The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 11, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 23, 1994
Lawrence W Beason, Olathe, KS (US);
Sheldon T Wheaton, Olathe, KS (US);
Christopher J Hanshew, Lenexa, KS (US);
Garmin Communication and Navigation, Lenexa, KS (US);
Abstract
An electronic storage device having IC chips mounted upon a board, with the board surrounded by a card housing. A portion of the card housing is formed of conductive material and is electrically connected to the board to allow the board to be easily grounded to reduce damage due to static electricity. The card is operatively received in a receptacle having a bay sized to receive the card. Upon insertion of the card into the bay, a grounding contact grounded to the receptacle may engage the conductive portion of the card housing to ground the card prior to the card contacts being operatively connected. The card preferably has a shape such that it may only be inserted into the bay in the proper orientation. The receptacle may have a power switch located to provide full access to the bay in the power-off position, but blocking bay access in the power-on position. This ensures that the card is not inserted while the receptacle is activated, and that the receptacle is deactivated prior to removing the card.