JP2001338722A - Connector device for card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize the structure of a card connector device equipped with a locking mechanism, without having to enlarge the depth size of the card connector device in response to the over stroke of the IC card, and to provide the card connector device capable of obtaining a stable locking mechanism. SOLUTION: This card connector device has a sliding member 8 slidable in the inserting and extracting direction of a card 7, while being engaged with the card 7, an energizing member 5 for energizing the sliding member 8 in the discharging direction of the card 7, a frame 1 provided with a heart-shaped locking cam 1f, while having a storing part 1b to store the card 7, and a locking pin 9 to lock the sliding member 8 at the storing position of the card 7 by being engaged with the locking cam 1f. An opening part 1d is formed on the rear end side of the card storing part 1b in the frame 1, and when discharging the card 7, the card 7 at the storing position is pressed in its inserting direction and its front end part 7e is protruded from the opening part 1d. Thereby, the locking pin 9 is uncoupled from the locking cam 1f, and the card 7 is discharged in its discharging direction by the sliding member 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an IC card used for a storage medium such as a personal computer,
CF used for electronic devices such as digital cameras
(Compact Flash (registered trademark)) The present invention relates to a structure of a card connector device used for a card or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An IC card connector device is generally used as an additional recording device for a personal computer or the like. An IC card has been widely used as a storage medium of the IC card connector device.

The IC card is inserted into the IC card connector device to write and read necessary information. The IC card connector device locks the IC card at the storage position when the IC card is inserted. Along with
There is known a device provided with a lock mechanism for releasing a lock at the time of ejection and ejecting the IC card from the storage position.

As this lock mechanism, a heart-shaped lock cam provided on a frame having an IC card accommodating portion, one end of which is engaged with the lock cam, and the other end of which is rotatably supported by a slide member. A lock pin is provided, and one end of the lock pin slides on the lock cam when the slide member is moved in the insertion direction in accordance with the insertion of the IC card, so that locking and unlocking are performed.

In this lock mechanism, once the IC card locked in the storage position is pressed in the insertion direction, the lock pin separates from the lock portion of the lock cam and urges the slide member in the discharge direction. The IC card is ejected in the ejection direction by the urging force of the coil spring.

[0006]

However, in the above-described structure of the conventional IC card connector device having the lock mechanism, in order to eject the IC card at the storage position, the IC card must be once pressed in the insertion direction. Must
Since it is necessary to provide a space corresponding to the overstroke of the IC card between the front end of the IC card in the storage position and the rear end of the IC card storage portion of the frame, the IC card connector device is provided. However, there is a problem in that the depth dimension increases, and miniaturization cannot be achieved.

When the IC card connector device is used in a portable electronic device, the lock pin comes off the lock portion of the lock cam due to external vibration or the like, or the lock pin slides in the lock cam in the opposite direction. There was a problem that would.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and does not increase the depth of the card connector device corresponding to the overstroke of the IC card by the structure of the card connector device having the lock mechanism. Another object of the present invention is to provide a card connector device which can be reduced in size and can obtain a stable lock mechanism.

[0009]

According to the present invention, as a first means for solving the above problems, there is provided a slide member which is engaged with a card and is slidable in a card insertion / removal direction.
An urging member for urging the slide member in the card ejection direction, a frame having a storage portion for accommodating the card, and provided with a heart-shaped lock cam, and engaging the lock cam with the slide member to attach the slide member to the card. A lock pin that locks the card at the storage position, an opening is formed at the rear end side of the card storage portion of the frame, and at the time of ejection of the card, the card at the storage position is pressed in the insertion direction so that the front end thereof is By projecting from the opening, the lock pin is detached from the lock cam, and the card is ejected in the ejection direction by the slide member.

[0010] As a second means, when the card at the storage position is pressed in the insertion direction on the frame,
It is characterized in that a regulating portion for regulating movement of the slide member in the pressing direction after the lock is released is formed.

[0011] As a third means, a notch formed of a slope is formed at the front end of the card, and the slide member is engaged with the notch and slidably moved. .

As a fourth means, one end of the lock pin is rotatably fixed to the slide member and the other end is slidably engaged with the lock cam.
One end of the lock pin is pressed against the inner wall surface of the shaft hole by the biasing member.

As a fifth means, the urging member is formed of a coil spring, and the slide member is formed with a spring receiving recess for receiving the coil spring, and the shaft is provided at one end side in the spring receiving recess. It is characterized in that a hole is formed.

