Patent Publication Number: US-8113886-B2

Title: Memory card mounting device for portable terminal

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 15, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0098313, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a memory card mounting device for mounting an external memory card in a portable terminal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, external memory cards are used to increase the storage capacity of an electronic terminal such as a mobile terminal, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a digital camera, etc., and they are classified according to size and standard into a variety of formats including Secure Digital (SD), Multimedia Card (MMC), Compact Flash (CF), and memory stick. 
     Portable terminals can store downloaded multimedia files or files created by photographing in their internal memories. However, the built in memories have limited capacities, and also sharing of stored information with other devices is difficult to achieve unless the terminals are provided with a separate connection device. Moreover, as the quality of multimedia files and the performance of a photographing device has been improved in recent years, there is a need for increasing the storage capacity of the portable terminal. 
     A portable terminal is typically equipped with a socket for mounting an external memory card, and a micro SD card suitable for a miniaturized device such as a widely used mobile communication terminal. The common use of such a memory card mounting device as a socket and an improved-integration of external memory card increased the utilization of the portable terminal and improved the sharing of information stored in the portable terminal. 
     In case of a cellular phone, the terminal is evermore miniaturized with the development of more sophisticated electronic/communication technologies, while the size of a display device is increasing. However, the size of information stored in the terminal sharply increases with the enhancement of a multimedia file reproduction function and camera performance. 
     Although the storage capacity of a memory card is also increasing owing to the improvement in the integration of the memory card, there is still a limitation in accommodating such a card. Although much effort has been made to increase the number of sockets for memory card mounting, this type of mounting has drawbacks especially as the phone is becoming smaller and slimmer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a memory card mounting device for a portable terminal, which can increase the number of sockets for mounting a memory card while minimizing an occupied mounting space. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory card mounting device for a portable terminal, the memory card mounting device including a first socket installed in the terminal in a state where an opening through which a memory card is inserted is positioned on a side surface of the terminal and a second socket installed in a form stacked on the first socket, in which an opening of the second socket through which a memory card is inserted is positioned in parallel to the opening of the first socket on the side surface of the terminal, or the second socket is positioned on a rear surface of the terminal such that the memory card is mounted in the second socket on the rear surface of the terminal. 
     The first socket and the second socket may allow the memory cards to be inserted thereinto or ejected therefrom in a push-lock/push-unlock way, and the opening of the second socket may be positioned in parallel to that of the first socket. Each of the first socket and the second socket may include a mounting recess for receiving the corresponding memory card and connection terminals installed on a bottom surface of the mounting recess, the first socket and the second socket may be coupled to each other, with the mounting recesses facing each other, and a separation plate may be further provided between the first socket and the second socket to separate the mounting recesses. 
     The second socket may include binding hooks extending from an edge thereof, the binding hooks being bound to the first socket to couple the second socket to the first socket. 
     The memory card mounting device may further include a cover coupled to a surface of the first socket, wherein the first socket may include an open mounting recess in a surface thereof, the opening may be provided in an end of the mounting recess, and the cover may be coupled to a surface of the first socket to close the mounting recess except for the opening of the first socket. The second socket is coupled to the cover on a surface thereof facing the cover and comprises a guide member pivotably coupled to the other surface thereof, the guide member opening or closing the other surface of the second socket by pivoting relative to the second socket. 
     The guide member may move toward or away from the rear surface of the terminal by pivoting relative to the second socket, the memory card may be inserted and fixed to the guide member when the guide member protrudes from the rear surface of the terminal, and the memory card inserted and fixed to the guide member may be received by the second socket when the guide member closes the other surface of the second socket. 
     The second socket may include a binding member which is fixed at both side ends thereof and is bound to the first socket to cover both side ends of the first socket, the second socket being coupled to the first socket through the bounding of the binding member to the first socket. 
     The opening of the second socket through which the memory card is inserted may be positioned on the rear surface of the terminal. 
     The insertion of the memory card into the second socket may be performed in a direction reverse to the insertion of the memory card into the first socket. 
     The second socket may further include a cover coupled to a surface thereof, the cover being fixed to the second socket by means of the binding member. 
     The second socket may be exposed on the rear surface of the terminal and may be closed by a battery cover coupled to the rear surface of the terminal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a memory card mounting device for a portable terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the memory card mounting device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view for explaining insertion/ejection of a memory card into/from the memory card mounting device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a memory card mounting device for a portable terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the memory card mounting device shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view for explaining insertion/ejection of a memory card into/from the memory card mounting device shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a memory card mounting device for a portable terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the memory card mounting device shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a view for explaining insertion/ejection of a memory card into/from the memory card mounting device shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a portable terminal including a memory card mounting device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a rear surface of the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing that a battery cover of the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 11  is removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the purposes of clarity and to avoid redundancy, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
       FIGS. 1 through 3  show a memory card mounting device  100  for a portable terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the memory card mounting device  100  is structured such that a pair of first and second sockets  101  and  102  are coupled and stacked, facing each other. Memory cards  141  and  142  are inserted into the sockets  101  and  102  in parallel to each other in a state where respective contact terminals  144  of the memory cards  141  and  142  are oriented facing at opposite to each other. 
     The sockets  101  and  102  are in the same shape into and from which the memory cards  141  and  142  are slidably inserted and can be ejected via a push-lock/push-unlock motion. Each of the sockets  101  and  102  includes a mounting recess  111  being open to a surface thereof, such that the sockets  101  and  102  are coupled in a stacked state, with their open surfaces facing each other while a separation plate  103  being disposed between the socket  101  and  102 . One end of the mounting recess  111  is maintained open, through which the memory cards  141  and  142  are inserted into the sockets  101  and  102 , respectively. 
     Connection terminals  113  are provided on a bottom surface of the mounting recess  111 , and each of the memory cards  141  and  142  is inserted through an opening provided at the one end of the mounting recess  111  such that its contact terminals  144  are electrically connected with the connection terminals  113 . 
     The memory cards  141  and  142  inserted into the sockets  101  and  102  conform to the same size and spec, as shown in  FIG. 3 . They can be inserted into or ejected from the memory card mounting device  100  and position in parallel relationship to each other. The memory cards  141  and  142  may also be independently inserted into or ejected from the sockets  101  and  102 . 
     When the above-structured memory card mounting device  100  is installed in the portable terminal, an opening through which a memory card is inserted is provided at one end of the portable terminal surface. Thus, depending on the orientation at one end of the portable terminal, the memory card can slidably inserted into or ejected from the memory card mounting device  100  along the lengthwise direction or widthwise direction of the terminal. 
     Although not shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the memory card mounting device  100  preferably binds the sockets  101  and  102  by using a separate case or binding device. A cover  219  shown in  FIG. 5  may be useful in binding the sockets  101  and  102 . That is, in  FIG. 5 , the cover  219  is bound to both side surfaces of the sockets. In such a cover structure, if the cover  219  is bound to both side surfaces of the second socket  102  while covering a closed surface and both side surfaces of the first socket  101 , the sockets  101  and  102  can be bound to each other. That is, if the cover  219  had a hook which is similar to a binding hook  223 , and if the hook provided to the cover  219  can bind to both side surfaces of the second socket  102 , the cover  219  can be bound the sockets  101  and  102 . 
     As such, the memory card mounting device is structured by stacking sockets which allow insertion and ejection of memory cards on one side surface of the portable terminal, thereby easily doubling the information storage capacity of the portable terminal while reducing a mounting area occupied by the memory card mounting device. 
       FIGS. 4 through 6  shows a memory card mounting device  200  for a portable terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the memory card mounting device  200  is structured such that a pair of first and second sockets  201  and  202  is stacked facing each other and coupled to one of which a guide member  221  that is pivotably rotated. 
     The first socket  201  allows the memory card  141  to be inserted thereinto and ejected therefrom in a push-lock/push-unlock way, and includes a mounting recess (not shown) being open to a surface thereof. The cover  219  is mounted on the first socket  201  to close the mounting recess except for an opening through which the memory card  141  is inserted. As mentioned above, the cover  219  is bound to both side surfaces of the first socket  201  while covering a surface of the first socket  201 . 
     The second socket  202  includes binding hooks  223  at both ends thereof. The binding hooks  223  are bound to the first socket  201  in a form covering both side surfaces of the first socket  201 , thereby coupling the second socket  202  to the first socket  201 . 
     The second socket  202  includes a mounting recess  227  being open to a surface thereof, and the guide member  221  is pivotably coupled to the second socket  202  to open or close the mounting recess  227  on the other surface of the second socket  202 . The guide member  221  is structured to cover both side ends of the memory card  142 , so that the member card  142  can be inserted and fixed to the guide member  221 . When the guide member  221  closes the other surface of the second socket  202  in a state where the memory card  142  is inserted and fixed, the memory card  142  is completely received by the second socket  202 , thus being connected to connection terminals  225  provided on the second socket  202 . 
     The above-structured memory card mounting device  200  may be installed such that an opening of the first socket  201  is positioned on a side surface of the terminal, and the second socket  202  is positioned on a rear surface of the terminal. However, as long as a space allowing the memory card  141  to be inserted into and ejected from the first socket  201  can be secured, the first socket  201  can also be positioned on the rear surface of the terminal. 
     When the memory card mounting device  200  is installed such that the second socket  202  is positioned on the rear surface of the terminal, the guide member  221  moves toward or away from the rear surface of the terminal by pivoting relative to the second socket  202 . When the guide member  221  protrudes from the rear surface of the terminal, the user can conveniently insert or eject the memory card  142  into or from the guide member  221 . 
       FIGS. 7 to 9  are views showing a memory card mounting device  300  for a portable terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the memory card mounting device  300  is structured such that a pair of first and second sockets  301  and  302  is stacked next to each other. 
     The first socket  301  allows the memory card  141  to be slidably inserted thereinto and ejected therefrom in a push-lock/push-unlock way, and includes a mounting recess (not shown) being open to one surface thereof. A cover  319  is mounted on the first socket  301  to close the mounting recess except for an opening through which the memory card  141  is inserted. Similar to the second embodiment, the cover  319  is bound to both side surfaces of the first socket  301  while covering a surface of the first socket  301 . 
     The second socket  302  forces the memory card  142  to be inserted thereinto or ejected therefrom, and is coupled to the first socket  301  by means of a separate binding member  323 . The binding member  323  is installed on both side ends of the second socket  302  in a form covering the both side ends of the second socket  302  and, at the same time, the binding member  323  is also bound to the first socket  301  in a form covering both side ends of the first socket  301 . In the third embodiment, the second socket  302  is installed in the opposite direction to the first socket  301 . That is, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the insertion of the memory card  142  into the second socket  302  is performed in a direction reverse to the insertion of the memory card  141  into the first socket  301 . 
     The second socket  302  is of a size for receiving only a portion of the memory card  142  in which contact terminals of the memory card  142  are installed, and may include a protection cover  321  for preventing the memory card  142  inserted into the second socket  302  from being separated from the second socket  302 . The protection cover  321  may be maintained fixed to the second socket  302  by means of the binding member  323 . 
     The above-described memory card mounting device  300  is structured such that the memory card  141  is inserted into or ejected from the first socket  301  in a push-lock/push-unlock way. Therefore, it is preferable that an opening through which the memory card  141  is inserted be positioned on a side surface of the terminal. The opening of the second socket  302  for inserting the memory card  142  is oriented opposite to that of the first socket  301 . Considering the total size of a combination of the first socket  301  and the second socket  302 , it can be seen that the opening of the second socket  302  cannot be positioned on a side surface of the terminal. Therefore, the second socket  302  is preferably positioned on the rear surface of the terminal. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , even when the memory card  142  is inserted into the second socket  302  in the memory card mounting device  300  of the terminal, a space equal to the thickness of the first socket  301  is formed under the second socket  302 . By using such a space, the terminal having the memory card mounting device  300  installed therein can be further provided with a space for mounting other parts. 
       FIGS. 10 through 12  show a portable terminal  10  having the memory card mounting device  100  installed therein according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The shown terminal  10  includes a display device  11  on a front surface thereof, a camera  17  and a receiving unit  15  (or earpiece) at an upper portion thereof, and a keypad  113  at a lower portion thereof. The camera  17  is used for users to perform video communication or to photograph themselves, and the receiving unit  15  outputs sound during voice communication or multimedia file reproduction. The keypad  13  includes a send button or navigation buttons. On a side surface of the terminal  10  may be installed a volume control button or a hot key for actuating the camera  17 . 
     On a rear surface of the terminal  10  is mounted a battery pack  31  and may be installed another camera  27  for photographing an object and an illumination device  29 . The terminal  10  may hide the battery pack  31  with a separate battery cover  21 . 
     The memory card mounting device  100  is installed at a side of the camera  29  and the illumination device  29 , and a portion thereof may be exposed on the rear surface of the terminal  10 . The openings of the first socket  101  and the second socket  102  for memory card insertion are positioned on a side surface of the terminal in parallel to each other. The battery cover  21  is coupled to the rear surface of the terminal  10 , thereby hiding the memory card mounting device  100  and the openings of the first socket  101  and the second socket  102  or the memory cards  141  and  142  inserted into the first socket  101  and the second socket  102 . 
     As is apparent from the foregoing description, the memory card mounting device is structured such that two sockets are stacked, thereby facilitating an expansion of the information storage capacity of the terminal. In addition, the opening through which the memory card is inserted can be positioned in various areas such as a side surface or a rear surface of the terminal, thereby easily securing the mounting space on the terminal. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.