Ic Card Or Card Member Patents (Class 361/737)
  • Patent number: 6820314
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification tag is made with a printed antenna coil integrated on a flexible substrate, and an integrated circuit area of the substrate adjacent to the antenna coil for carrying circuit elements. The radio frequency identification tag is designed to be sufficiently robust to withstand the rigors of mail efficiency processing measurement applications. Robustness is accomplished by encapsulating a sensing circuit formed on the flexible substrate thereby forming a semi-rigid area on the substrate and leaving the antenna portion of the substrate flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Post Corporation SC
    Inventors: Donald Harold Ferguson, Mircea Paun
  • Publication number: 20040223305
    Abstract: A microcircuit card (31) includes a microcircuit and a card body. The card body is formed of a base (10) in which is formed a cavity provided with a bottom and an internal part fixed in the cavity and to which the microcircuit is joined, the internal part and the microcircuit (12) together constituting at least a part of a second microcircuit card (11) including at least a part of the body of the second card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Lucien Amiot, Barry Mosteller
  • Patent number: 6816380
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for an electronic assembly. The electronic assembly has a first object created and separated from a host substrate. The first object has a first electrical circuitry therein. A carrier substrate is coupled to the first object wherein the first object is being recessed below a surface of the carrier substrate. The carrier substrate further includes a first carrier connection pad and a second carrier connection pad that interconnect with the first object using metal connectors. A receiving substrate, which is substantially planar, including a second electrical circuitry, a first receiving connection pad, and a second receiving connection pad that interconnect with the second electrical circuitry using the metal connectors. The carrier substrate is coupled to the receiving substrate using the connection pads mentioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Alien Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Lloyd Credelle, Glenn Gengel, Roger Green Stewart, William Hill Joseph
  • Patent number: 6816386
    Abstract: A compact card connector having reduced width and thickness is provided for receiving an information card whereby the information card has a narrow step-like recess along one of its side edges and a sliding identifier mechanism provided in a concave cut in the step. The card connector includes a frame that receives the information card, and an identifier detecting means for detecting a sliding position of the identifier. The identifier detecting means includes a suitably placed fixed contact member and a movable contact member which are mounted on the frame, with part of the movable contact member forming a projection for detecting the sliding position of the identifier, whereby the projection lies in an area within the housing space through which the step-like recess of the card is to pass. As the information card is inserted into the housing space, the projection touches an upper surface of the step-like recess and/or that of the identifier and works in the concave cut in the step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Oguchi, Toru Wagatsuma, Yoshimasa Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6814295
    Abstract: A data carrier (4) for the transfer of communication data (KD1, KD2) via at least two interface means (11, 12), having first interface means (11) for receiving a first communication signal (KS1), and having second interface means (12) for receiving a second communication signal (KS2), and having processing means (13) to which a first clock signal (TS1) derived from the first communication signal (KS1) or a second clock signal (TS2) derived from the second communication signal (KS2) can be applied for the processing of the transferred communication data (KD1, KD2), and having reset means (21) for resetting the processing by the processing means (13), now includes a first frequency sensor (22) which is adapted to supply first frequency reset information (RI4) to the reset means (21) when a first clock frequency of the first clock signal (TS1) or the frequency (FKS1) of the first communication signal (KS1) lies below a first lower frequency threshold (FU1), and includes a second frequency sensor (23) which is ad
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Posch, Peter Kompan, Peter Thueringer, Wolfgang Meindl, Klaus Ully
  • Patent number: 6813158
    Abstract: A computer main body has an opening for inserting and ejecting a PC card. The main body contains a card receiver for receiving the main body of the card inserted through the opening, and a receiving section opposed to the opening and adjacent to the card receiver. The receiving section receives a protector member. The protector member is movable between a reception position in which the protector member is received in the receiving section, and a projection position in which the protector member projects to an outside of the main body through the opening. The protector member is locked in the projection position by a lock member, thereby protecting the antenna portion of the card, which projects to the outside through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: KabushikI Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Yanagi
  • Patent number: 6805297
