JP2003229189A - Connector for card type recording medium and information equipment using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information equipment with downsizing, light weight and low profile realized. <P>SOLUTION: The information equipment 10 uses a small memory card 20 such as SD card just like a portable audio unit playing back music. The information equipment 10 is equipped with a board 73 with chips mounted arranged on an equipment main body 11, a face 32 with a notched section 32c formed opposing to one face of the memory card 20 and one face of the board 73, contacts 33 to be connected with terminal sections 21 of the memory card 20 and a memory card connector 30 for the memory card 20 to be inserted into, mounted on the board 73 in a way a part of the board 73 is exposed due to the notched section 32c. A sheet-like insulation member 80 is arranged on the board 73 so as to cover a part of the exposed section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card-shaped recording medium connector for an information device using a card-shaped recording medium, and an information device equipped with the connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional portable audio device, miniaturization has been achieved by using a mini disk as a recording medium. At present, such audio devices have been downsized to a size substantially equal to that of a mini disc.

In recent years, SD memory cards and secur
2. Description of the Related Art The spread of card-shaped recording media (hereinafter referred to as "small memory cards") such as eMultiMediaCard has promoted downsizing of portable audio devices and multi-functionalization of mobile phones.

Such a small memory card can be used for any information device such as a portable game machine, a video camera, an image reproducing device, etc., and it is possible to reduce the size and convenience of the information device. Have contributed.

Particularly in the case of a portable audio device, the use of a small memory card eliminates the need for a mechanical mechanism and, together with the small size of the small memory card itself, makes it extremely portable. .

[0006]

However, further miniaturization and weight reduction of the information device further enhances its portability and convenience, and greatly contributes to its product strength.
This is an important design issue.

Further, since the design of the information device has a very high priority from the viewpoint of product strength, each built-in component is subject to many design restrictions. Furthermore, as miniaturization and thinning progress, the mounting density of electronic components has significantly increased.

On the other hand, since the size and thickness of the memory card connector into which the small memory card is inserted are inevitably determined in order to realize its function, it is not possible to downsize the memory card connector itself. , There was a limit.

Here, when a small memory card is reproduced by the above information device or when data is stored in the small memory card from an external device, necessary information data transmission is provided in the information device main body. It is realized by connecting a small memory card to the memory card connector connected to the control circuit of the printed circuit board.

In the conventional information device, the memory card connector is mounted above the printed circuit board of the information device main body. However, when the small memory card is inserted or removed, the small memory card is connected to the circuit or the circuit of the printed circuit board. In order not to interfere with the device, no electronic parts can be provided on the printed board surface facing the memory card connector, or the necessary clearance must be set between the printed board and the memory card connector. There is a need to do this, or there is a need to interpose an insulating plate between the printed circuit board and the small memory card.

These problems and necessity impede reduction of the mounting density of electronic parts in an information device and thinning of the information device.

[0012] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information device which solves the problems of the conventional information device and is further reduced in size, weight and thickness.

[0013]

To achieve the above object, a connector according to claim 1 is a connector into which a card-shaped recording medium is inserted and mounted, and a substrate on which an electronic circuit is formed, and the substrate. A housing that is directly disposed and that forms a space for inserting and removing the card-shaped recording medium in cooperation with the substrate; and an electrode of the card-shaped recording medium that is provided on the substrate or the housing and electrically connected to the housing. Disposed on the surface of the substrate and / or the housing facing the card-shaped recording medium except at the position where the contact is electrically connected, and the substrate and / or the housing are recorded on the card-shaped recording medium. An insulating member for insulating from a medium is provided.

According to the above invention, the housing is directly mounted on the substrate, and at least a part of the substrate defines the space of the connector into which the card-shaped recording medium is mounted. As a result, the conventionally required clearance between the connector and the substrate is omitted, and the information device can be made thinner, smaller, and lighter.

Further, the insulating member is a card and / or housing (when the surface of the housing facing the card-shaped recording medium (corresponding to the upper surface 31a of the upper plate 31 of an embodiment described later) is a card). Since it is insulated from the recording medium, it is possible to prevent undesired electrical contact between the card-shaped recording medium and the substrate and / or housing that may occur when the card-shaped recording medium is inserted or removed.

