JP2003142204A - Card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent such a case that the card installed in the case comes off and the data is damaged, and also to prevent the damage to the component even when the card is pulled out by mistake. SOLUTION: The card connector comprises a coming-off prevention rod 70, supported by a slider 40, that has a protrusion 74 at the front end protruding toward inside of the case 5, a biasing spring 97 for biasing constantly the protrusion 74 side of the coming-off prevention rod 70 toward inside of the case 5, and a guide rail 25 that slide moves the coming-off prevention rod 70 so that the protrusion 74 may be engaged with the cut-out 105 formed on the side part of the card 100 in the state that the card 100 is positioned in the insertion completion position, when the card 100 is inserted in the case 5 and the slider 40 moves sliding backward of the case 5, and slide moves the coming-off prevention rod 70 so that the protrusion 74 may be separated from the cut-out 105, when the card 100 positioned in the insertion completion position is pressed backward of the case 5 and the slider 40 is pushed out to the front of the case 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card connector attached to an electronic device or the like and connected to an inserted card to transmit information between the electronic device or the like and the card. The present invention relates to a card connector provided with a retaining mechanism that prevents an inserted card from falling out of a case during information transmission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A card connector is a device for connecting a memory card capable of recording a large amount of information with an electronic device and the like, and various types are known in accordance with the shape and size of the card. . Recently, a small-sized (approximately 24 mm x 32 mm) memory card called an SD card has been widely used for portable devices, and in response to this, a small card connector with good operability has been demanded. There is.

When the card connector is made smaller and thinner, the card is pushed in and pushed out in the same direction as when inserting and ejecting the card from the front. The mechanism is advantageous. Various types of push-push type discharge mechanisms have been devised in the past, but particularly those using a cam mechanism having a heart-shaped cam groove are structurally simple and often used.

In such a cam mechanism, a slider, which is pushed by the tip of a card inserted in the case (insulator) of the card connector and slides in the case, constantly urges the slider in the card ejection direction by a spring or the like. At the same time, the projection formed on the end of the swingable arm attached to the slider is engaged with the heart-shaped cam groove formed on the case side. As a result, the protrusion moves in the cam groove while swinging as the slider slides back and forth in the case, and when the card is inserted into the case, the slider that has slid behind the case is locked and held by the card. To the insertion completion position (position where the card terminal and contact come into contact with each other), and when the card located at the insertion completion position is pushed rearward of the case, release this lock hold and slide the slider together with the card. Allow the spring to push it forward of the case.

However, in such a card connector equipped with a push-push type card ejection mechanism, when the card is inserted into the case and the slider is locked, the card has elasticity of the contact at the insertion completion position. Since it is only pressed against the upper surface (or the lower surface) of the case by the force, it may fall off from the case when the card connector is subjected to severe vibration or the like. To prevent such a situation, the card inserted in the case may be temporarily connected to the slider at the insertion completion position, and the protrusion provided on the slider causes the card to be positioned at the insertion completion position. Card connectors have also been used that are configured to fit into cutouts formed in the sides of the card at this point.

[0006]

However, in the card connector having such a structure, the card is pulled out from the case without performing a proper card ejection operation, that is, an operation of pressing the card to the rear side of the case. In such a case, the protrusion provided on the slider may be damaged, and in a bad case, the card connector itself may be unusable.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and prevents a situation where a card during information transmission is dropped from a case and data is damaged, and is erroneous without a proper card ejection operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card connector that does not damage the components even if the card is pulled out.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A card connector according to the present invention includes a case for receiving a card inserted through a front opening, and a card inserted in the case at the insertion completion position. A contact that comes into contact with the terminal, a slider that slides backward in the case by being pressed by the tip of a card inserted in the case, and a slider urging member that constantly urges the slider forward of the case (for example, The spring 55) in the embodiment and the slider slidably moved to the rear of the case when the card is inserted into the case are locked and held at the insertion completion position. When pushed backward, the slider is released from the lock holding state and the slider is pushed forward with the card by the slider urging member. A cam mechanism that operates so as to be pushed out (for example, the cam rod 50 and the cam groove 43 of the slider 40 in the embodiment), the rear end portion is supported by the slider and extends in the front-rear direction, and the inner end of the case is provided at the front end. A retaining rod having a protrusion protruding toward
A rod urging member (for example, a rod urging spring 97 provided in the cover 90 in the embodiment) that constantly urges the protrusion side of the retaining rod to the inside of the case, and the card are inserted into the case. When the slider slides to the rear of the case, the stopper rod is attached to the case so that the protrusion is fitted in the notch formed on the side of the card when the card is at the insertion completion position. When the card located at the insertion completion position is swung inward and the card is pushed to the rear of the case and the slider is pushed forward of the case, the projection prevention rod is removed from the notch so that the retaining rod is removed from the case. And a guide rail that swings outward.

When the card is inserted through the opening in the front of the case, the slider is pressed by the tip of the card to slide rearward in the case, and then locked by the cam mechanism. As a result, the card is positioned at the insertion completion position (the position where the card terminal and the contact come into contact with each other). When the card is thus inserted into the case and the slider slides rearward of the case, The retainer rod, which is constantly urged inward by the rod urging member, is guided by the guide rails and swings inwardly of the case.When the card reaches the insertion complete position, the protrusion at the front end Since the card is fitted in the notch formed in the side portion of the card, it is possible to prevent the card during information transmission from falling out of the case. On the other hand, when the card located at the insertion completion position is pressed rearward of the case, the lock holding of the slider is released, and the slider is pushed forward with the card by the biasing force of the slider biasing member.
When the slider is pushed out toward the front of the case in this way, the retaining rod is guided by the guide rails and swings out of the case, and the protrusion comes off the notch in the card. The card can be removed from the case without being obstructed by the rod.

