Connector assembly for electronic memory cards, and read/write apparatus making use thereof

Claim 2

A connector assembly for a read/write apparatus in which an electronic memory card can be inserted, said memory card including a plurality of electrical contact tabs on one of its main faces, the assembly comprising: a connector, comprising a support having first and second faces and a plurality of electrical conductors in the form of resiliently deformable blades, said conductors being fixed to said support and each blade having a curved end with a portion for making a contact with a tab of said card and projecting beyond said first face and a second end which projects beyond said second face; an electronic circuit comprising an insulating support having a first face for making a contact with said second face of the connector and having a second face provided with electrical connections and with electronic components, and having means for receiving said second ends of the blade-shaped electrical conductors when said connector is fixed to said electronic circuit; means for positioning and for fixing said connector to said insulating support; and means for establishing electrical connections between said electical connections of the electronic circuit and said second ends of said conducting blades.

Claim 3

A connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said connector support further comprises means for positioning and fixing said connector support to a part of said read/write apparatus defining a guiding passage for the insertion of the card.

Claim 4

A connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said connector comprises at least two sets of conducting blades, with the blades in two adjacent sets being mutually parallel and with pairs of corresponding blades in the two different sets being in alignment, and wherein said connector support includes two hollows aligned in the general direction of said blades, with said curved end of each blade engaging in one of said hollows.

Claim 5

A connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein: said connector support is made by molding, with a mid-portion of each blade having support-forming material molded thereover.

Claim 6

A connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein: said connector support further comprises notches communicating with said hollows, such that the first end of each blade is disposed beyond said curved portion and engages freely in one of said notches.

Claim 7

A connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein: said connector support further comprises means for positioning and fixing said connector support to a part of said read/write apparatus defining a guiding passage for the insertion of the card.

Claim 8

A read/write apparatus into which electronic memory cards can be temporarily inserted, comprising: a connector assembly, including a connector comprising a support having first and second faces and a plurality of electrical conductors in the form of resiliently deformable blades, said conductors being fixed to said support and each blade having a curved end with a portion for making a contact with a tab of said card and projecting beyond said first face, and a second end which projects beyond said second face and an electronic circuit comprising an insulating support having a first face for making a contact with said second face of the connector and having a second face provided with electrical connections and with electronic components, orifices for receiving said second ends of the blade-shaped electrical conductors when said connector is fixed to said electronic circuit, means for positioning and for fixing said connector to said insulating support and means for establishing electrical connections between said electrical connections of the electronic circuit and said second ends of said conducting blades; a first part including a portion for receiving said connector assembly, a front portion for defining the top edge of an insertion slot for said cards, and two side portions for defining the two side edges of said insertion slot and two side walls of a card insertion passage, each of said side portions additionally including a fixing face; a second part including a front portion for defining the bottom edge of said insertion slots, two side portions for cooperating with the fixing faces of said first part, and a plane central portion for constituting the floor of said insertion passage; and means for fixing said first and second parts to each other via their fixing faces, said support of the connector further comprising means for positioning and fixing said support to said first part.

Claim 9

A read/write apparatus into which electronic memory cards can be temporarily inserted, comprising: a connector assembly, including a connector comprising a support having first and second faces and a plurality of electrical conductors in the form of resiliently deformable blades, said conductors being fixed to said support and each blade having a curved end with a portion for making a contact with a tab of said card and projecting beyond said first face, and a second end which projects beyond said second face and an electronic circuit comprising an insulating support having a first face for making a contact with said second face of the connector and having a second face provided with electrical connections and with electronic components, orifices for receiving said second ends of the blade-shaped electrical conductors when said connector is fixed to said electronic circuit, means for positioning and for fixing said connector to said insulating support and means for establishing electrical connections between said electrical connections of the electronic circuit and said second ends of said conducting blades; a first part including a portion for receiving said connector assembly, a front portion for defining the top edge of an insertion slot for said cards, and two side portions for defining the two side edges of said insertion slot and two side walls of a card insertion passage, each of said side portions additionally including a fixing face; a second part including a front portion for defining the bottom edge of said insertion slots, two side portions for cooperating with the fixing faces of said first part, and a plane central portion for constituting the floor of said insertion passage; and means for fixing said first and second parts to each other via their fixing faces, said support of the connector further comprising means for positioning and fixing said support to said first part.