[0014]

FIG. 1 to FIG. 17 show an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overall perspective view of the card connector device, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is a front view thereof, and FIG.
Is a plan view of a header portion and a frame portion, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a detection switch portion, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an engagement portion between a slide member and a frame, FIG. 7 is a plan view of an IC card, and FIG. 9 and FIG. 9 are explanatory diagrams of a detection switch portion before an IC card is inserted, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a detection switch portion after an IC card is inserted, FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a detection switch portion when the IC card is inserted, and FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the contact piece before the IC card is inserted, FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the contact piece after the IC card is inserted, FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of the contact piece when the IC card is inserted, and FIGS. 16A and 16B are explanatory views of a slide member and a lock mechanism before an IC card is inserted.
FIGS. 17A and 17B are explanatory views of the slide member and the lock mechanism when the C card is inserted, and FIGS. 17A and 17B are explanatory views of the slide member and the lock mechanism when the IC card is pushed.

In FIG. 1, a frame 1 is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin into a flat plate having an upper surface opened.
At the inner bottom of the frame 1, there is provided a header 3 in which a plurality of connector terminals 2 made of a conductive metal material are juxtaposed. In the center of the header 3, a plurality of escape holes 3a are provided. A plurality of contact pieces 2a to be connected to a contact portion 7a of the IC card 7, which will be described later, are formed in the escape hole 3a so as to protrude. Further, a plurality of connection pieces 2b and 2c which are soldered to a circuit pattern or the like of a circuit board of an electronic device (not shown) are formed at both ends of the header portion 3 with the escape hole portion 3a interposed therebetween. ing. One of the connection pieces 2b is connected to the frame 1
The other connecting piece 2c is projected into a through hole 1a provided at the center of the frame 1, and a circuit is formed through the through hole 1a. It is to be soldered to the substrate.

The connector terminal 2 has a flat base 2d integrally fixed to the header 3 by insert molding or the like, and the contact piece 2a and the connection pieces 2b, 2c are It is electrically connected to the inside of the header section 3 via the base 2 d of the connector terminal 2.

The plurality of contact pieces 2a are formed so that the interval between them arranged in parallel with each other is equal to the interval between the contact portions 7a of the IC card 7. In this case, as shown in FIG. The interval between the contact pieces 2aa and 2ab is
It is formed slightly narrower than the interval between ac and 2ac. In addition, one of the connection pieces 2b, 2c is formed such that only the space between the two left connection pieces 2ba, 2bb is widened in accordance with the space between the other connection pieces 2bc, 2bc. Although the entire spacing of the connection pieces 2b in the juxtaposition direction is made equal, the other connection piece 2c
Are arranged side by side in the through hole 1a of the frame 1, so that the distance between the two left connecting pieces 2ca and 2cb is wider than the narrower distance between the contact pieces 2aa and 2ab,
By forming the contact pieces 2ac to be narrower than the space between the other contact pieces 2ac, the whole space in the juxtaposition direction of the connection pieces 2c is made equal. Further, the other contact piece 2ac,
The position of the 2ac is located at the center of the base 2d of the connector terminal 2, while the position of the
The arrangement position of c is shifted from the center of the base 2d toward the center of the frame 1.

For this reason, since the entire connection piece 2c is brought to the center of the frame 1, the size of the through hole 1a for soldering through the connection piece 2c can be reduced. Therefore, the size of the side edge of the frame 1 can be increased, and the strength can be increased. Further, since the intervals in the juxtaposition direction between the connection pieces 2c are formed at equal intervals, there is no portion with a small interval, so that the problem that the workability of soldering is deteriorated can be solved.

Also, as shown in FIG.
The connector terminal 2 integrally molded by a method such as insert molding into the connector terminal 2 is formed such that the two left contact pieces 2aa and 2ab are connected to the base 2d of the connector terminal 2 at the time of integral molding.
After the header 3 is integrally formed, the connecting bars 2e and 2f (portions indicated by 中 in FIG. 4) are cut by a cutting punch or the like. Are separated.

For this purpose, the left two contact pieces 2aa,
Even in the case of the contact piece 2a having a small distance from each other such as 2ab, it is possible to seal and separate from the respective cavities of the mold by simultaneously holding the connecting bars 2e and 2f with the mold. The pieces 2aa and 2ab can be integrally formed with the header portion 3 in a state of protruding from the header portion 3.

