Selectively engageable interface for circuit cards
US5517387A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 14, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R43/26
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An interface apparatus provides an auxiliary interface between an electronic base unit and a circuit card. The auxiliary interface apparatus may, for example, provide an RF interface between a notebook computer and a PCMCIA circuit card. The auxiliary interface apparatus comprises an auxiliary base connector attached to the base unit, an auxiliary card connector attached to the circuit card, and an actuator device. The actuator device moves the auxiliary base connector between a first position, in which the auxiliary base connector does not make contact with the auxiliary card connector, and a second position, in which the auxiliary base connector does make contact with the auxiliary card connector. The actuator device preferably comprises a rack and pinion device, where the auxiliary base connector is attached to the rack. A pinion gear engages with the rack to move the auxiliary base connector between the first position and the second position. The auxiliary base connector includes a convex, substantially hemispherical surface. The auxiliary card connector includes a concave, substantially hemispherical surface with a plurality of conductor elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.