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| Self-monitoring system |
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| Architecture for a universal serial bus-based PC flash disk |
| OF THE INVENTION The present invention is of a flash memory device, containing one or more flash ... |
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| Reduction of nonspecific hybridization by using novel base-pairing schemes |
| OF THE INVENTION Definitions and nomenclature Before the present invention is disclosed and ... |
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| Emulating disk drives of a first system on a second system |
| The present invention is directed to an emulator and a method for emulating for emulating a disk ... |
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| Dynamically allocable RAM disk |
| OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a memory management system 10 used in the present invention. A ... |
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| Information processing system for sharing internal auxiliary storage device |
| It is thus an object of the present invention addressing the problem of the prior art described ... |
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Ejection mechanism
| Details |
Inventors: Law, David; Boyle, Dennis; Herron, Matt;
Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc. (Cupertino, CA)
Primary Examiner: Pirlot; David L.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Apple Computer, Inc.
A housing and ejection mechanism for PCMCIA electronic "smart cards" is disclosed. The ejection mechanism comprises a pair of cooperating lever arms and springs. When a "smart card" is inserted into the housing, the two lever arms pivot into the housing, extending an ejection spring. As the spring is pulled back by means of the lever arms, insertion of the card requires only slightly more force than would be needed to connect a "smart card" with its socket were no spring present. Full insertion of the card leaves the two lever arms coupled, but with only one of the lever arms locked in position. When the user triggers the ejection process, the two levers are mechanically separated and one of them applies the full spring force to the "smart card", freeing it from its socket and starting to push it out of the housing. After the first arm frees the "smart card" from its socket, it frees the second lever arm from its latch. The two lever arms then cooperate to push the "smart card" further out of the housing. Once the ejection spring is fully released, a second small spring reunites the two levers, preparing the mechanism for the next insertion of a "smart card". As only a small amount of force is needed to separate the two lever arms, a simple electronic ejection means can be used to trigger the ejection of the "smart cards". |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION In its first preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a housing for up to two cards and ejection mechanisms for both cards.
Although this first embodiment is illustrated as being capable of housing and ejecting two separate cards, this description will only discuss one of the ejection mechanisms in detail.
In this first embodiment, the construction and operation of the second ejection mechanism is the mirror image of the first.
In other embodiments, the different ejection mechanisms will not necessarily be identical.
As a card is inserted into the present invention and contacts a fitting on a wind lever arm, an ejection lever arm and the wind lever arm, which share a pivot point and which are severably coupled together, are pushed backwards into the housing, pivoting about the pivot point and extending a first ejection spring.
In the present invention, the user must supply only a small amount of force (about 1 lb.
) to insert the card.
As the card is fully inserted into the housing, the wind lever arm latches into place.
The ejection lever arm is not latched into place, but its severable connection with the wind lever arm prevents it from being swung forward by the first ejection spring.
When the user wishes to eject the card, a small ejection button is pushed.
Pushing this button breaks the severable connection between the ejection lever arm and the wind lever arm, allowing the ejection lever arm to begin moving forward about the first pivot point.
A small fitting on the ejection lever arm come into contact with the card shortly after the ejection lever arm begins moving forward and begins pushing against the card.
Given the geometry of the ejection lever arm, the first pivot point and the fitting which contacts the card, as well as the force of the first ejection spring, a large force, sufficient to disconnect the card from its electrical connector, is applied.
This large force continues to be applied to the card for a short distance.
As the ejection lever arm swings forward, the wind lever arm is moved a small sideways distance, which disconnects it from its latch
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