Patent Publication Number: US-2015072547-A1

Title: Mini usb connector with card plug-in function

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to USB connectors, and more particularly to a mini USB connector with card plug-in function, which is formed of an electrical insulating terminal holder, a conducting terminal set and an EMI shielding shell and defines therein multiple insertion spaces for selectively receiving different types of electronic cards or electrical connectors. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Following fast development of computer electronic technology, may high mobility electrical and electronic apparatus are well developed and widely used by people for different applications, bringing convenience to people and making people&#39;s life more comfortable. Further, high-speed, high-power and sophisticated mobile electrical and electronic devices and related products with large capacity and low profile characteristics have been continuously created. Further, many different transmission interfaces and connectors are widely used in electrical and electronic products for power and data transmission. For connecting different component parts, different transmission interfaces or connectors of different sizes and configurations must be used. Therefore, an electrical or electronic device needs to provide sufficient installation space for the installation of different types of transmission interfaces and connectors. 
     Further, it is the market trend to create mobility electronic apparatuses having light, thin, short and small characteristics. In consequence, circuit board electronic components must be made extremely strong, small and precise. Further, many different male and female electrical connectors are used in an electronic apparatus to connect different components and parts to a circuit board for the connection of mating electronic cards and/or connectors. These electrical connectors occupy much circuit layout space of the circuit board and the inside space of the electronic apparatus. It is quite important to fully utilize the circuit layout space of a circuit board and the internal space of an electronic apparatus. 
     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 mini USB connector with card plug-in function, which has light, thin, short and small characteristics for a wide range of applications. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with the present invention comprises an electrical insulating terminal holder, a conducting terminal set, and an EMI shielding shell. The electrical insulating terminal holder comprises an accommodation chamber, and a first tongue member and a second tongue member bilaterally disposed in a parallel manner at a front side relative to the accommodation chamber. The conducting terminal set comprises multiple conducting terminals mounted in the accommodation chamber. Each conducting terminal has a contact portion located at one end thereof, and a bonding portion located at an opposite end thereof. The contact portions of one part of the conducting terminal set are disposed to suspend in the accommodation chamber and the contact portions of the other part of the conducting terminal set are positioned in the first tongue member and the second tongue member. The bonding portions of the conducting terminals are arranged in at least one row to suspend outside a rear side of the electrical insulating terminal holder for bonding to an external circuit board. The EMI shielding shell surrounds the electrical insulating terminal holder and the conducting terminals, defining therein a mating chamber that matches with the accommodation chamber, the first tongue member and the second tongue member to constitute first, second and third insertion spaces respectively for the insertion of different types of electronic cards or electrical connectors. 
     In one example of the present invention, the conducting terminals are numbered from 1 st  through 16 th . The contact portions of the conducting terminals from 1 st  through 6 th  are arranged in two rows to suspend in the accommodation chamber. The contact portions of the conducting terminals from 7 th  through 11 th  are positioned in the first tongue member in a parallel manner. The contact portions of the conducting terminals from 12 th  through 16 th  are positioned in the second tongue member. The bonding portions of the conducting terminals from 1 st  through 16 th  are arranged in at least one row outside the rear side of the electrical insulating terminal holder for bonding to an external circuit board 
     Further, the bonding portions of the conducting terminals can be arranged in two rows outside the rear side of the electrical insulating terminal holder for bonding to an external circuit board using the mounting method of DIP (dual in-line package). 
     Alternatively, the bonding portions of the conducting terminals can be arranged in one row outside the rear side of the electrical insulating terminal holder for bonding to an external circuit board using the mounting method of SMT (Surface-mount technology). 
     Preferably, the EMI shielding shell further comprises a plurality of mounting legs that can be harpoon-shaped, frog-leg shaped, fish-eye shaped, seagull leg shaped for bonding to an external circuit board using the mounting method of DIP (dual in-line package). Alternatively, the mounting legs of the EMI shielding shell can be extended in horizontal and configured for bonding to an external circuit board using the mounting method of SMT (Surface-mount technology). Thus, the mini USB connector can be configured for installation in a predetermined circuit board to form a sink board-mounting structure, on-board mounting structure, under-the-board mounting structure or raised mounting structure. 