As described above, in this card connector,
With the card inserted in the case in the insertion complete position (the position where the card terminal and contact come into contact with each other), the protrusion of the retaining rod is a notch formed on the side of the card. Since it is fitted inside, the situation in which the card is dropped from the case due to vibration or the like during the information transmission is prevented. Further, since the retaining rod is formed as a member separate from the slider and is only urged inwardly of the case by the rod urging member, a normal card ejection operation, that is, the card is moved to the rear of the case. Even if the card is pulled out regardless of the pressing operation, the retaining rod is pushed out of the case against the urging force of the rod urging member, and the protruding part comes off the notch of the card. Since it does not damage the slider or card.

Incidentally, it is preferable that the rear edge of the above-mentioned protrusion has a shape that extends slightly forward from the lateral side when the protrusion is fitted in the notch of the card. With such a configuration, when the card at the insertion completion position is accidentally pulled out, the protrusion can be smoothly pushed out of the case by the notch, so that it is at the insertion completion position. It is possible to reliably prevent a situation where the card is damaged when it is accidentally pulled out.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a card connector 1 according to the present invention together with an SD card (hereinafter referred to as a card) 100 inserted in the card connector 1. This card connector 1 has a main body 10
A plurality of contacts 11, 11, ... Are attached to the case 5 including the cover portion 90 and the card 100. The card 100 extends horizontally from the opening 7 in front of the case 5 (see FIG. 1).
It is inserted in the direction of arrow A).

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card connector 1 with the cover 90 removed. The main body 10 of the case 5 is made of an insulating material such as resin,
Here, nine cantilever-shaped contacts 11,1
1, ... and cantilever type first to third switches 27,
28 and 29 are attached. When the card 100 inserted into the case 5 is pressed in the same direction as the insertion (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), the card 10 is inserted into the left side portion of the main body 10 when viewed from the insertion direction of the card 100.
A push-push type card ejection mechanism 30 for ejecting 0 and a retaining mechanism 60 for preventing the inserted card 100 from falling out of the case 5 are provided. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the insertion / ejection direction of the card 100 will be referred to as the front-back direction of the card connector 1, and the card 10
The direction in which the card 100 advances (the direction of arrow A) when 0 is inserted into the case 5 is the rear side. The width direction of the card 100 to be inserted is the lateral direction (left-right direction) of the card connector 1, and the right side when viewed from the insertion direction of the card 100 is the right side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the card 100 includes a rectangular flat plate portion 101 made of an insulating material such as resin,
It is configured to have nine flat plate-shaped terminals 102, 102, ... Attached to the front surface side (lower side in FIG. 3B) of the flat plate portion 101. Each terminal 102 has a flat plate portion 10.
An IC for storing various information provided inside the flat plate portion 101, which is provided at the bottom of the eight terminal mounting grooves 103 formed on the front surface side of the card 1 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the card 100.
It is connected to a chip (not shown) and a cable (not shown) wired in the flat plate portion 101.

As shown in FIG. 1, the card 100 is provided with a slanted portion 101a, which is cut at an angle of 45 degrees, at one corner of the flat plate portion 101. When inserting, the diagonally shaped portion 101a is positioned on the front left side with respect to the insertion direction. A write protect changeover switch 104 for switching between a write-permitted state and a write-prohibited state is provided on the right side of the card 100 in the insertion direction. The write protect changeover switch 104 is located on the insertion side of the card 100. The writing of information is permitted when the card 100 is set, and the writing of information is prohibited when the card 100 is positioned on the ejection side of the card 100 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 are write-protected states). A rectangular cutout 105 is formed on the left side of the card 100 in the insertion direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the center of each contact 11 is press-fitted and attached to a contact mount portion 12 provided at the rear portion of the main body portion 10 to extend in the front-rear direction, and the front end side of the contact 5 of the case 5. It is in a cantilever state that can be elastically deformed in the thickness direction. The front end of this cantilever portion is bent so as to project downward to form a contact portion (not shown), and comes into contact with the terminal 102 of the card 100 inserted in the case 5 from below. I'm supposed to get it.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the front surface side of the main body portion 10, a rectangle having a protruding portion 13a that extends above each contact 11 from the rear portion of the main body portion 10 to the front and protrudes slightly upward. Seven flat plate-shaped contact protection portions 13, 13, ... Are formed. These contact protection portions 13, 13, ... Are independently formed in a comb shape, and when the contact 11 is elastically deformed in the vertical direction at its front end portion, the contact 11 comes into contact with the contact protection portion 13. A rectangular through hole 14 is provided to allow vertical movement without any movement (see FIG. 2). In addition, the width of each contact protection portion 13 is the same as that of the card 1.
00 is slightly smaller than the width of each terminal mounting groove 103 formed on the surface, and when the card 100 is inserted into the case 5, each contact protection part 13 can be fitted into the corresponding terminal mounting groove 103. It is like this.