Further, the connector according to claim 2 is the connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulating member is composed of an insulating sheet, and the insulating sheet is attached to the substrate and / or the housing. Is characterized by.

According to the above invention, since the insulating member is formed of a very thin insulating sheet material, it can contribute to the thinning of the information device while ensuring the insulating property with respect to the card-shaped recording medium. it can.

Furthermore, the connector according to claim 3 is the connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electronic circuit includes a chip-shaped component, and the chip-shaped component is the card of the substrate and / or the housing. It is characterized in that it is arranged on the opposite side of the flat recording medium.

According to the above invention, it becomes possible to provide various electronic components, which need to be mounted on another substrate, on the portion of the substrate which is insulated by the insulating member. As a result, the mounting density of electronic components is reduced, and the information device can be further thinned and downsized.

Further, the connector according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the card-shaped recording medium is a small memory card.

According to the above invention, it is possible to provide an optimum connector for a small memory card used in a wide range of information devices, and further miniaturize the information device in combination with the small size of the small memory card. You can

Further, an information apparatus according to a fifth aspect is characterized by including the connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

According to the above invention, it is possible to reduce the size, thickness and weight of a wide range of information devices to which the connector according to the present invention is applied.

Other objects, configurations and effects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a portable audio device which is an example of the information device 10 of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view showing the external appearance of the portable audio device 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the portable audio device 10 has a device body 11 having an outer shape with excellent portability. An operation unit 12 for operating the portable audio device 10, such as a play button 12a and a fast-forward button 12b, is provided on the outer upper surface of the device body 11. In addition, a liquid crystal display unit 14 for displaying, for example, the title of a song being played, the name of a singer, etc. is provided on the outer upper surface of the apparatus body 11.

On the outer side surface of the apparatus main body 11, for example, a stereo type earphone jack or a headphone jack (not shown) is connected to an audio output section 13a and an external device such as a personal computer. There is provided an external connection terminal 13b. An opening of a memory card connector 30 for inserting the small memory card 20 is exposed on the outer side surface of the apparatus body 11 (see FIG. 3).

Therefore, the user of the portable audio device 10 can use the small memory card 2 in which the desired music is recorded.
0 can be inserted into the memory card connector 30, the play button 12a can be pressed, and music can be heard through the stereo earphones. Further, the user can change the operating state of the portable audio device 10 by pressing the fast-forward button 12b as appropriate, and can further visually recognize the current operating state on the liquid crystal display unit 14.

FIG. 2 shows the portable audio device 10 of FIG.
3 is a top view showing an internal state in which the cover of FIG.
FIG. Inside the device main body 11, a controller for controlling the music reproducing function and the display function of the liquid crystal display unit 14, a memory card connector 30, and a battery for supplying electric power required for the music reproducing function and the character display function. A battery holder 50 (see FIG. 4) for mounting the
A voice output connector 60 for connecting a jack of a stereo type earphone and the like, and a liquid crystal display 66 for displaying the operating state of the portable audio device 10 in characters are mounted.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the rear of the apparatus main body 11 (X1 direction in FIG. 2), in order from the top (Z1 direction in FIG. 3), a first circuit board 71 and a second circuit board are provided. Board 72
The third circuit board 73, the upper plate 31 and the guide member 32 are mounted in a layered structure. The first circuit board 71, the second circuit board 72, and the third circuit board 73 together with the CPU, memory, and the like mounted on them constitute the above-mentioned control unit.

More specifically, the third circuit board 73 is
The third circuit board 73 and the second circuit board 72 are connected to the connector 63 of the circuit board 72 of FIG. The upper plate 31 and the guide member 32 are combined to form a third circuit board 73.
It is mounted on and fixed by soldering.

The claw portion 61 of the protective frame 61 is provided.
The rattling is prevented by squeezing a on the third circuit board 73 and sandwiching the second circuit board 72 by the further claw portions 61b of the protection frame 61.

