The present invention relates to memory cards, and relates more particularly to a contact terminal for memory card plug connectors which prevents contact errors.
Various memory cards have been developed for connection to a card jack on a computer system for storing data. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the card jack, referenced by 1, comprises an insertion slot 11 at the front side, and a set of contact pins 12 for connection to the circuit board of the computer system. The memory card, referenced by 3, has a plug connector 4 for insertion into the insertion slot 11, and a set of contact terminals 41 mounted in the plug connector 4 for connection to the contact pins 12 respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the contact terminals 41 comprises a curved upper clamping section 411 and a curved lower clamping section 412 for contacting one contact pin 12. Because the contact pin 12 is disposed in contact with the upper clamping section 411 and the lower clamping section 412 at a respective contact point, the contact pin 12 tends to displace, causing a contact error. FIGS. 4 and 5 shows another structure of contact terminal for this purpose. This contact terminal, referenced by 42, comprises two substantially C-shaped clamping portions 420 at two opposite ends, and three longitudinal connecting portions 421, 422, and 423 connected between the C-shaped clamping portions 420. However, this structure of contact terminal is still not satisfactory in function. During the installation of the memory card, much effort must be given to the plug connector of the memory card against the card jack so that the contact terminals 42 of the plug connector of the memory card can be respectively forced into engagement with the contact pins 12 of the card jack. However, when the contact terminals 42 are forced into engagement with the contact pins 12 of the card jack, the contact pins 12 tend to be deformed or broken. Another drawback of this structure of contact terminal is that frequently mounting and dismounting the contact terminal will cause the longitudinal connecting portions to lose their elastic resilient material property. If the longitudinal connecting portions lose their elastic resilient material property, a positive contact between the contact terminal and the respective contact pin cannot be obtained.