     Preferably, the mini USB connector further comprises a card ejector mechanism mounted in the electrical insulating terminal holder and operable to eject an inserted electronic card out of the electrical insulating terminal holder. In this case, the electrical insulating terminal holder further comprises a receiving space transversely defined near an opposing rear side relative to the accommodation chamber, an upright pivot pin located in the receiving space, a longitudinal sliding groove extending along one lateral side of the accommodation chamber, and a recess defined between the longitudinal sliding groove and the second tongue member. Further, the card ejector mechanism comprises a swinging push bar and a sliding push bar. The swinging push bar comprises a push portion perpendicularly extended from one flat end thereof, an upright bearing portion extended from a curved opposite end thereof, and a pivot hole spaced between the push portion and the upright bearing portion and pivotally coupled to the upright pivot pin in the receiving space. The sliding push bar is slidably coupled to the longitudinal sliding groove of the electrical insulating terminal holder, comprising an actuation portion located at one end thereof and stopped against the upright bearing portion of the swinging push bar and an operating portion perpendicularly extended from an opposite end thereof and movable with the sliding push bar in the recess. By means of pressing the operating portion of the sliding push bar to turn the swinging push bar about the upright pivot pin, the card ejector mechanism ejects the inserted electronic card out of the electrical insulating terminal holder. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevation of a mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic top view of the conducting terminal set of the mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional side view of the mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic applied view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an electronic card inserted into the accommodation chamber of the electrical insulating terminal holder. 
         FIG. 7  corresponds to  FIG. 6 , illustrating the electronic card ejected out of the electrical insulating terminal holder. 
         FIG. 8  is an oblique top elevation of a mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. As illustrated, the mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with this first embodiment comprises an electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , a conducting terminal set  2 , and an EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding shell  3 . 
     The electrical insulating terminal holder  1  comprises an accommodation chamber  10 , a plurality of openings  101  cut through a bottom wall of the accommodation chamber  10 , a first tongue member  11  and a second tongue member  12  bilaterally disposed in a parallel manner at a front side relative to the accommodation chamber  10 , a plurality of first terminal slots  110  longitudinally defined in the first tongue member  11  in a parallel manner, a plurality of second terminal slots  120  longitudinally defined in the second tongue member  12  in a parallel manner, a receiving space  13  transversely disposed at an opposing rear side relative to the accommodation chamber  10 , an upright pivot pin  131  located in the receiving space  13 , a longitudinal sliding groove  14  extending along one lateral side of the accommodation chamber  10  toward the second tongue member  12 , and a recess  141  defined between the longitudinal sliding groove  14  and the second tongue member  12 . 
     The conducting terminal set  2  comprises a plurality of conducting terminals  21 . Each conducting terminal  21  has a front end thereof terminating in a curved or flat contact portion  211 , and an opposing rear end thereof terminating in a bonding portion  212 . 
     The EMI shielding shell  3  comprises a mating chamber  30  extending through opposing front and rear sides thereof, and a plurality of mounting legs  31  symmetrically extended from two opposite lateral sides thereof. 
