US6132223A — PC adaptor card for IC stick

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

A PC adaptor card for connecting to contact pads of a IC stick, which includes a circuit board with front and rear ends and a plurality of conductive traces, a front connector lying at said PC card front end and having front contacts connected to said traces, and a cover with top and bottom cover halves that each includes a sheet metal cover part that covers said circuit board, with said sheet metal cover parts having vertically spaced rear ends forming a space between them, comprising: an IC stick connector mounted on said circuit board and having pad-engageable contacts connected to said traces; a guide that includes a rear cap portion that occupies said space between said sheet metal part rear ends, said rear cap portion including a horizontally-extending slot with at least laterally opposite guide slot side walls that closely guide said IC stick in movement forwardly into said PC adaptor card, with said IC stick connector being aligned with said slot so contact pads on the IC stick engage the pad-engageable contacts.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

A PC adaptor card for connecting to contact pads of a IC stick, which includes a circuit board with front and rear ends and a plurality of conductive traces, a front connector lying at said PC card front end and having front contacts connected to said traces, and a cover with top and bottom cover halves that each includes a sheet metal cover part that covers said circuit board, with said sheet metal cover parts having vertically spaced rear ends forming a space between them, comprising: an IC stick connector mounted on said circuit board and having pad-engageable contacts connected to said traces; a guide that includes a rear cap portion that occupies said space between said sheet metal part rear ends, said rear cap portion including a horizontally-extending slot with at least laterally opposite guide slot side walls that closely guide said IC stick in movement forwardly into said PC adaptor card, with said IC stick connector being aligned with said slot so contact pads on the IC stick engage the pad-engageable contacts.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

The PC adaptor card described in claim 1 wherein: said circuit board rear end is supported by said rear cap portion to maintain precise alignment of said IC stick connector with said guide slot walls.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 71 words

The PC adaptor card described in claim 2 wherein: said guide rear end cap portion has a plurality of forwardly opening slits, and said circuit board rear end has a plurality of rearwardly-extending tabs that each fits into a corresponding one of said slits, with said slits each having a vertical height about the same as the thickness of said circuit board to closely vertically position the circuit board rear end.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The PC adaptor card described in claim 1 wherein: said cap portion includes a downward slot extension of smaller lateral width than said slot and extending downwardly from a middle portion of said slot but not under said guide slot side walls.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 72 words

The PC adaptor card described in claim 1 wherein; said guide slot side walls form guide bars that extend forwardly beyond adjacent portions of said rear cap portion; said circuit board rear end has a center slot forming a pair of laterally-spaced board rear extensions that have free ends and that lie on laterally opposite sides of said guide bars, with each board rear extension engaged with said guide rear cap portion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 77 words

The PC adaptor card described in claim 1 wherein: said rear cap portion includes a rear wall part having an average longitudinal thickness of no more than one centimeter, with said rear wall part extending laterally across said space between said sheet metal cover parts, and a pair of guide bars forming said guide slot side walls and each having a longitudinal length of a more than one centimeter and extending rearwardly from said rear wall part.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 74 words

The PC adaptor card described in claim 1 wherein: said circuit board has laterally opposite sides; said rear cap portion of said guide has laterally opposite sides, and said guide has a pair of elongated legs extending forwardly from said opposite sides, with said cover halves having laterally opposite sides that fix the lateral positions of said legs, and with said legs having shelves that support said laterally opposite sides of said circuit board.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 168 words

A PC adaptor card for connecting to contact pads of a IC stick, comprising: a circuit board which has longitudinally-spaced front and rear ends and laterally opposite sides, said circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive traces thereon; a front connector connected to said circuit board front end and having front contacts connected to said traces; a cover which includes top and bottom cover halves with each cover half including a sheet metal part that covers said circuit board, with said cover halves fixed together around said circuit board, and with said cover halves having rear ends leaving a space between them; an IC stick connector mounted on said circuit board, said IC stick connector having contacts engaged with said traces; a guide that includes a rear cap portion lying in said space between said cover half rear ends, said rear cap portion having a longitudinally-extending slot with laterally opposite guide slot walls that closely guide said IC stick in sliding movement to said IC stick connector.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 168 words

A PC adaptor card for connecting to contact pads of a IC stick, comprising: a circuit board which has longitudinally-spaced front and rear ends and laterally opposite sides, said circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive traces thereon; a front connector connected to said circuit board front end and having front contacts connected to said traces; a cover which includes top and bottom cover halves with each cover half including a sheet metal part that covers said circuit board, with said cover halves fixed together around said circuit board, and with said cover halves having rear ends leaving a space between them; an IC stick connector mounted on said circuit board, said IC stick connector having contacts engaged with said traces; a guide that includes a rear cap portion lying in said space between said cover half rear ends, said rear cap portion having a longitudinally-extending slot with laterally opposite guide slot walls that closely guide said IC stick in sliding movement to said IC stick connector.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

The PC adaptor card described in claim 8 wherein: said rear cap portion has a rear face with a pair of laterally-extending slits therein that open in a forward direction, and said circuit board has a pair of laterally-spaced and rearwardly-projecting tabs that project into said slits.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 64 words

The PC adaptor card described in claim 9 wherein: said rear cap portion has a lateral middle with a forward extension thereat forming said opposite guide slot walls, and said circuit board has a center slot that receives said forward extension, with said slot forming a pair of rearward extensions on laterally opposite sides of said slot with said rearward extensions forming said tabs.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-10-17	2004-04-17	2004-10-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-10-17	2008-04-17	2008-10-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-10-17	2012-04-17	2012-10-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

PC adaptor card for IC stick

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