Left and right insertion guide portions 15, 15 extending forward are formed on both left and right sides of the main body portion 10. These insertion guide portions 15 and 15 are in a U-shape facing each other (see FIG. 1), and the inserted card 10
It serves to hold both sides of 0 and guide them into the case 5. This card connector 1 is provided on the insertion guide portion 15 on the left side.
A fixing metal fitting 80 for fixing the substrate to a substrate (not shown) is attached, and the above-mentioned first to third switches 27 and 2 are attached.
The reference numerals 8 and 29 are provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction along the right insertion guide portion 15.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the left insertion guide portion 15. As shown in this figure,
Is a base portion 81 which is press-fitted and attached to a press-fitting groove 16 provided in the front end portion of the left insertion guide portion 15 extending in the front-rear direction.
A plate having an L-shaped fixing portion 82 formed below the base portion 81, and a protrusion 84 extending rearward from the base portion 81 and having a shape projecting inward of the case 5 at the rear end portion. And a spring portion 83. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the leaf spring portion 83 extends obliquely from the side of the card 100 inserted in the case 5 toward the inside of the case 5 gradually toward the rear.

FIG. 5 shows the first to third switches 27, 28 and 29 mounted on the right side portion of the body portion 10 as the body portion 10.
It is shown in a state of being removed from the. The first switch 27 is a card insertion detection switch, and as shown in FIG. 2, the central base portion 27a is press-fitted into a press-fitting groove 17 provided in the central portion of the right insertion guide portion 15 extending in the front-rear direction. The rear end portion of the cantilever portion 27b extending rearward (in the insertion direction of the card 100) from the base portion 27a has a protruding portion 27c having a shape protruding inward of the case 5.
Are formed. The cantilever portion 27b is the case 5
When the card 100 is not inserted into the case 5, it takes a posture in which the card 100 extends straight rearward as shown in FIG.
7c is pushed out to the outside (right side) of the case 5 by the right side portion of the card 100, so that the card 7c is deformed so as to bend to the outside of the case 5. In addition, in front of the base 27a (card 100
In the discharge direction), the front extension 2 having a contact point T1 at the end
7d is formed, and a lead portion 27e extending in an L shape is formed downward from the lower portion of the base portion 27a.

The second switch 28 is a switch for detecting write protection, and as shown in FIG. 2, the base portion 28a is press-fitted into the press-fitting groove 18 provided in the front end portion of the right insertion guide portion 15 extending in the front-rear direction. A protruding portion having a shape protruding inward of the case 5 is attached to the rear end portion of the cantilever portion 28b which is attached and extends rearward from the base portion 28a and is located to the right of the front extending portion 27d of the first switch 27. 28c is formed. Although the cantilever portion 28b has a posture in which the cantilever portion 28b extends straight rearward as shown in FIG. 2 when the card 100 is not inserted into the case 5, when the card 100 is inserted into the case 5, the cantilever portion 28b has a rear end. Protrusion 28
Since c is removed by the right side portion of the card 100 to the outside (right side) of the case 5, it is deformed so as to bend to the outside of the case 5. Also, from the bottom of the base 28a,
A lead portion 28d extending in a letter shape is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the third switch 29 has a base 29a having a contact mount portion 12 at the rear of the main body portion 10.
Is attached to the right end of the base 29a by press fitting, extends forward from the base 29a, and has a contact point T2 at its end.
b is located to the left of the cantilever portion 27b of the first switch 27. In addition, a lead portion 29c that is bent and extends downward is formed from the rear portion of the base portion 29a.

The cover portion 90 is made of a metal plate material, and as shown in FIG. 1, the left and right ends thereof are bent downward to form left and right side wall portions 91, 91. The cover part 90 includes the left and right side wall parts 91, 91 as the main body part 1.
0 outside the left and right side surfaces of the main body 10, and the locking projections 19 provided on the front and rear portions of the left and right side surfaces of the main body 10 are provided on the cover portion 9.
It is mounted on the main body 10 by fitting it into the projection fitting holes 92 provided at the front and rear portions of the left and right side wall parts 91, 91. At this time, the three press-fitting grooves 16 and 17 provided in the main body portion 10 are provided with three protrusions 93 that are formed so as to be bent downward from the left and right end portions in front of the cover portion 90 and the center of the right side wall portion 91. , 18 are respectively fitted into the three projection fitting portions 20 provided on the inner side from above. In addition, in the center of the cover part 90, the protruding part 13 of each contact protection part 13 when attached to the main body part 10.
A contact protection part fitting hole 94 that fits with a is formed.

When the card 100 is inserted from the front of the case 5, the terminals 102 provided on the front surface (upper surface) side of the card 100 are pushed downward by the contact portions of the corresponding contacts 11 to advance, and the terminal mounting groove of the card 100 is advanced. 103 is fitted with the corresponding contact protection portion 13. When the end wall 103a (see FIGS. 1 and 3) of the terminal mounting groove 103 comes into contact with the front end wall 13b (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the contact protection portion 13 from the front, the card 100 is no longer attached to the case 5 It cannot be pushed further in (backward). At this time, the contact portion of the contact 11 and the terminal 1
02 is in contact with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card ejection mechanism 30 is installed on the left side portion of the main body 10 and is provided so as to be positioned on the left side of the card 100 inserted in the case 5. A slider 40 slidably movable in the front-rear direction in the case 5, a spring rear end holding projection 10b provided to project forward from the left rear wall 10a of the main body 10 and a projecting rearward from the rear of the slider 40. The spring front end holding protrusion 46 holds the front and rear ends of the spring 55 to constantly bias the slider 40 forward of the case 5, the cam groove 43 formed on the upper surface of the slider 40, and the main body 10 The cam bar 50 is provided so that the rear end portion is locked to the left rear wall 10a and extends forward, and the bent portion 51 at the front end is located in the cam groove 43. The spring 55 is shown in FIG.
It is omitted in the drawings except.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the slider 40 as seen from the rear left side of the case 5. Here, the cam rod 50 and the retaining rod 70 are also shown. As shown in this figure, the slider 40 has a rightward extending portion 4 extending horizontally rightward from a right rear portion of a rectangular parallelepiped base portion 41 extending in the front-rear direction.
2, and the above-mentioned cam groove 43 is formed on the upper surface of the base portion 41. Here, the right side front edge of the right extending portion 42 is formed in an arc shape that protrudes forward, and the upper surface side of the portion close to the base portion 41 has a certain distance from the right side surface of the base portion 41. An upper slide guide 44 extending in the front-rear direction is formed so as to project upward. A lower slide guide 45 protruding downward and extending in the front-rear direction is formed on the lower surface of the base portion 41, and the lower slide guide 45 is formed by extending the left-side portion of the bottom surface of the main body portion 10 in the front-rear direction. Groove 21 (see FIG. 2)
The slide rail 2 that is located inside and has the upper slide guide 44 extending in the front-rear direction on the left side portion of the main body portion 10.
2 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and 7 contact protection parts 13
The leftmost contact protection part 13 (see FIG. 2).
In particular, the reference numeral 13 ′ is shown in between) and the slider 40 is slidable in the front-back direction of the case 5.

