JP4162509B2 - Card adapter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a card adapter that enables a plurality of types of cards having different external dimensions, terminal configurations, and the like to be connected to a common electronic device interface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a peripheral device suitably used in portable small electronic devices such as notebook personal computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), a card-type peripheral device that is detachably attached to the device body ( (Hereinafter abbreviated as “card”). Cards are functionally classified into various devices such as memory and interface, but generally, a circuit board on which a group of electronic components is mounted is built in a hollow card-type case, and the built-in circuit is installed in the target electronic device. A plurality of external terminals for connecting the substrates are exposed at predetermined positions of the case. The external dimensions of the case and the external terminal configuration (array, number, pitch, shape, etc.) are set as eigenvalues for each type of card marketed under several different trademarks or trade names.
[0003]
On the other hand, a card connector for detachably connecting the card is installed in the interface of the electronic device. The card connector usually has a connection structure (size of the card receiving space, terminal configuration, etc.) corresponding to only a specific type of card. Therefore, when trying to connect a different type of card that does not correspond to the card connector connection structure to the card connector, it is necessary to convert the external dimensions and terminal configuration of the different type of card to a standard configuration that can be connected to the card connector. Conventionally, various card adapters having such a conversion function have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-83434
The card adapter described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing having a standard outer shape that can be connected to a specific card connector, and an extended conductor structure that is built in the housing with a standard terminal configuration that can be connected to the card connector. With. The extended conductor structure includes a plurality of external connection conductors that are partially exposed outside the housing to ensure a standard terminal configuration, and a plurality of internal connection conductors that can be connected to external terminal groups of different types of cards. The circuit board includes a card connection conductor and a circuit board that is interposed between the external connection conductor and the card connection conductor and electrically connects the corresponding external connection conductor and the card connection conductor to each other. Each of the plurality of external connection conductors is composed of a conductor pin, and the terminal portions of the conductor pins exposed to the outside of the housing constitute an external terminal portion of the extended conductor structure. Similarly, the plurality of card connection conductors are all composed of conductor pins, and the terminal portions of the conductor pins exposed to the inside of the casing constitute a card connection portion having an extended conductor structure.
[0005]
The housing also has a first support member for fixing and supporting the circuit board and the plurality of external connection conductors, and an accommodating portion capable of accommodating different types of cards in the internal space, and the end portions of the plurality of card connecting conductors enter the accommodating portion. A second support member assembled to the first support member, and a metal cover member assembled to the first support member with a dimension capable of concealing the second support member and the different card accommodated in the accommodating portion. With. According to this card adapter, a different type of card having an external terminal group that is smaller than the standard external dimensions of a card connectable to a specific card connector and having a terminal configuration different from the standard terminal configuration can be reliably and stably attached to the card connector. Can be connected.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The card adapter described in Patent Document 1 has an extended conductor structure in which a plurality of external connection conductors, a circuit board, and a plurality of card connection conductors are interconnected to each other. The assembly process of the extended conductor structure tends to be complicated. In addition, since the housing is also configured by combining the first and second support members and the cover member, the number of parts is similarly large, making it difficult to ensure sufficient strength after assembly, and in some cases insufficient strength Therefore, there is a concern that the card stored in the housing may become loose. Such a complicated assembly process and insufficient assembly strength may be a factor that impairs the reliability of the conductive connection of the card adapter.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a card adapter that enables a plurality of types of cards to be connected to a common electronic device interface, thereby reducing the total number of parts, realizing a simplified assembly process and an improved assembly strength. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card adapter that can ensure the reliability of conductive connection.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a housing having a housing portion capable of housing a card, a card connection portion exposed inside the housing portion, and an external terminal exposed outside the housing. The extended conductor structure includes a plurality of conductor pins that are independent of each other, and each of the conductor pins constitutes a card connecting portion. One contact portion, a second contact portion constituting the external terminal portion, and an attachment portion between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, and is fixedly attached to the housing at the attachment portion ; The housing includes a base member that supports a plurality of conductor pins, and a cover member that is assembled to the base member and that is in conductive contact with at least one conductor pin, and a housing portion is defined between the base member and the cover member. That, features To provide a card adapter.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the invention, the card adapter according to claim 1, at least one conductive pin provides a card adapter further comprises a ground spring portion which conducts in contact with the cover member.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the card adapter according to the first or second aspect , the base member includes a plurality of pin receiving holes that individually receive the plurality of conductor pins, and each of the pin receiving holes of the housing. There is provided a card adapter including a plurality of terminal windows opened outward, and second contact portions of the plurality of conductor pins being individually arranged in the plurality of terminal windows.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the card adapter according to the third aspect , wherein the second contact portion of the conductor pin has a chamfered region along the outer edge of the contact surface exposed to the corresponding terminal window.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the card adapter according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the base member has a support surface that supports the card flatly and a panel portion having a back surface opposite to the support surface. The cover member provides a card adapter having a main portion facing the support surface of the panel portion of the base member, and an engagement piece extending from the main portion and engaging the back surface of the panel portion.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Corresponding components are denoted by common reference symbols throughout the drawings.
