JP3117191B2 - IC card connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for an IC card mounted on a device to which an IC card is inserted and used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is provided an IC card connector mounted on a device used by inserting and using an IC card. By the way, as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG.
The contact portions 2, 2,..., 3, 3,... Are arranged on the surface in two rows, and these contact portions 2, 2,.
Is connected to an IC (not shown) built in the IC. FIG.
(a), (b) is a front view and a back view of the IC card. IC
Each contact portion of the card 1 is distinguished for ground, power supply, and signal, respectively, and these contact portions of the IC card 1 correspond to each other when they are connected to a circuit in the device through an IC card connector. It must be connected to the ground, power supply, and signal circuits in the equipment to be used. That is, when the contact portions of the IC card 1 are arranged in a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction, and when the terminal portion of the IC card connector is not a soft landing type, each terminal portion is connected to the IC card connector. On the surface of the IC card 1 and is connected to each terminal which does not correspond to each contact of the IC card 1, causing a software problem.

[0003] In order to prevent such inconvenience, an IC card connector as described in US Pat. No. 4,976,630 has been proposed. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a conventional IC card connector, and FIG.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the IC card connector of FIG. 7 is longitudinally cut and the IC card is inserted and the terminal portions are in contact with each other. In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a chip card reader. The chip card reader 10 has a fixed frame 11 and terminals incorporated in the fixed frame 11 so as to allow mutual movement (sliding movement) between a reading position and an initial position. And a housing 12. The terminal housing 12 is provided with a plurality of terminals that contact the contact portions of the chip card. Also fixed frame 11
Is provided with a guide portion (slide mechanism) for guiding the terminal housing 12 in the vertical direction (insertion) direction in the drawing and in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface by guiding the terminal housing 12 on both sides of the terminal housing 12. The guide portion guides the terminal housing 12 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface when the chip card is inserted into the back side, so that the terminals of the terminal housing 12 contact the corresponding contact portions of the chip card for the first time. In the reading position, the chip card is held by the clip 13 which is in contact with the chip card, and at that time, the terminals are securely in contact with the contact portions of the chip card.

That is, when the chip card is inserted into the reader 10, the movement of the terminal housing 12 to the reading position is started, and the terminals of the terminal housing 12 are brought into contact with the contact portions of the corresponding chip card for the first time as described above. . On the other hand, when the chip card is pulled out from the reader 10, a sliding operation to the initial position is performed.

[0005]

In the prior art, however, guide portions (slide mechanisms) are provided on both sides of the terminal housing 12 to guide the terminal housing 12 in the vertical (insertion) direction in the drawing and in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Therefore, a space for the movable range in which the terminal housing 12 is slid is required, which has been an obstacle to miniaturization and thinning. In addition, the guide section (slide mechanism) requires a component precision and an assembly precision such that the contact section of the chip card and each corresponding terminal reliably contact at the reading position. In addition, a sliding terminal housing 1
2 are provided with terminals, and these terminals and the circuit board are connected to each other by, for example, a flexible printed cable (FPC).
14, the FPC 14 is required. In addition, the FPC 14 requires a connector to connect the FPC 14 to the circuit board. Was an obstacle.

An object of the present invention is to provide an urging force for a lever and
Regardless of vibration, the contact state between the terminal and
An object of the present invention is to provide an IC card connector which can be fixed and securely maintained .

[0007]

The above object is achieved by an IC card.
End that can be elastically contacted with a plurality of contact parts arranged side by side
A child part is provided in the housing, and with the mounting of the IC card,
Press each terminal part to the contact part of the IC card.
An IC card connector that transmits signals by contact
The one end is rotatably supported by the housing.
A lever engageable with and disengageable from each terminal;
With one end of the lever engaged with each terminal,
Each terminal section against the elastic force of each terminal section.
It will be in a position where it does not come in contact with each of the contact points on the IC card
Spring member and one end of the lever are opposite to each other.
Oblique to the insertion direction of the IC card
Formed on the card and pressed against the insertion end of the IC card.
Each of the terminals is configured to push the lever against the urging force of the spring member.
Card contact surface that rotates in the direction to
When inserting the IC card, the lever is
The terminals of the IC card are connected to each other by the urging force of a spring member.
Insert the IC card at a position where it does not come into contact with each contact.
Immediately before insertion is completed, the IC card is
And the lever is released from each of the terminal portions
Pivoted in the direction, and the lever detached from each of the terminal portions
After that, each of the terminal portions is formed by the elastic force of the terminal portion itself.
The problem is solved by a means pressed against the contact portion of the IC card .

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment I of the present invention.
2 is a side view showing a C card connector, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view showing an IC card connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state when the IC card of FIG. 3 is inserted, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state where the IC card of FIG. 3 is inserted and comes into contact with a terminal portion.