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to enable to prevent an erroneous erase of a data stored or writing another data on the data as well as to enable to easily switch an erroneous erase prevention switch. A command generator 35, upon reception of a register instruction for checking a state of a memory card 2 received via an S/P & P/S sequencer, sets a state of an erroneous erase prevention switch 23 in a register and transmits this register content via the S/P & P/S sequencer 31 to a host computer. According to the register content from the memory card, the host computer decides whether a write protect is ON and executes a write inhibit processing when the write protect is ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Okaue, Yoshio Kondo
  • Publication number: 20040201969
    Abstract: Method for packaging small size memory cards A method is disclosed for packaging a small size memory card, including xD Picture card, Memory Stick™, Secure Digital™ (SD) card, SmartMedia™ (SM) card, Multimedia card (MMC), CompactFlash™ (CF) card and PC card, by moulding over to encapsulate a populated printed circuit board (PCB) (10) to form the standard external dimensions and features of the memory card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Piau Fong, Chee Kiang Yew, Colin Lum Chun Sing, Matthew Chua Keng Siew
  • Patent number: 6803114
    Abstract: The invention involves a card, including a card body including at least three laminated plastic layers directly superimposed on each other, a second layer being a layer in polyethylene terephthalate glycol placed between a first layer and a third layer, the first layer and third layer being of a chemical nature different from that of said second layer, and an electronic module being incorporated in a cavity of the card body, the module including an integrated circuit, where the thickness of the second layer is of the same order of magnitude as that of the first and third layers, and wherein the cavity extends into the second layer from the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Systemes
    Inventors: Denis Vere, Eric Daniel
  • Patent number: 6802453
    Abstract: A command generator 35, upon reception of a register instruction for checking a state of a memory card 2 received via an S/P & P/S sequencer, sets a state of an erroneous erase prevention switch 23 in a register and transmits this register content via the S/P & P/S sequnecer 31 to a host computer. According to the register content from the memory card, the host computer decides whether a write protect is ON and executes a write inhibit processing when the write protect is ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Okaue, Yoshio Kondo
  • Publication number: 20040190267
    Abstract: Of an IC card, an IC is mounted on a surface of a circuit board (FPC) including a hard plate member that is attached on the other surface of the circuit board. Both surfaces of the circuit board having the IC and plate member are covered by a hard material member of electric insulating. Therefore, stress load applied to the IC can be restricted. Further, the circuit board along with the hard material member is divided into multiple portions that are connected using a flexible electric wiring. This can provide sufficient flexibility to the IC card, resulting in enhancement of a preventive effect in breakage or damage of the IC card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terutaka Maruyama, Mitsuru Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20040185685
    Abstract: A multifunction IC card (MFC) has compatibility with a multimedia card, an SD card, etc. in that connector terminals (#1 through #13) are disposed on a card substrate (1) in two rows in a zigzag fashion, and realizes multifunction facilities in that a memory card unit (3) and an SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card unit (4) are respectively exclusively connected and mounted to predetermined terminals of the connector terminals (#1 through #13). The memory card unit (3) and the SIM card unit (4) are respectively separately provided with areas for storing secrete codes for security. Thus, one IC card is capable of implementing multifunction facilities different in security level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicants: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nishizawa, Haruji Ishihara, Atsushi Shiraishi, Yosuke Yukawa
  • Patent number: 6792256
    Abstract: A radio card sized for insertion into an electronic device. The radio card includes a housing; a radio circuit disposed within the housing; an internal antenna coupled to the radio circuit; at least one external antenna contact, disposed on the housing, coupled to the radio circuit; an electrical interface, disposed on the housing at a location physically separate from that of the at least one external antenna contact; and the at least one external antenna contact and the electrical interface automatically engaging the electronic device upon insertion of the radio card into the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick W. Kinney, Ronald L. Mahany, Guy J. West
  • Publication number: 20040174683
    Abstract: A card is adapted to be interfaced to a receptacle that is part of a computer device. The card includes a body configured to fit substantially entirely within the receptacle, and at least one circuit mounted within the body and adapted to transmit and/or receive data in accordance with a USB standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Steven B. McGowan
  • Patent number: 6788550
