Dual purpose card edge connector

Claim 2

A dual purpose card-edge connector (10) for use with either a first printed circuit card (16), having conductive pads on one center-line spacing or a second printed circuit card (12) having conductive pads on a different center-line spacing, said connector comprising; an elongated, dielectric housing (20) having an elongated, outwardly open card edge-receiving slot (22) and one or more positioning means (34) in said slot, said positioning means (34) adapted to position the first circuit card (16) at a high level in said slot (22) and to position the second circuit card (12) at a low level in said slot (22); and conductive contact elements (24,26) disposed in said housing and extending alongside said slot and having contact portions (48,66) thereon projecting into said slot (22) at alternatingly high and low levels, said contact portions (48) at said high level adapted to engage conductive pads (14,18) on either the first or second circuit card (16,12) which may be inserted into said slot (22) and said contact portions (66) at said low level adapted to engage conductive pads (14) on the second circuit card (12) which may be inserted into said slot (22).

Claim 3

The connector (10) of claim 1 wherein the second printed circuit card (12) has notches (74) on one edge (78) and said positioning means (34) include transverse walls (34) extending upwardly in said slot (22) and which cooperate with the notches (74) to permit the second printed circuit card (12) to be positioned at the low level.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 2 wherein the outwardly facing surfaces of the transverse walls (34) are between the upper and low levels so that the first printed circuit card (16) abuts thereagainst upon being inserted into the slot (22).

Claim 5

A dual purpose card edge connector (10) configured and adapted to mate with both a first card (16) having a plurality of first conductive pads (18) arranged in a first spatial pattern and a second card (12) having a plurality of second conductive pads (14) arranged in a second spatial pattern, different from the first spatial pattern, said connector comprising: an elongated housing (20) having a card edge receiving slot (22) shaped to receive both the first card (16) and the second card (12) at respective times; a plurality of first contact elements (24) disposed in the housing (20) to extend alongside the slot (22) and having first contact portions (48) positioned to extend into the slot (22) to contact respective ones of the first conductive pads (18) above a selected level in the slot (22); a plurality of second contact elements (26) disposed in the housing (20) to extend alongside the slot (22) and having second contact portions (66) positioned to extend into the slot (22) to contact respective ones of the second conductive pads (14) below the selected level in the slot; and means (34) in the housing (20) for positioning the first card (16) at an upper level in the housing (20) at which the first contact portions (48) contact the first conductive pads (18) and the second contact portions (66) are isolated from the card (16) and for positioning the second card (12) at a lower level in the housing, at which the second contact portions (66) contact the second conductive pads (14).

Claim 6

A dual purpose card edge connector (10) configured and adapted to mate with both a first card (16) having a plurality of first conductive pads (18) arranged in a first spatial pattern and a second card (12) having a plurality of second conductive pads (14) arranged in a second spatial pattern, different from the first spatial pattern, said connector comprising: an elongated housing (20) having a card edge receiving slot (22) shaped to receive both the first card (16) and the second card (12) at respective times; a plurality of first contact elements (24) disposed in the housing (20) to extend alongside the slot (22) and having first contact portions (48) positioned to extend into the slot (22) to contact respective ones of the first conductive pads (18) above a selected level in the slot (22); a plurality of second contact elements (26) disposed in the housing (20) to extend alongside the slot (22) and having second contact portions (66) positioned to extend into the slot (22) to contact respective ones of the second conductive pads (14) below the selected level in the slot; and means (34) in the housing (20) for positioning the first card (16) at an upper level in the housing (20) at which the first contact portions (48) contact the first conductive pads (18) and the second contact portions (66) are isolated from the card (16) and for positioning the second card (12) at a lower level in the housing, at which the second contact portions (66) contact the second conductive pads (14).

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4, wherein the second card (12) has a plurality of third conductive pads (14) arranged in the first spatial pattern, and wherein the first contact portions (48) contact the third conductive pads (14) when the second card (12) is positioned in the slot (22) at the lower level.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 4 or 5, wherein the first and second contact portions (48,66) alternate with one another alongside the slot (22).

Claim 9

The invention of claim 4, wherein the positioning means (34) comprises at least one positioning member (34) extending at least partially across the slot (22).

Claim 10

The invention of claim 7, wherein the second card (12) defines at least one recess (74), each positioned to receive a respective positioning member (34), and wherein the first card (16) is configured to abut without receiving each positioning member (34).