【０００１】
【発明が属する技術分野】
本発明は、サイズの異なる２種類のカードが使用可能なカードコネクタに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、所謂ＭＳカードとＭＳＤｕｏカード（ＭＳカードの方が厚さ、横幅、長さにおいてＭＳＤｕｏカードに比べて大きい。）のように、サイズの異なる２種類のカードが使用可能なカードコネクタにおいては、大形カード（ＭＳカード）挿入時、該大形カードによって押込まれ、大形カード用コンタクトより手前に配置された小形カード（ＭＳＤｕｏカード）用コンタクトをカード挿入空間の外側へ押倒すコンタクト保護用スライダを、カードイジェクト用スライダとは別に備え、小形カード用コンタクトが大形カードに接触することを防止する技術があった（例えば、特許文献１参照。）。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
実開平６−４４０５２号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記従来技術は、大形カード挿入時、該大形カードによってコンタクト保護用スライダとカードイジェクト用スライダの両方を押込みながら小形カード用コンタクトより奥側に配置された大形カード用コンタクトに対応するカードセット位置へ挿入するため、大きなカード押込力（カード挿入力）を必要とした。
【０００５】
本発明は、サイズの異なる２種類のカードが使用可能なカードコネクタにおいて、カードイジェクト用スライダとは別に小形カード用のコンタクト保護用スライダを備えても、従来に比べて小さい押込力で大形カードをカードセット位置へ挿入できるカードコネクタを提供することを本発明の主たる目的とする。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するための本発明のカードコネクタは、サイズの異なる２種類の大形カード及び小形カード共用の単一のカード挿入口を有する本体ボディに、大形カード用コンタクト及び小形カード用コンタクトとカードイジェクト用スライダとを備え、小形カードをカードイジェクト用スライダを押込みながら大形カード用コンタクトより手前に配置された小形カード用コンタクトに対応するカードセット位置へ挿入し、大形カードをカードイジェクト用スライダを押込みながら小形カード用コンタクトより奥側に配置された大形カード用コンタクトに対応するカードセット位置へ挿入するカードコネクタにおいて、小形カード用コンタクト保護機構とそのロック機構とを備え、小形カード用コンタクト保護機構はカード排出方向へバネ付勢されるコンタクト保護用スライダを備えると共に、該コンタクト保護用スライダには大形カードをこの挿入方向から当接させる突起を備え、大形カード挿入時、該大形ガードによってコンタクト保護用スライダが本体ボディのボディ底面上で押込まれ、該コンタクト保護用スライダによって小形カード用コンタクトを下方へ押倒し大形カードに接触することを防止し、ロック機構はコンタクト保護用スライダの側部に上下方向に揺動自在に設けるロックレバーと、該ロックレバーの揺動端部に設ける前記突起と、本体ボディのボディ底面に設けるロック溝とを備え、前記小形カード用コンタクト保護機構が働いた時、ロックレバーがロック溝に落込み、コンタクト保護用スライダを小形カード用コンタクト押倒位置にて本体ボディに位置固定すると共に、コンタクト保護用スライダの突起を大形カードから外すことを特徴とする。
【０００７】
また、大形カードに対する前記突起の当接面を垂直方向から水平方向へ湾曲する円弧面で形成し、前記小形カード用コンタクト保護機構が働いた時、大形カードが突起を押下げながら通過することによって、ロックレバーがロック溝に落込み、ロック機構を働かせると共に、そのロック状態を維持するように構成したことを特徴とする。
【０００８】