Further, the spaces formed on both sides in the vertical direction by the layers of the second circuit board 72 are set to have dimensions such that the memory and the CPU of the second circuit board 72 and the third circuit board 73 can be mounted. Has been done.

The first circuit board 71 is composed of a flexible circuit board and is adhered to the upper surface of the protective frame 61. On the first circuit board 71, a contact switch 71a that responds to a button operation of the operation unit 12 and a voice output connector 60 are mounted, and further, a liquid crystal display 66 fixed to the fourth circuit board 74 is a connector. It is mounted via 65.

FIG. 4 shows the portable audio device 10 of FIG.
5 is a bottom view showing an internal state in which the cover of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the memory card connector 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed in the X2 direction in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows a memory card connector 30.
Also shown is a small memory card 20 as a card-shaped recording medium that is inserted into the card (in the X2 direction in FIG. 4). The small memory card 20 is an SD memory card or the like as described above, and has a size of about a check.

The small-sized memory card 20 has a terminal portion 21 formed at its tip and has a memory element (not shown) built therein. The information recorded in the memory element (for example, the title of a song and the singer's name) is transmitted to the control unit of the apparatus main body 11 via the terminal unit 21.

The memory card connector 30 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a rectangular upper surface 31 a facing the upper surface of the small memory card 20 (for the sake of simplicity, the Z2 direction of FIG. 5 is the upper direction for ease of understanding), and the upper surface 3
The upper plate 31 is formed by press-molding a metal plate, and is composed of side portions 31b that are provided upright in a U-shape along the left and right edges (the Y1 and Y2 directions in FIG. 4) of 1a.

Further, the memory card connector 30 is
A lower surface 32a facing the lower surface of the small memory card 20,
A side portion 32b which is erected in a U shape along the left and right edges of the lower surface 32a and faces the side surface of the small memory card 20.
It further has a resin guide member 32 made of.

The upper plate 31 or the guide member 32
Although not shown in the figure, erroneous insertion preventing means for preventing reverse insertion of the small memory card 20, a lock mechanism for locking the small memory card 20 in the inserted state, a release mechanism for releasing the lock, and the like. May be formed.

The upper plate 31 is attached to the guide member 32,
The respective side portions 32a and 32b are joined together in a state where they are aligned along the surface. This connection may be by welding, gluing, squeezing, or the like, or the top plate 3
1 may be integrally molded with the guide member 32 with resin or the like.

No wall surface is formed on the rear portion (X1 direction in FIG. 4) of each of the upper plate 31 and the guide member 32, and they are in an open state. The small memory card 20 is inserted into and removed from the memory card connector 30 through this opening. Guide means 32e for guiding the small memory card 20 are formed on the left and right side portions 31b of the guide member 32.

The lower surface 32a of the guide member 32 is not formed from the center to the rear, except for the surface near the edge. That is, the guide member 32 is substantially U when viewed from above.
It is formed in a letter shape and has a substantially rectangular notch 32c.

A plurality of connector pins 33 are juxtaposed at the front portion (X2 direction in FIG. 4) of the lower surface 32a of the guide member 32, and when the small memory card 20 is inserted,
The plurality of connector pins 33 are brought into contact with each terminal of the terminal portion 21 of the small memory card 20.

When the small memory card 20 is inserted into the memory card connector 30, the connector pin 33
The memory card connector 30 is locked by a lock mechanism (not shown) in a state of being electrically connected to the memory card 30 and is held in the mounted state. In this mounted state, reading of information data from the small memory card 20 or writing of information data to the small memory card 20 is performed.

The upper plate 31 and the guide member 32 are
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a third circuit board 73
It is installed directly on the. More specifically, the upper plate 3
The guide member 32 in which 1 is assembled is joined to the third circuit board 73 by aligning the lower surface 32a of the guide member 32 with the upper surface of the third circuit board 73 (see FIG. 3). .

As a result, the clearance between the conventionally provided third circuit board 73 and the memory card connector 30 (the lower surface 32a of the guide member 32) is omitted, and the portable audio device 10 is made thinner. Has been done.

Further, each of the plurality of connector pins 33 provided on the lower surface 32a of the guide member 32 passes through the connection path 32d formed on the lower surface 32a of the guide member 32 up to the third circuit board 73, and the connector pin 33 of the guide member 32. Cutout 3
It is connected from 2c.

More specifically, each of the connector pins 33 is connected to the corresponding connection path 32d, and each of the connection paths 32d is a portion of the third circuit board 73 exposed by the cutout 32c. Formed on the
It is connected to each corresponding connecting portion 73a.

In this way, the memory card connector 30
By connecting to the third circuit board 73 from the rear side (in the X1 direction in FIG. 4) of the memory card, the circuit is provided in the front portion of the memory card connector 30 (a portion facing the front end portion in the X2 direction in FIG. Since it is not necessary to provide a connecting means with the board 73, space saving of the front portion of the memory card connector 30 is achieved.

The connecting path 32d is connected to the guide member 32.
Is provided in a groove (not shown) formed in the lower surface 32a of the device so that the small memory card 20 is not electrically connected to the connection path 32d when the small memory card 20 is inserted or removed. There is.

Small memory card 2 on the third circuit board 73
An insulating member 80 that insulates the third circuit board 73 from the small memory card 20 is provided on the surface facing 0. The insulating member 80 is formed of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and preferably, a surface facing the third circuit board 73 is coated / coated with a viscous material.
The circuit board 73 is adhered to the surface facing the small memory card 20.

The insulating member 80 has substantially the same shape as the cutout portion 32c of the guide member 32 and is slightly smaller than the cutout portion 32c, and protects the portion of the third circuit board 73 exposed by the cutout portion 32c. Fulfills the function of.

Therefore, the insulating member 8 of the third circuit board 73
In the portion protected by 0, not only the connecting portion 73a described above but also an electronic circuit including a chip-shaped component which is an electronic component can be formed. As a result, the mounting density of electronic components on another circuit board is reduced, and the portable audio device 10 is downsized.

Here, in the configuration as described above,
The insulating member 80 and the third circuit board 73 are the guide members 3
A circuit board integrated type that defines a lower surface of the space into which the small-sized memory card 20 is inserted and removed together with the lower surface 32a of 2 and cooperates with the guide member 32 as the housing and the upper plate 31 to define the space. It can be said that the memory card connector 30 of FIG.

The insulating member 80 is preferably composed of a thin sheet-shaped insulating sheet. In order to maximize the thinning of the memory card connector 30,
Guide means 32e on the left and right side portions 31b of the guide member 32
Is preferably configured such that the upper surface of the small memory card 20 is slidably guided over the insulating member 80.

Similarly, the thickness T (see FIG. 3) of the lower surface 32a of the guide member 32 is the height H from the upper surface of the third circuit board 73 to the sliding surface of the small memory card 20 (see FIG. 3).
It is set below.

In such a case, the insulating member 80 is preferably made of a material having a low friction coefficient to ensure the desired smoothness and antistatic property.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the memory card connector 30 according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed in the X2 direction in FIG. This memory card connector 30 is
As shown in FIG. 6, the memory card connector 30 according to the first embodiment does not have a surface corresponding to the lower surface 32a of the guide member 32.

Therefore, the terminal portion 2 of the small memory card 20
The plurality of connector pins 33 connected to 1 are directly juxtaposed in the front portion (X2 direction in FIG. 4) of the third circuit board 73.

In the second embodiment, the insulating member 80
Isolates the electronic circuit mounted on the surface of the third circuit board 73 facing the small memory card 20 excluding the plurality of connector pins 33 from the small memory card 20.

In such a structure, the insulating member 80 and the third circuit board 73 cooperate with the guide member 32 as the housing and the upper plate 31 while defining the lower surface of the space into which the small memory card 20 is inserted and removed. It can be said that a circuit board-integrated type memory card connector 30 that works to define the space is constructed.

The memory card connector 30 according to the second embodiment can make the portable audio device 10 thinner and reduce the mounting density of electronic parts, similarly to the first embodiment.