As described above, the slider 40 is constantly urged in the ejection direction of the card 100 (in front of the case 5) by the spring 55, and in the state where the card 100 is not inserted into the case 5, the lower portion of the lower surface of the slider 40. The front end portion 45a (see FIG. 6) of the slide guide 45 is located at a position (hereinafter referred to as “initial position”) in contact with the front end portion 21a (see FIG. 9A) of the slider guide groove 21. (The state shown in FIG. 2). On the other hand, when the card 100 is inserted into the case 5, the rightward extension portion 42 is moved to the card 10
0 is pressed by the front end of the inside of the case 5 to the rear (card 10
It slides in the insertion direction (0) (at this time, the spring 55 is compressed).

As described above, the cam rod 50 has the rear end portion formed in the left rear wall 10a of the main body portion 10, and the cam rod support hole 23.
Is supported by the cam groove 43 on the upper surface of the slider 40, and the bent portion 51 at the front end bent downward is swingable in a horizontal plane.
It is located inside (see FIG. 6). Therefore, the slider 4
When 0 slides back and forth, the cam rod 50
The bent portion 51 moves in the left-right direction of the case 5 according to the shape of the cam groove 43 (the cam rod 50 swings in the horizontal plane). Here, the cam rod 50 is configured so that its upward displacement is restrained by a cam rod retainer 96 in a frame portion 95 formed on the left side of the cover portion 90, and even if the cam rod 50 swings, the bent portion 5 is bent.
1 does not deviate from the inside of the cam groove 43 (see FIGS. 1 and 8A).

The cam mechanism composed of the cam rod 50 and the cam groove 43 has a slider 40 that slides rearward of the case 5 when the card 100 is inserted into the case 5.
Is operated to position the card 100 at the insertion completion position (the position where the terminal 102 of the card 100 and the contact 11 come into contact with each other) by locking and holding the card 100. Back (card 1
(00 insertion direction), the slider 40
When the lock is released, the slider 40 is moved to the card 10.
Along with 0, the spring 55 operates so as to be pushed forward of the case 5 (details will be described later).

FIG. 7A shows a plan view of the slider 40. The right side of the drawing corresponds to the front of the case 5 (that is, the front of the slider 40), and the left of the drawing corresponds to the rear of the case 5 (that is, the front). This corresponds to the rear of the slider 40). Therefore, the direction from the right side of the paper surface to the left side of the paper surface is the insertion direction of the card 100, and the opposite direction is the ejection direction of the card 100. The upper side of the paper corresponds to the inside of the case 5, and the lower side of the paper corresponds to the outside of the case 5.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the slider 4
The zero cam groove 43 is a first slide groove OB which extends from the rear of the slider 40 to the front, and a second slide groove BC which extends further from the front end A of the first slide groove to the front of the slider 40. To E, and a third slide groove E extending outward and rearward of the slider 40 from the front end E of the second slide groove.
-F-G and the fourth slide groove G-H- that extends forward and outward of the slider 40 from the rear end G of the third slide groove.
I and the slider 40 from the front end I of the fourth slide groove.
The fifth slide grooves I to J to K extending to the rear of the
Sixth slide grooves K to L extending inward and rearward of the slider 40 from the rear end K of the slide groove and intersecting the first slide groove.
~ A.

In FIG. 7B, points A, B, ..., L indicated by alphabets in FIG. 7A are A → B → ... → L →
The cross-sectional shape of the slider 40 taken along a line connecting in the order of A is shown. Here, the upward displacement in FIG. 7B indicates the upward displacement of the bottom surface of the cam groove 43. As can be seen from this figure, the points D, F, H, L of the cam groove 43
Is provided with a step, and the bent portion 51 of the cam rod 50 located in the cam groove 43 is C → D → E, E → F → G, G →.
It can move in the direction of H → I and K → L → A, but cannot move in the opposite direction. Therefore, when the slider 40 reciprocates in the insertion / ejection direction of the card 100 (the left-right direction of the paper surface in FIG. 7A), the bent portion 51 of the cam rod 50 must be O → A → B → in the cam groove 43. C → D →
It moves in the order of E->F->G->H->I->J->K->L->A-> O.

Next, the retaining mechanism 60 will be described. 8 and 9 are used to describe the structure of the retaining mechanism 60. FIG. 8A shows this card connector 1.
8B is an enlarged plan view showing a left side portion of FIG. 8B, and FIG. 8B is a left side view thereof. Further, FIG. 9A shows the cover portion 9
0, slider 40, cam rod 50 (and spring 55)
It is a top view which expands and shows the left part of this card connector 1 except for, and FIG.9 (B) is the left side view.

