Card Connector Guide Slot with Variable Width for Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card connectors face issues with sudden jumping of memory cards during ejection due to concentrated stress and lack of support, leading to potential deformation or breakage of guide portions and unstable card positioning.
Innovation Solution
A card connector design featuring an electrically insulative frame base, a metal shielding cover with an elongated guide hole, and a card insertion guide with a narrow front, wide middle, and narrow rear sections, along with a U-shaped limiter member and compression spring, which guides the card insertion and prevents sudden ejection by distributing pressure and maintaining card stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a narrow elongated guide portion is used in the guide slot, then the card retaining member is constrained during movement, but stress concentrates at the guide portion causing deformation or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide slot is designed with varying widths at different locations: a narrow first guide portion for stable positioning, a wide second guide portion for stress distribution during ejection, and a narrow third guide portion for final positioning. This local variation in geometry allows each section to fulfill its specific function while avoiding stress concentration.
2Strength
If the guide portion is made wide to distribute stress, then stress concentration is reduced, but the card retaining member becomes unstable and vibrates during card insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The guide slot employs different width sections at different locations along its length. The narrow first and third guide portions provide stability during card insertion, while the wide second guide portion distributes stress during ejection. This spatial variation in geometry resolves the contradiction between stability and strength.
3Ease of operation
If a spring force is used to eject the memory card, then card ejection is facilitated, but sudden high pressure causes the card to jump out and damage the connector
Solution Approach 1:
The guide slot's wide second guide portion acts as a cushioning zone that limits the maximum displacement of the card retaining member during spring-driven ejection. This pre-designed geometric constraint prevents the card from jumping out suddenly, thereby cushioning against potential damage while still facilitating easy ejection.
4Ease of operation
If the guide slot allows full card ejection movement, then card removal is complete, but the card retaining member lacks support and causes vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The guide slot is segmented into three distinct portions with different widths. The narrow first portion provides initial guidance and support, the wide second portion allows controlled movement during ejection, and the narrow third portion provides final positioning support. This segmentation ensures continuous support throughout the ejection process while enabling complete card removal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures smooth card insertion and ejection, prevents card jumping, and maintains card stability by distributing pressure and using a resilient retaining portion to secure the card in position, enhancing durability and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the card ejector is forced by a spring member to push the inserted memory card out of the card connector
Data Source
AI summary
A card connector includes an electrically insulative frame base, which defines a card insertion space and a sliding slot at one side of the card insertion space, a metal shielding cover, which covers the card insertion space and has an elongated guide hole corresponding to the sliding slot, a slide slidably mounted in the sliding slot, an elastic member connected between the slide and the rear side of the electrically insulative frame base, a guide rod fastened to the rear side of the electrically insulative frame base to guide movement of the slide along the sliding slot, and a limiter member fastened to the slide and movable along the elongated guide hole of the metal shielding cover for guiding an electronic card into the card insertion space and holding the inserted electronic card in positive contact with respective metal terminals in the electrically insulative frame base.