Patent Publication Number: US-2010123006-A1

Title: Card reader

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a card reader and more particularly, to such a card reader, which comprises a body with a USB plug and a memory card insertion slot, and an adapter, which is provided with a Micro-USB plug and a Mini-USB plug and connected to a circuit board in the body through a transmission line and receivable with the transmission line in a top accommodation open chamber in the top side of the body. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Following fast development of modern technology, many innovative electronic products have been created and have appeared on the market. In the present digital era, there is variety of electronic products, such as digital TV, digital audio system, MP3, digital camera, electronic dictionary, PDA and the like employ digital technology. Further, many digital products store, fetch or update data by means of a memory card. In order to read data from a memory card, a card reader is necessary. Further, to facilitate carrying, modern electronic products are made having light, thin, short and small characteristics. To minimize the dimension of an electronic product, the internal component parts must be made as small as possible. In consequence, small-sized memory cards are created. 
     Conventional memory cards are numerous, including MMC (MultiMedia Card), CF (Compact Flash Card), SMC (SmartMedia Card), MS (Memory Stick) and SD (Secure Digital Memory Card). Nowadays, many other small-sized cards such as Mini SD, MS Duo and Trans Flash (Micro SD) are commercially available. 
     Further, a card reader is an interface between a memory card and a computer. By means of hot-plug technology, a card reader can rapidly transfer data from a memory card to a computer immediately after its insertion into a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port of the computer. However, conventional card readers commonly have a big size and a heavy weight, and are not convenient for carrying. Due to big size, a conventional card reader cannot be directly connected to the USB port of the computer. A USB cable is necessary when connecting a card reader to a computer. Preparing a USB cable requires extra cost. 
     Further, a regular card reader has only one single connection interface (for example, USB interface) for connection to a matching port of an electronic apparatus. Because the connection interface of a card reader is predetermined, conventional card readers are not expandable. To connect a card reader to an electronic device that does not provide any compatible connection port, an adapter interface device shall be used. It is inconvenient to use and keep a card reader with an adapter. The use of an adapter with a card reader relatively increases the cost. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a card reader that eliminates the aforesaid problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a card reader, which is compatible to different interface formats. It is another object of the present invention to provide a card reader, which is easy and convenient to use. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a card reader, which has a wide application range and significant added value and light, thin, short and small characteristics, attracting consumers to purchase. 
     To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a body, which comprises a top accommodation open chamber formed in the top side, a circuit board mounted in the inside, an insertion slot formed in the rear side for the insertion of an electronic card into connection with the circuit board, and a USB plug extending out of the front side and electrically connected to the circuit board, an adapter, which is receivable in the top accommodation open chamber of the body, comprising a base, a Micro-USB plug extending out of one side of the base, and a Mini-USB plug extending out of an opposite side of the base, and a transmission line, which is receivable with the adapter in the top accommodation open chamber, comprising a first connection terminal electrically connected to the circuit board and a second connection terminal inserted into the base of the adapter and electrically connected with the Micro-USB plug and the Mini-USB plug. 
     Further, the body has a receiving groove and a retaining hole respectively located on front and rear sides of the top accommodation open chamber for the positioning of the Micro-USB plug and the Mini-USB plug respectively when the adapter is mounted into the top accommodation open chamber, avoiding accidental damage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevation of a card reader in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the card reader in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2  when viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 4  is another exploded view of the card reader in accordance with the present invention, showing the design of the insertion slot in the top cover shell and the arrangement of the contact terminals at the circuit board for the connection of an electronic card. 
         FIG. 5  is a cutaway view of the card reader in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing showing an application example of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a card reader in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of a body  1 , an adapter  2  and a transmission line  3 . 
     The body  1  has a top accommodation open chamber  11  in its top side for accommodating the adapter  2 , an inside accommodation chamber  10  defined on the inside, an insertion slot  12  disposed at its one end in communication with the inside accommodation chamber  10  for the insertion of an electronic card  4 , a circuit board  13  mounted in the inside accommodation chamber  10  and carrying related electronic component parts, and a USB plug  15  electrically connected to the circuit board  13  and extending out of the other end of the body  1  opposite to the insertion slot  12 . The body  1  further has a front retaining groove  111  and a rear retaining hole  112  in the front and rear sides of the top accommodation open chamber  11 . Further, the circuit board  13  has a set of contact terminals  14  for the contact of contacts  41  of an electronic card  4  that is inserted into the insertion slot  12 . 
     The adapter  2  has a Micro-USB plug  22  and a Mini-USB plug  23  respectively extending from front and rear ends of its base  21 . When the adapter  2  is mounted into the top accommodation open chamber  11  of the body  1 , the Micro-USB plug  22  and the Mini-USB plug  23  are respectively fitted into the front retaining groove  111  and the rear retaining hole  112  in the top accommodation open chamber  11 , and therefore the adapter  2  is firmly secured in place in the top accommodation open chamber  11 . 
     The transmission line  3  has two connection terminals  31  respectively extended from its two distal ends and respectively electrically connected to the circuit board  13  and the base  21  of the adapter  2 . The connection terminal  31  that is inserted into the base  21  of the adapter  2  is electrically connected with the Micro-USB plug  22  and the Mini-USB plug  23 . 