In the center of the frame 1, there is formed a recessed accommodation portion 1b for accommodating an IC card 7 described later, and the through hole portion 1a is provided at the center of the accommodation portion 1b. Also, on the front end side of the frame 1,
An insertion slot 1c for the IC card 7 is provided.
Opening 1d for projecting front end 7e of C card 7
Is provided. A contact plate 4 made of a conductive metal material is provided on the left outer side, and a lock portion 1e for locking a slide member 8 described below at a storage position of the IC card 7 is provided on the right side. And a spring locking portion 1g for locking the coil spring 5 which is a biasing member for biasing the slide member 8 in the discharge direction. Further, a wall-shaped restricting portion 1h, which is connected to the spring locking portion 1g and restricts the movement of the slide member 8 in the insertion direction after the lock is released, is provided with an opening 1d of the frame 1.
At one end.

The contact plate 4 is formed of a flat metal plate. One end of the contact plate 4 is rotatably locked to the frame 1, and one end of the contact plate 4 projects into the through hole 1a.
a is formed. A substantially V-shaped protruding portion 4b protruding toward the housing portion 1b is provided at the center, and a free end opposite to the direction in which the protruding portion 4b protrudes comes into contact with a cover member 6 described later. A contact portion 4c is formed.
When the protruding portion 4b comes into contact with a protruding portion 7d, which is an identification portion indicating write-protection of the IC card 7 described later, which is inserted into the accommodating portion 1b, the contact plate 4 is pivoted outward, When the contact portion 4c comes into contact with a cover member 6 described later, the switch portion is turned on and a signal is output.

The cover member 6 is made of a conductive metal material and is substantially inverted U
It is formed in the shape of a letter, and is formed of a flat plate-shaped upper plate portion 6a and an opposed side plate portion 6b. The upper plate 6a is provided with a window hole 6c, and a pair of cut and bent pieces 6d, 6d are provided on both side edges of the window hole 6c. The cut and bent pieces 6d, 6d
It is bent to the side b to urge the IC card 7 housed in the housing portion 1b to prevent the IC card 7 from jumping out due to vibration or the like. In addition, the side plate portion 6b includes:
An earth terminal 6e is provided.
Is connected to a ground pattern on a circuit board of an electronic device (not shown) to shield the IC card and the card connector device. The cover member 6 covers the housing portion 1b of the frame 1 and the contact plate 4,
It is engaged on the frame 1.

The contact plate 4 is provided so as to face the inner side surface of the side plate portion 6b. The contact plate 4 is rotated with the insertion of an IC card, and the contact portion 4c is moved to the side plate portion. 6b, the switch portion is electrically connected via the contact plate 4 and the cover member 6, and the terminal portion 4a of the contact plate 4 and the side plate portion 6b
A signal is output to an external control circuit or the like via the ground terminal 6e.

In this case, the side plate 6b of the cover member 6
Since the switch unit is configured using the switch unit, it is not necessary to dispose two contact plates and lead terminals on the switch unit to face each other, and it is possible to reduce the thickness and size of the entire card connector device. . Further, since the contact member 4 is entirely covered with the cover member 6, damage to the switch portion due to an external impact can be prevented, and the dustproof effect is improved.

Since the contact portion 4c of the contact plate 4 is provided at the free end, the contact distance can be increased and the contact pressure can be increased, so that the reliability of the contact can be improved. In addition, if the protrusion 4b that comes into contact with the protrusion 7d, which is the identification portion of the IC card, is formed so as to protrude in a dome shape, the operation of the sliding portion is stabilized, and the reliability is further improved. .

The IC card 7 has an integrated circuit (IC) inside.
And is widely used as a recording medium. On the bottom side of the IC card 7, a plurality of contact portions 7a are formed at one end thereof.
a is housed in the housing portion 1b of the frame 1 and comes into contact with the plurality of contact pieces 2a arranged on the header portion 3, whereby various information processing with an externally connected electronic device is performed. It has become something. Further, the IC card 7 is provided with a notch 7b having an inclined surface at one corner on the side where the contact portion 7a is formed. The slide member 8 is formed so as to be movable in the insertion direction with the insertion of the IC card 7 by engaging a slide member 8 described later with the notch 7b.

On one side of the IC card 7,
Recessed groove 7 which is an identification section indicating write-protection of an IC card
The groove 7c is provided with a slidable protrusion 7d. By sliding the protrusion 7d, the position of the groove 7c can be changed, and it is possible to change whether or not writing to the IC card is possible according to the position.

