Memory Card Socket Torsion Spring Biasing Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional memory card socket structures face difficulties in detecting smaller memory cards due to the challenge of applying sufficient biasing force with reduced-sized movable spring pieces, while maintaining a sufficient stroke to accommodate dimensional tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A memory card socket structure incorporating a movable arm with a torsion spring, where the torsion spring is wound around a rotation shaft and engages with both a main arm and a sub arm, allowing for greater pressing force application while occupying minimal space, enabling reliable detection of memory card insertion through a switching circuit mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the movable spring piece is reduced in size to accommodate smaller memory cards, then the memory card socket can support smaller memory card formats, but the biasing force (contact separation force) becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from linear spring compression to rotational torque generation. The coiled spring is wound around a rotation shaft, converting linear displacement into rotational motion. This dimensional transformation allows the spring to generate greater biasing force through torque (force × radius) while occupying minimal space, resolving the contradiction between small size and sufficient force.
2Reliability
If the stroke of the movable spring piece is increased to accommodate dimensional tolerance, then the detection reliability improves, but the size of the movable spring piece must be larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts linear stroke requirements into rotational angle requirements. The rotation shaft rotates through a sufficient angle to detect memory card insertion while accommodating dimensional tolerance, achieving reliable detection without increasing the linear size of the movable component. The circular path of rotation provides the necessary stroke equivalent in a compact form.
3Device complexity
If a conventional linear spring is used, then the structure is simple, but the biasing force is insufficient for smaller memory cards
Solution Approach 1:
The coiled spring is pre-wound around the rotation shaft, storing elastic potential energy in a compact configuration. This preliminary action of winding the spring creates a ready-to-release torque mechanism that generates sufficient biasing force immediately upon activation, eliminating the need for complex spring assemblies while maintaining high force output.
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 provides a robust and space-efficient mechanism for detecting memory card insertion, ensuring reliable detection even for smaller memory cards by applying a greater biasing force, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
the rotation shaft of the movable arm is wounded with a torsion spring formed of a conductive material
Data Source
AI summary
A memory card socket structure includes an arm rotatably moved by an insertion and an extraction of a memory card into and from a card compartment and a memory card detecting function for detecting whether the memory card is inserted into the card compartment. The arm includes a main portion to be in contact with the memory card and a sub portion disposed opposite to the main portion with respect to a rotation shaft thereof, and is located at a rear side of the card compartment. The arm is engaged with a torsion spring whose first end portion is engaged with a first stationary contact but whose second end portion is engaged with the sub portion, whereby the main portion is biased by the spring toward an entrance of the card compartment.