また、カード判別機構とスライダ一体分離切換機構とを備え、カード判別機構はカード挿入口付近のカード挿入空間にこの横外側方から弾力的に先端部を突出させるカード判別部材を備え、大形カードと小形カードの横幅の異なりによって小形カード挿入時に比べて大形カード挿入時にカード挿入空間へのカード判別部材の先端部突出量が多くなることによって大形カードと小形カードの判別を行い、スライダ一体分離切換機構は前記カードイジェクト用スライダに設ける前記カード判別部材と、該カード判別部材の先端部をコンタクト保護用スライダに係合させる係合溝とを備え、カード判別機構による小形カード判別動作によってカード判別部材の先端部を係合溝に嵌込み、カードイジェクト用スライダとコンタクト保護用スライダをカード判別部材によって連結し、カード判別機構による大形カード判別動作によってカード判別部材の先端部を係合溝から外し、カードイジェクト用スライダとコンタクト保護用スライダを分離するように構成したことを特徴とする。
【０００９】
また、ロックレバーとロック溝との接触部分に金属部材を備えたことを特徴とする。
【００１０】
また、ロックレバーとロック溝との接触部分を円弧状に形成したことを特徴とする。
【００１１】
また、カード挿入口を開閉するシャッタ部材を備えたことを特徴とする。
【００１２】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施例を図面に基づいて説明する。図１は本発明に係るカードコネクタの外観斜視図、図２は図１のカードコネクタのカバーを取外した状態の外観斜視図、図３は本体ボディの外観斜視図、図４はコンタクト保護機構及びそのロック機構の作動前の状態を示す斜視説明図、図５は図４のロック機構の作動直前の状態を示す斜視説明図、図６はコンタクト保護機構の作動状態を示す側面説明図、図７はロック機構の作動状態を示す側面説明図、図８はカード判別機構とスライダ一体分離機構を示す平面説明図、図９はカード判別機構とスライダ一体分離機構の部分拡大斜視説明図、図１０は小形カード挿入時のカード判別機構とスライダ一体分離機構を示す平面説明図、図１１は大形カード挿入時のカード判別機構とスライダ一体分離機構を示す平面説明図、図１２はシャッタを閉じた状態のカード挿入口部内側の斜視図、図１３はシャッタを開いた状態のカード挿入口部内側の斜視図、図１４はシャッタを閉じた状態のカード挿入口部の外観斜視図、図１５はシャッタを開いた状態のカード挿入口部の外観斜視図であり、該カードコネクタは基本構成として、サイズの異なる２種類の大形カード１及び小形カード２共用の単一のカード挿入口３を有する本体ボディ４に、大形カード用コンタクト（以下、「後コンタクト」という。）５及び小形カード用コンタクト（以下、「前コンタクト」という。）６と、カードイジェクト機構を構成するカードイジェクト用スライダ（以下、「上スライダ」という。）７とを備え、加えて本発明の特徴構成として小形カード用コンタクト保護機構（以下、「前コンタクト保護機構」という。）８とそのロック機構９、並びにカード判別機構１０とスライダ一体分離切換機構１１、さらにカード挿入口３を開閉するシャッタ部材１２を備え、携帯電話機、ＰＤＡ、携帯型オーディオ、カメラ等の電子機器のプリント配線基板に実装され、サイズの異なる２種類の大形カード１と小形カード２が使用可能である。
【００１３】
サイズの異なる２種類のカードとして本実施例では、ＭＳ（メモリースティック）カードを大形カード１として示し、ＭＳ（メモリースティック）Ｄｕｏカードを小形カード２として示し、大形カード１（ＭＳカード）の方が厚さ、横幅、長さにおいて小形カード（ＭＳＤｕｏカード）に比べて大きい。
【００１４】
先ずカードコネクタの基本構成を説明する。図１乃至図３に示す如く、本体ボディ４は樹脂材料等の絶縁体によって一体成形加工したもので、平面視縦長な略長方形状のボディ底面１３の前縁からボディ前側壁１４を、右側縁からボディ右側壁１５を、後側縁からボディ後側壁１６をそれぞれ直角に立上げ、上面及び左側面を開放したトレー形状に形成すると共に、前側壁１４の中央部を大形カード１の厚さ及び横幅に応じた横幅及び深さに切欠き、大形カード１及び小形カード２共用の単一のカード挿入口３を形成している。また本体ボディ４の外側にこの前方又は後方から嵌込む下方に開いた横長の角張ったＣ形状のカバー１７を備え、該カバー１７によって本体ボディ４の開放面である上面及び左側面、さらには右側壁１５も覆い、本体ボディ４とカバー１３によって前側面にカード挿入口３を開口形成した縦長薄型の略四角箱形状のコネクタケース１８を形成し、該コネクタケース１８の内部、即ち本体ボディ４内側のカード挿入空間１９に大形カード１及び小形カード２の何れか一方を一枚ずつカード挿入口３から挿入するように構成している。
