JP2001338729A - Card connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the structure of a detecting switch in the structure of a card connector device provided with the detecting switch for identifying the write inhibit of an IC card, and to thin and miniaturize the structure of the card connecting device. SOLUTION: This card connector device is equipped with a header part 3, having plural contact pieces 2a to be connected to the contact part 7a of the card 7, a frame 1 provided continuously in the header part 3 and provided with a storing part 1b to store the card 7, and a conductive cover member 6 attached to the frame 1, so as to cover the storage part 1b. A switch part which operates with the insertion and extraction of the card 7 is formed on the frame 1, and the switch part comprises a contact plate 4 pressed outward with the insertion of the card 7 and a part of the cover member 6 to be abutted on the contact plate 4, and the contact plate 4 is brought into contact with and separated from the cover member 6 with the insertion of the card 7.

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.

[0003] The IC card is inserted into an IC card connector device to write and read necessary information. Generally, the IC card is provided with an identification section for indicating write prohibition. Some IC card connector devices are provided with a detection switch for detecting insertion of an IC card and a detection switch (write protection switch) for identifying write protection of the IC card.

When an IC card provided with this identification unit is inserted, a conventional IC card connector device has an IC card.
At the position corresponding to the identification unit indicating write protection of the card,
Long lead terminals are arranged facing each other, and a detection switch having a contact portion formed at the tip of each lead terminal is disposed. The contact portion of the detection switch corresponding to the identification portion when an IC card is inserted. Is opened or closed to detect whether or not writing to the IC card is possible.

[0005]

However, in the structure of the detection switch of the conventional IC card connector device described above, two lead terminals are used, and each lead terminal is opposed at a predetermined interval. Since the IC card connector device must be arranged in a vertical direction, the width of the entire IC card connector device is increased, and there has been a problem that the device cannot be made thinner and smaller.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a simple structure of the detection switch by using a structure of a card connector device provided with a detection switch for identifying write-protection of an IC card. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure of a card connector device which can reduce the thickness and size of the entire card connector device.

[0007]

According to the present invention, as a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, as a first means, a header section having a plurality of contact pieces connected to a contact section of a card, and a header section connected to the header section are provided. A frame provided with an accommodating portion for accommodating a card, and a conductive cover member attached to the frame so as to cover the accommodating portion, wherein the frame is provided with a switch operated in accordance with insertion and removal of the card. Forming a part, the switch part comprises a contact plate which is pressed outwardly with the insertion of the card, and a part of the cover member which is brought into contact with the contact plate, and with the insertion and removal of the card The contact plate is brought into contact with and separated from the cover member.

[0008] As a second means, the card is provided with an identification portion indicating write-protection, and the contact plate is brought into contact with and separated from the cover member in correspondence with the identification portion, so that the card can be connected to the card. It is characterized in that whether or not writing is possible is detected.

[0009] As a third means, the contact plate includes:
The cover member is provided on an outer portion of the frame, has a protruding portion protruding toward the housing portion, and has a contact portion that is in contact with the cover member on the opposite side of the protruding portion, facing the cover member. Is provided so as to cover the contact plate together with the housing portion.

[0010] As a fourth means, the contact portion is
It is characterized in that it is formed on the free end side with respect to the formation position of the projection.

As a fifth means, the projecting portion is
It is characterized by being formed in a dome-shaped bulge.

[0012]

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 in the shape of a flat plate having an open upper surface.
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 such that the interval between them is aligned with 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 moved toward 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.

Further, 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 two left 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 in 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 is projected 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 the 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, to prohibit the writing of the IC card, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the protrusion 7d is moved in the direction of inserting the IC card, thereby
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.

For this reason, since 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.

Also, one end of the slide member 8 has
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. 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 in the storage position and the rear end of the storage 1b of the IC card 7 in 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.

[0036]

As described above, in the card connector device of the present invention, the switch portion operated in accordance with the insertion and removal of the card includes the contact plate which is pressed outwardly in accordance with the insertion of the card, and Since the contact plate is made up of a part of the cover member that is in contact with the contact plate, and the contact plate is made to come into contact with and separate from the cover member as the card is inserted and removed, the switch portion is made use of the side plate portion of the cover member. Because of the configuration, 2
It is not necessary to arrange two contact plates and lead terminals
The overall thickness and size of the card connector device can be reduced.

Further, the card is provided with an identification portion indicating write-protection, and the contact plate is brought into contact with or separated from the cover member corresponding to the identification portion to detect whether or not writing to the card is possible. Therefore, since the detection switch section can be formed with a simple configuration, cost reduction can be achieved.

The contact plate is provided on the outer side of the frame, has a protruding portion protruding toward the housing portion, and has a contact portion which is in contact with the cover member on the opposite side of the protruding portion. Since the cover member is arranged so as to cover the contact plate together with the accommodating portion, the cover member covers the entire contact plate, so that the switch portion can be prevented from being damaged by an external impact. In addition, the dustproof effect is improved.

Further, since the contact portion of the contact plate is formed on the free end side with respect to the position where the projecting portion is formed, the contact distance can be increased, and the contact pressure can be increased. Can be improved.

Further, since the projecting portion of the contact plate is formed so as to bulge in a dome shape, the operation of the sliding portion is stabilized, and the reliability is further improved.

[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

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A frame having a plurality of contact pieces connected to contact points of a card, a frame connected to the header and provided with an accommodating portion for accommodating a card, and a frame covering the accommodating portion. A conductive cover member attached to the frame, wherein the frame is provided with a switch portion that is operated in accordance with insertion and removal of a card, and the switch portion is pressed outward with the insertion of the card. And a part of the cover member which comes into contact with the contact plate, wherein the contact plate is brought into contact with and separated from the cover member as the card is inserted and removed. Connector device. 2. The card is provided with an identification portion indicating write inhibition, and the contact plate is brought into contact with or separated from the cover member corresponding to the identification portion to detect whether or not writing to the card is possible. 2. The card connector device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The contact plate is provided on an outer portion of the frame, has a protruding portion protruding toward the housing portion, and comes into contact with the cover member on a side opposite to the protruding portion. 3. The card connector device according to claim 1, wherein the contact portions are arranged to face each other, and the cover member is disposed so as to cover the contact plate together with the housing portion. 4. 4. The card connector device according to claim 3, wherein the contact portion is formed on a free end side with respect to a position where the projecting portion is formed. 5. The card connector device according to claim 3, wherein said protruding portion is formed so as to protrude in a dome shape.