     When assembling the mini USB connector, insert the conducting terminals  21  through the openings  101  to have the contact portions  211  of some conducting terminals  21  be respectively positioned in the first terminal slots  110  in the first tongue member  11  and the second terminal slots  120  in the second tongue member  12  and the contact portions  211  of the other conducting terminals  21  suspend in the accommodation chamber  10 , and also to have the bonding portions  212  of all the conducting terminals  21  be arranged in a parallel manner outside a rear side of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , and then attach the EMI shielding shell  3  to the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  to have the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  and the conducting terminals  21  of the conducting terminal set  2  be accommodated in the mating chamber  30 . At this time, the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , the conducting terminal set  2  and the EMI shielding shell  3  are assembled together, forming a mini USB connector, wherein the mating chamber  30  of the EMI shielding shell  3  and the accommodation chamber  10  of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  constitute a first insertion space  301 ; the mating chamber  30  and the first tongue member  11  constitute a second insertion space  302 ; the mating chamber  30  and the second tongue member  12  constitute a third insertion space  303 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7  and  FIGS. 2-5  again, the mini USB connector further comprises a card ejector mechanism  4  mounted in the receiving space  13  and the longitudinal sliding groove  14 . The card ejector mechanism  4  comprises a swinging push bar  41  and a sliding push bar  42 . The swinging push bar  41  comprises a push portion  411  perpendicularly extended from one flat end thereof, an upright bearing portion  412  extended from a curved opposite end thereof, and a pivot hole  410  spaced between the push portion  411  and the upright bearing portion  412  and disposed relatively closer to the upright bearing portion  412  and pivotally coupled to the upright pivot pin  131  in the receiving space  13 . The sliding push bar  42  is slidably coupled to the longitudinal sliding groove  141  of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , comprising an actuation portion  421  located at one end thereof and stopped against the upright bearing portion  412  of the swinging push bar  41  and an operating portion  422  perpendicularly extended from an opposite end thereof and movable with the sliding push bar  42  in the recess  141 . When the user pushes the operating portion  422  of the sliding push bar  42  of the card ejector mechanism  4  toward the inner end of the recess  141 , the actuation portion  421  will be moved toward the inner side of the receiving space  13  against the upright bearing portion  412  of the swinging push bar  41  to turn the swinging push bar  41  about the upright pivot pin  131  in the receiving space  13  and the accommodation chamber  10 . When the user inserts a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card  5  (nano SIM card or Micro SIM card) into the accommodation chamber  10  of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  to move the SIM card  5  into contact with the contact portions  211  of respective conducting terminals  21  in the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , a front corner edge of the inserted SIM card will be forced against the push portion  411  of the swinging push bar  41  to turn the swinging push bar  41  about the upright pivot pin  131  in the receiving space  13 , causing the upright bearing portion  412  of the swinging push bar  41  to push the actuation portion  421  of the sliding push bar  42  along the longitudinal sliding groove  14  in direction toward the outside of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  and the EMI shielding shell  3 . 
     When going to reject the inserted SIM card  5  out of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , press the protruded operating portion  422  of the sliding push bar  42  of the card ejector mechanism  4  in direction toward the inside of electrical insulating terminal holder  1  and the EMI shielding shell  3 . At this time, the actuation portion  421  will be moved toward the inner side of the receiving space  13  against the upright bearing portion  412  of the swinging push bar  41  to turn the swinging push bar  41  about the upright pivot pin  131  in the receiving space  13 , causing the push portion  411  of the swinging push bar  41  to push the SIM card  5  out of the accommodation chamber  10  of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 . 
