Card Connector Slide Member Bulge Ejection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional card connectors face issues with memory cards jumping out during ejection, leading to potential damage or loss due to increased velocity and shock from the spring-urged slide member colliding with stoppers.

Innovation Solution

A card connector design featuring a bulge on the guide surface to slow down the slide member, which abuts on the bulge and stops at a stopper portion, allowing the slide member to tilt and release the card, preventing jumping and shock, and facilitating easy ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the slide member is urged by a coil spring to eject the memory card, then the ejection speed is increased, but the memory card may jump out forcibly causing damage or loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection speedVSAvoidcard ejection safety

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cushioning member (elastic body) between the slide member and the stopper to provide beforehand cushioning. When the slide member is urged by the coil spring during ejection, the cushioning member compresses and absorbs excess energy, preventing the slide member from jumping out forcibly and causing damage or loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning member serves as an intermediary element between the slide member and the stopper. It mediates the interaction by providing a compliant interface that absorbs shock and controls the ejection motion, preventing direct rigid contact that would cause jumping and damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If the slide member is urged by a coil spring to eject the memory card, then the ejection force is increased, but the slide member may collide with the stopper member generating shock and causing breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection forceVSAvoidshock and breakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning member is positioned to engage before the slide member reaches the stopper, providing beforehand cushioning that gradually absorbs the ejection force. This prevents sudden shock and collision that would cause breakage of the card or damage to electronic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful collision between the slide member and stopper into a beneficial controlled compression of the cushioning member. The harmful shock is transformed into useful elastic deformation that safely dissipates energy and protects the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the engagement between the memory card and the slide member is not released, then the card is securely held, but it becomes difficult to remove the memory card

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement stabilityVSAvoidcard removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a card locking member that can pivot between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to transition from a stable engaged state (for secure holding) to a disengaged state (for easy removal), resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The card locking member is designed to be movable and self-operating through the pivoting action. When the user applies force to eject the card, the locking member automatically pivots to release the engagement, enabling self-service removal without requiring additional manual manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 bulge on the guide surface effectively reduces the ejection velocity of the slide member, preventing the card from jumping out and minimizing shock, making it easier to remove the card without damaging the connector or its components.

Implementation Method 1

The slide member 801 is urged in a direction of ejecting the memory card (downwardly as viewed in FIG. 8) by a coil spring 802.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the slide member abuts on the bulge and decreases the moving velocity thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS7891997B2Connector for an electronic card

Publication Date: 2011.02.22 MOLEX INC

AI summary

A card connector (1) includes an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on the housing. A card guiding mechanism has a slide member for guiding the electronic card as it moves within the card connector. The slide member is moveable along a path between an initial card insertion position and a fully inserted position. An urging member urges the slide member in a direction opposite to the card insertion direction to thereby ejecting a card by moving the slide member. A shell is mounted on the housing and covers at least the slide member and a part of the electronic card upon insertion of the card into the card connector. One of the housing and the shell has a guide surface with a bulge projecting into the path of the slide member and upon movement of the slide member from the fully inserted position to the initial card insertion position, the slide member engages the bulge (62; 11j) to slow the movement of the slide member.