    Abstract: A circuit card retention device includes a longitudinal retention bar hinge-mounted to a support member of a computer enclosure or chassis. First and second hand-releasable lock members are attached to the retention bar at either end. Each lock member includes a flexible stop. When the retention bar is in a retaining position, the flexible stops engage a substantially rigid surface of the enclosure or chassis, keeping the bar in the retaining position. The flexible stops may be disengaged from the rigid surface by application of finger pressure, allowing the retention bar to pivot from the retaining position to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ronald Paul Dean, Kristina L Mann, Clint E. Conrady, James Bullington
  • Patent number: 6783399
    Abstract: A slot with a modified case to accommodate various types of flash memory cards having different sizes is disclosed. The slot includes a slot case divided into upper and lower spaces, and having an insert hole at its front face, a door being opened when the flash memory card is inserted into the insert hole, an elastic element for biasing the door to be closed, first insert guide faces for directing the flash memory card into the lower space, second insert guide faces positioned behind the first insert guide faces to guide the flash memory card passed over the first insert guide faces, slide faces for directing the flash memory card into the upper space, a plurality of insert guides into which the flash memory card inserted along the first and second insert guide faces and the slide faces are fitted, and a plurality of electrodes including contacts corresponding to pins of the flash memory card fitted in the plurality of insert guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., LTD
    Inventor: Ii-Kweon Joung
  • Patent number: 6783076
    Abstract: A memory card is disclosed which has a card body (2) having a concavity (9) formed at the forward end thereof in the inserting direction and in which terminals (5) are disposed and projections (10) are formed between the terminals (5) to prevent the terminals (5) from being touched or accessed from outside. A receptacle for the memory card is also disclosed. The memory card has a simple structure designed to positively protect the terminals and easily let out dust or the like from inside, thereby permitting to assure a positive connection with the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Kondo, Toshiharu Kobayashi, Takumi Okaue, Akira Sassa
  • Patent number: 6784526
    Abstract: According to the present invention, for a module in which a plurality of integrated circuit devices are mounted in parallel, the inductance generated by the unit length of a branched signal line on a motherboard is so set that it is smaller for a branched signal line a longer distance from its branching point to its distal end, and is so set that it is larger for a branched signal line having a shorter distance from its branching point to its distal end, so that the time required for transmission of a signal from the branching point to the distal end of each branched signal line is the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tsutomu Mezawa
  • Patent number: 6783077
    Abstract: A conductor track supporting layer for laminating inside a chip card includes at least one conductor track and connecting areas that are connected to the conductor track. The conductor track is applied to the conductor track supporting layer during a screen printing method and is made of a screen printing paste. The conductor track supporting layer has indentations which are located in the area of the connecting areas and which are filled with the screen printing paste during the screen printing process. As a result, it is possible to produce conductor track supporting layers provided with connecting areas of varying thicknesses which enable the production of recesses in the chip cards, after the conductor track supporting layers are laminated in chip cards. These recesses expose the connecting i, areas for connection to electronic components. And, the sensitive strip conductors, also located in the chip card, are prevented from becoming damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ORGA Kartensysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Fannasch
  • Patent number: 6783926
    Abstract: A device for establishing electrical connection between at least one contact pad on an integrated circuit (IC) card and corresponding conductive elements of a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of evenly aligned brush contacts comprised in the PCB. An optional housing is adapted to apply pressure to the inserted card to press the contact pad of said card against the contacts comprised in the PCB. Each contact comprised in the PCB comprises a contact leg and a contact head that is attached to an open end of said contact leg. The contact legs are created and made flexible by removing unwanted parts of the PCB thus creating desired gaps between said contact legs. The contact head is created by attaching a conductor to the open end of a contact leg. The housing and the PCB together define a card insertion plane therebetween having a card insertion ingress at a front boundary thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth Reece
  • Patent number: 6784527
    Abstract: Charge prevention patterns disposed on one surface of a circuit board and electrolytic plating patterns disposed on the other surface of the circuit board are disposed in a zigzag pattern in end surfaces of the substrate. The thickness of a coating layer is smaller than the thickness of a card case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Minoru Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 6781828
    Abstract: A display having a detachable TV card is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Alpha WU
    Inventor: Shain-Li Yang