【００１５】
カバー１７は薄い金属板によって一体成形加工したもので、コネクタケース１８のシールドフレームを兼ねる。カバー１７の上面前部には四角形状の窓２０を開口形成すると共に、窓２０の後縁左右側部から前方斜め下方に延出させる左右のカード押え用板バネ２１をカバー１７に一体形成し、各板バネ２１の自由端部をカード挿入空間１９の前端左右側部にこの上方から突出させ、該自由端部に上方に開いた円弧状のカード押え部２２を形成し、該押え部２２をカード挿入口３からカード挿入空間１９に挿入された大形カード１又は小形カード２の上面左右側部に乗上げさせ、挿入カード１又は２を常時下方に弾力的に押し、挿入カード１又は２の挿入途中及びそれぞれのカードセット位置での浮上りや上下方向のがたつきを防止するように構成している。
【００１６】
カード挿入空間１９の前部下側と後部下側に対応するボディ底面１３の前部中央部と後部中央部には前後のコンタクト取付部２３，２４を形成すると共に、各コンタクト取付部２３，２４の上面には前後方向に延びる溝２５，２６を、左右横方向に複数並べて形成している。また前コンタクト取付部２３より前側のボディ底面４ａを切欠き、前コンタクト取出口２７を形成すると共に、後コンタクト取付部２４の各溝２６の後端をボディ後側壁１６の外面に連通させる複数の後コンタクト取出口２８を、該ボディ後側壁１６に左右横方向に並べて形成している。前コンタクト取出口２７とカード挿入口３は連続形成される。
【００１７】
後コンタクト５は細長い接触バネ片である複数の後コンタクト端子２９で構成し、前コンタクト６も後コンタクト端子と同様の複数の前コンタクト端子３０によって構成している。
【００１８】
各前コンタクト端子３０は前半部を前コンタクト取付部２３の各溝２５内に圧入固定し、自由端部となる後半部を各溝２５の後端から後上がり傾斜姿勢で突出させて前コンタクト接片３１を形成し、左右横方向に並ぶ各前コンタクト接片３１をカード挿入空間１９の前部にこの下方から突出させると共に、各前コンタクト接片３１の先端部に下方に開いた円弧状の前コンタクト接点３２を形成し、後述する各後コンタクト端子２９より手前（前方）に各前コンタクト端子３０を配設している。また各前コンタクト端子３０は前端が各溝２５の前端から前コンタクト取出口２７を介してボディ底面１３の裏面側に取出され、電子機器のプリント配線基板の前コンタクトパッド（小形カード用コンタクトパッド）に半田接続される。
【００１９】
各後コンタクト端子２９は後半部を後コンタクト取付部２４の各溝２６内に圧入固定し、自由端部となる前半部を各溝２６の前端から前上がり傾斜姿勢で突出させて後コンタクト接片３３を形成し、左右横方向に並ぶ各後コンタクト接片３３をカード挿入空間１９の後部にこの下方から突出させると共に、各後コンタクト接片３３の先端部に下方に開いた円弧状の後コンタクト接点３４を形成し、前述の各前コンタクト端子３０より奥側（後方）に各後コンタクト端子２９を配設している。また各後コンタクト端子２９は後端が各溝２６の後端から各後コンタクト取出口２８を介してボディ後側壁１６の外面側に取出され、電子機器のプリント配線基板の後コンタクトパッド（大形カード用コンタクトパッド）に半田接続される。
【００２０】
上スライダ７は樹脂材料によって一体成形加工したもので、カード挿入空間１９内の上部を左右に横切る形態で平面視横長な長方形板状に形成すると共に、両側に左右脚部３５，３６を一体形成している。
【００２１】
