US6145037A — PC card input/output device and PC card connector…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

A PC Card input/output device used for reading and writing data from and to a PC Card, comprising: a PC Card connector including a socket portion into which said PC Card is to be inserted, and a plurality of first connecting terminals which are disposed on an inner wall at the back of said socket portion and which can be electrically connected to a plurality of second connecting terminals of said PC Card inserted into said socket portion; a detecting means contained in said socket portion of said PC Card connector, to detect an orientation of an arrangement of said second connecting terminals inserted into said PC Card connector with respect to said first connecting terminals so as to generate a detection signal indicating said orientation; and connection switching means, responsive to the detection signal from said detecting means, for changing a connection between said first connecting terminals of said PC Card connector and a plurality of terminals to be connected to a circuit that exchanges said data from and to said PC Card.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

A PC Card input/output device used for reading and writing data from and to a PC Card, comprising: a PC Card connector including a socket portion into which said PC Card is to be inserted, and a plurality of first connecting terminals which are disposed on an inner wall at the back of said socket portion and which can be electrically connected to a plurality of second connecting terminals of said PC Card inserted into said socket portion; a detecting means contained in said socket portion of said PC Card connector, to detect an orientation of an arrangement of said second connecting terminals inserted into said PC Card connector with respect to said first connecting terminals so as to generate a detection signal indicating said orientation; and connection switching means, responsive to the detection signal from said detecting means, for changing a connection between said first connecting terminals of said PC Card connector and a plurality of terminals to be connected to a circuit that exchanges said data from and to said PC Card.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 115 words

The PC Card input/output device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a switch which is accommodated within a space defined by inner walls of said socket portion and a notch formed on said PC Card inserted if an upper and a lower sides of said PC Card inserted are oriented in a first orientation with respect to said socket portion of said PC Card connector, said switch mechanically actuated so as not to prevent insertion of said PC Card if the said PC Card inserted is oriented in a second orientation with respect to said socket portion of said PC Card connector, so that a switching state of said switch is changed.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 47 words

The PC Card input/output device according to claim 2, wherein said switch is mechanically actuated before said second connecting terminals of said PC Card inserted into said socket portion of said PC Card connector are electrically connected to said first connecting terminals of said PC Card connector.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 89 words

A PC Card connector comprising: a socket portion into which a PC Card can be inserted; a plurality of first connecting terminals disposed on an inner wall at the back of said socket portion; and detecting means contained in said socket portion, for detecting whether or not a plurality of second connecting terminals of said PC Card inserted into said socket portion is in one of two orientations relative to said PC Card connector so as to generate a detection signal indicating an orientation of said second connecting terminals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 89 words

A PC Card connector comprising: a socket portion into which a PC Card can be inserted; a plurality of first connecting terminals disposed on an inner wall at the back of said socket portion; and detecting means contained in said socket portion, for detecting whether or not a plurality of second connecting terminals of said PC Card inserted into said socket portion is in one of two orientations relative to said PC Card connector so as to generate a detection signal indicating an orientation of said second connecting terminals.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 110 words

The PC Card connector according to claim 4, wherein said detecting means includes a switch which is accommodated within a space defined by inner walls of said socket portion and a notch formed on said PC Card inserted if an upper and a lower sides of said PC Card inserted are oriented in a first orientation with respect to said socket portion, said switch mechanically actuated so as to not to prevent insertion of said PC Card if the upper and lower sides of said PC Card inserted are oriented in a second orientation with respect to said socket portion, so that a switching state of said switch is changed.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The PC Card connector according to claim 5, wherein said switch is mechanically actuated before said second connecting terminals of said PC Card inserted into said socket portion are electrically connected to said first connecting terminals of said PC Card connector, respectively.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 54 words

The PC Card input/output device according to claim 1, wherein said PC Card has a specific arrangement of said second connecting terminals with respect to said socket portion and is without an automatic switch means that changes electrical connection to said first connecting terminals in case of reverse connection to said first connecting means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 114 words

An electronic apparatus reading or writing data from or to a removable peripheral circuit, comprising: a plurality of first terminals; an internal circuit, electrically connected to said first terminals and communicating with said removable peripheral circuit via said plurality of first terminals when a plurality of second terminals of said removable peripheral circuit is connected to said first terminals; a socket orienting said second terminals to said first terminals; and a switch circuit connected between said internal circuit and two of said first terminals, and switching an electrical connection between said internal circuit and either of said two of first terminals in accordance with an orientation of said second terminals inserted into said socket.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 114 words

An electronic apparatus reading or writing data from or to a removable peripheral circuit, comprising: a plurality of first terminals; an internal circuit, electrically connected to said first terminals and communicating with said removable peripheral circuit via said plurality of first terminals when a plurality of second terminals of said removable peripheral circuit is connected to said first terminals; a socket orienting said second terminals to said first terminals; and a switch circuit connected between said internal circuit and two of said first terminals, and switching an electrical connection between said internal circuit and either of said two of first terminals in accordance with an orientation of said second terminals inserted into said socket.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said switch circuit switches electrical connection between said internal circuit and either of said two of first terminals before said second terminals connect to said first terminals.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 112 words

The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said switch circuit comprises: a detector detecting said orientation so as to generate an orientation signal; a inverter connected to said detector and inverting said direction signal as an inverted signal; a first switch element connected to said internal circuit and said two of first terminals and switching a connection between said internal circuit and either of said two of first terminals based on said inverted signal; and a second switch element connected to said internal circuit and said two of first terminals and switching a connection between said internal circuit and either of said two of first terminals based on said orientation signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 75 words

The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, further comprises an inlet spaced from said socket and from which said second terminals are inserted to connect to said first terminals, wherein said first terminals are disposed inside of said inlet, and said detector comprises a third switch disposed at a position where said third switch activates before said first terminals and second terminals are electrically connected when said second terminals are being inserted into said inlet.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said third switch disposed at said position where a tip of said third switch is between said inlet and said first terminals.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 113 words

The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said switch circuit comprises a third switch which is accommodated within a space defined by inner walls adjacent to said socket and a notch formed on a case of said peripheral circuit inserted if an upper and a lower side of said inserted peripheral circuit are oriented in a first orientation with respect to said socket, said third switch mechanically actuated so as to not to prevent insertion of said peripheral circuit if the upper and lower sides of said peripheral circuit inserted are oriented in a second orientation with respect to said socket portion, so that a switching state of said switch is changed.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-11-07	2004-05-08	2004-11-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-11-07	2008-05-08	2008-11-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-11-07	2012-05-08	2012-11-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

PC card input/output device and PC card connector for changing electrical connection to a PC card

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