     Further, the conducting terminals  21  of the conducting terminal set  2  are numbered from 1 st  through 16 th . The 1 st  conducting terminal  2101 , the 2 nd  conducting terminal  2102 , the 3 rd  conducting terminal  2103 , the 4 th  conducting terminal  2104 , the 5 th  conducting terminal  2105  and the 6 th  conducting terminal  2106  are so configured and arranged such that the contact portions  211  of the conducting terminals from 1 st  through 6 th  are disposed on the middle in two rows and suspending in the accommodation chamber  10 ; the 7 th  conducting terminal  2107 , the 8 th  conducting terminal  2108 , the 9 th  conducting terminal  2109 , the 10 th  conducting terminal  2110  and the 11 th  conducting terminal  2111  are so configured and arranged such that the contact portions  211  of the conducting terminals from 7 th  through 11 th  are disposed on one lateral side and respectively positioned in the first terminal slots  110  in the first tongue member  11  in a parallel manner; the 12 th  conducting terminal  2112 , the 13 th  conducting terminal  2113 , the 14 th  conducting terminal  2114 , the 15 th  conducting terminal  2115  and the 16 th  conducting terminal  2116  are so configured and arranged such that the contact portions  211  of the conducting terminals from 12 6  through 16 th  are disposed on an opposite lateral side and respectively positioned in the second terminal slots  120  in the second tongue member  12  in a parallel manner. Thus, the contact portions  211  of the 1 st  through 6 th  conducting terminals  2101 ˜ 2106  fit the first insertion space  301  that is configured to match with a SIM card (nano SIM card or Micro SIM card); the contact portions  211  of the 7 th  through 11 th  conducting terminals  2107 ˜ 2111  fit the second insertion space  302  that is configured to match with a predetermined micro USB specifications (for example, Micro USB2.0). The 10 th  conducting terminal  2110  is adapted to match with the 9 th  conducting terminal  2109  in fitting USB/OTG specifications. Subject to applications, the 10 th  conducting terminal  2110  can be used as a subsidiary conducting terminal of the 9 th  conducting terminal  2109 , or a vacant terminal for Micro USB2.0 or USB OTG (On-The-Go) application. The contact portions  211  of the 12 th  through 16 th  conducting terminals  2112 ˜ 2116  fit the third insertion space  303  that is configured to match with a predetermined micro USB specifications (for example, Micro USB3.0). Thus, the first insertion space  301 , the second insertion space  302  and the third insertion space  303  defined in the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  and the EMI shielding shell  3  can fit different types of electronic cards or electrical connectors for multiple applications. Thus, the mini USB connector of the invention has light, thin, short and small characteristics for a wide range of applications. 
     Further, after installation of the 1 st  through 16 th  conducting terminals  2101 ˜ 2116  in the accommodation chamber  10  in insulating terminal holder  1 , the bonding portions  212  of the 1 st  through 16 th  conducting terminals  2101 ˜ 2116  are longitudinally extended out of the rear side of insulating terminal holder  1  for bonding to an external circuit board. Further, the bonding portions  212  of the 1 st  through 16 th  conducting terminals  2101 ˜ 2116  can be arranged in two rows for bonding to an external circuit board using the mounting method of DIP (dual in-line package). Alternatively, the bonding portions  212  of the 1 st  through 16 th  conducting terminals  2101 ˜ 2116  can be arranged in one row for bonding to an external circuit board using the mounting method of SMT (Surface-mount technology). 
     Further, the mounting legs  31  of the EMI shielding shell  3  can be configured in one of harpoon-shaped, frog-leg shaped, fish-eye shaped and seagull leg shaped configurations for bonding to an external circuit board using the mounting method of DIP (dual in-line package). Alternatively, the mounting legs  31  of the EMI shielding shell  3  can be extended in horizontal and configured for bonding to an external circuit board using the mounting method of SMT (Surface-mount technology). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a mini USB connector with card plug-in function in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. As illustrated, the mini USB connector in accordance with this second embodiment comprises an electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , a conducting terminal set  2 , and an EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding shell  3 . 
     The electrical insulating terminal holder  1  comprises an accommodation chamber  10 , a plurality of openings  101  cut through a bottom wall of the accommodation chamber  10 , a first tongue member  11  disposed at a front side relative to the accommodation chamber  10  near one lateral side of the accommodation chamber  10 , a plurality of first terminal slots  110  longitudinally defined in the first tongue member  11  in a parallel manner, a receiving space  13  transversely disposed at an opposing rear side relative to the accommodation chamber  10 , an upright pivot pin  131  located in the receiving space  13 , a longitudinal sliding groove  14  extending along an opposite lateral side of the accommodation chamber  10 , and a recess  141  forwardly extended from the longitudinal sliding groove  14  and having a width larger than the longitudinal sliding groove  14 . 
     The conducting terminal set  2  comprises a plurality of conducting terminals  21 , i.e., 1 st  through 11 th  conducting terminals  2101 ˜ 2111 . Each conducting terminal  21  has a front end thereof terminating in a curved or flat contact portion  211 , and an opposing rear end thereof terminating in a bonding portion  212 . 
     The EMI shielding shell  3  comprises a mating chamber  30  extending through opposing front and rear sides thereof, and a plurality of mounting legs  31  symmetrically extended from two opposite lateral sides thereof. 