上スライダ７は左脚部３５の下面をカード挿入空間１９より左側のボディ底面１３の左側縁部に摺動自在に支持させると共に、右脚部３６の下面をカード挿入空間１９より右側のボディ底面１３の右側縁部に摺動自在に支持させ、カード挿入空間１９内の上部を左右に横切るように左右脚部３５，３６間に架設されている。左右脚部３５，３６の下面を摺接支持するボディ底面１３の左右側縁部は前後コンタクト取付部２３，２４を形成したボディ底面１３の中央部より一段高く形成している。また左右脚部３５，３６をボディ底面１３とカバー１３の上面との間に摺動自在に挟み、上スライダ７の上下方向の位置決めを行い、左脚部３５の外側面をボディ底面１３の左側縁に沿って前後方向に形成するガイドレール３７に摺接支持させると共に、右脚部３６の外側面をボディ右側壁１５の内面に摺接支持させ、上スライダ７の左右方向の位置決めを行い、上スライダ７を前後方向にのみスライド移動自在に本体ボディ４に取付けている。左脚部３５の外側面を摺接支持するガイドレール３７は左脚部３５の下面を摺接支持するボディ底面１３の左側縁部の左側端縁部（ボディ底面１３の左側端縁部）をさらに一段高く形成することでできる段差面によって形成している。
【００２２】
また、左右脚部３５，３６を上スライダ７の前端面より前方へ突出すると共に、左脚部３５を上スライダ７の後端面より後方へ突出し、右脚部３６の後端面を上スライダ７の後端面と面一に形成し、左右脚部３５，３６の前端面をボディ前側壁１４の内面に後方から当接させ、上スライダ７の前方（カード排出方向）へのスライド移動を規制し、この前方への移動終端位置、即ちイジェクト位置で上スライダ７を各前コンタクト接片３１の略真上に位置させる一方、上スライダ７と右脚部３６との面一な後端面をボディ後側壁１６の内面に、また左脚部３５の後端面をボディ後側壁１６の左側端部から後方に張出すボディ張出後側壁３８の内面にそれぞれ前方から同時に当接させ、上スライダ７の後方（カード挿入方向）へのスライド移動を規制し、この後方への移動終端位置、即ち最押込位置で上スライダ７を各後コンタクト端子２９の後半部の上方に位置させ、イジェクト位置と最押込位置との間で上スライダ７を前後方向にスライド移動（往復移動）可能に構成している。前記上スライダ７の前端面とこの前端面より前方に突出する左右脚部３５，３６の内側面とで形成される前方に開いた平面視コの字形の凹部に大形カード１の挿入端部が嵌込まれる。
【００２３】
カードイジェクト機構はイジェクト用コイルバネ（以下、「イジェクトバネ」という。）３９を備える。イジェクトバネ３９はこの後半部をボディ張出後側壁３８の内面から前方に突出する丸棒状のバネ嵌合部４０の外側に嵌合し、後端をボディ張出後側壁３８の内面に当接支持させると共に、前部を左脚部３５の後端面に形成した孔（図示省略）から該左脚部３５の中空内部に挿入し、前端を左脚部３５の中空内部に設けたバネ受部（図示省略）に当接支持させ、本体ボディ４と上スライダ７との間に張設し、該イジェクトバネ３９によって上スライダ７を常時前方へ弾力的に押し、カード未挿入時及びカード排出時、上スライダ７をイジェクト位置に復帰保持させるように構成している。
【００２４】
上スライダ７の前端部下面を上方に窪ませ、上スライダ７の前端面より所定寸法後方へ入込んだ下面位置に小形カード受止面４１を形成し、上スライダ７の前端面を大形カード受止面４２とするもので、小形カード２挿入時、該小形カード２の挿入側端面（後端面）をイジェクト位置にある上スライダ７の小形カード受止面４１に前方から係合させ、小形カード２によって上スライダ７をイジェクトバネ３９に抗して後方へ押込みながら、小形カード２を、この挿入側端部下面に左右横方向に並べて設けられ、かつ小形カード２内部のＩＣ回路に接続される複数の接触パッドが後コンタクト５より手前に配設された前コンタクト６の各前コンタクト接点２３ｂに乗上げて接触するカードセット位置に押込む（挿入する）一方、大形カード１挿入時、該大形カード１の挿入側端面（後端面）をイジェクト位置にある上スライダ７の大形カード受止面４２に前方から係合させ、大形カード１によって上スライダ７をイジェクトバネ３９に抗して後方へ押込みながら、大形カード１を、この挿入側端面から下面にわたって形成される後方及び下方に開いた溝で、かつ左右横方向に並べて形成された複数の溝内に位置し、かつ大形カード１内部のＩＣ回路に接続される複数の接触パッドが前コンタクト６より奥側に配設された後コンタクト５の各後コンタクト接点３４に乗上げて接触するカードセット位置に挿入するように構成している。
