Abstract: A universal grounding clip is provided for a card-receiving connector which is mounted on a printed circuit board. The connector includes a generally U-shaped housing having guide arms adapted to guide the outside edges of a PC card into mating engagement with the connector. The PC card includes grounding contacts along the outside edges of the card. The universal grounding clip is mounted on each guide arm and includes a contact portion on an inside surface of the respective guide arm for engaging the corresponding grounding contact at the edge of the PC card during insertion of the card and discharging static electricity from the card prior to complete mating of the card and connector. A grounding pad on the grounding clip is provided along a bottom surface of the respective arm and is adapted to be electrically coupled to a ground circuit on the printed circuit board. A grounding pad is also provided along a top surface of the arm for engaging a bottom ground portion of a top stacked connector.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a receptacle connector for use in an IC card assembly wherein the receptacle connector is adapted for mounting generally at an edge of a circuit substrate. A housing is provided with an upper surface and a plurality of terminal-receiving passages in a dual row configuration extend parallel to the upper surface. The circuit substrate is adapted to be located a given vertical distance from the upper surface of the housing. A plurality of receptacle terminals are inserted into the passages with surface mount tail portions of the terminals projecting outside the passages. The vertical distance between the circuit substrate and the top of the housing is determined. The tail portions of the two rows of terminals initially project in a generally straight planar array from a rear face of the housing.

Abstract: An IC card includes a circuit board having a generally planar substrate with at least one electrical component mounted thereon. A receptacle including terminals is mounted at an edge of the circuit board. A pair of cover panels sandwich the circuit board therebetween. At least one conductive ground clip holds the cover panels in assembled condition sandwiching the circuit board therebetween. A ground circuit on the circuit board engages the grounding clip. At least a portion of the grounding clip is exposed exteriorly of the IC card for engaging an appropriate ground on an appropriate mating electrical apparatus.

Abstract: A memory card which includes a circuit substrate having a generally planar surface, comprises a frame with an opening in one of a top or a bottom wall thereof for receiving the circuit substrate. A support structure on the frame supports the circuit substrate within the card. A cover closes the opening and encloses the circuit substrate and the electrical component within the internal card space created by the frame and cover. The support structure of the frame includes a plurality of shelves at different vertical locations within the frame to support the circuit substrate at different vertical levels to accommodate varying heights of electrical components mounted on one or both surfaces of the substrate. The circuit substrate includes a peripheral edge area with cutouts corresponding to only one of the shelves whereby only the periphery of the substrate need be modified for locating and supporting the circuit substrate at different levels within the card.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly operable by means of a force applied in a first direction and including a switch having an switch actuator member responsive to a force applied thereto in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The switch assembly further comprises a transfer actuator having a force receiving portion facing the first direction and an end portion flexibly connected at a first end thereof to the force receiving portion and at a second end thereof bearing against a surface slidably in the second direction. A tab connected to the end portion and movable therewith is operably aligned with the switch actuator member. A force applied in the first direction to the force receiving portion of the transfer actuator is transferred to the second direction to operate the switch. This is accomplished by means of the transfer actuator having a shape that flattens out when a force is applied thereto from the first direction.