     The electronic component parts of the circuit board  13  include a first chip adapted to receive and process signals from the adapter  2  and a second chip adapted to receive and process signals from an electronic card  4  that is inserted into the insertion slot  12 . The first chip has electrically connected thereto an antenna and LEDs (light emitting diodes). Further, the body  1  is formed of a top cover shell  1 A and a bottom cover shell  1 B that surround the circuit board  13 . The top accommodation open chamber  11  is formed in the top cover shell  1 A of the body  1 . The circuit board  13  is mounted in the bottom cover shell  1 B of the body  1 . The insertion slot  12  is formed in one end of the bottom cover shell  1 B. Further, a card ejector  16  is mounted in the bottom cover shell  1 B and movable to eject the inserted electronic card  4  out of the inside accommodation chamber  10  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     During installation of the card reader, the contact terminals  14  are installed in the circuit board  13 , and then the USB plug  15  is mounted in the front side of the circuit board  13  and the pins of the USB plug  15  are soldered to respective contacts of the circuit board  13 . Thereafter, one connection terminal  31  of the transmission line  3  is soldered to surface contacts of the circuit board  13 , and then the other connection terminal  31  of the transmission line  3  is inserted into the base  21  of the adapter  2  and respectively electrically soldered to the contact pins of the Micro-USB plug  22  and the contact pins of the Mini-USB plug  23 . After installation of the transmission line  3 , the connection terminal  31  and the adapter  2  show a substantially T-shaped connection configuration. Thereafter, the top cover shell  1 A and bottom cover shell  1 B of the body  1  are fastened together to surround the circuit board  13 , keeping USB plug  15  exposed to the outside of the body  1 . Thereafter, the transmission line  3  is received with the adapter  2  in the top accommodation open chamber  11 . 
     When the adapter  2  is received in the top accommodation open chamber  11  in the top side of the body  1 , the Micro-USB plug  22  and the Mini-USB plug  23  of the adapter  2  are respectively fitted into the front retaining groove  111  and the rear retaining hole  112  in the front and rear sides of the top accommodation open chamber  11 , and therefore the adapter  2  is received in the body  1  convenient for carrying. Because the adapter  2  is receivable in the body  1 , carrying the adapter  2  does not increase the original design dimension of the card reader. Therefore, the card reader has light, thin, short and small characteristics. Further, positioning the Micro-USB plug  22  and the Mini-USB plug  23  in the front retaining groove  111  and the rear retaining hole  112  of the body  1  avoids accidental damage due to protrusion over the body  1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4˜6 , the card reader can be electrically connected to any of a variety of electronic apparatuses  5  for storing data. When in use, an electronic card  4  is inserted into the insertion slot  12 . At this time, the contacts  41  of the electronic card  4  are kept in contact with the contacts  14  of the circuit board  13 . Thereafter, pull the adapter  2  out of the body  1 , and then connect the USB plug  15  of the body  1  or the Micro-USB plug  22  or the Mini-USB plug  23  of the adapter  2  to an electronic apparatus  5 , allowing the electronic apparatus  5  to read data from the electronic card  4  or to store data in the electronic card  4  via the card reader. Further, the electronic apparatus  5  can be a desk computer, notebook computer, PDA, cell phone or multipurpose office machine. The electronic card  4  can be a Mini SD, MS Duo, Trans Flash (Micro SD), CF (Compact Flash), SD (Secure Digital) or SM (SmartMedia) memory card. 
     Further, the body  1  can be made by means of an injection molding technique to mold a plastic shell that surrounds the circuit board  13  and a part of the USB plug  15 . Further, a USB socket may be used to substitute for the USB plug  15 . By means of the top accommodation open chamber  11  to receive the adapter  2  and the insertion slot  12  to receive an electronic card  4 , the card reader saves space and facilitates carrying. Therefore, the card reader of the present invention has light, thin, short and small characteristics. 
     As stated above, the Micro-USB plug  22  and the Mini-USB plug  23  of the adapter  2  are respectively provided at two opposite sides of the base  21 . Further, the connection terminal  31  of the transmission line  3  that is inserted into the base  21  is split into two terminal portions that are respectively connected to the contact pins of the Micro-USB plug  22  and the contact pins of the Mini-USB plug  23  so that the Micro-USB plug  22  or the Mini-USB plug  23  can be directly used for signal transmission without through an electric device. Further, the interface format of the Micro-USB plug  22  and the interface format of the Mini-USB plug  23  can be converted by a control IC in the circuit board  13  for data transmission between the card reader and an external electronic apparatus. 
     Further, in the aforesaid preferred embodiment, the adapter  2  has the Micro-USB plug  22  and the Mini-USB plug  23  respectively provided at two opposite sides of the base  21 . However, this design is not a limitation. The adapter  2  can be configured to have other interface connectors provided at two sides of the base  21 . The main feature of the present invention is the design of the top accommodation open chamber  11  in the body  1  for accommodating the adapter  2 . 
     In general, the invention provides a card reader, which has the features and advantages as follows. 
     The card reader comprises a body  1  with a USB plug  15 , an adapter  2  receivable in a top accommodation open chamber  11  in the top side of the body  1  and having a Micro-USB plug  22  and a Mini-USB plug  23  disposed at two opposite sides, and a transmission line  3  receivable with the adapter  2  in the top accommodation open chamber  11  of the body  1  and having two connection terminals  31  disposed at the two opposite ends with one connection terminal  31  electrically connected to a circuit board  13  in the body  1  and the other connection terminal  31  inserted into a base  21  of the adapter  2  and electrically connected with the Micro-USB plug  22  and the Mini-USB plug  23 . Further, the body  1  has an insertion slot  12  for allowing an electronic card  4  to be inserted into the card reader and forced into contact with contact terminals  14  of the circuit board  13 . By means of the USB plug  15 , the Micro-USB plug  22  or the Mini-USB plug  23 , the card reader can be connected to any of a variety of electronic apparatuses  5  for enabling the connected electronic apparatus  5  to read data from the electronic card  4  that is inserted into the insertion slot  12 . Because the card reader made according to the present invention is compatible to different interface connectors, it has a wide application range and significant added value, attracting consumers to purchase. 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.