【００２５】
大形カード１挿入時、上スライダ７が各後コンタクト接点３４を通過する際、上スライダ７が各後コンタクト接点３４と接触するのを防止するため、上スライダ７の下面には前後方向に延びる溝４３を、左右横方向に複数並べて形成している。
【００２６】
尚、上スライダ７は左脚部３５の外側面に形成されたカム溝と本体ボディ４側に形成されたカムピンで構成されるカムロック機構（図示省略）によって、イジェクト位置と最押込位置との間の２位置、即ち大形カード１のカードセット位置に対応する第１の押込位置と小形カード２のカードセット位置に対応する第２の押込位置に位置固定されると共に、第１及び第２の各押込位置での上スライダ７に対する押込操作によって各押込位置での位置固定が解除されてイジェクトバネ３９によってイジェクト位置に復帰移動され、挿入カード１又は２が各カードセット位置から前方へ押戻されて排出される。したがって、大形カード１及び小形カード２のそれぞれの挿入と排出が、２回の押込操作、所謂プッシュプッシュ操作によって行われる。
【００２７】
上記から明らかなように本実施例のカードコネクタは、サイズの異なる２種類の大形カード１及び小形カード２共用の単一のカード挿入口３を有する本体ボディ４に、後コンタクト５及び前コンタクト６と、カードイジェクト機構を構成する上スライダ７とを備え、小形カード２を上スライダ７を押込みながら後コンタクト５より手前に配置された前コンタクト６に対応するカードセット位置へ挿入し、大形カード１を上スライダ７を押込みながら前コンタクト６より奥側に配置された後コンタクト５に対応するカードセット位置に挿入する基本構成を有する。
【００２８】
次に上記基本構成に加える本発明の特徴構成を説明する。図４乃至図７及び図１２乃至図１５に示す如く、前コンタクト保護機構８はコンタクト保護用スライダ（以下「下スライダ」という。）４４を備える。下スライダ４４は樹脂材料によって一体成形加工したもので、各前コンタクト接片３１を囲う形態で平面視四角枠板形状に形成すると共に、前端中央部から前方に平面視四角形状のガイド板４５を一体延出している。
【００２９】
下スライダ４４は左右脚部３５，３６の下面を摺接支持するボディ底面１３の左右側縁部より一段低くなっているボディ底面１３の中央部に載置するもので、下スライダ４４はこの左右側縁部下面を前コンタクト取付け部２３の両外側のボディ底面１３に摺動自在に支持し、後側縁部下面を前コンタクト取付け部２３より後部のボディ底面１３に摺動自在に支持し、これら左右側縁部と後側縁部の後端上部間に架設した前側縁部を前コンタクト取付部２３の上側を横切らせてこの上面に摺動自在に支持し、各前コンタクト接片３１を囲うようにカード挿入空間１９の下側でボディ底面１３上に配設し、該下スライダ４４の内側開口部４６から各前コンタクト接片３１を後上がり傾斜姿勢でカード挿入空間１９の前部に突出させるように構成している。
【００３０】
大形カード１又は小形カード２挿入時、挿入カード１又は２とボディ底面１３との間に下スライダ４４を挟み、該下スライダ４４の上下方向の位置決めを行い、左右脚部３５，３６の下面を摺接支持するボディ底面１３の左右側縁部と下スライダ４４の左右側縁部と後側縁部の下面を摺接支持するボディ底面１３の中央部との段差面によって形成する前後方向の左右ガイドレール４７，４８に下スライダ４４の左右外側面を摺接支持し、またガイド板４５の左右外側面を後コンタクト取付部２４の前側で各後コンタクト接片３３の下方のボディ底面１３上に設ける前後方向の左右ガイドレール４９，５０に摺接支持し、下スライダ４４の左右方向の位置決めを行い、下スライダ４４を前後方向にのみスライド移動自在に本体ボディ４に取付けている。
【００３１】