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a card adapter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card adapter 10, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of components of an extended conductor structure mounted on the card adapter 10. 4 is a perspective view showing the card adapter 10 in the middle of assembly, FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the main part of the card adapter 10, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the card adapter 10 as seen from the back side. The card adapter 10 can be connected to an interface of a portable small electronic device such as a notebook personal computer, a digital camera, a mobile phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). For example, the card adapter 10 is a standard of a memory card. It has a configuration for realizing compatibility between “Memory Stick (trademark)” and “Memory Stick Duo (trademark)” which is a small and light version thereof. The application range of the card adapter according to the present invention is not limited to this.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card adapter 10 includes a housing 12 having a standard external dimension that can be connected to a card connector (not shown) of a specific (for example, for Memory Stick (trademark)), and the card connector. It has an extended conductor structure 14 that has a standard terminal configuration that can be connected (terminal arrangement, number, pitch, shape, etc.) and is built in the housing 12. The housing 12 is assembled with the base member 18 having a panel portion 16 that supports a card (not shown) (for example, Memory Stick Duo (trademark)) in a flat position, and the base member 18 so as to face the panel portion 16. And a cover member 22 that defines a receiving portion 20 that can receive a card therebetween. Further details of the housing 12 will be described later.
[0016]
The extended conductor structure 14 includes a plurality of independent conductor pins 24 and 26 that are installed on the base member 18 of the housing 12. Each of the conductor pins 24, 26 includes a first contact portion 28 exposed inside the housing portion 20 of the housing 12, a second contact portion 30 exposed outside the housing 12, a first contact portion 28, and An attachment portion 32 between the second contact portions 30 is integrally formed, and the attachment portion 32 is fixedly attached to a predetermined position of the base member 18. These conductor pins 24 and 26 constitute a card connection portion in which each first contact portion 28 is in conductive contact with the external terminal group of the card accommodated in the accommodating portion 20, and each second contact portion 30 is the above-mentioned The external terminal portion having the standard terminal configuration for connecting the card connector is configured.
[0017]
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the conductor pins 24 and 26 extend linearly upward in the drawing from one end in the longitudinal direction of the flat mounting portion 32 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. A first extending portion 34 having a spring property, a second extending portion 36 bent upward from the other longitudinal end of the mounting portion 32 in the drawing, and a distal end of the second extending portion 36 to the mounting portion 32. A third extension portion 38 having a flat plate shape that is substantially rectangular in plan view and extended substantially in parallel. The first contact portion 28 is curved in the end region of the first extension portion 34 so as to bulge upward in the figure, and the second contact portion 30 is substantially the same height as the first contact portion 28. Formed in the terminal region of the third extension portion 38. Further, the attachment portion 32 is formed with serrated engagement edges 32a on both sides thereof. The conductor pins 24 and 26 having such a configuration are integrally formed from a sheet metal material by a press machine, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, eight conductor pins 24 for signal transmission are juxtaposed in parallel with each other, and two conductor pins 26 for grounding are similarly juxtaposed on both sides of the conductor pins 24 to form a base. It is installed on the member 18 (see FIG. 4).
[0018]
The base member 18 of the housing 12 further includes a support portion 40 that supports the plurality of conductor pins 24 and 26 adjacent to the panel portion 16 (FIG. 1). The support portion 40 has a plurality of pin mounting holes 42 for individually and fixedly receiving the mounting portions 32 of the plurality of conductor pins 24 and 26, and a plurality of conductor pins 24, A plurality of pin receiving holes 44 for individually receiving the third extension portions 38 of the H. 26 and a plurality of terminal windows 46 for opening the pin receiving holes 44 to the outside of the housing 12 are provided (see FIG. 5). . Each of the conductor pins 24 and 26 inserts the third extension portion 38 into the corresponding pin receiving hole 44 and press-fits the mounting portion 32 into the corresponding pin mounting hole 42 with a predetermined pressing force, whereby the predetermined length of the base member 18 is reached. Fixed in the longitudinal direction of the pin at the position. In place of such a press-fitting method, a plurality of conductor pins 24 and 26 can be installed on the base member 18 by an insert molding process.
[0019]
In a state where the conductor pins 24 and 26 are installed at appropriate positions on the base member 18, the first contact portions 28 are disposed above the card support surface 16 a of the panel portion 16 via a gap, and the mounting portion 32 is disposed. As a fulcrum, it can swing individually under spring elasticity. Accordingly, the first contact portions 28 of the conductor pins 24 and 26 are in conductive contact with an external terminal group of a card (not shown) properly accommodated in the accommodating portion 20 under a spring biasing force. Further, in a state where the conductor pins 24 and 26 are installed at appropriate positions of the base member 18, the second contact portions 30 are individually and fixedly disposed on the corresponding terminal windows 46 of the support portion 40 (see FIG. 6). The card support surface 16a of the panel portion 16 is formed with a plurality of grooves 48 for avoiding contact with the swinging first contact portion 28. In addition, side walls 50 that define the accommodating portions 20 are integrally provided on both side edges of the panel portion 16. The base member 18 having such a configuration can be integrally molded from an electrically insulating resin material, for example, by an injection molding process.
[0020]
The cover member 22 of the housing 12 is extended from a plate-shaped main portion 52 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view facing the card support surface 16a of the panel portion 16 of the base member 18, and a pair of long side edges of the main portion 52. It has a pair of engagement pieces 54 which engage with the back surface 16b on the opposite side of the card support surface 16a of the panel portion 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Each engagement piece 54 is fixedly held at a position substantially parallel to the main portion 52 via an extension piece 54 a substantially orthogonal to the main portion 52. The cover member 22 further includes an insertion piece 56 that extends outward from one short side edge of the main portion 52. The cover member 22 having such a configuration is integrally formed from a sheet metal material by, for example, a press machine.
[0021]
The cover member 22 is substantially parallel to the card support surface 16a of the panel portion 16 while sliding the extended pieces 54a along the outer surfaces of the side walls 50 of the panel portion 16 from the insertion piece 56 side of the main portion 52. It can be inserted in the direction and assembled to the base member 18. At this time, both engaging pieces 54 of the cover member 22 are fitted into the recesses 58 (FIG. 1) provided on the back surface 16 b of the panel portion 16, and the insertion pieces 56 are provided on the support portion 40 of the base member 18. It is inserted into the groove 60 (FIG. 5).
[0022]
Here, on both side walls 50 of the base member 18, locking claws 62 protrude from the predetermined positions on the outer surfaces thereof (only one locking claw 62 is shown). Correspondingly, a locking hole 64 for receiving and engaging the locking claw 62 is formed in each of the extended pieces 54 a of the cover member 22. When the cover member 22 is inserted into the base member 18 and assembled as described above, both the locking claws 62 of the base member 18 are inserted into the corresponding locking holes 64 under the elastic deformation of both extension pieces 54a of the cover member 22. The cover member 22 is fixed to a predetermined position of the base member 18 by snap-fitting. At this time, as described above, both the engaging pieces 54 of the cover member 22 and the back surface 16b of the panel portion 16 of the base member 18 are engaged, and the insertion piece 56 of the cover member 22 and the support portion 40 of the base member 18 are engaged. , The cover member 22 is fixedly held in all directions with respect to the base member 18. When the cover member 22 is properly assembled to the base member 18 in this manner, the accommodating portion 20 is opened between the cover member 22 and the base member 18 adjacent to the other short side edge of the cover member 22. A card insertion slot 66 (FIGS. 2 and 7A) is formed.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 3B, the grounding conductor pin 26 is further formed with a grounding spring portion 68 extending from the third extending portion 38. The ground spring portion 68 is linearly extended upward in the drawing from one side edge of the third extension portion, and a contact point 68a that bulges upward is formed at the end region. The contact spring 68a of the grounding spring portion 68 of the conductor pin 26 is in conductive contact with the inner surface of the main portion 52 of the cover member 22 that is properly assembled to the base member 18 under a spring force. In this state, the cover member 22 is provided with an electrostatic discharge preventing function for a card (not shown) accommodated in the accommodating portion 20.