The retainer prevention mechanism 60 has a rear end portion supported by the lower surface of the slider 40 and extending below the slider 40 in the front-rear direction, and has a protrusion portion 74 projecting inward of the case 5 at the front end. The locking prevention rod 70 and the locking prevention rod 7 provided on the left side wall portion 91 of the cover portion 90.
It is composed of a rod urging spring 97 for constantly urging the 0 side of the protrusion 74 toward the inside of the case 5. FIG. 9 (A),
As can be seen from both figures of (B), the retaining rod 7
0 is an arm portion 71 extending in the front-rear direction and this arm portion 7
A rear end bent portion 72 formed by bending the rear end portion 1 upward,
A front end bent portion 73 formed by bending the front end portion of the arm portion 71 upward, and the projection portion 74 formed by protruding (bending) the upper end of the front end bent portion 73 so as to extend toward the inside of the case 5. It has the shape it had. The retainer prevention rod 70 has a rear end bent portion 72 inserted and attached to a retainer prevention rod mounting hole (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the slider 40, and the slider 40 is centered around the rear end bent portion 72. Can be swung below the horizontal plane (see also FIG. 6).

As can be seen from FIG. 9A, the retaining rod 70 is provided on the slider guide groove 21 on the left side of the main body 10.
Outer wall 2 of the main body 10 formed so as to sandwich the left and right sides of the
4 and the guide rail 25 located inside (right side) thereof. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the rod biasing spring 97 is provided on the left side wall 9 of the cover 90.
1 is formed by bending so as to extend inward and rearward.
The rear end of the retainer rod 70 is brought into contact with the left side surface of the retainer rod 70 in a state in which the retainer rod 70 is attached to the retainer rod 70, so that the retainer rod 70 is constantly urged inwardly of the case 5 (here, rightward). ing. For this reason, the retaining rod 70 is in a state in which the protrusion 74 thereof is always in contact with the guide rail 25 of the main body 10, and when the slider 40 slides in the case 5 in the front-rear direction, it follows the shape of the guide rail 25 to form a horizontal plane. It will swing inside.

Here, as can be seen from FIG. 9, the guide rail 25 has a slanted portion 25a which changes so as to project outward as it goes forward of the case 5.
Therefore, the slider 40 is biased forward by the spring 55 so that the front end portion 45a of the lower slide guide 45 is moved to the front end portion 21a of the slider guide groove 21 (see FIG. 9A).
In the state in which it is positioned at the initial position where it comes into contact with, the retainer rod 70 has a posture in which the protrusion 74 at the front end thereof is swung outward (to the left) of the case 5, and the protrusion is a card. The card 1 is not fitted in the notch 105 formed on the left side portion of the card 100 (see FIG. 10 (A)).
00 is inserted into the case 5, and the slider 40 is inserted into the case 5.
As it slides backward in the inside, the retaining rod 70 is guided by the guide rail 25 (according to the shape of the guide rail 25) so that the protrusion 74 swings inward (rightward) of the case 5. Move. Then, the slider 40
Is locked by the cam mechanism, and the card 100 is in the insertion completion position (the terminal 102 of the card 100 and the contact 11
And the protruding portion 74 is in a position in which the protrusion 74 extends straight in the front-back direction.
It is fitted in the notch 105 formed in the left side portion of the (see FIG. 10B). In addition, the protrusion 74 (at least at the rear edge) is such that the protrusion 74 is
In the state of being fitted in the notch 105 of 0, it is formed so as to have a shape that extends slightly forward from the side.

The card connector 1 is mounted on a substrate (not shown) by a well-known surface mount. At this time, the lead portions 11a, 11a, ... Bent and extended downward from the rear portions of the contacts 11, 11 ,.
(See) and the lead portion 2 of the three switches 27, 28, 29.
7e, 28d, 29c and the fixing portion 82 of the fixing fitting 80 are soldered to predetermined positions of a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on the substrate.

Next, a user of the card 100 (hereinafter referred to as a card user) inserts the card 1 into the card connector 1.
After mounting (inserting) 00, the card connector 1 completes the information transmission between the electronic device and the card 100 and the card 100 is ejected from the case 5 until each part of the card connector 1 The operation will be described. Here, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are used together, but FIG.
00 is inserted into the card connector 1 and the front end of the card 100 is in contact with the front end of the rightward extending portion 42 of the slider 40. FIG. The slider 40 is pushed inwardly (backward) of the case 5 and the slider 40 is locked and held by the cam mechanism.
00 is located at the insertion completion position (the position where the terminal 102 of the card 100 and the contact 11 come into contact with each other). 11 and 12 show a state in which the cover 90 is removed.

First, the card user inserts the card 100 picked by his / her finger into the case 5 of the card connector 1.
At this time, the left and right side portions of the card 100 are guided by the insertion guide portions 15, 15 at both ends of the main body portion 10 and smoothly guided into the case 5. As the card 100 is pushed further in, the left end of the card 100 will slide toward the slider 40.
The front edge of the rightward extending portion 42 from the front (the state shown in FIG. 11). Here, when the card 100 is inserted into the case 5, the protrusion 84 of the leaf spring portion 83 of the fixing bracket 80 is pushed away by the left side portion of the card 100 and the case 5 is removed.
Of the card 100, but when the card 100 is located at the position where it abuts the rightward extending portion 42 of the slider 40 as described above, the protrusion 84 is formed on the left side portion of the card 100. Since it fits into the formed notch 105, it returns to the natural state (or a state close to this) and the card 100 is temporarily fixed in the case 5. Since such temporary fixing is not performed when the insertion direction of the card 100 is wrong or the front and back are reversed, it is confirmed that the card 100 is correctly inserted by performing such temporary fixing. can do. In addition, at the time of this temporary fixing, that is, the protrusion 84 of the leaf spring portion 83 is formed in the notch 1
Since a click sound is generated when the card 100 is inserted into the slot 05, whether or not the card 100 is temporarily fixed can be grasped by the presence or absence of the click sound.