In this case, in order to prohibit the writing of the IC card, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the protrusion 7d is moved in the insertion direction of the IC card to thereby prevent the IC card from being written.
When the card 7 is inserted into the storage position, the protrusion 7 d is formed by the protrusion 4 b of the contact plate 4 disposed on the frame 1.
And is pressed. Then, the contact portion 4c of the contact plate 4 comes into contact with the inner surface of the side plate portion 6b of the cover member 6 opposed thereto, and the switch portion is turned on. ,
IC card writing can be prohibited.

The slide member 8 is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and is slidably disposed on the right side of the housing 1b of the frame 1. A spring housing recess 8a is provided at the center of the slide member 8, and the return coil spring 5 is housed in the spring housing recess 8a. Further, one end of the coil spring 5 protruding from one end of the spring storage recess 8a is locked by a spring locking portion 1g of the frame 1, and the slide member 8
Are urged in the direction of discharging the IC card.

A spring holding portion 8 for holding the other end of the coil spring 5 is provided at the other end of the spring housing recess 8a.
b is provided, and a shaft hole 8c for rotatably supporting one end of the lock pin 9 is provided in the spring holding portion 8b.
The other end of the lock pin 9 is slidably engaged with a lock cam 1f provided on the frame 1, and one end of the lock pin 9 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the shaft hole 8c by the coil spring 5. It has been done.

Because the lock pin 9 is constantly pressed against the inner wall surface of the shaft hole 8c by the urging force of the coil spring 5, the IC card connector device is used for portable electronic equipment. In this case, the lock pin 9 is inadvertently rotated due to external vibration or the like, and comes off the lock portion 1e of the lock cam 1f, or the lock pin 9 slides in the lock cam 1f in the opposite direction. That can be prevented.

On one end of the slide member 8,
An engagement protrusion 8d is provided for engaging with the notch 7b of the IC card 7, and the engagement protrusion 8d engages with the IC card 7 so as to be inserted / ejected together with the IC card 7. It is possible to slide to. In addition, an end face of the engaging projection 8d, which is connected to one end of the spring housing recess 8a, is formed on one end of the opening 1d of the frame 1. In contact with
A stopper 8e is provided for restricting the movement of the slide member 8 beyond the overstroke when the lock is released.

In order to store the IC card 7 in the storage section 1b, first, the IC card 7 is inserted from the insertion slot 1c of the frame 1 from the state shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B. At this time, the notch 7b of the IC card 7 and the engaging projection 8d of the slide member 8 are engaged, and the slide member 8 is moved together with the IC card 7 in the insertion direction.
The lock pin 9 slides in the lock cam 1f and is locked by the lock portion 1e (FIGS. 16A and 16B). In this state, the IC card 7 is inserted into the storage position.

Next, the IC card 7 is inserted into the accommodation section 1b.
In order to release the IC card 7 from the storage position, the IC card 7 is temporarily pressed in the insertion direction to release the engagement between the lock cam 1f of the slide member 8 and the lock pin 9. By pressing in the insertion direction, the slide member 8 is also moved in the insertion direction of the IC card with the movement of the IC card 7. At this time, the slide member 8
Although the stopper 8e does not protrude from the opening 1d of the frame 1 when the stopper 8e contacts the restricting portion 1h at one end of the opening 1d, the IC card 7 has a front end 7e in the insertion direction. Then, it protrudes from the opening 1d by the overstroke of the slide member 8 (FIGS. 17A and 17B and FIGS. 11 and 14).

Therefore, a space corresponding to the overstroke of the IC card 7 is provided between the front end 7e of the IC card 7 at the storage position and the rear end of the storage section 1b of the IC card 7 of the frame 1. Since there is no need to provide any part, it is not necessary to increase the depth dimension of the card connector device, and the size can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the header 3 and the lock mechanism are formed integrally with the frame 1, but the header 3 and the lock mechanism are formed separately from the frame 1. It may be formed, and in this case, it is needless to say that the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0038]

As described above, the card connector device of the present invention has a receiving portion for storing a card, and a heart-shaped locking member for locking a slide member provided with a lock pin to a storing position of the card. A lock cam is provided and an opening is formed on the rear end side of the card accommodating portion of the frame,
When ejecting the card, the card in the storage position is pressed in the insertion direction and its front end is projected from the opening so that the lock pin is disengaged from the lock cam and the card is ejected by the slide member in the ejection direction. Therefore, there is no need to provide a space corresponding to the overstroke of the card between the front end of the card at the storage position and the rear end of the card storage portion of the frame. It is not necessary to increase the depth dimension of the device, and the size can be reduced.

Further, the frame is provided with a restricting portion for restricting the movement of the slide member in the pressing direction after the lock is released when the card at the storage position is pressed in the insertion direction. By contacting the stopper portion with the regulating portion, it is possible to prevent an excessive force from being applied to the lock pin or the lock cam.

At the front end of the card, a notch formed of a slope is formed, and the slide member is engaged with the notch and slides. It can be slid in the insertion / ejection direction.

One end of the lock pin is rotatably secured to the slide member, the other end is slidably engaged with the lock cam, and one end of the lock pin is formed in a shaft hole by an urging member. Since the lock pin is constantly pressed against the inner wall surface of the shaft hole by the urging force of the urging member, since the lock pin is pressed against the inner wall surface, when the card connector device is used in a portable electronic device, In addition, it is possible to prevent the lock pin from being inadvertently rotated due to external vibrations or the like, from being disengaged from the lock portion of the lock cam, or from sliding in the lock cam in the opposite direction.

The biasing member is formed of a coil spring, and the slide member has a spring receiving recess for receiving the coil spring, and a shaft hole is formed at one end in the spring receiving recess. The pin can always be pressed against the inner wall surface of the shaft hole by the urging force of the coil spring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a card connector device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the card connector device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the card connector device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a header portion and a frame portion of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection switch portion of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an engagement portion between the slide member and the frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an IC card of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing the same IC card of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection switch portion before an IC card is inserted according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection switch portion after an IC card is inserted according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection switch portion when the IC card is pushed in according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a contact piece portion of the present invention before an IC card is inserted.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a contact piece after the IC card is inserted according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a contact piece when the IC card is pushed in according to the present invention.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are explanatory views showing a slide member and a lock mechanism before the IC card is inserted according to the present invention.

16A and 16B are explanatory views showing a slide member and a lock mechanism after an IC card according to the present invention is inserted.

17A and 17B are explanatory views showing a slide member and a lock mechanism when the IC card is pushed in according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame 1a Through-hole 1b Housing 1c Insertion hole 1d Opening 1e Lock 1f Lock cam 1g Spring lock 1h Restriction 2 Connector terminal 2a Contact piece 2b, 2c Connection piece 3 Header 3a Escape hole 4 Contact plate 4a Terminal part 4b Projection part 4c Contact part 5 Coil spring (biasing member) 6 Cover member 6a Upper plate part 6b Side plate part 6c Window hole part 6d Cut bent piece 6e Ground terminal 7 IC card 7a Contact part 7b Notch part 7c concave groove part 7d Projection 7e Front end 8 Slide member 8a Spring storage recess 8b Spring holder 8c Shaft hole 8d Engagement projection 8e Stopper 9 Lock pin

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C005 MA16 MA25 MB03 MB04 NA02 NA05 TA07 TA13 TA14 TA21 TA24 5B058 CA13 5E021 FA05 FA11 FB18 FC31 FC36 FC40 HC11 HC31 HC37 LA01 5E023 AA04 AA21 BB01 BB19 DD05 DD19 FF01 H12H17

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A slide member which is engaged with a card and is slidable in a card insertion / removal direction, an urging member for urging the slide member in a card ejection direction, and a storage portion for accommodating the card. A frame provided with a heart-shaped lock cam, and a lock pin that engages with the lock cam and locks the slide member at a card storage position, and forms an opening at a rear end side of the card storage portion of the frame. At the same time, when the card is ejected, the card at the storage position is pressed in the insertion direction so that its front end protrudes from the opening, so that the lock pin is disengaged from the lock cam, and the card is ejected by the slide member. A card connector device characterized in that the card connector device is ejected to a card. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with a restricting portion for restricting the slide member from moving in the pressing direction after the lock is released when the card at the storage position is pressed in the insertion direction. The card connector device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The card according to claim 1, wherein a cutout portion having a slope is formed at a front end portion of the card, and the slide member is engaged with the cutout portion to slide. The connector device for a card according to the above. 4. One end of the lock pin is rotatably fixed to the slide member, the other end is slidably engaged with the lock cam, and one end of the lock pin is biased. The card connector device according to claim 1, wherein the member is pressed against the inner wall surface of the shaft hole. 5. The biasing member is formed of a coil spring, a spring receiving recess for receiving the coil spring is formed in the slide member, and the shaft hole is formed at one end in the spring receiving recess. 5. The card connector device according to claim 4, wherein: