Background of the Invention: Memory cards are known in the art and contain intelligence in the form of a memory circuit or other electronic program. Some form of card reader reads the information or memory stored on the card. Such cards are used in many applications in today's electronic society, including video cameras, digital still cameras, smartphones, PDA's, music players, ATMs, cable television decoders, toys, games, PC adapters, multi-media cards and other electronic applications. Typically, a memory card includes a contact or terminal array for connection through a card connector to a card reader system and then to external equipment. The connector readily accommodates insertion and removal of the card to provide quick access to the information and program on the card. The card connector includes terminals for yieldingly engaging the contact array of the memory card.

The memory card connector often is mounted on a printed circuit board. The memory card, itself, writes or reads via the connector and can transmit between electrical appliances, such as a word processor, personal computer, personal data assistant or the like. The card may be used in applications such as mobile or cellular telephones which are actuated and permit data access after identifying an identification code stored on a SIM (subscriber identification module) card. The SIM card has a conductive face with an array of contacts, and the mobile phone has a SIM card connector with terminals for electrical connection with the contacts of the SIM card to ensure the subscriber identification confirmation.

A typical memory card connector includes some form of dielectric housing which is covered by a metal shell as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2001- 291552 and 2002-237351. The metal shell may be stamped and formed of sheet metal material and formed into a substantially box-shape. The metal shell and the housing combine to define a card-receiving cavity. One end of the cavity is open to form a card-insertion opening. The

dielectric housing may be generally L-shaped or U-shaped and includes a rear terminal-mounting section at the rear of the cavity, and at least one longitudinal side wall section extending forwardly from one or both ends of the rear section at one or both sides of the cavity. The metal shell has a top plate substantially covering the dielectric housing (at least the contact interface area thereof), with side plates extending downwardly over the side wall sections of the housing.

The side plates of the metal shell and/or the side wall sections of the housing define the sides of the card-receiving cavity.

When the above-described connector structure is mounted on a printed circuit board, some form of reinforcement means is provided for securing the connector, via the metal shell, to the printed circuit board, such as by soldering. The most typical system is to provide one or more reinforcement members which either are separate from or integral with the side plates of the metal shell. The reinforcement members are fabricated of metal material and are secured to the circuit board by soldering.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show one example of a board mounting system which uses a reinforcement member, generally designated 14, which is stamped and formed out of a side plate 16 of a metal shell, generally designated 18, of a typical memory card connector which is mounted on a printed circuit board 20. Reinforcement member 14 is formed by a pair of horizontally spaced cut-outs or slits 22 which are open at a bottom edge 16a of side plate 16 and extend upwardly into the side plate about one-half the height of the side plate. As seen best in FIG. 13, reinforcement member 14 is generally L-shaped to define a vertical plate portion 14a and a horizontal plate portion 14b which projects outwardly from side plate 16. Reinforcement member 14 is secured to an appropriate mounting pad on circuit board 20 by soldering fillets 24.

With the board mounting system described above, loading on the memory card connector is absorbed by the one or more reinforcement members 14 integral with metal shell 18 and soldered to circuit board 20. The metal material from which the metal shell is stamped and formed has a thickness on the order of approximately 0.2 mm. Therefore, reinforcement member 14, which is formed by slits 22 that extend only about one-half the height of side plate 16, cannot be expected to have any significant spring characteristics. Keeping in mind that the metal shell is rigidly secured to the insulative or dielectric housing, the housing has a greater heat shrinkage than the printed circuit board. Therefore, upon occurrence of temperature variations during a reflow soldering process, there is a heat shrinkage variance between the housing and the circuit

board which often causes deformation of the metal shell. In other words, side plate 16 of the metal shell cannot follow such deformation because of the lack of spring characteristics in reinforcing member 14. The result is that a stress is exerted on the soldering fillets 24. As a result, cracks or micro-cracks may be caused in the fillets and unreliable electrical connections with the other terminals of the connector can occur. In essence, mechanical peel resistance is lowered due to the lack of flexibility or spring characteristics of the reinforcement members.

In addition, when reinforcement member 14 is soldered to circuit board 20, excess solder material may flow upwardly along the inside surface of vertical plate portion 14a of the reinforcement member as seen in FIG. 13. This excess solder material hardens and either reduces the width of the card-receiving cavity of the connector and/or creates an obstacle to smooth insertion of the memory card into the cavity.

The present invention is directed to solving this myriad of problems.

Summary of the Invention : An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a memory card connector with an improved circuit board mounting means or system. h1 the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector is designed for mounting on a circuit board and includes a housing mounting a plurality of terminals having contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card. A metal shell is mounted on the housing and combines therewith to define an interior card-receiving cavity for receiving the memory card. The metal shell includes a top plate defining a substantial portion of the top of the cavity.

At least one side plate extends along a side edge of the top plate and depends downwardly therefrom generally at a right angle thereto. A board mounting section is formed out of the side plate and is defined by a pair of horizontally spaced slits in the side plate. The slits are in a configuration to provide for maximum flexibility of and spring characteristics in the mounting section. A solder tab is integral with and projects outwardly from a bottom edge of the mounting section between the slits for securing the mounting section to the circuit board as by soldering.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the slits extend all the way from a bottom edge of the side plate at the soldering tab to a top of the side plate at the side edge of the top plate. The side plate and the mounting section are bent downwardly from the top plate, and the slits extend completely through the bend.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the mounting section includes an opening therethrough between the slits to increase the flexibility of the mounting section. The opening is elongated in a direction generally parallel to the top plate and the circuit board. The mounting section is bent downwardly from the top plate, and the opening extends along the bend between the slits.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the mounting section has a given width between the slits longitudinally of the side plate. At least one of the slits has a generally inverted L-shape to define a slit end which extends toward the other slit and forms a narrow web which joins the mounting section to the metal shell to provide flexibility and spring characteristics for the mounting section. As disclosed herein, both of the slits may have generally inverted L-shapes to define the narrow web between opposing inwardly extending slit ends. The slit end or ends may extend inwardly at the side edge of the top plate.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, the inwardly extending slit end of one slit extends substantially across the mounting section toward the other slit to locate the narrow web at the other slit.

Finally, a feature of the invention includes providing the mounting section with a pocket in an inside surface thereof. The pocket accepts excess solder material during the soldering process.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings : The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a memory card connector mounted on a printed circuit board and incorporating a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a fragmented perspective view of a corner of the connector where the eject mechanism is located, with the metal shell removed;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, on a reduced scale, of the connector in conjunction with a memory card inserted thereinto; FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the connector as seen in FIG. 3 ; FIG. 5 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the front corner of the metal shell as viewed in FIG. 1 and showing the first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but showing a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but showing a third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but showing a fourth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but showing a fifth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but showing a sixth embodiment of the invention; and FIGS. 12 and 13 are views similar to that of FIGS. 5 and 6, but showing the prior art described in the"Background", above.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments : Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 1,3 and 4, the various embodiments of the invention are shown herein in conjunction with a memory card connector, generally designated 30, which is mounted on a printed circuit board, generally designated 32.

The connector includes two major components, namely, an insulative or dielectric housing, generally designated 34, and a metal shell, generally designated 36. The housing may be molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like, and the metal shell is stamped and formed of conductive sheet metal material. The housing and the shell combine to define an interior card- receiving cavity, generally designated 38, which has a card-insertion opening 40 (FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 3, the molded plastic dielectric housing 34 may be generally U-shaped (not shown) or L-shaped (as shown). In either event, the housing has a rear terminal-mounting section 42 which traverses the rear of cavity 38, along with a

longitudinal side wall section 44 which extends forwardly from one end of the rear section to define one side of cavity 38. The housing includes a bottom plate 46, and the overall housing has a bottom surface 48 for mounting on top of printed circuit board 32.

A plurality of terminals, generally designated 50, are mounted within a plurality of through passages 52 (FIG. 2) in the rear terminal-mounting section 42 of the housing. Each tenninal includes a tail portion 50a generally flush with bottom surface 48 of the housing for connection, as by soldering, to appropriate signal circuit traces 54 on circuit board 32. The terminals also have contact portions 50b at the distal ends of contact arms 50c for engaging appropriate contacts on a memory card, generally designated 56, such as at the bottom of the card.

A conventional push-push card eject mechanism, generally designated 58, is mounted on side wall section 44. As is known, the card eject mechanism is constructed with a cam slider 60, a cam pin 62 and a coil spring 64. Briefly, cam slider 60 has an engaging projection 60a which is engageable in a recess in a side edge of memory card 56 for sliding movement therewith. Coil spring 64 normally biases the cam slider in a direction toward card-insertion opening 40. One end 62a of cam pin 62 is engaged with side wall section 44, and an opposite end 62b of the cam pin is engaged within a heart-shaped cam groove 64.

The memory card is inserted into card-receiving cavity 38 until the card reaches its fully inserted position shown by phantom line 56A in FIG. 3. When pressure on the card is released, the eject mechanism biases the card back to position 56B. In this position, contact portions 50b of terminals 50 maintain electrical connections with appropriate contacts on memory card 56. A second"push"on the memory card causes the eject mechanism to bias the memory card back out to the ejected position at 56C.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a metal"fitting nail", generally designated 66, is fixed within a slot 68 in side wall section 44 of the housing. The metal fitting nail is secured, as by soldering, to an appropriate mounting pad on the circuit board. The fitting nail is similar to the metal reinforcement member 14 of the prior art shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 to the extent that it is L- shaped. However, the fitting nail is a separate member. The fitting nail is installed in slot 68 prior to assembly of metal shell 36 to the housing.

Referring to FIGS. 1,3 and 4, metal shell 36 is generally rectangular and includes a top plate 36a which defines a substantial portion of the top of card-receiving cavity 38. The metal

shell has a pair of side plates 36b and 36c which extend along opposite side edges of top plate 36a and depend downwardly therefrom generally at right angles thereto. Side plate 36b covers the outside of card eject mechanism 58, and side plate 36c forms the opposite side of card- receiving cavity 38. Side plate 36c has an inwardly turned flange 36d along the bottom edge thereof. A pair of engaging tabs 36e and 36f are stamped and formed out of top plate 36a and project downwardly into appropriate slots in the top of housing 34 to fix the metal shell to the housing. Engaging tab 36e is located at one end of the rear terminal-mounting section 42 of the housing, and engaging tab 36f is located near the outer end of side wall section 44.

The invention is incorporated in various embodiments of a board mounting section, generally designated 70 in all embodiments. Generally, the board mounting section is stamped and formed out of one or both side plates 36b and 36c (36c, for instance, in the drawings) in various configurations to provide for maximum flexibility of and spring characteristics in the mounting section. In all embodiments, the board mounting section is generally L-shaped in vertical cross-section and includes a body plate 72 in the plane of side plate 36c of the metal shell, and a soldering tab 74 projecting outwardly from the bottom of the body plate. hi all embodiments, soldering fillets 76 secure the board mounting section to an appropriate mounting pad 77 (FIG. 1) on circuit board 32. The mounting pad may be a grounding circuit pad to ground the metal shell.

With the above understandings, FIGS. 1,5 and 6 show a first embodiment of the invention. Similar to the prior art, the first embodiment includes a pair of slits 78 and 80 which are spaced horizontally or longitudinally of side plate 36c to define opposite sides of body plate 72. However, an elongated additional slit or opening 82 is formed in side plate 36c at the top of the mounting section and running in a direction generally between slits 78 and 80. This configuration forms a pair of narrow webs 84 which join body plate 72 to side plate 36c and provides for a significantly increased flexibility of and spring characteristics in body plate 72 of board mounting section 70.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an additional feature of the invention which may be present in all of the embodiments. Specifically, a concave receptacle or pocket 86 is formed in the inside surface of body plate 72 for accepting excess solder material which might flow upwardly along the inside surface of the body plate. By allowing the solder material to flow into the pocket, when the solder hardens, the excess material does not protrude inwardly into card-receiving cavity 38.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention and like numerals will be applied wherever possible to designate similar elements described above in relation to the first embodiment. Specifically, the second embodiment of FIG. 7 again includes board mounting section 70 having body plate 72 and soldering tab 74. The excess solder pocket 86 again is formed in the inside surface of body plate 72. However, in the second embodiment, slits 78 run all the way up side plate 36c from the bottom edge of the side plate to a top of the side plate at a side edge of top plate 36a. In other words, body plate 72 is bent downwardly from top plate 36a of the metal shell, and slits 78 and 80 extend completely into and through the bend, as at 88 (FIG. 7).

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the invention which is substantially the same as the second embodiment, except for the addition of an opening 90 formed in body plate 72 along the top thereof adjacent the side edge of top plate 36a of the metal shell. Like slits 78 and 80 in FIGS. 7 and 8, opening 90 extends into and through the bend between body plate 72 and top plate 36a of the shell. Whereas the second embodiment of FIG. 7 significantly increases the flexibility and spring characteristics of the mounting section of the prior art, opening 90 goes to another level and further increases the flexibility and spring characteristics by providing two narrow webs 92 about which body plate 72 can flex.

FIG. 9 shows the first of three embodiments which use slits which have generally inverted L-shapes. Specifically, FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention wherein slits 78 and 80 not only run completely to the top of side plate 36c of the metal shell, but the slits have slit ends 78a and 80a which extend toward each other along the side edge of top plate 36a of the shell. The inwardly extending slit ends form a narrow web 94 which joins body plate 72 to top plate 36a and provides for a significant increase in the flexibility and spring characteristics in the body plate of board mounting section 70.

In the fifth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10, only one of the slits 78 has an inverted L-shaped configuration to define a slit end 78a which extends substantially across body section 72 toward slit 80. This configuration of the slits forms a narrow web 96 which joins body plate 72 to side plate 36c of the metal shell. The body plate can flex about web 96 and, again, significantly increases the flexibility and spring characteristics in mounting section 70.

Finally, FIG. 11 shows a sixth embodiment of the invention wherein slits 78 and 80 have generally inverted L-shaped configurations to form inwardly extending, opposing slit ends 78a

and 80a. The slit ends form a narrow web 98 therebetween. Like the previous narrow webs 84 of the first embodiment, 92 of the third embodiment, 94 of the fourth embodiment and 96 of the fifth embodiment, narrow web 98 of the sixth embodiment in FIG. 11 significantly increases the flexibility and spring characteristics of mounting section 70, particularly body plate 72 of the mounting section.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.