The card 100 in such a temporarily fixed state
When is further pushed inward (backward) of the case 5, the front end of the card 100 comes into contact with the front edge of the rightward extending portion 42 of the slider 40 from the front, so that the slider 40 moves the card 100.
It is pushed by the front end of the case and slides to the rear of the case 5. Here, the card 100 may be inserted obliquely into the case 5 (see FIG. 13), but as described above, the front edge of the rightward extension portion 42 of the slider 40, that is, the card 100 in the slider 40. Since the front edge of the portion where the tip of the card abuts is formed in an arc shape protruding forward, the force with which the tip of the card 100 presses the slider 40 is always in the center direction of the arc. Therefore, by setting the center position of the circular arc to an appropriate position, the force (moment) for rotating the slider 40 can be minimized, and the sliding movement of the slider 40 can always be made smooth. You can When the card 100 in the temporarily fixed state is pushed inward in the case 5, the protrusion 84 of the fixing metal fitting 80 located in the notch 105 of the card 100 is separated from the notch 105, and the protrusion 84 is further removed. Since it is pushed away by the left side portion of the card 100, the leaf spring portion 83 is bent again to the outside of the case 5.

When the card 100 is pressed from the temporarily fixed state in the rearward direction (rearward) of the case 5 and the slider 40 slides rearward of the case 5, the bent portion 51 of the cam rod 50 follows the first groove of the cam groove 43 accordingly. The slide grooves O-A-B move in this direction. As described above, the cam groove 43
Since there is a step between A to L to K, when the card 100 is pushed in the back of the case 5, the cam bar 5
The bent portion 51 of 0 does not proceed in the order of ∘ → A → L → K (always proceeds in the order of O → A → B). In addition, such a card 100
During the insertion process of the
Starts to fit into each terminal mounting groove 103 of the card 100.

When the slider 40 further slides rearward of the case 5, the bent portion 51 of the cam rod 50 moves in the second slide grooves B to C to D in this direction, but the bent portion 5
When 1 reaches the point E, the end wall 103a of the terminal mounting groove 103 comes into contact with the front end wall 13b of the contact protection portion 13 from the front side, so that the card 100 is no longer in the case 5.
It cannot be pushed further in (backward). When the card 100 cannot be pushed in, the card user releases the card 100, but the slider 40 receives a biasing force of the spring 55, and the slider 40 is slightly moved toward the front of the case 5 (in the card 100 ejecting direction). Slide to move. Accordingly, the bent portion 5 of the cam rod 50
1 moves in this direction in the third slide grooves E to F to G of the cam groove 43, but in the state where the bent portion 51 is located at the point G in this way, the slider 40 moves to the spring 55.
Is urged toward the front of the case 5 (in the card 100 ejecting direction) by the cam rod 50, while the cam rod 50 blocks the forward movement of the slider 40. Therefore, the slider 40 is locked at this position. (State shown in FIG. 12). In addition, as described above, E to F to G of the cam groove 43.
Since there is a step between them, when the card user releases his hand from the card 100, the bent portion 5 of the cam bar 50
1 never proceeds from E to D to C (always proceeds from E to F to G).

As described above, the card 100 is located at the insertion completion position with the slider 40 locked and held by the cam mechanism, and the terminal 102 and the contact 11 are in contact with each other to enable information transmission. . As described above, as the card user releases his hand from the card 100, as the slider 40 slides slightly forward of the case 5, the card 1 inserted in the case 5
00 also moves slightly to the front of the case 5, so that the terminal 102
And a wiping effect occurs between the contact 11 and
A contact failure due to dust or dirt attached to the terminal 102 or the contact 11 is prevented in advance.

When the card 100 is thus inserted through the opening 7 in the front of the case 5, the slider 40 is moved to the card 10.
After being pushed by the front end portion of 0 to slide backward in the case 5, the cam mechanism locks and holds it. As a result, the card 100 is at the insertion completion position (terminal 1 of the card 100).
02 and the contact 11 are in contact with each other), but when the card 100 is inserted into the case 5 and the slider 40 slides rearward of the case 5 in this way, the rod biasing spring 97 The retaining rod 70, which is always urged inwardly of the case 5 by the guide rail 25,
Is guided by and swung inward of the case 5, and the card 1
When 00 reaches the insertion completion position, the protrusion 74 at the front end is fitted into the notch 105 formed in the side portion of the card 100, so that the card 100 during information transmission is prevented from falling off from the case 5. To be done.

Here, since the retaining rod 70 is a member separate from the slider 40 and is only biased inwardly of the case 5 by the rod biasing spring 97, the card 100 at the insertion completion position is shown. When the is pulled out, the retaining rod 70 is pushed out of the case 5 against the urging force of the rod urging spring 97, and the protrusion 74 is disengaged from the notch of the card 100.

The first switch 27 for detecting card insertion is
In a state where the card 100 is not inserted into the case 5 and the cantilever portion 27b of the card 100 is in a posture in which the cantilever portion 27b extends straight rearward (not bent to the outside of the case 5), the rear end portion of the cantilever portion 27b is Although it is in contact with the contact T2 of the third switch 29, when the card 100 is inserted to the insertion completion position, the protrusion 27c at the rear end of the cantilever portion 27b is pushed away by the right side portion of the card 100 and the case 5, and the rear end portion of the cantilever portion 27b is separated from the contact T2 of the third switch 29 (this detects that the card 100 has been inserted to the insertion completion position). ).

