Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6924996?dq=7,546,338
Timestamp: 2015-04-02 10:02:20
Document Index: 82829853

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 38', 'arts 38', 'arts 38', 'arts 38', 'art 45', 'art; 38', 'art; 40']

Patent US6924996 - External storage device which is replaceable or portable as an exernal ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatents[Problem] An external storage device is provided, which can call attention to the handling as precision electronic equipment so as to obtain an appropriate attachment action for a cap while preventing the cap from easily coming off. [Means of Solving the Problem] A substrate holder 13 is made of a transparent...http://www.google.com/patents/US6924996?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6924996 - External storage device which is replaceable or portable as an exernal storage medium for a personal computer of the likeAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6924996 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/292,061Publication dateAug 2, 2005Filing dateNov 12, 2002Priority dateJan 19, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2442155A1, CA2442155C, CN1279487C, CN1505800A, DE60237471D1, EP1467310A1, EP1467310A4, EP1467310B1, US20030137859, WO2003063071A1Publication number10292061, 292061, US 6924996 B2, US 6924996B2, US-B2-6924996, US6924996 B2, US6924996B2InventorsNorio SugawaraOriginal AssigneeSony CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (14), Referenced by (5), Classifications (11), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetExternal storage device which is replaceable or portable as an exernal storage medium for a personal computer of the like
US 6924996 B2Abstract
a main body; a memory substrate on which at least the semiconductor memory is mounted, said memory substrate being provided with an external connection terminal on an edge of its one end; a substrate holder including a substrate insertion hole therein through which said memory substrate is inserted, said substrate holder being for fixing said memory substrate to said main body while said external connection terminal is being outwardly projected beyond an opening on one end of said substrate insertion hole; and a cap for protecting said external connection terminal, said cap being attachable/removable to/from said substrate holder, wherein said substrate holder is made of a transparent material; at least one notch for externally exposing said substrate holder is formed in said main body and/or said cap; and said memory substrate is visibly observable from exterior through said notch and said transparent substrate holder. 2. The external storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that:
said notch formed in said cap includes a pair of guide edges, said guide edges being parallel in an attachment/removal direction of said cap to said substrate holder so as to oppose to each other; and said substrate holder is provided with rectilinear guide parts in sliding contact with said pair of guide edges over their almost total length so as to guide attachment/removal of said cap. 3. The external storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of first engaging convex portions and a plurality of second engaging convex portions are respectively provided on an outer face of said substrate holder and an inner face of said cap, said first and said second engaging convex portions being engaged with each other when said cap is attached to said substrate holder.
FIG. 1 a side view showing the entire external storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 a plan view showing the entire external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 a side view when a cap is not attached, in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 a plan view when the cap is not attached, in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 a perspective view showing the structures of a memory substrate and a substrate holder in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 a partially cutaway perspective view showing the details of main parts between the memory substrate and the substrate holder, viewed from the side of a main body, in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 a plan view showing the main parts shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 a partially cutaway perspective view showing the details of the main parts between the memory substrate and the substrate holder, viewed from the side of the cap, in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 a partially cutaway side view showing the details of the main parts between the memory substrate and the main body shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 a perspective view for illustrating attachment/removal operations of the cap to the substrate holder in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 a cross-sectional view showing the structure inside the cap when the cap is attached, in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention (the illustration of the memory substrate is omitted).
FIG. 12 a perspective view of the main parts shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 a partially cutaway perspective view showing the structure inside the cap when the cap is attached, in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 a partially cutaway side view of the main parts showing the relation between the substrate holder and the cap, in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the cap in the external storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention
FIG. 16 views showing a structure of a conventional external storage device, where A shows a state that the cap is attached and B shows a state that the cap is unattached.
Since the memory substrate 12 is formed by a punching process by a press or the like and a shape of a cut surface gradually varies due to an abrasion state of a punch and a die, the dimensional accuracy is poor in many cases. In this embodiment, the dimensional variation of the memory substrate 12 in its longitudinal direction is, for example, about �0.1 mm. Moreover, the variation in weld depth of the weld ribs 27L and 27R of the substrate holder 13 with respect to the opening end 17 of the main body 11 is, for example, about �0.05 mm. The main body 2 and the substrate holder 13, which are injection-molded bodies, also have the dimensional variation of, for example, about �0.05 mm, respectively. Therefore, in total, the dimensional variation of �0.25 mm or more may be generated. In this embodiment, the dimensional variation is absorbed by the clamping parts 38 having the above-described structure.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the memory substrate 12 is supported while the clamping-parts 38 constituted as a positioning mechanism for the memory substrate 12 are being plastically deformed in accordance with the amount of ingression of the memory substrate 12. Instead, an elastic coating film such as a rubber may be formed on the inner faces of the clamping parts 38 so that the memory substrate 12 is supported while the elastic coating film is being elastically deformed.
Alternatively, one wall of the groove constituting the clamping parts 38 may be constituted so as to be elastically deformable, for example, as the holding part 45A formed on the edge of the end of the notch 19A of the main body 11 shown in FIG. 8, thereby elastically supporting the memory substrate 12.
10: external storage device; 11: main body; 12: memory substrate; 13: substrate holder; 14: cap; 19A, 19B, 20A and 20B: notches; 21: semiconductor memory; 23: printed-wiring board; 24: connector (external connection terminal); 25: substrate insertion hole; 28 and 29: guide edges; 30 and 31: guide parts; 32: first engaging convex portion; 33: second engaging convex portion; 34: pedestal; 35: opening on one end of substrate holder; 36: step inside substrate insertion hole; 37: regulating part; 38: clamping part; 40: through hole; W: window portion
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6614708 *Oct 31, 2002Sep 2, 2003Ritek CorporationNon-volatile memory device with built-in laser indicatorUS6707748 *Dec 31, 2002Mar 16, 2004Ritek CorporationBack up power embodied non-volatile memory deviceUS20040090751 *Nov 5, 2003May 13, 2004Choi Dae SeonPortable USB storage deviceUS20040145878 *Jan 14, 2004Jul 29, 2004Walter WangUSB plug and memory card combination with integrally formed housingEP1100000A2Oct 17, 2000May 16, 2001Xiaohua c/o Netac Technology Co. Ltd. ChengElectronic flash memory external storage method and deviceJP3085361U Title not availableJP3086525U Title not availableJP2000163550A Title not availableJP2001005943A Title not availableJP2001216099A Title not availableJP2001266538A Title not availableJPH0385361A Title not availableJPH0386525A Title not availableWO2001061692A1Feb 21, 2000Aug 23, 2001Chong Seng ChengA portable data storage device* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7094078 *Dec 23, 2004Aug 22, 2006Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaDevice with Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectorUS7482680Jan 18, 2007Jan 27, 2009Sandisk CorporationCustomized non-volatile memory device packagesUS7485499 *Jul 29, 2004Feb 3, 2009Sandisk CorporationCustomized non-volatile memory device packagesUS8862182Aug 31, 2012Oct 14, 2014Apple Inc.Coupling reduction for electromechanical actuatorUS8896995Nov 6, 2012Nov 25, 2014Apple Inc.Shock mounting cover glass in consumer electronic devices* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification365/51, 361/727, 365/63International ClassificationG11C5/00, G06K19/077Cooperative ClassificationH05K5/0278, G06K19/077, G06K19/07732European ClassificationH05K5/02H2C, G06K19/077E7, G06K19/077Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 25, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Sep 30, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Sep 13, 2005CCCertificate of correctionMar 14, 2003ASAssignmentOwner name: SONY CORPORATION, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SUGAWARA, NORIO;REEL/FRAME:013837/0966Effective date: 20030213RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services