JP2004055318A - Incorrect insertion prevention mechanism of card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an incorrect insertion prevention mechanism for a card capable of surely preventing an incorrect insertion of a card in a simple structure, without any need of a process on a card side. <P>SOLUTION: A mechanism of preventing an incorrect insertion of a CF card (a card) 7 with its plane shape of a rectangle with a pair of long sides and short sides and with the long sides inserted from a card insertion hole 5 and connected to a connector is structured by including a pair of guide grooves 15 guiding the CF card 7 to the connector in insertion-coupling with the pair of the short sides of the CF card 7, a biasing means (a leaf spring and a pressing member 18) biasing the CF card 7 inserted from the card insertion hole 5 in a direction crossing the insertion direction, and a stopper 16 for stopping a further insertion of the CF card 7 by being in contact with the CF card inserted into the card insertion hole with the short sides in a state not inserted into the guide grooves 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mechanism for preventing an erroneous insertion of an external storage device such as a compact flash (R) card into a dedicated connector or a host device provided with the connector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an external storage device, an IC card is a package in which a semiconductor storage element is packaged in a card shape. A compact flash card (hereinafter abbreviated as a CF card) having a larger storage capacity and a larger thickness than a conventional IC card is used. It has been put to practical use.
[0003]
By the way, in recent years, a form has been increasing in which a dedicated connector for a CF card is provided in a host device such as a personal computer or a printer, and the CF card is directly inserted into the connector for use.
[0004]
Here, for example, a schematic configuration of the CF card is shown in a perspective view in FIG. 15, and the dimensions of the CF card are defined by the CFA (Compact Flash Association) standard, and the planar shape is a pair of long sides and a pair of long sides. Is formed in a rectangular card shape having a short side of.
[0005]
That is, the illustrated CF card 7 includes a frame 7a formed into a substantially rectangular frame shape with resin or the like, a substantially rectangular metal shield plate 7b bonded so as to sandwich the frame 7a from above and below, and It is configured to include a resin connector 7c incorporated on one end surface on the side, and the end surface of the connector 7c is provided with a total of 50 contacts 25d per row in two rows in the long side direction. It is arranged. Here, each socket contact 7d is formed in a hole shape in a direction perpendicular to the end face of the connector 7c, and a terminal (not shown) electrically connected to a semiconductor element (not shown) is provided therein. ing.
[0006]
Grooves 7e and 7f having different shapes are formed on the short side end surface of the CF card 7 to prevent the CF card 7 from being erroneously inserted into the host device side connector upside down. ing.
[0007]
Thus, the CF card 7 requiring the above configuration is inserted from the card insertion slot of the host device with the long side provided with the connector 7c first, and is inserted into the host device side connector. Then, the socket contact 7d provided on the connector 7c of the CF card 7 and the contact pin (not shown) provided on the host device side connector are fitted to each other to make electrical contact with each other. And the host device are electrically connected. As a result, the host device can read information stored in the CF card 7 and write information into the CF card 7.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the user inserts the CF card 7 into the card insertion slot of the host device, even if the user attempts to insert the CF card 7 by turning it upside down, the groove 7e, 7f prevents it. However, if the user mistakenly inserts the CF card 7 from the short side into the card insertion slot of the host device, there is conventionally no way to prevent this, and in such a case, the electrical connection between the CF card 7 and the host device is made. In addition to making the connection impossible, there arises a problem that the contact pin of the host device side connector is strongly pushed by the short side of the CF card 7 and is damaged. If the contact pins of the host device side connector are damaged, the CF card 7 and the host device cannot be electrically connected again, so that repair or replacement of the host device side connector becomes necessary. Such a problem is likely to occur when the CF card 7 is difficult to see when the CF card 7 is inserted into the card insertion slot.
[0009]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-293636 discloses that a blocking member having a protrusion is rotatably provided in a housing passage in a housing, and only when a regular card is inserted into the card passage from a card insertion slot, This card can contact the protrusion to push up the blocking member and pass through the card passage. When other foreign objects such as cards and coins are inserted, they are directly contacted with the blocking member and further inserted. Devices that prevent insertion have been proposed.
[0010]
However, in the above-described apparatus, even if, for example, a CF card is erroneously inserted from the short side, if a part of the CF card is brought into contact with the projection, the blocking member is retracted to allow the CF card to be inserted. There is a fear.
[0011]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-89282 discloses an erroneous insertion prevention hole formed in the IC card side as a means for preventing erroneous insertion from the short side of the IC card, and an erroneous insertion prevention pin in the host device side connector. A configuration has been proposed, but this configuration requires processing on both the IC card and the host-side connector, and has a problem that the structure is complicated.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a purpose thereof is to eliminate the need for processing on the card side and to prevent erroneous insertion of a card with a simple configuration and to prevent erroneous insertion of a card. It is to provide a prevention mechanism.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a card in which a planar shape forms a rectangle having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, and the long side is inserted from a card insertion slot and connected to a connector. A pair of guide grooves for guiding the card to the connector by fitting an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism for preventing erroneous insertion of the card, and inserting the card inserted from the card insertion slot into the card. An urging means for urging in a direction orthogonal to the direction, and a short side not contacting the guide groove to abut a card inserted into the card insertion slot to prevent further insertion of the card. It is characterized by comprising a stopper.
[0014]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the urging means contacts the card inserted in the card insertion slot with the short side not fitted in the guide groove. As described above.
[0015]
Therefore, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when the card is erroneously inserted from the short side, the short side of the card does not fit into the guide groove, so that the card is pressed by the urging means. When the card is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction by the force and is further pushed in, the tip of the card comes into contact with the stopper and further insertion is prevented, so that erroneous insertion from the short side of the card is reliably prevented. It is. In this case, since no processing is required for the card, erroneous insertion of the card can be prevented with a simple configuration. When the card is properly inserted from the long side, the short side fits into the guide groove and its position is regulated, so that even if the urging force of the urging means acts on the card, The card is properly guided to the connector along the guide groove, and is securely connected to the connector.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the stopper is disposed closer to the card insertion direction than the connector.
[0017]
Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the insertion of the erroneously inserted card is prevented by the stopper in front of the connector, so that damage to the contact pins on the connector side by the card is reliably prevented.
[0018]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the urging means is disposed closer to the card insertion direction than the stopper.
[0019]
Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the erroneously inserted card is urged by the urging means and displaced toward the stopper at least before contacting the stopper, so that the card surely contacts the stopper. Further intrusion is reliably prevented.
[0020]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the biasing means is disposed at a position for biasing a substantially central portion of a side on the insertion side of the card. I do.
[0021]
Therefore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the card is urged by the urging means at the approximate center of the insertion side, so that the erroneously inserted card is securely contacted with the stopper without being greatly inclined. , Further intrusion is prevented by the stopper.
[0022]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the urging means is constituted by an elastic member.
[0023]
Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 6, the biasing means can be easily constituted by an elastic member such as a metal leaf spring.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a media box provided with a card erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the media box, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the media box as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of a card insertion portion of the media box, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a configuration of an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism. FIG. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a multi-function device equipped with the media box. FIG. 17 is a front view of the multifunction device.
[0026]
The media box 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is incorporated in a host device such as a personal computer or a printer, and is provided on a front surface of a pair of left and right sheet metal frames 2 bent and formed into an L-shaped cross section as shown. A resin-made media cover 3 and a flat rear cover 4 are attached to the rear surface to form a substantially rectangular box. In the present embodiment, the media box 1 is incorporated in the front of the multi-function device 100 shown in FIGS. The multi-function device 100 has various functions such as a telephone function, a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, and a scanner function, and can execute various functions by itself, but can be used even when connected to a personal computer or the like. is there. As is clear from FIG. 17, the media box 1 is arranged at the lower left part on the front of the multi-function device 100.
[0027]
The media cover 3 located on the front surface of the media box 1 is bent and formed in a concave shape along the front surface shape of the host device, and is provided with columnar bosses 3a projecting from four corners on the rear surface thereof. It is supported by the frame 2 by being attached to a bracket 2a formed at the front.
[0028]
On the front of the media cover 3, as shown in FIG. 1, three large and small card slots 5, 6 and 20 each having a vertically long rectangular slit shape are arranged side by side. A CF card 7 (see FIG. 15 for a detailed configuration) is inserted. A small card insertion slot 6 is for inserting a memory stick (R) 8 smaller and thinner than the CF card 7. The narrow card insertion slot 20 is for inserting a smart media (R) 21. Further, an access lamp 22 composed of an LED is provided substantially below the card insertion slot 6, and when any one of the CF card 7, the memory stick 8, and the smart media is accessed by the multi-function device 100. Is turned on.
[0029]
Here, as for the memory stick 8 or the smart media 21, the short side is the regular insertion side and the flat electrical contact portion is provided only on one side thereof, it is not particularly necessary to provide an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism. This is because even if these are erroneously inserted, the connector itself and the connector are not destroyed.
[0030]
However, in the case of the CF card 7 shown in FIG. 7 in which the long side is the normal insertion side and has a hole-shaped socket contact 7d that engages with the contact pin 12 of the main body connector 11 only on the normal surface, Since the contact pins 12 may be damaged when erroneously inserted from the short side, an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism for preventing erroneous insertion of the CF card 7 is required. That is, when the user places the multi-function device 100 on the floor, a low desk, or the like and uses it, as described above, the media box 1 is disposed at the lower left portion in front of the multi-function device 100. It is difficult for a person to look into the card insertion slot 6 of the CF card 7. Therefore, the contact pins 12 existing behind the card insertion slot 6 cannot be visually recognized, and the CF card 7 may be inserted from an incorrect direction.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 7, the CF card 7, the memory stick 8, and the smart media 21 are inserted and mounted on the back side of the media cover 3 in the media box 1. The semiconductor device substrate 10 is attached to the socket 9 to be mounted. As shown in FIG. 7, inside the socket 9, there are provided a plurality of (in the present embodiment, socket contacts 7d (see FIG. 12) formed on the connector 7c of the CF card 7) projecting from the connector 11. (The same number of 50) contact pins 12 are exposed.
[0032]
Here, as shown in detail in FIGS. 5 to 7, projecting guide portions 13 and 14 are formed at the four corners of the card insertion passage connected to the card insertion slot 5 of the media cover 3. That is, a pair of guides 13 are formed at the upper and lower left corners of the card insertion path, and a pair of guides 14 are formed at the upper and lower right corners of the card insertion path. A pair of guide grooves 15 for fitting the pair of short sides and guiding the CF card 7 to the connector 11 are formed by the left and right guide portions 13 and 14. The height of the card insertion slot 5 and the card insertion passage connected thereto is set slightly larger than the length of the long side of the CF card 7, and the width of the pair of upper and lower guide grooves 15 is The thickness is set slightly larger than the thickness.
[0033]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the back side of the pair of upper and lower guide portions 14 formed on the media cover 3, the front side of the connector 11 (the front side with respect to the insertion direction of the CF card 7). On the side), a step-shaped stopper 16 having the same width as the guide portion 14 is formed, and the height of the stopper 16 (distance between the upper and lower guide portions 14) is larger than the length of the short side of the CF card 7. The CF card 7 which has been set and is erroneously inserted into the card insertion slot 5 from the short side can pass between the upper and lower guide portions 14.
[0034]
The media cover 3 urges the CF card 7 inserted from the card insertion slot 5 in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction (in this embodiment, rightward in front view toward the stopper 16). Spring 17 and a pressing member 18 attached to the tip of the spring 17 are provided.
[0035]
Here, the leaf spring 17 is a metal spring bent in an L-shape. As shown in FIG. 3, two horizontal portions thereof are attached to the upper surface of the media cover 3 by rivets 19, and substantially downward. The pressing member 18 made of resin is attached to a free end of the vertical portion bent at a right angle. Here, the pressing member 18 penetrates the notch 3b (see FIG. 2) formed in the side wall of the media cover 3 and faces the card insertion passage as shown in FIGS.
[0036]
By the way, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the position of the pressing member 18 is deviated upward due to the special shape of the media cover 3, but ideally, as shown in FIG. The position of the pressing member 18 is on the side of the insertion side of the CF card 7 (the long side when the CF card 7 is properly inserted from the long side, and the short side when the CF card 7 is erroneously inserted from the short side). The position should be set so as to bias the approximate center of the side. The pressing member 18 is made of a resin that is more flexible than metal in order to protect the CF card 7 that comes into contact with the pressing member 18, and has a leading end that can be retracted by coming into contact with the inserted CF card 7. Are formed in a tapered shape (see FIG. 6).
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 6, the urging means constituted by the leaf spring 17 and the pressing member 18 is disposed closer to the front than the stopper 16 (closer to the insertion direction of the CF card 7). I have.
[0038]
Thus, the erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention includes the above-mentioned pair of upper and lower guide grooves 15, the urging means constituted by the leaf spring 17 and the pressing member 18, and the stopper 16. The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 is a front view of a card insertion slot showing a state where the CF card is properly inserted from the long side, FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 11, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a front view of a card insertion slot portion showing a state where the card is erroneously inserted from the side, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.
[0039]
When the CF card 7 is properly inserted into the card insertion slot 5 from the long side, a pair of short sides of the upper and lower sides of the CF card 7 are fitted into the upper and lower guide grooves 15 as shown in FIG. When the CF card 7 is pushed inward in this state, the leading end of the CF card 7 comes into contact with the pressing member 18 of the urging means to retract it, and the CF card 7 applies the urging force from the leaf spring 17 to the pressing member. 18 and is urged in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (right direction when viewed from the front), but since the position of the CF card 7 is regulated by the guide groove 15, as shown in FIG. The CF card 7 is properly guided to the connector 11 along the guide groove 15 and is securely connected to the connector 11.
[0040]
That is, a plurality of socket contacts 7d (see FIGS. 7 and 15) formed on the long side end surface which is the front end surface of the CF card 7 are fitted with the contact pins 12 arranged on the connector 11, respectively. Both of them come into electrical contact with each other, and the CF card 7 and the host device are electrically connected to read information stored in the CF card 7 or write information to the CF card 7.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 15, grooves 7e and 7f having different shapes are formed on the short side end surface of the CF card 7, so that the CF card 7 is turned upside down in the card insertion slot 5. There is no possibility of incorrect insertion in the state of being set.
[0042]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, when the CF card 7 is erroneously inserted into the card insertion slot 5 from the short side, the short side of the CF card 7 7 is displaced rightward in a front view orthogonal to the insertion direction by the urging force of the leaf spring 17 and comes into contact with the inner end face of the card insertion passage. That is, the short side of the CF card 7 is fitted between the upper and lower guide portions 14. When the CF card 7 is further pressed in this state, the front end of the short side of the CF card 7 contacts the stopper 16 located at the back of the CF card 7 to prevent further insertion. Erroneous insertion is reliably prevented.
[0043]
Thus, according to the erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention, no processing is required for the CF card 7, so that the erroneous insertion of the CF card 7 can be prevented with a simple configuration.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, since the stopper 16 is disposed on the near side of the connector 11 with respect to the card insertion direction as described above, the erroneously inserted CF card 7 is inserted by the stopper 16 before the connector 11. As a result, damage to the contact pins 12 of the connector 11 by the CF card 7 is reliably prevented.
[0045]
Further, in the present embodiment, since the urging means including the leaf spring 17 is arranged on the front side of the stopper 16 with respect to the card insertion direction, the CF card 7 that is erroneously inserted does not hit the stopper 16 at least. Before the CF card 7 comes into contact with the CF card 7, the CF card 7 is urged by the urging means and displaced toward the stopper 16, so that the CF card 7 is securely brought into contact with the stopper 16 and further intrusion is reliably prevented.
[0046]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 8, if the urging means is arranged at a position where the pressing member 18 urges the substantially central portion of the side on the insertion side of the CF card 7, the CF card 7 is placed on the side on the insertion side. Is substantially urged by the urging means, so that the erroneously inserted CF card 7 does not largely tilt in the card insertion path, and the CF card 7 reliably contacts the stopper 16 and Intrusion is reliably prevented.
[0047]
Although the present embodiment employs a configuration in which the inserted CF card 7 is urged by a single urging means, a plurality of urging means may be provided as shown in FIG. Further, from the viewpoint of suppressing the surface pressure, the change in the posture of the CF card 7, and the like, it is desirable that the contact area of the pressing member 18 that contacts and urges the CF card 7 to the CF card 7 be as large as possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the height of the pressing member 18 can be increased to increase the contact area of the pressing member 18 with the CF card 7.
[0048]
In addition, in the present embodiment, since the urging means includes the metal leaf spring 17 which is an elastic member, the urging means can be simply configured.
[0049]
In the above embodiment, an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism for preventing erroneous insertion of a CF card has been particularly described. However, the erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention is also applicable to preventing erroneous insertion of any other card. Of course, it is equally effective.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when the card is erroneously inserted from the short side, the short side of the card does not fit into the guide groove, so that The card is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction by the urging force of the urging means, and when the card is further pushed in, the leading end of the card comes into contact with the stopper and further insertion is prevented. An effect is obtained that erroneous insertion can be reliably prevented. In this case, since no processing is required for the card, erroneous insertion of the card can be prevented with a simple configuration.
[0051]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the insertion of the erroneously inserted card is prevented by the stopper in front of the connector, the effect of reliably preventing the contact pins on the connector side from being damaged by the card can be obtained. .
[0052]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the erroneously inserted card is urged by the urging means to be displaced toward the stopper at least before contacting the stopper. The effect that the intrusion of the intrusion is reliably prevented is obtained.
[0053]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the card is urged by the urging means at a substantially central portion of the insertion side, so that the erroneously inserted card is securely contacted with the stopper without being greatly inclined. The effect is obtained that the above intrusion is prevented by the stopper.
[0054]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, an effect is obtained that the urging means can be easily constituted by an elastic member such as a metal leaf spring.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a media box including a card erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a media box including a card erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a media box provided with a card erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a media box provided with a card erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from below.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of a card insertion slot portion of a media box provided with a card erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a card incorrect insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of a card insertion slot portion of a media box showing another embodiment of a card incorrect insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view of a card insertion slot portion of a media box showing another embodiment of a card erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view of a card insertion slot portion of a media box showing another embodiment of a card incorrect insertion preventing mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a front view of the card insertion slot showing a state when the CF card is properly inserted from the long side.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a front view of a card insertion slot showing a state where a CF card is erroneously inserted from the short side.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a CF card.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a multi-function device equipped with a media box having a card erroneous insertion prevention mechanism according to the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a front view of the multi-function device in FIG. 16;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Media box 3 Media cover 5, 6 Card slot 7 Compact flash card (CF card)
8 Memory Stick 9 Socket 11 Connector 12 Contact Pin 13, 14 Guide Portion 15 Guide Groove 16 Stopper 17 Leaf Spring (Biasing Means)
18 Pressing member

Claims (6)

A planar shape has a rectangular shape having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, and a mechanism for preventing erroneous insertion of a card connected to a connector by inserting a long side from a card insertion slot,
A pair of guide grooves for fitting the pair of short sides of the card to guide the card to the connector, and biasing means for biasing the card inserted from the card insertion slot in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. And a stopper that abuts the card inserted into the card insertion slot in a state where the short side does not fit in the guide groove to prevent further insertion of the card. Card insertion prevention mechanism. 2. The card according to claim 1, wherein the urging unit urges the card inserted into the card insertion slot such that the short side does not fit into the guide groove so that the card comes into contact with the stopper. 3. Erroneous insertion prevention mechanism. 3. The mechanism for preventing erroneous insertion of a card according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is arranged on the near side of the connector with respect to the card insertion direction. 4. The erroneous card insertion prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said urging means is arranged on a side closer to said card insertion direction than said stopper. 5. The erroneous card insertion preventing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said urging means is arranged at a position for urging a substantially central portion of a side on the insertion side of said card. The erroneous card insertion preventing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the urging means is formed of an elastic member.

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