The second switch 28 for detecting the write protect has the cantilever portion 28b in which the card 100 is not inserted into the case 5 and extends straight rearward (the outside of the case 5). Not bent to)
In the state, the rear end portion of the cantilever portion 28b is in contact with the contact T1 of the first switch 27, but when the card 100 is inserted into the case 5, first, the protruding portion 28c at the rear end of the cantilever portion 28b is inserted into the card 100. Of the cantilever portion 28b is pushed away by the right side portion of the case 5 and is bent outward (to the right) of the case 5, and the rear end portion of the cantilever portion 28b is separated from the contact T1 of the first switch 27 (state of FIG. 11).

Here, when the inserted card 100 is not write-protected, that is, the card 10
The write protect switch 104 of 0 is the card 10
When it is located on the insertion side of 0, the card 100
In the state in which is inserted to the insertion completion position, the protruding portion 28c of the second switch 28 falls into the recess 104b (see FIG. 12) formed behind the write protect changeover switch 104, so the cantilever portion of the second switch 28 is inserted. 28b returns to the original posture (posture extending straight rearward) from the state of being bent outward (to the right) of the case 5, and comes into contact with the terminal T1 of the first switch 27 (FIG. 1).
State 2). On the other hand, when the inserted card 100 is write-protected, that is, when the write-protect changeover switch 104 of the card 100 is located on the ejection side of the card 100, the second switch 28.
The projecting portion 28c of the write protect switch 1
Although it falls into the recess 104a (see FIG. 3) formed in front of 04, the projecting portion 28c of the second switch 28 is pushed away again by the write protect changeover switch 104 when the card 100 is inserted up to the insertion completion position. Therefore, the cantilever portion 28b of the second switch 28 is bent outward (to the right) of the case 5 and the terminal T of the first switch 27 is bent.
It is separated from 1.

Therefore, the cantilever portion 27b of the first switch 27 is separated from the contact T2 of the third switch 29, and the cantilever portion 28b of the second switch 28 is in contact with the contact T1 of the first switch 27. Is detected, it is detected that the card 100 is located at the insertion completion position and the card 100 is not write-protected. Therefore, data is read from the card 100 and the card 100 is read. Data is also written to the. On the other hand, the first switch 27
When it is detected that the cantilever 27b is separated from the contact T2 of the third switch 29 and the cantilever portion 28b of the second switch 28 is separated from the contact T1 of the first switch 27, the card 100 is Although it is located at the insertion completion position, it is detected that the card 100 is write-protected.
Data is read from 0, but the card 100
No data is written to.

When the exchange of information between the card 100 and the card connector 1 is completed, the card user ejects the card 100 from the card connector 1, so that the front end of the card 100 (the end on the lower side of the paper surface in FIG. 12). Part) is pressed to the rear of the case 5 (the insertion direction of the card 100). As a result, the slider 40 slides backward in the case 5 against the urging force of the spring 55, and accordingly, the bent portion 51 of the cam rod 50 is moved to the fourth slide groove G ~.
Move in this direction within ~ HI. And the cam rod 50
When the bent portion 51 reaches the point I, the terminal mounting groove 1
Since the end wall 103a of 03 abuts the front end wall 13b of the contact protection portion 13 from the front side, the card 100 cannot be pushed further into the case 5 (backward). Here, as described above, since the step is provided between G to H to I of the cam groove 43, the bent portion 51 of the cam rod 50 advances from G to F to E by pressing the card 100 backward. There is no such thing (progress always G → H → I).

When the card 100 cannot be pushed further in, the card user stops pressing the card 100 and releases the card 100. As a result, the slider 40 receives the urging force of the spring 55 and slides forward of the case 5 (in the card 100 ejecting direction), and accordingly, the bent portion 51 of the cam rod 50 moves in the cam groove 43.
The fifth slide groove I to J to K is moved in this direction, and then the sixth slide groove K to L to A is moved in this direction.
As a result, the slider 40 is in a state before the card 100 is inserted into the case 5, that is, the front end portion 45a of the lower slide guide 45 on the lower surface of the slider 40 contacts the front end portion 21a of the slider guide groove 21 formed in the main body portion 10. Return to the initial position.

As described above, when the card 100 located at the insertion completion position is pushed rearward of the case 5, the slider 40 is moved.
The lock holding of the card 1 is released, and the slider 40 is moved to the card 1
00 and case 5 receiving the biasing force of spring 55
When the slider 40 is pushed forward of the case 5 in this manner, the retaining rod 70 is guided by the guide rail 25 to swing outward of the case 5 and the protruding portion 74. Is the cutout 10 on the card 100
The card user can remove the card 100 from the case 5 without being hindered by the retaining rod 70.
Can be removed from

When ejecting the card 100, when the slider 40 is located at the initial position, the notch 105 formed in the left side portion of the card 100 has the projection 84 at the tip of the leaf spring portion 83 of the fixing member 80. As it is inserted, the card 100 is fixed in that position. For this reason, the card 100 does not jump out of the case 5 due to excessive force, and the loss of the card 100 is prevented.