  • Patent number: 6781846
    Abstract: An IC card adapted to be removably inserted into a slot of an IC card mountable device, including a card housing formed like a substantially rectangular card with an inside space defined therein, the card housing having a plurality of openings through a wall of the card housing; a printed wiring board accommodated in the card housing; and a plurality of electronic components mounted on the printed wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masumi Suzuki, Minoru Hirano
  • Patent number: 6778384
    Abstract: According to this invention, when a user presses a manipulation part, a slider is pressed to a cardholder integrated with the manipulation part to move against a spring force of coil springs, which releases engagement of a protruding part at a center of a heart-shaped cam with a pin. When the manipulation part is released from being pressed, the cardholder is pushed out by the coil springs through the slider, and the manipulation part protrudes from a surface of an instrument panel. When the user holds the manipulation part to pull it out, a force acts on second pawls from first pawls through slant faces, which bends rods to release engagement of the first pawls with the second pawls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiko Kashiwabara, Hiroyuki Miyaguchi, Nobuaki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6778407
    Abstract: A portable data carrier includes a card-shaped body having a recess for receiving a chip module. The chip module includes at least one semiconductor chip on a first main side of a chip carrier connected to the card-shaped body, and a metallization layer disposed on a second main side of the chip carrier and having contact lugs. The chip carrier has desired bending points which, upon the occurrence of bending stresses, reduce forces on the semiconductor chip and wire connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Fischer, Manfred Fries, Frank Püschner, Annemarie Seidl
  • Patent number: 6772955
    Abstract: A memory card includes a first nonvolatile memory, a second nonvolatile memory, and a separating portion. The first nonvolatile memory has a predetermined erase unit. The second nonvolatile memory has an erase unit that is larger than the erase unit of the first nonvolatile memory. The separating portion separates at least the portion of the program data that are downloaded onto the memory card that has the possibility of being rewritten, and stores the separated portion onto the first nonvolatile memory and stores the remaining portion onto the second nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Yoshimoto, Takayuki Tanaka, Miki Mizushima, Ryouichi Sugita, Takafumi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20040150962
    Abstract: A chip card having a chip card body, a semiconductor chip and a carrier substrate, the carrier substrate being provided on both sides with surface contacts and with contact-hole lines electrically connecting the upper and lower surface contacts to one another. The contact-hole lines are arranged so close to the edge of the carrier substrate that their lower ends open out into a base of an outer cavity, where they are closed off, to thereby prevent moisture from penetrating into the inner cavity, in which the semiconductor chip is located, without it being necessary to produce a dedicated cover for the contact-hole lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Erik Heinemann, Frank Pueschner
  • Patent number: 6771509
    Abstract: An add-on cartridge structure for electronic devices having a housing formed from upper and lower case sections. The upper case is typically made from plastic and has a conductive layer formed on inside surfaces, while the lower case is made from a metallic material such as aluminum. A wall-like mating member is disposed on an outer edge of the lower case, and mates with the sides of the upper case to form a nearly rectangular cross section housing. The double conductive layer formed by the outside surface of the mating member and the inside surface of the upper case prevents leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the cartridge. Furthermore, high frequency noise is prevented by grounding both the signal ground of the printed circuit board and the frame ground at multiple locations. The conductive layer has a surface break caused by a through-hole through which the printed circuit board plug protrudes to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Wakabayashi, Chitoshi Takayama, Tadashi Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 6768644
    Abstract: A compact flash (CF) card includes, in a front portion, a space-entering portion that enters the space between a top plate and a bottom plate provided on the upper and lower sides of connecting terminal pins arranged at the front end of a CF-card storage section of a PC card adapter. The connecting terminal pins are protected by the top plate and the bottom plate. The CF card storage section of the PC card adapter has an opening in the upper surface on the card insertion side. An upper portion of the CF card that is exposed from the opening includes a tall portion having a greater height than the space-entering portion. The CF card can be loaded in a PC card adapter having a simple structure, and taller electronic components can be mounted in the tall portion, than in a CF card which is equal in height to the space-entering portion over the entire range from the front end to the rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Kakinoki, Hiroaki Fukuchi, Masanori Tsubono
  • Patent number: 6768645