[0024]
In the card adapter 10 having the above configuration, since the extended conductor structure 14 is constituted by a plurality of independent conductor pins 24 and 26, the number of parts is remarkably compared with a configuration using a conventional circuit board for conductor extension connection. Can be reduced. Moreover, it is essential for the card adapter 10 by the first contact portion 28 and the second contact portion 30 of each conductor pin 24, 26 only by attaching the attachment portion 32 of each conductor pin 24, 26 to the housing 12, for example, by press-fitting. Since the card connecting portion and the external terminal portion can be easily configured, the assembly process of the extended conductor structure 14 is simplified. Moreover, since the housing | casing 12 is comprised combining the base member 18 and the cover member 22, the number of parts is reduced similarly. In addition, the cover member 22 is fixedly held in all directions on the base member 22 by the action of the engagement piece 54 or the like as a configuration in which the cover member 22 is assembled to the base member 18 in the substantially same direction as the card insertion direction. Thus, the assembly strength of the housing 12 can be improved, and rattling of the card accommodated in the housing 12 can be eliminated as much as possible. Therefore, according to the card adapter 10, it is possible to ensure the reliability of the conductive connection between the card accommodated in the accommodation unit 20 and the electronic device interface in which the card is loaded using the card adapter 10.
[0025]
Furthermore, in the card adapter 10, since the grounding spring portion 68 that is in conductive contact with the cover member 22 under the spring force is formed integrally with the grounding conductor pin 26, sufficient reliability is ensured with respect to the conductive connection between the grounding conductors. Can do. Further, since the extended conductor structure 14 is constituted by a plurality of conductor pins 24 and 26 that are independent from each other, the contact surface 30a exposed to the corresponding terminal window 46 is exposed to the second contact portion 30 of each conductor pin 24 and 26. The chamfered area 70 extending along the outer edge can be easily formed by, for example, pressing or cutting. Such a chamfered area 70 reduces as much as possible the wear that may occur in the second contact portions 30 of the conductor pins 24 and 26 during the repeated connection of the card adapter 10 to the corresponding card connector, and thus the external terminal. Acts to improve the life of the part.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a card adapter that allows a plurality of types of cards to be connected to a common electronic device interface, the total number of parts can be reduced, and the assembly process can be simplified and assembled. It is possible to improve the strength and to secure the reliability of the conductive connection.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a card adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a plan view of the card adapter of FIG. 1 as viewed from the upper surface, and FIG. 2B is a plan view of the card adapter as viewed from the lower surface.
3A is a perspective view of a conductor pin of the extended conductor structure provided in the card adapter of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of another conductor pin.
4 is a perspective view showing the card adapter of FIG. 1 in a state where a cover member is removed. FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view of the card adapter taken along line VV in FIG. 2. FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the card adapter taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2;
7 is a view of the card adapter of FIG. 1 as viewed from below, (a) an overall perspective view, and (b) a partially enlarged perspective view.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Card adapter 12 ... Case 14 ... Extended conductor structure 16 ... Panel part 18 ... Base member 20 ... Storage part 22 ... Cover member 24, 26 ... Conductor pin 28 ... 1st contact part 30 ... 2nd contact part 32 ... Attachment part 40 ... support portion 46 ... terminal window 52 ... main portion 54 ... engagement piece 68 ... grounding spring portion 70 ... chamfered region

Claims (5)

An extended conductor structure installed in the housing having a housing having a housing portion capable of housing a card, a card connection portion exposed inside the housing portion, and an external terminal portion exposed outside the housing In a card adapter comprising:
The extended conductor structure includes a plurality of conductor pins independent of each other,
Each of the conductor pins includes a first contact portion constituting the card connection portion, a second contact portion constituting the external terminal portion, and an attachment portion between the first contact portion and the second contact portion. And is fixedly attached to the housing at the attachment portion ,
The housing includes a base member that supports the plurality of conductor pins, and a cover member that is assembled to the base member and that is in conductive contact with the at least one conductor pin, and is provided between the base member and the cover member. Rukoto the receiving portion is defined,
A card adapter characterized by Wherein said at least one conductive pin is, card adapter of claim 1 that further having a grounding spring portion which conducts in contact with the cover member. The base member includes a plurality of pin receiving holes that individually receive the plurality of conductor pins, and a plurality of terminal windows that respectively open the pin receiving holes to the outside of the housing. card adapter according to claim 1 or 2 Ru disposed individually to said second contact portion is pin windows of the plurality of. Wherein the second contact portion of the conductor pin, according to claim 3 that have a chamfered area along the outer edge of the contact surface exposed to the terminal window in the corresponding card adapter. The base member includes a panel portion having a support surface for supporting the card flatly and a back surface opposite to the support surface, and the cover member is a main member facing the support surface of the panel portion of the base member. The card adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a portion and an engagement piece extending from the main portion and engaging with the back surface of the panel portion .

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