     When assembling the mini USB connector, insert the conducting terminals  21  through the openings  101  to have the contact portions  211  of the 1 st  through 6 th  conducting terminals  2101 ˜ 2106  be arranged in two rows and suspending in the accommodation chamber  10 , the contact portions  211  of the 7 th  through 11 th  conducting terminals  2109 ˜ 2111  be positioned in the first terminal slots  110  in the first tongue member  11  and the bonding portions  212  of the 1 st  through 11 th  conducting terminals  2101 ˜ 2111  be suspending outside the rear side of the insulating terminal holder  1  for bonding to an external circuit board (not shown), and then attach the EMI shielding shell  3  to the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  to have the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  and the conducting terminals  21  of the conducting terminal set  2  be accommodated in the mating chamber  30 . At this time, the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , the conducting terminal set  2  and the EMI shielding shell  3  are assembled together, forming a mini USB connector, wherein the mating chamber  30  of the EMI shielding shell  3  and the accommodation chamber  10  of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  constitute a first insertion space  301 ; the mating chamber  30  and the first tongue member  11  constitute a second insertion space  302 . 
     The mini USB connector with card plug-in function further comprises a card ejector mechanism  4  mounted in the receiving space  13  and the longitudinal sliding groove  14 . The card ejector mechanism  4  comprises a swinging push bar  41  and a sliding push bar  42 . The swinging push bar  41  comprises a push portion  411  perpendicularly extended from one flat end thereof, an upright bearing portion  412  extended from a curved opposite end thereof, and a pivot hole  410  spaced between the push portion  411  and the upright bearing portion  412  and disposed relatively closer to the upright bearing portion  412  and pivotally coupled to the upright pivot pin  131  in the receiving space  13 . The sliding push bar  42  is slidably coupled to the longitudinal sliding groove  141  of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , comprising an actuation portion  421  located at one end thereof and stopped against the upright bearing portion  412  of the swinging push bar  41  and an operating portion  422  perpendicularly extended from an opposite end thereof and movable with the sliding push bar  42  in the recess  141 . When the user pushes the operating portion  422  of the sliding push bar  42  of the card ejector mechanism  4  toward the inner end of the recess  141 , the actuation portion  421  will be moved toward the inner side of the receiving space  13  against the upright bearing portion  412  of the swinging push bar  41  to turn the swinging push bar  41  about the upright pivot pin  131  in the receiving space  13  and the accommodation chamber  10 . When the user inserts a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card (nano SIM card or Micro SIM card) into the accommodation chamber  10  of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1 , a front corner edge of the inserted SIM card will be forced against the push portion  411  of the swinging push bar  41  to turn the swinging push bar  41  about the upright pivot pin  131  in the receiving space  13 , causing the upright bearing portion  412  of the swinging push bar  41  to push the actuation portion  421  of the sliding push bar  42  along the longitudinal sliding groove  14  in direction toward the outside of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  and the EMI shielding shell  3 . 
     As described above, the invention provides a mini USB connector with card plug-in function, wherein the mating chamber  30  of the EMI shielding shell  3  and the accommodation chamber  10  of the electrical insulating terminal holder  1  constitute a first insertion space  301  for the insertion of a predetermined type of micro electronic card; the mating chamber  30  and the first tongue member  11  constitute a second insertion space  302  for the insertion of a predetermined type of electrical connector (for example, Micro USB2.0); the mating chamber  30  and the second tongue member  12  constitute a third insertion space  303  for the insertion of another predetermined type of electrical connector (for example, Micro USB3.0). Thus, a mini USB connector in accordance with the present invention can accept Micro USB2.0 connector, Micro USB3.0 connector, nano SIM card and Micro SIM card for a wide range of applications without causing interference, saving much installation space. 
     In conclusion, the invention provides a mini USB connector having light, thin, short and small characteristics for a wide range of applications. The mini USB connector with card plug-in function defines therein three insertion spaces, namely, the first insertion space, the second insertion space and the third insertion space to fit different types of electronic cards or electrical connectors (such as nano SIM card, Micro SIM card, Micro USB2.0, Micro USB3.0, etc.) for a wide range of applications. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have 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.