As described above, the portable audio device 10 of the present invention
Although it has been described based on the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

For example, in the present invention, the memory card connector 30 is mounted on the third circuit board 73 of the apparatus main body 11, but the memory card connector 30 in which the third circuit board 73 is integrally incorporated. However, it may be mounted on the apparatus main body 11 as an assembly.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the guide member 3
2 and the upper plate 31 are the memory card connectors 3
However, the guide member 32 and the upper plate 31 may be integrally formed to form the housing, or the upper surface 31a of the upper plate 31 forming the housing may be formed of a circuit board. Good. In the latter case, the insulating member 80 is arranged on the upper surface 31 a of the upper plate 31.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been made to a portable audio device as a representative, the characteristic configuration of the present invention uses a small memory card such as a mobile phone or a video camera. It goes without saying that it can be used for any information device as long as it is a device that does.

Further, the memory card connector according to the present invention can be used as a card-shaped recording medium for not only a small memory card 20 such as an SD memory card as shown in the embodiments but also a memory stick or a non-contact type card. Can also be used.

[0069]

Since the present invention is as described above, it has the following effects. According to the invention of claim 1, the housing is directly mounted on the substrate,
At least a part of the substrate defines a space in the connector where the card-shaped recording medium is mounted. As a result, the conventionally required clearance between the connector and the substrate is omitted, and the information device can be made thinner, smaller, and lighter.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the insulating member formed of the insulating sheet material can contribute to the thinning of the information device while ensuring the insulating property with respect to the card-shaped recording medium.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, various chip-shaped components which need to be mounted on another substrate are provided in the portion of the substrate which is insulated by the insulating member, thereby reducing the mounting density of electronic components. be able to.

According to the invention of claim 4, it is possible to provide a connector which is further miniaturized and which is most suitable for a small-sized memory card.

According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to provide a connector which can contribute to achievement of downsizing, thinning and weight saving for a wide range of information devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view showing the external appearance of a portable audio device 10 according to the present invention.

2 is a top view showing an internal state of the portable audio device 10 of FIG. 1 with a cover removed. FIG.

3 is a front view of FIG. 2 showing a layered structure of internal components of the portable audio device 10. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the internal state of the portable audio device 10 of FIG. 1 with the cover removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the memory card connector 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed in the X2 direction of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a memory card connector 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed in the X2 direction of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Portable audio device (information device) 11 Device body 12 Operation part 12a Play button 12b Fast forward button 13a audio output section 13b External connection terminal 14 LCD display 20 small memory cards 21 Terminal of small memory card 30 memory card connector 31 upper plate 31a Upper surface of upper plate 31b Side of upper plate 32 Guide member 32a Lower surface of guide member 32b Side of guide member 32c cutout 32d guide member connection path 32e guide means 33 connector pins 50 battery holder 60 audio output connector 61 protective frame 61a Protective frame 61 tab 61b Claw portion of the protection frame 61 63 connector 65 connector 66 LCD display 71 First circuit board 71a contact switch 72 Second circuit board 73 Third Circuit Board 73a connection part 74 Fourth circuit board

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 5B058 CA03 CA13 KA12 KA24                 5E023 AA04 AA16 AA21 BB01 BB19                       CC02 CC23 EE10 GG09 GG15                       HH13 HH17 HH30

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A connector into which a card-shaped recording medium is inserted and mounted, and a substrate on which an electronic circuit is formed, the card-shaped recording medium which is directly disposed on the substrate, and cooperates with the substrate. A housing that forms a space for mounting and dismounting, a contact provided on the substrate or the housing and electrically connected to an electrode of the card-shaped recording medium, and a substrate other than at least the position where the contact is disposed, / Or a connector provided on the surface of the housing that faces the card-shaped recording medium, and an insulating member that insulates the substrate and / or the housing from the card-shaped recording medium. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulating member is made of an insulating sheet, and the insulating sheet is attached to the substrate and / or the housing. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes a chip-shaped component, and the chip-shaped component faces the card-shaped recording medium of the substrate and / or the housing. The connector, which is characterized in that 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the card-shaped recording medium is a small memory card. 5. An information device comprising the connector according to claim 1. Description: