Abstract: A memory card connector includes an insulating housing which at least in part defines a card-receiving space. An array of first terminals is mounted on the housing at a rear area of the card-receiving space for engaging appropriate contacts on a first type of memory card. An array of second terminals is mounted on the housing at a forward area of the card-receiving space for engaging appropriate contacts on a second type of memory card. At least one of the second terminals includes a body portion fixed to the housing. A resilient contact arm is cantilevered from the body portion. A contact portion is located at a free end of the resilient contact arm and projects into the card-receiving space. An extension portion extends beyond the contact portion to prevent the contact portion from projecting into any recesses in a surface of a memory card.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a support structure, with a molded plastic connector housing overmolded about an interface area between the support structure and the connector housing. A compliant layer is deposited between the support structure and the overmolded connector housing over the interface area to fill and seal the interface area when the molded plastic housing cures.

Abstract: A detection switch mounted in a card socket including contact members responsive to insertion of a card into the card socket. The switch includes two or more contact members of the same design, each contact member having a switch contact formed on opposite ends. The switch contact at one end has a front contact section formed in the card width-parallel plane defining a first switch contact. The switch contact at the other end has a rear contact section formed in the card thickness-parallel direction and defines a second switch contact in confronting relation with the first contact. Insertion of the card in the card socket causes the first switch contact to move in the card width-parallel plane toward the second switch contact in the card thickness-parallel direction so that the second contact is contacted and wiped by the first contact.

Abstract: A memory card connector includes an insulative housing having a rear terminal-mounting section and at least one side wall section extending forwardly from one end of the rear section and defining a card-receiving space therebetween. First and second switch terminals are mounted on the housing and have first and second contact portions, respectively. A third switch terminal is mounted on the housing and has a pair of third contact portions engageable by the first and second contact portions of the first and second switch terminals, respectively, in response to inserting a memory card into the card-receiving space. The third switch terminal includes an elongated base having opposite ends, with at least the opposite ends of the base fixed to the housing. A pair of contact spring arms are cantilevered from the opposite ends of the base, whereby the opposite ends form a pair of fulcrums for flexing of the contact spring arms. Free ends of the arms form the third contact portions of the third switch terminal.

Abstract: A memory card connector includes a housing (12) mounting a plurality of terminals (18) having contact portions for engaging contacts on one side of a memory card. A cover (14) is mounted on the housing (12) and defines a card-receiving cavity (16) therebetween for receiving the card in a given, normal orientation. A displacement portion (22) of the housing displaces the memory card toward the cover if the memory card is inserted into the cavity in an abnormal orientation. A stop (44) on the cover engages an edge of the memory card to prevent the card from reaching the contact portions of the terminals if the memory card is inserted into the cavity in the abnormal orientation.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of conductive terminals mounted thereon with pin portions projecting therefrom. A pin alignment plate has a plurality of apertures for receiving the pin portions of the terminals. The pin alignment plate is movably mounted on the housing for movement from a protecting position generally at distal ends of the pin portions to a pin-exposing position spaced inwardly of the distal ends. The pin alignment plate has latches for mounting a printed circuit thereon for movement therewith between said positions.

Abstract: A card connector for connecting different types of IC cards includes a housing for receiving an IC card for movement between a preload position and a latched position. A slider is movably mounted on the housing and engageable with the IC card for movement therewith between the preload and latched positions. A latch mechanism is operatively associated between the slider and the housing for latching slider in the latch positions. A lock member on the slider is engageable in a locking position with a lock portion of one type of IC card for locking the IC card to the slider, the lock member being movable to an inoperative position to allow an IC card of a second type which does not have a lock portion to be inserted into the connector.

Abstract: A memory card connector includes a housing mounting a plurality of terminals having contact portions for engaging contacts on one side of a memory card. A cover is mounted on the housing and defines a card receiving cavity therebetween for receiving the memory card in a given, normal orientation. A displacement rib is provided on the housing for displacing the memory card toward the cover and away from the contact a portions of the terminals if the memory card is inserted into the cavity in an abnormal orientation.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector with a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals having pin portions. A pin stabilizing plate has a plurality of apertures for receiving the pin portions and is movable from a protecting position generally at distal ends of the pin portions to a mating position spaced inwardly of the distal ends. A second connector is mateable with the first connector and is engageable with the pin stabilizing plate for moving the plate from its protecting position to its mating position in response to mating of the connectors. Complementary interengaging latches between the second electrical connector and the pin stabilizing plate move the plate back from its mating position to its protecting position in response to unmating of the connectors.

Abstract: A rear cover (1) for a telephone handset (2) is described. An inner area of the handset (2) is adapted to receive electronic circuitry (27) for the operation of the telephone. A portion of the rear cover is adapted to provide a housing (4) for a SIM card (5). The rear cover (1) is provided with electronic terminals (8b) adapted to enable electronic communication between a SIM card (5) and the electronic circuitry (27) within the telephone. The rear cover (1) desirably additionally provides a housing for a battery.

Abstract: A memory card connector has an interior cavity for receiving a memory card. The connector includes an insulative housing having a rear terminal-mounting section at the rear of the cavity. A longitudinal side wall section extends forwardly from one end of the rear section at one side of the cavity. The housing is mountable on a circuit board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the rear terminal-mounting section of the housing and have contact portions for engaging appropriate contacts on the memory card. A pair of switch terminals are mounted on the side wall section of the housing. One switch terminal has an elastic contact arm which may be engageable by the memory card received in the cavity and movable into engagement with a contact arm of the other switch terminal. A body portion of at least one of the switch terminals is engaged in a retaining slot in the side wall section of the housing.