    Abstract: An IC card (10) incorporating a semiconductor memory. The IC card comprises a substantially rectangular card body (11), a terminal section (12) provided at the distal end of the card body (11), which is to be first inserted into an apparatus, and an identification recess made in a proximal end of the card body (11), which is opposite to the distal end. The user can determine the specification of the IC card by touching the identification recess (25) with the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Kadonaga
  • Publication number: 20040141294
    Abstract: An add-on cartridge structure for electronic devices having a housing formed from upper and lower case sections. The upper case is typically made from plastic and has a conductive layer formed on inside surfaces, while the lower case is made from a metallic material such as aluminum. A wall-like mating member is disposed on an outer edge of the lower case, and mates with the sides of the upper case to form a nearly rectangular cross section housing. The double conductive layer formed by the outside surface of the mating member and the inside surface of the upper case prevents leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the cartridge. Furthermore, high frequency noise is prevented by grounding both the signal ground of the printed circuit board and the frame ground at multiple locations. The conductive layer has a surface break caused by a through-hole through which the printed circuit board plug protrudes to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Kenichi Wakabayashi, Chitoshi Takayama, Tadashi Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 6765803
    Abstract: A socket that secures bare and minimally packaged semiconductor devices substantially perpendicularly relative to a carrier substrate. The socket includes intermediate conductive elements and a member which moves the intermediate conductive elements between an insertion position and a biased position. After placement of the intermediate conductive elements into an insertion position, a semiconductor device may be inserted into a receptacle of the socket with minimal insertion force. Movement of the member to a biased position facilitates biasing of the intermediate conductive elements against a bond pad of the semiconductor device. The intermediate conductive elements establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate. A first embodiment of the socket includes a member which moves transversely relative to the remainder of the socket. In a second embodiment of the socket, the member moves vertically relative to the socket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Larry D. Kinsman, Walter L. Moden
  • Patent number: 6763410
    Abstract: A portable USB memory device has a housing, a memory and driver board and a USB plug. The memory and driver board has a memory IC, a driver IC and some electronic components so that the thickness of the memory device is decreased and the memory device is only 3 times larger than the USB plug. The memory device is small enough small to adapt to mount in an external housing, which further is adapted to attach to other devices like key chains, belts, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Walton Advanced Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Hong-Chi Yu
  • Patent number: 6762930
    Abstract: A form factor card compatible for use with a host electronic device that is capable of communicating a status of the form factor card to a user of the host electronic device. The form factor card comprises an adapter region for interfacing the card with the host electronic device, an on-card electronic device for performing a task for the host electronic device, an on-card intelligent controller, and an indicator in communication with the on-card intelligent controller to communicate an operational status of the form factor card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mark W. Minne′
  • Patent number: 6762939
    Abstract: A bottom heat dissipating device may be attached to a bottom surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). A top surface of the bottom heat dissipating device may be thermally coupled with a backside surface of one or more electronic components mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. A top heat dissipating device may be attached to a top surface of the PCB. The top heat dissipating device may be thermally coupled with the bottom heat dissipating device through a thermally conductive coupling member to provide a conductive path for heat transfer from the bottom heat dissipating device to the top heat dissipating device. An opening adjacent to an edge of the thermally conductive coupling member may allow air flow between the top and bottom heat dissipating devices. The PCB may be part of a mezzanine card, such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) mezzanine card (PMC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Summers, Javíer Leija
  • Patent number: 6760228
    Abstract: A circuit card includes a key receptacle and at least one movable braking member, holding the circuit card in place within a card receptacle of an electronic device when a key is not fully inserted within the key receptacle. When the key is so inserted, the circuit card can be easily removed. Preferably, the key includes a releasable latch holding the key within the key receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hye Suk Chi, Timothy Wayne Crockett, Albert Vincent Makley
  • Patent number: 6759754