In these figures, reference numeral 20 denotes a housing, in which two rows of terminal portions 21 and 22 are insert-molded in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the IC card 1 (arrow in FIG. 2). These terminal portions 21 and 22
(For example, in this embodiment, eight lines are arranged in two rows of eight lines). One end is fixed to the housing 20, and the other end is formed in an opening 23 formed in the housing 20 from the opposed inner wall surface toward the center. Has been extended to. Moreover, each terminal part 21,22
Are bent upward in an arc shape at the tip of the contact portion 21a,
22a are formed respectively, and engagement portions 21b and 22b are further extended at the tip. Therefore, the contact portions 21a and 22a of these terminal portions 21 and 22 are not shown in FIG.
Are arranged in two rows near the center as shown in FIG. The contact portions 21a and 22a of these terminal portions 21 and 22 project from the bottom surface into the card storage portion 24 formed on the upper portion of the housing 20 by its elastic force. Further, the engaging portions 21b, 22b of the terminal portions 21, 22 are provided.
There is a gap between the engagement portions 2 of the terminal portions 21 and 22.
A distal end 25a of the lever 25 is disposed between the first and second levers 1b and 22b.

The lever 25 has the tip portion 25a, which is formed in a flat bar shape, and which is provided on both sides of the lower surface with the engaging portions 21 of the terminal portions 21 and 22.
.. are formed corresponding to b, 22b. A pair of turning arms 25c, 25c are formed integrally at right and left ends of the end portion 25a of the lever 25, and turning support shafts 25d, 25d are formed on outer surfaces of the turning arms 25c, 25c. Is protruding. These rotation support shafts 25d, 25d are respectively fitted into bearing portions 26, 26 formed on the opposing side surfaces of the opening 23 of the housing 20, and the lever 25 is rotatable about the rotation support shaft 25d. ing. The bearings 26 are formed by cutting out the inner surface of the opening 23 from the lower surface of the housing 20.
d and 25d are the respective bearing portions 26,
26. It should be noted that the bearings 26, 26 may be appropriately secured by a retaining member (not shown). Also, as shown in FIG. 3, an IC is provided at the other end (left end in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the rotating arm portions 25c, 25c of the lever 25.
When the card 1 is not inserted, inclined card contact surfaces 25e, 25e are formed to protrude deeper (left side in FIGS. 2 and 3) from the bottom surface of the card storage portion 24 of the housing 20. Reference numeral 27 denotes a leaf spring whose one end is held by the housing 20. The other end 27a of the leaf spring 27 is elastically contacted with the lower surface of each of the rotating arms 25c of the lever 25. 3, the lever 25 is urged clockwise in FIG. 3 around the pivot 25d. The spring force of the leaf spring 27 on the lever 25 is equal to the engagement portions 21b and 22 of the terminal portions 21 and 22.
The spring force is set to be larger than the spring force b, so that the state shown in FIG. 3 can be maintained.

Therefore, the card contact surfaces 25e of the lever 25 are pushed downward by contacting the lower edge of the leading end of the inserted IC card 1. Thus, the lever 25 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 around the pivot 25 d against the spring force of the leaf spring 27.

The terminals 21 and 22 are connected to the housing 2.
Projection connection terminals protrude from the lower surface of the circuit board 0 and are connected by soldering to a pattern of a circuit board (not shown).
Reference numeral 28 denotes a metal plate that covers the upper surface of the card storage portion 24 of the housing 20, and is in contact with the case of the IC card 1 and is grounded. Reference numeral 29 denotes a scratching claw formed on the metal plate 28, which is attached by scratching the scratching claw 29 to a locking recess 30 formed on the side surface of the housing 20.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the non-inserted state shown in FIG. 3, the contact portions 21 of the terminal portions 21 and 22 arranged in two rows are provided.
a, 22a are engaged with the engaging portions 21b, 22b of the lever 25, and the contact portions 21a are formed by the spring force of the leaf spring 27.
a and 22a are held at positions retreated from the inside of the card storage portion 24 of the housing 20. On the other hand, the card contact surface portions 25 e of the lever 25 protrude into the card storage portion 24.

From the state shown in FIG. 3, the IC card 1 is inserted into the insertion slot (right end in the figure) of the card storage unit 24. And
As shown in FIG. 4, when the leading end of the IC card 1 reaches the card contact surfaces 25e, 25e of the lever 25, the lower end of the leading end of the IC card 1 pushes the card contact surfaces 25e, 25e downward. It is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 around the pivot 25 d against the spring force of the leaf spring 27. The tip 25a is raised by the rotation of the lever 25, and the engagement recesses 25b,
25b engaging portions 2 of the terminal portions 21 and 22
1b and 22b (contact portions 21a and 22a) also rise due to their own elasticity, and as shown in FIG.
, 3, 3 of the IC card 1 loaded in the inside
(See FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b)). At this time, the contact portions 2, 2, ..., 3, 3 ... of the IC card 1 are already located at the contact portions 21a, 22a of the corresponding terminal portions 21, 22. That is, after such a state, the IC card 1
, 3, 3 and the contact portions 21a, 22a of the terminal portions 21, 22 are brought into contact with each other. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the distal end portion 25a of the lever 25 has been raised to a position where the engaging concave portions 25b, 25b... Are not engaged with the engaging portions 21b, 22b.

On the other hand, when removing the IC card 1,
When the IC card 1 is pulled to the left from the state of FIG. 5 to the state of FIG. 4, the card contact surface portions 25e, 25e that have been pushed in are raised by the spring force of the leaf spring 27, and 25 rotates clockwise in FIG. 3 around the rotation support shaft 25d, and when the distal end portion 25a of the lever 25 descends, the separated engaging recesses 25b, 25b.
The engagement portions 21b and 22b are pushed down by engaging with the engagement portions 21b and 22b, and are separated from the lower surface of the IC card 1 as shown in FIG. Therefore, after the state of FIG. 4 is reached, the contact portions 2, 2,..., 3, 3,.
2 and 2 above the contact portions 21a and 22a (the same applies when the above-described IC card 1 is inserted). Then, the state returns to the above-described non-insertion state of FIG. 3 (note that FIG. 3 and FIG.
The state of the lever 25 and the like is the same depending on whether or not the C card 1 is inserted).

In the above embodiment, the lever 25 is biased by the leaf spring 27, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a spring member such as a coil spring may be used.

In this embodiment, an IC card having one end fixed to the housing 20 and a plurality of contact portions 2, 2,..., 3, 3,. And ICs which are rotatably supported by the housing 20 and are inserted into the engaging portions 21b and 22b of the terminal portions 21 and 22, respectively. Contact points 2, 2, ..., 3, 3 of card 1
, And the lever 25 held by the housing 20, and the lever 25 is engaged with the engaging portions 21b, 22b of the terminal portions 21, 22, so that the contact portions 21a, 22a of the terminal portions 21, 22 are engaged. The contact portions 2, 2, ..., of the IC card 1
And a terminal spring 21 that is engaged with the lever 25 by the urging force of the leaf spring 27 until immediately before the insertion of the IC card is completed. Are held at positions retracted from contactable positions with the contact portions 2, 2,..., 3, 3,... Of the IC card 1. When the IC card 1 is further inserted, the lever is moved by the IC card 1. 25 is rotated against the urging force of the leaf spring 27, and the terminal portion 21,
By releasing the holding of the contact portions 21a and 22a at the retracted position, the contact portions 21a and 22a of the terminal portions are integrated with the IC.
Since the contact portions 2, 2,..., 3, 3,... Of the card 1 are pressed against each other, a space in the movable range in the IC card 1 insertion direction is not required as compared with the conventional slide mechanism, so that the size and thickness are reduced. be able to. Further, since the terminal portions 21 and 22 are fixed to the housing 20 without using a slide mechanism (guide portion) as in the prior art, the contact portions 2, 2,. Parts 2,2 ..., 3,3
And the contact portions 21a and 22a of the terminal portions 21 and 22 corresponding to.
The contact position with the metal is stabilized, and the reliability is improved. In addition, since the terminal portions 21 and 22 are fixed to the housing 20 without fixing the terminals to the sliding terminal housing as in the conventional case, there is no need for the conventional FPC and the connector for connecting the FPC, and the number of parts is reduced. , The assembly can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

[0018]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lever is
After detaching from the terminal part, the elasticity of the terminal part itself makes contact points
Because of contact, there is no
Stable and reliable contact between the terminal and contact
Can be kept.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an IC card connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the IC card connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an initial state in which FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the IC card of FIG. 3 is inserted.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the IC card of FIG. 3 is inserted and comes into contact with a terminal portion.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a front view and a back view of an IC card.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a conventional IC card connector.

8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the IC card connector of FIG. 7,
It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which inserted the IC card and the terminal part contacted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC card 2,2 ..., 3,3 ... Contact part 20 Housing 21,22 Terminal part 21a, 22a Contact part 21b, 22b Engaging part 25 Lever 27 Leaf spring

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 12/00-12/38

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of contact portions arranged in parallel with an IC card
Terminals that can be elastically contacted are provided on the housing.
Each terminal section is moved forward with the mounting of the IC card.
An IC that transmits a signal by pressing it against the contact of an IC card
A card connector, wherein one end is rotatably supported by the housing,
A lever engageable with and disengageable from the slave portion, and a state in which one end of the lever is engaged with each of the terminal portions;
Then, each of the levers is pressed against the elastic force of each of the terminal portions.
The terminal part does not contact the contact parts of the IC card
A spring member for urging the lever to be in a position, and the IC at an end opposite to one end of the lever.
The IC card is formed at an angle to the card insertion direction,
The lever is pressed by the insertion end of the
Rotate in the direction to separate from each terminal part against the urging force of
A card abutting surface for allowing the lever to be inserted into the spring when the IC card is inserted.
The respective terminals of the IC card are connected by the urging force of the member.
Do not touch the point, and insert the IC card
Immediately before completion, the IC card is pressed against the card contact surface.
The direction in which the lever comes off from each of the terminal portions
After the lever is disengaged from each of the terminals.
Means that each of the terminals is the elastic force of the terminal itself.
An IC card connector which is pressed into contact with a contact portion of a C card .