Abstract: An ejection mechanism for an electronic card connector, wherein the electronic card connector includes an insulative housing for receiving an electronic card, and the ejection mechanism includes a slider slidably mounted on an arm portion of the insulative housing, a support portion extending from the arm portion of the insulative housing, a lock arm fixed at one end to the slider, wherein the lock arm includes a retention portion for engaging a corresponding slot of the electronic card during insertion and ejection of the card, and a horizontal portion supported on the support portion, whereby it can securely retain the electronic card during card insertion, yet allow easy removal of the electronic card during ejection.

Abstract: A receptacle connector assembly for an electronic memory card provides and maintains a well-grounded connection between cover plates of the memory card via resilient contacts of a ground contact of the receptacle connector assembly. A memory card includes two conductive cover plates sandwiching the receptacle connector assembly. The receptacle connector assembly comprises an insulative housing formed with two rows of terminal receiving cavities for receiving signal and ground terminals. A distal terminal receiving cavity includes first and second partitions defining first and second ground terminal receiving cavities for receiving first and second ground terminals, and an insertion slot for receiving a ground element. The first and second partitions are formed with a cutout. A ground element positioned in the insertion slot includes a body, two wings extending from opposite ends of the body, and resilient contacts extending from the body inwardly of the wings.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a dielectric housing having a mating end, a terminating end and a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending in a direction between the ends. A termination subassembly is fixed to the terminating end of the housing. The termination subassembly includes a circuit board and a plurality of terminal pins extending through the circuit board and into the terminal-receiving passages in the housing. A plastic pin holder is overmolded about portions of the terminal pins at the terminating end of the housing and about at least a portion of the circuit board.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for facilitating the interconnection of the conductors of a flat circuit. A flat circuit substrate is provided with a plurality of conductors thereon. A dielectric film on the substrate substantially covers the conductors. An opening is formed in the film to selectively expose the conductors. A layer of solder material is preapplied to the exposed conductors in the opening. Therefore, the opening can be juxtaposed with a mating conductor to facilitate interconnecting the conductors by an appropriate soldering process using the preapplied solder material.

Abstract: A right-angled electrical connector assembly is provided for connection to a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a terminal support member for supporting the assembly on an appropriate support structure such as a chassis of a right-angled electrical connector module. A plurality of right-angled conductive terminals have compliant pin portions and generally perpendicular contact portions. The pin portions have retention portions. A terminal pin alignment member is supported on the support member and includes a plurality of pin-receiving passages for receiving the pin portions of the terminals therethrough in a direction generally perpendicular to the support member for connection to the printed circuit board. The passages have retention sections for engaging the retention portions of the terminals. A contact alignment member has a plurality of contact-receiving passages for receiving the contact portions of the terminals therethrough to define a mating portion of the assembly.

Abstract: A mating detection system is provided in an electrical connector assembly. A first connector has a mating detection element integral therewith and movable from an unmated position to a mating detection position. A second connector is mateable with the first connector and has an actuator element engageable with the mating detection element of the first connector. The actuator element moves the mating detection element from its unmated position to its mating detection position and, thereby, visually indicates that the connectors have been mated.

Abstract: An electrical connector system is provided for a vehicle seat assembly which includes a seat frame movably mounted to a floor of a vehicle for movement between a raised position and a lowered position. The system includes a first connector mounted to the vehicle floor. A second connector is mounted to the seat frame and is mateable with the first connector. The second connector includes a protective shroud fixed to the seat frame and a mating portion movably mounted in the protective shroud. A motion linkage is connected between the mating portion of the second connector and the vehicle seat assembly for moving the mating portion from a protective position within the protective shroud to an exposed position for mating with the first connector, automatically in response to movement of the seat frame from its raised position to its lowered position.

Abstract: An IC card connector is provided for connecting an IC card having a terminal array and ejecting the card from the connector. A support structure has a receptacle for receiving the IC card for movement to a connecting position. An elongated push rod is linearly movably mounted on the support structure and is effective for ejecting the IC card from its connecting position, the push rod having an outer end. A push button is pivotally mounted to the outer end of the elongated push rod for movement between an inoperative position protruding colinearly from the outer end of the push rod and an inoperative position protruding angularly from one side of the push rod. An elastic member is coupled between the push rod and the push button for biasing the push button toward its operative position. A latch is operatively associated between the push rod and the push button for holding the push button in its inoperative position.

Abstract: A card connector assembly for receiving a card member is provided with an eject device wherein the eject device is assembled directly onto the support frame of the card connector assembly to thereby reduce the number of components, the number of assembly steps and the resultant manufacturing costs of the connector assembly. The card connector assembly comprises a card guide portion (5a), a connector portion (9) to be connected to the card member, a support frame (3) continuous with both the card guide portion and the connector portion and an eject device (2). The eject device (2) comprises a slide member (22) slidably movable along the support frame (3), a movable lever (35) operating in accordance with movement of the slide member (22) for moving the card in a direction away from the card connector (7), and a cam mechanism (10) for defining the sliding range of the slide member (22). A part of the cam mechanism (10) is provided directly in the support frame (3).