    Abstract: A CF card (1) comprises: a casing constituted by two panel plates (2, 2) and a frame (3); and a printed wiring board (4) accommodated in the casing. A plurality of claw-like engaging parts (5) are provided to the peripheries of the panel plates (2). When the CF card (1) is assembled, the engaging parts (5) of the first panel plate (2) are inserted into through holes of a long groove (8) provided in the frame (3) and then the printed wiring board (4) is mounted on the panel plate (2) located at the inside of the frame (3). Thereafter, the engaging parts (5) of the second panel plate (2) are inserted into the through holes of the long groove (8) from the surface located in the opposite side of the frame (3). There are two types of engaging parts (5): one having lances and the other having holes. Inside the through holes, the lances of the engaging parts (5) of one panel plate (2) are inserted into the holes of the engaging parts (5) of the other panel plate (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd., Sanwa Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Nishizawa, Hideki Tanaka, Yuichiro Yamada, Tomoaki Kudaishi, Akira Katsumata
  • Patent number: 6757172
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprises a body and a holder for holding a card. The holder is supported on the body, and is movable between a first position in which it is held in the body and a second position in which it is disengaged from the body. The body has an engaging portion. The engaging portion is removably caught by the card in the holder when the holder is rocked to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takeshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6754083
    Abstract: A compact flash card device includes a board received in a housing, an L-shaped antenna member attached to the board and received in the housing, and a cover secured to the housing, to retain the antenna member and the board in the housing. Both the antenna member and the circuit board may be received and concealed within the housing such that the antenna member will not be exposed and will not increase the volume of the CF card device, and will not be stricken by the other objects, and will not be disengaged from the housing of the card device. A welding member may further solidly secure the antenna member to the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Global Sun Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Lin
  • Publication number: 20040109294
    Abstract: A laptop computer (1) removably receives a plug-in combination unit (2). The plug-in combination unit includes a drawer (20), an extension device (4) such as a CD-ROM or disk drive, and an antenna assembly (3). The drawer includes a receiving space (21) for accommodating the extension device. A remainder space (22) is left in the drawer after the drawer accommodates the extension device. The antenna assembly includes an antenna element (31) received in the remainder space of the drawer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Hsien-Chu Lin, Chieh Chao Yu, Yung-Chien Chung
  • Patent number: 6746280
    Abstract: A signal adapter for memory card serving as a signal bridge for transfer data between a memory card and a computer, etc, mainly comprise a base plate and an upper and a lower board, which enclose a plurality of overlapped slot space for receiving memory cards in different measurements. The signal adapter may be transplanting to a generic card reader to become a low-cost universal card reader for reading various memory cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignees: Tai-Sol Electronics Co., Ltd., Carry Computer Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lien-Wan Lu, Chia-Li Chen
  • Patent number: 6738259
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that is capable of receiving a number of different types of flash memory cards using a single slot. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a slot to receive different types of removable memory cards. The slot includes a central region of a first height and outer regions of a second height. A plurality of electrically conductive contact areas are disposed within the slot. The apparatus may receive, for example, any one of a Smart Media flash memory card, a Memory Stick flash memory card, a Secure Digital flash memory card, and MultiMedia flash memory card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Trung V. Le, Robert W. Tapani
  • Patent number: 6735656
    Abstract: A PC card has a casing with upper and lower casing portions (12,11) wherein the upper casing portion is formed by front and rear casing parts (13, 14). The rear casing part has a forward edge portion (102) with forwardly-projecting fingers (29) that each has a free front end. The front casing part has a rear edge portion (104) with a location (112) that lies on top of the forward edge portion to prevent downward movement of the rear edge portion, and with the rear edge portion having downward recesses (49) parts with bottom walls (48) that lies closely under the fingers to prevent upward movement of the rear edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Brigitte Hanke, Gerhard Geiselmann
  • Patent number: 6729548
    Abstract: A memory card is disclosed which has a card body (2) having a concavity (9) formed at the forward end thereof in the inserting direction and in which terminals (5) are disposed and projections (10) are formed between the terminals (5) to prevent the terminals (5) from being touched or accessed from outside. A receptacle for the memory card is also disclosed. The memory card has a simple structure designed to positively protect the terminals and easily let out dust or the like from inside, thereby permitting to assure a positive connection with the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Kondo, Toshiharu Kobayashi, Takumi Okaue, Akira Sassa
  • Patent number: 6728111
