Method and apparatus pertaining to movement of a SIM-card tray
View Patent ↗An apparatus comprises an assembly and a SIM-card tray configured to move, at least partially, into and out of the assembly to thereby selectively electrically connect and disconnect a SIM card that is disposed in the SIM-card tray to and from at least one electrical connector. A biasing member automatically urges movement of the SIM-card tray with respect to at least one of moving the SIM-card tray into the assembly and out of the assembly. By one approach this biasing member comprises a spring. By one approach this spring can serve to both automatically urge movement of the SIM-card tray into the assembly and out of the assembly. These teachings will accommodate a SIM-card tray configured to accommodate a micro-SIM card. These teachings will also accommodate a personal communication device having the aforementioned components.
1. An apparatus comprising:
an assembly;
a SIM-card tray configured to move, at least partially, into and out of the assembly to thereby selectively electrically connect and disconnect a SIM card that is disposed in the SIM-card tray to and from at least one electrical connector;
a biasing member to urge movement of the SIM-card tray with respect to moving the SIM-card tray both into the assembly and out of the assembly.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the SIM card comprises a micro-SIM card and wherein the SIM-card tray is configured to conformably receive the micro-SIM card.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biasing member is configured to automatically urge movement of the SIM-card tray.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a first end of the spring moves with the SIM-card tray.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a liner disposed between the SIM-card tray and the biasing member to reduce friction between the SIM-card tray and the biasing member.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a portable communication device.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the SIM-card tray comprises, at least in part, metal.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the biasing member comprises, at least in part, an electrically-conductive material and hence serves as a grounding path for the SIM-card tray to thereby electrically protect the SIM card when the SIM card is disposed in the SIM-card tray.
10. A method comprising:
providing an assembly configured to receive a SIM-card tray;
providing a biasing member;
coupling the biasing member to the SIM-card tray such that the biasing member urges movement of the SIM-card tray with respect to moving the SIM-card tray both into the assembly and out of the assembly.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the SIM card tray comprises a micro-SIM card tray configured to conformably receive a micro-SIM card.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the biasing member is coupled to automatically urge movement of the SIM-card tray.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein coupling the biasing member to the SIM-card tray comprises pivotally connecting a first end of a spring to the SIM-card tray.
15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
disposing a liner between the SIM-card tray and the biasing member to reduce friction between the SIM-card tray and the biasing member.