The operation of each part of the card connector 1 at the time of inserting and ejecting the card 100 has been described above. As described above, in the card connector 1, the card 100 inserted in the case 5 is the card 100. Terminal 1
02 and the contact 11 are positioned at the insertion completion position where they come into contact with each other, and the protrusion 74 of the retaining rod 70 is prevented.
Since the card is fitted in the notch 105 formed in the side portion of the card 100, it is possible to prevent the card 100 from falling off the case 5 due to vibration or the like during the information transmission. Further, since the retaining rod 70 is configured as a separate member from the slider 40 and is only urged inwardly of the case 5 by the rod urging spring 97, a normal card ejection operation, that is, the card 100. Even when the card 100 is pulled out regardless of the operation of pushing the rear side of the case 5, the retaining lock rod 70 is pushed out of the case 5 against the urging force of the rod urging spring 97. Since the protrusion 74 is separated from the notch 105 of the card 100, the slider 40 and the card 100 are not damaged.

Further, the projection 74 (at least at its rear edge) has a shape extending slightly forward from the lateral side when the projection 74 is fitted in the notch 105 of the card 100. When the card 100 at the insertion completion position is accidentally pulled out, the protrusion 74 can be smoothly pushed out of the case 5 by the notch 105, so that the protrusion 74 is notched.
Card 100 and retaining rod 70
It is possible to surely prevent the damage of the.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the SD card having the terminal mounting groove for mounting the flat terminal on the back side of the card is taken as an example of the card to be used, but the present invention is not limited to such an SD card. A magnetic card or the like configured by attaching a magnetic tape to a flat plate-shaped main body can also be applied.

[0057]

As described above, in the card connector according to the present invention, when the card inserted in the case is located at the predetermined insertion completion position where the card terminal and the contact come into contact with each other, Since the projection of the retaining rod fits into the notch formed on the side of the card, the card is prevented from falling out of the case due to vibration or the like during information transmission. Further, since the retainer rod is formed as a member separate from the slider and is only biased inwardly of the case by the rod biasing member, a proper card ejection operation (pushing the card to the rear of the case). Even if the card is pulled out regardless of the (operation), the retaining rod is pushed out of the case against the urging force of the rod urging member, and the protruding part separates from the notch of the card. Therefore, the slider and card will not be damaged.

It is preferable that the rear edge of the protruding portion has a shape that extends slightly forward of the lateral side when the protruding portion is fitted in the notch of the card. With such a configuration, when the card at the insertion completion position is accidentally pulled out, the protrusion can be smoothly pushed out of the case by the notch, so the protrusion is notched. The situation in which the card or the retaining rod is damaged by being caught by is reliably prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a card connector according to the present invention together with an SD card inserted in the card connector.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card connector with a cover removed.

3A is a front view of the card, FIG. 3B is a plan view of the card, and FIG. 3C is a right side view of the card.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a left insertion guide portion.

FIG. 5: First attached to the right side part of the case body
-It is the figure shown in the state where the 3rd switch was removed from the main part.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the slider as viewed from the rear left of the case.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the slider,
(B) is the point A indicated by the alphabet in (A),
It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional shape of the slider which cut | disconnected B, ..., L in the order of A->B->...->L-> A.

8A is an enlarged plan view showing a left side portion of the card connector, and FIG. 8B is a left side view thereof.

9A is an enlarged plan view showing a left side portion of the card connector excluding a cover portion, a slider, and a cam bar (and a spring), and FIG. 9B is a left side view thereof.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing a left side portion of the present card connector excluding a cover portion and a slider (and a spring), (A) showing a state where the slider 40 is located at an initial position, and (B). Shows a state in which the card is inserted into the case and the slider is locked and held by the cam mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the card connector with the card inserted into the card connector and showing a state in which the front end of the card is in contact with the front end of the rightward extension of the slider, excluding the cover.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the card connector excluding the cover part showing a state where the card is located at the insertion completion position.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the front end of the card is in contact with the front edge of the rightward extension of the slider when the card is inserted obliquely into the case.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 card connector 5 cases 7 openings 10 Main body 11 contacts 25 guide rails 30 card ejection mechanism 40 slider 43 Cam groove (cam mechanism) 50 cam rod (cam mechanism) 51 Bend 55 Spring (Slider urging member) 60 Lock-out prevention mechanism 70 Locking rod 74 Projection 80 fixing bracket 90 Cover 97 Rod urging spring (rod urging member) 100 SD card (card) 105 cutout

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A case for receiving a card inserted through a front opening, and a contact for contacting and contacting a terminal of the card when the card inserted in the case is located at an insertion completion position. A slider that is pushed by the tip of the card inserted into the case and slides backward in the case; a slider urging member that constantly urges the slider forward of the case; When inserted in the case, the slider slid and moved to the rear of the case is locked and held to position the card at the insertion completion position, and the card at the insertion completion position is pressed rearward of the case. When the slider is released, the lock holding of the slider is released, and the slider is pushed together with the card by the slider urging member. A cam mechanism that operates so as to be pushed forward, and a rear end that is supported by the slider and extends in the front-rear direction inside the case, and has a protrusion that protrudes inwardly of the case at the front end A prevention rod, a rod urging member that constantly urges the protrusion side of the retaining rod to the inside of the case, the card is inserted into the case, and the slider slides rearward of the case. When the card is moved, the retaining rod is provided inward of the case so that the protrusion is fitted in the notch formed in the side portion of the card when the card is located at the insertion completion position. When the card positioned at the insertion completion position is pushed rearward of the case and the slider is pushed forward of the case, the protrusion is cut out. A card connector, comprising: a guide rail that swings the retaining rod so that the retaining rod is detached from the inside. 2. The rear edge of the protrusion has a shape that extends slightly forward of the lateral side when the protrusion is fitted in the notch of the card. The card connector according to claim 1.