bottom wall of the insulative housing  1  and protruding upwardly into the inserting slot  101 . According to the present aspect of the invention, the detecting contacts  4  are distributed near the tower portion  12  and located at outside of the contacts  2  for optimizing the space and do not need enlarge the present card edge connector  100  to provide extra space for the detecting contacts  4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the pair of detecting contacts  4  includes a first detecting pin  41  and a second detecting pin  42  both received in a corresponding receiving slot  111  formed in the insulative housing  1  and passes through the bottom wall and communicates with the inserting slot  101  upwardly. The first detecting pin  41  and the second detecting pin  42  are both bended from metal strips and are spring for being capable of engaging or disengaging with each other. The first detecting pin  41  includes a retaining portion  411  received in the insulative housing  1 , a soldering portion  412  extending outwards from one end of the retaining portion  411  for being soldered to the PCB, a bending portion  413  bending from the another end of the retaining portion  411  and a first contact portion  414  extending from the bending portion  413  for contacting with the second detecting pin  42 . The second detecting pin  42  includes a retaining portion  421  received in the insulative housing  1 , a soldering portion  422  extending outwards from one end of the retaining portion  421  for being soldered to the PCB, an engaging portion  423  bending from the another end of the retaining portion  421  and extending into the inserting slot  101  for being pressed by the memory card  200 , and a second contact portion  424  extending from the engaging portion  423  for contacting with the first detecting pin  41 . 
     The bending portion  413  of the first detecting pin  41  presents as a reverse U shape. The receiving slot  111  includes a groove  112  formed in the sidewall  11  of the insulative housing  1  for receiving the bending portion  413 , and a stopper portion  113  positioned against the bending portion  413  for restricting the bending portion  413  in the positioning groove  112  and protecting the first detecting pin  41  from tilting for an excessive elastic deformation. The first contact portion  414  of the first detecting pin  41  is below the second contact portion  424  of the second detecting pin  42 , and they are disengaging with each other before the memory card  200  being inserted. The second contact portion  424  is spring for being capable of deforming upwards, and it abuts below the stopper portion  113  which could protect the second contact portion  424  from an excessive elastic deformation upwards. 
     The engaging portion  423  and the second contact portion  424  of the second detecting pin  42  are higher than the bottom surface  114  of the inserting slot  101  and the first contact portion  414  of the first detecting pin  41  is positioned below the inserting slot  101  to provide enough space for the second detecting pin  42  floating. The engaging portion  423  is higher than the second contact portion  424  for engaging with the memory card  200 . When the memory card  200  is inserted into the inserting slot  101 , the memory card  200  pushes downwards the engaging portion  423  which moves and drives the second contact portion  424  engage with the first contact portion  414 . 
     The PCB defines an LED light which electrically connects with the first detecting pin  41  and the second detecting pin  42 , thereby forming a series circuit or a parallel circuit. If it is a series circuit, the first detecting pin  41  and the second detecting pin  42  form a switch controlling the LED light off or on. When the first detecting pin  41  and the second detecting pin  42  are connected, the LED light is turn on for telling user the memory card  200  is inserted. Otherwise the LED light is turn off for telling user the memory card  200  is taken out. If it is a parallel circuit, the first detecting pin  41  and the second detecting pin  42  are 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 to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , according to the present aspect of the invention, the memory card  200  could be a DDR4 card. Different from the DDR3 card, the DDR4 card (not shown) has more terminals retained at a lower edge thereof for extending the memory space and improving the transmission rate, and the middle part of the lower edge thereof protrudes from the lower edge for a lower inserting resistance force. According to the present aspect of the invention, the both ends of the insulative housing  1  in the longitudinal direction form two step portions  102  at the bottom of the inserting slot  101 . The step portions  102  mate with the recesses (not shown) formed on the bottom edge of the DDR4 card, and prevent the DDR4 card from shocking or vibrating. The engaging portion  423  of the second detecting pin is higher than the step portion  102  to make sure the memory card still could press the engaging portion  423 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-11 , according to a second aspect of the invention, a card edge connector  300  comprises an elongate insulative housing  5 , a plurality of contacts  6  retained in the insulative housing  5 , a pair of ejectors  7  retained on two opposed ends of the insulative housing  5 , and at least a pair of detecting contacts  8  retained in the insulative housing  5 . The structure and the position is different from the first aspect of the invention, and description will be made to describe the difference in detail. 
     The insulative housing  5  has an inserting slot  501  for receiving the memory card  400 , and a key  51  protruding into the inserting slot  501  for engaging with a notch (not shown) at bottom of the memory card  400 . The pair of detecting contacts  8  positioned adjacent to the key  51  and retained in the bottom wall of the insulative housing  5  for saving the space the pair of detecting contacts  8  occupied. 
     The pair of detecting contacts  8  includes a first detecting pin  81  and a second detecting pin  82  both received in a receiving slot  52  of the insulative housing  5 . The receiving slot  52  communicates with the inserting slot  501  for realizing the contact between the pair of detecting contacts  8  and the memory card  400 , and it defines a stopper portion  511  positioned against the first detecting pin  81  for restricting the movement of the first detecting pin  81 . The first detecting pin  81  formed as a reverse L shape, and it includes a soldering portion extending outwards from one end of the detecting pin  81  for being soldered to a PCB (not shown) and a first contact portion  811  from the another end of the detecting pin  81  for contacting with the second detecting pin  82 . The second detecting pin  82  is similar to the one mentioned in the first aspect of the invention, and it includes a soldering portion extending outwards from one end thereof for being soldered to the PCB, an engaging portion  821  bending from the another end thereof and extending into the inserting slot  501  for being pressed by the memory card  400 , and a second contact portion  822  extending from the engaging portion  821  for an electronic contact with the first contact portion  811 . The second contact portion  822  is spring for being capable of deforming downwards and abutting below the first contact portion  811 . The first contact portion  811  protects the second contact portion  822  from an excessive elastic deformation upwards. 
     The first contact portion  811  and the second contact portion  822  contact with each other before the memory card  400  is inserted into the inserting slot  501 . The second contact portion  822  is positioned below the first contact portion  811 , and it is convenient for the second contact portion  811  leave the first contact portion  811  with the engaging portion  821  when the engaging portion  821  is pressed. The engaging portion  821  of the second detecting pin  82  is higher than the bottom surface  502  of the inserting slot  501  to provide enough space for the second detecting pin  82  drifting, and the engaging portion  821  is higher than the second contact portion  822  for engaging with the memory card  400 . When the memory card  400  is inserted into the inserting slot  501 , the memory card  400  pushes downwards the engaging portion  821  which moves and drives the second contact portion  822  leave the first contact portion  811 . 
     As the first aspect of the invention, the PCB defines an LED light which electrically connects with the first detecting pin  81  and the second detecting pin  82 , thereby forming a series circuit or a parallel circuit. If it is a series circuit, the first detecting pin  81  and the second detecting pin  82  form a switch controlling the LED light off or on. When the first detecting pin  81  and the second detecting pin  82  are connected, the LED light is turn on for telling user the memory card  400  is not inserted. Otherwise the LED light is turn off for telling user the memory card  400  is inserted. If it is a parallel circuit, the first detecting pin  81  and the second detecting pin  82  are 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. When the first detecting pin  81  and the second detecting pin  82  are connected, the LED light is turn off for telling user the memory card  400  is not inserted. Otherwise the LED light is turn on for telling user the memory card  400  is inserted. 
     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.