左右脚部３５，３６の下面を摺接支持するボディ底面１３の左右側縁部より一段低くなっているボディ底面１３の前端部左右角部に形成する左右ストッパー面５１，５２に、下スライダ４４の左右側縁部の前端面を後方から当接させ、下スライダ４４の前方（カード排出方向）へのスライド移動を規制し、この前方への移動終端位置、即ち初期位置にて下スライダ４４によって各前コンタクト接片３１を囲い、下スライダ４４の前側縁部を各前コンタクト接片３１より前側の前コンタクト取付部２３の上側に移動させ、各前コンタクト接片３１を下スライダ４４の内側開口部４６から後上がり傾斜姿勢の自由状態でカード挿入空間１９の前部に突出させるように構成している。
【００３２】
前コンタクト保護機構８は下スライダ４４の初期位置（初期状態）復帰用コイルバネ（以下、「復帰バネ」という。）５３，５４を備える。復帰バネ５３，５４は左右に２つ設けるもので、ガイド板４５の両外側の下スライダ４４の後端面に左右のバネ受用丸孔５５，５６を開口形成し、該左右丸孔５５，５６の内側に各復帰バネ５３，５４の前端部を嵌合させて、各復帰バネ５３，５４の前端を左右丸孔５５，５６の底面に当接支持させ、左右ガイドレール４９，５０の両外側のボディ底面１３に左右丸孔５５，５６と対向させる左右のバネ受５７，５８を設けると共に、該左右バネ受５７，５８の前面に丸棒状のバネ嵌合部５９，６０を突出し、各復帰バネ５３，５４の後端部を左右バネ嵌合部５９，６０の外側に嵌合させて、各復帰バネ５３，５４の後端を左右バネ受５７，５８の前面に当接支持させ、各復帰バネ５３，５４を本体ボディ４と下スライダ４４との間に張設し、該各復帰バネ５３，５４によって下スライダ４４を常時前方へ弾力的に押し、カード未挿入時及びカード排出時、下スライダ４４を初期位置に復帰保持させるように構成している。
【００３３】
下スライダ４４には大形カード１をこの挿入方向から当接させる突起６１を備え、また下スライダ４４の前側縁部の下面に後上がり傾斜状のコンタクト押下面６２を形成するもので、大形カード１挿入時、上スライダ７の押込開始タイミングより前に、大形カード１を初期位置にある下スライダ４４の突起６１前端面に前方から係合させ、大形カード１によって下スライダ４４を各復帰バネ５３，５４に抗して後方へ押込み、下スライダ４４の前側縁部を各前コンタクト端子３０の前半部上側（前コンタクト取付部２３の上側）から各前コンタクト端子３０の後半部の後上がり傾斜姿勢の自由状態の各前コンタクト接片３１上側にスライド移動させて乗上げさせ、各前コンタクト接片３１をコンタクト押下面６２によって各前コンタクト接点３２が大形カード１に接触する前にカード挿入空間１９の下方へ強制的に押倒し、各前コンタクト接点３２が大形カード１に接触することを防止するように構成している。
【００３４】
図４乃至図７及び図１２乃至図１５に示す如く、上記前コンタクト保護機構８のロック機構９は、下スライダ４４の左側部に上下方向に揺動自在に設けるロックレバー６３と、該ロックレバー６３の揺動端部に設ける前記突起６１と、本体ボディ４のボディ底面１３に設けるロック溝６４とを備える。
【００３５】
下スライダ４４の左側面上部から左側に水平に平面視縦長な長方形状の板状張出部６５を張出し形成すると共に、該板状張出部６５の右側部（基側部）にこの前端から後端の少し手前にわたって前後方向にスリット６６を形成し、該スリット６６より左側部分に後端部を基部とし前端部を自由端部とし上面が下スライダ４４の上面と面一になる水平姿勢から前下がり傾斜姿勢に撓み変形可能な平面視縦長な長方形状の板バネ部を形成し、該板バネ部をロックレバー６３として用いるもので、該ロックレバー６３の下面を下スライダ４４より左側のボディ底面１３上、詳しくは下スライダ４４の左右側縁部下面及び後側縁部下面を摺動自在に支持しているボディ底面１３より一段高くなっていて左脚部３５の下面を摺接支持しているボディ底面１３の左側縁部上に摺動自在に支持している。
【００３６】
前記突起６１はロックレバー６３の自由端部となる前端部上面から上方に平面視縦長な長方形状に突出形成し、下スライダ４４が初期位置にある時、突起６１をカード挿入空間１９の前部左端にこの下方から突出させ、大形カード１挿入時、イジェクト位置にある上スライダ７の大形カード受止面４２に大形カード１の挿入端面が前方から係合する前に、初期位置にある下スライダ４４の突起６１の前端面に、大形カード１の挿入側端部左角部に形成された誤挿入防止用面取部６７の下面側に形成された後方及び下方に開く凹部６８の垂直面６９を前方から係合させ、大形カード１によって上スライダ７を後方へ押込む前に下スライダ４４を後方へ押込むように構成している。
【００３７】
突起６１の垂直な前端面と水平な上端面で構成する前上角部に丸み（所謂、「アール」）を付ける円弧面７０を設け、大形カード１の前記垂直面６９に対する突起６１の当接面を垂直方向から水平方向に湾曲する前記円弧面７０で形成し、ロックレバー６３をボディ底面１３の左側縁部上面に押付けながら（ロックレバー６３に押下力を付与しながら）下スライダ４４と一体に後方へスライド移動させるように構成している。
【００３８】
ロック溝６４はロックレバー６３を摺接支持しているボディ底面１３の左側縁部で、下スライダ４４が各前コンタクト接片３１の押倒位置にスライド移動した時のロックレバー６３と平面視で重なる位置に設け、ロックレバー６３を嵌込可能に平面視縦長な長方形状に形成するもので、大形カード挿入時、該大形カード１によって下スライダ４４が突起６１を介して初期位置から各復帰バネ５３，５４に抗して後方へ押込まれ、該下スライダ４４の前側縁部で各前コンタクト接片３１がカード挿入空間１９の下方へ強制的に押倒された時、即ち前コンタクト保護機構８が働いた時、ロックレバー６３の摺接支持面をロック溝６４によってなくしていることで、該ロックレバー６３をこの後端を基点（支点）に前下がり傾斜状に撓み変形（揺動）させてロック溝６４内に落込み、ロックレバー６３の前端を各復帰バネ５３，５４によってロック溝６４の前端部に後方から係合させ、下スライダ４４を各前コンタクト接片３１の押倒位置にて本体ボディ４に位置固定すると共に、ロックレバー６３のロック溝６４への落込みによって、ロックレバー６３の前端に設けた突起６１をカード挿入空間１９の下側に下降させて大形カード１の垂直面６９から外し、大形カード１と下スライダ４４との係合を解除し、大形カード１を上スライダ７のみを押込みながらさらに後方へ押込ませ、大形カード１の垂直面６９が突起６１を超えて後方へ通過し、該大形カード１の下面で突起６１を押下保持することによって、ロックレバー６３の前下がり傾斜姿勢（ロック状態）から水平姿勢（アンロック状態）への復帰動作を規制し、ロック機構９のロック状態を維持する一方、大形カード１排出時、大形カード１の垂直面６９が突起６１を超えて前方へ通過し、大形カード１の下面による突起６１の押下保持を解除することによって、ロックレバー６３を前下がり傾斜姿勢（ロック状態）から水平姿勢（アンロック状態）へ復帰させ、ロック機構９をアンロック状態とし、下スライダ４４を各復帰バネ５３，５４によって初期位置に復帰移動させるように構成している。
【００３９】
上記から明らかなように本実施例のカードコネクタは、前コンタクト保護機構８とそのロック機構９とを備え、前コンタクト保護機構８はカード排出方向へバネ付勢される下スライダ４４を備えると共に、該下スライダ４４には大形カード１をこの挿入方向から当接させる突起６１を備え、大形カード１挿入時、該大形ガード１によって下スライダ４４が本体ボディ４のボディ底面１３上で押込まれ、該下スライダ４４によって前コンタクト６を下方へ押倒し大形カード１に接触することを防止し、ロック機構９は下スライダ４４の側部に上下方向に揺動自在に設けるロックレバー６３と、該ロックレバー６３の揺動端部に設ける前記突起６１と、本体ボディ４のボディ底面１３に設けるロック溝６４とを備え、前記前コンタクト保護機構８が働いた時、ロックレバー６３がロック溝６４に落込み、下スライダ４４を前コンタクト６押倒位置にて本体ボディ４に位置固定すると共に、下スライダ４４の突起６１を大形カード１から外すという本発明の特徴構成を有し、この構成を採用したことによって、大形カード１挿入時、前コンタクト保護機構８が働いた以降、上スライダ７を押込むだけの押込力で大形カード１をカードセット位置へ挿入できるから、上スライダ７とは別に下スライダ４４を備えても、従来に比べて小さい押込力で大形カード１をカードセット位置へ挿入できる。