    Abstract: An interface plastic housing assembly for memory cards includes a plastic housing in shape of a planiform rectangular body, a plurality of terminals that are disposed in the plastic housing and have connection legs adhered to a circuit board of a memory card. The characteristics thereof are that a supporting arm is provided at the two sides of the plastic housing, respectively, and at the bottom surface of the supporting arms is provided with one or more protruding pillars, respectively. In accordance with the above structure, the protruding pillars at the two sides of the plastic housing are fitted into positioning holes disposed in advance at an apparatus or the circuit board, so as to ensure steady positioning between the circuit board and the plastic housing for surface adhesion thereof, thereby reducing the defective rate of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: D&C Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yin-Tsair Ku
  • Publication number: 20040070952
    Abstract: An IC card and card adapters are designed so that the IC card of a specific standard (e.g., MMC standard) is compatible with IC cards and terminals of other standards (e.g., MS card standard and USB terminal standard). In the IC card (MMC), a controller IC, which is connected to a flash memory, includes a voltage pull-down detector, a mode controller, a USB-mode interface controller, a MS-mode interface controller, and an MMC/SD-mode interface controller. The card adapters suffice to have component parts which are easy in formation and low in cost such as wiring lines and resistors. The voltage pull-down detector of the IC card detects the voltage pull-down caused by the resistors, and the mode controller selects the USB-mode interface controller, MS-mode interface controller or MMC/SD-mode interface controller so that the IC card becomes compatible with the corresponding IC card standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicants: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Higuchi, Hirotaka Nishizawa, Junichiro Osako, Kenji Osawa
  • Patent number: 6721186
    Abstract: An electronic signal adapter module of a flash memory card is disclosed. A seat serves for storing one or a plurality of flash memory cards of different specifications. These flash memory cards use the same storage space in the seat and are inserted into the space at different timings. At least one substrate is combined with the seat. After the flash memory card is inserted into the seat, the substrate transfers signals between the flash memory cards and a reading and writing device. The feature of the present invention is that one end of the seat for being inserted by a flash memory card has two wings. Each wing is arranged with an elastic reed. By the reeds of the two wings, the flash memory card inserted into the seat generates an elastic force so that the pins on the flash memory card have preferred contact effect with the conductive elements of the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Carry Computer Eng. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Ji Yang
  • Patent number: 6719570
    Abstract: In a card-type portable device, a terminal board is provided in the terminal board mounting area of a circuit board. Terminal electrodes are provided on a surface of the terminal board. The terminal electrodes are arranged at a height position according to a device specification by setting the thickness of the terminal board such that the terminal electrodes are positioned at the specified height position even when the height position of the circuit board is freely set. Also, by placing the circuit board along the wall of the bottom of a casing, the space defined by the circuit board and the upper wall of the casing is increased. Accordingly, tall electronic components can be provided on the circuit board in the casing, while maintaining the specified thickness of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Tsuchioka
  • Patent number: 6717817
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tray-style flash memory drive that can be embedded in or externally connected to a computer system or a digital electronic product to enable the computer system or digital product to access various memory cards (flash memory cards). The flash memory drive includes a case, a base in the case, and a tray that can on the base. A circuit board is provided in the case, and the circuit board has a signal transmission unit and a plurality of contacts. A plurality of terminals is provided at the bottom of the tray. When the tray slides out of the base, and a memory card is placed in it, the terminals contact the I/O pins of the memory card. When the tray slides backward into the base, the terminals contact the contacts on the circuit board electrically. Thus, data stored in the memory card can be transmitted via the transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventors: Wen-Tsung Liu, Chin-Pin Yang
  • Patent number: 6717249
    Abstract: A non-contact type IC card includes an insulating film having first and second surfaces. A plane coil is arranged on the first surface of the film. A semiconductor element is arranged on the first surface of the film. The film has through holes which expose terminals of the plane coil and electrode terminals of the semiconductor element to the second surface of the film. A wiring pattern consisting of conductive paste is filled in the through holes and extends therebetween along the second surface of the film so that the terminals of the plane coil are electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the semiconductor element by means of the wiring pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Akagawa