【００４０】
また、大形カード１に対する前記突起６１の当接面を垂直方向から水平方向へ湾曲する円弧面７０で形成し、前記前コンタクト保護機構８が働いた時、大形カード１が突起６１を押下げながら通過することによって、ロックレバー６３がロック溝６４に落込み、ロック機構９を働かせると共に、そのロック状態を維持する本発明の特徴構成を有し、この構成を採用したことによって、大形カード１排出時、ロック機構９をアンロック状態に復帰させて前コンタクト保護機構８を自動的に初期状態に復帰させることが可能となり、前コンタクト保護機構８及びそのロック機構９を簡潔な構成にできる。
【００４１】
尚、ロックレバー６３は下スライダ４４と別体に構成してもよい。この場合、下スライダ４４の後端部を左右方向の揺動支点軸回りで揺動自在に下スライダ４４の左側部に支持すると共に、ロックレバー６３を上方へバネ付勢するバネ部材とロックレバー６３を下方から係合させてこれを水平姿勢に位置保持するストッパー部材を設けることによって、本実施例のロックレバー６３と同様の働きをするロックレバー６３を得ることができる。しかし本実施例のように下スライダ４４の左側面に一体形成する板バネ部をロックレバー６３として用いることによって、ロック機構９を少ない部品で簡潔に構成できると共に、組立ても簡単に行うことができる。またロックレバー６３をボディ底面１３側に引っ掛けることなく確実にロック溝６４に落込むため、下スライダ４４の左外側面を摺接支持させる前記左ガイドレール４７とロック溝６４との間に形成される薄板状のガイドレール部７１の前部を前記スリット６６に嵌まる高さに形成している。さらにロック溝６４の後端部はボディ底面１３から直角に落込ませるのではなく前下がり傾斜状のスロープ面７２によって徐々に落込ませ、該スロープ面７２をロックレバー６３の下方への揺動方向のストッパーとして働かせると共に、ロック溝６４によるボディ底面１３の開口面積をできる限り小さくしてボディ剛性を維持する補強として働かせる。
【００４２】
前記ロックレバー６３の下面及び前後端部を薄い金属板製で上方に開いたＣ形の補強カバー７３で覆うと共に、ロック溝６４の後端部を横切る断面円形の細い金属製補強ピン７４をボディ底面１３に設け、樹脂製のボディ底面１３に対してロックレバー６３下面の金属面を摺接支持させると共に、ロックレバー６３のロック溝６４への落込時及びロック溝６４からの抜出時、該ロックレバー６３前端の円弧状金属面とロック溝６４前端の円弧状金属面（断面円形の細い金属製補強ピン７４）を接触させ、ロックレバー６３とロック溝６４との接触部分の耐磨耗性及び摺動性を確保するように構成している。
【００４３】
上記から明らかなように本実施例のカードコネクタは、ロックレバー６３とロック溝６４との接触部分に金属部材７３，７４を備える本発明の特徴構成を有し、この構成を採用したことによって、これら接触部分の耐磨耗性を確保でき、ロック機構９の性能を適正に維持できる。
【００４４】
また、ロックレバー６３とロック溝６４との接触部分を円弧状に形成した本発明の特徴構成を有し、この構成を採用したことによって、ロックレバー６３がロック溝６４に落込む時及びロック溝６４から抜出す時の摺動性を確保でき、ロック機構９の円滑なロック及びアンロック動作を実現できる。
【００４５】
尚、ロックレバー６３の前端に設けられる大形カード１との接触部である突起６１もロックレバー６３と同様に、この前後端面及び上端面を薄い金属板製の補強カバー７５で覆い、大形カード１に対する耐磨耗性及び摺動性を確保している。また突起６１の後上角部には該部がイジェクト時に大形カード１の下面に引掛かるのを防止するための面取部７６を設けている。
【００４６】
図２及び図８乃至図１１に示す如く、大形カード１の上スライダ７に対するセミロック機構７７を備えるもので、該セミロック機構７７はカード挿入空間１９の左端部に垂直に立上がる左脚部３５内側面の前端部を部分的に内側に窪ませて形成する凹部７８と、該凹部７８に基部を左右方向に摺動自在に嵌合保持させるセミロック部材７９と、該セミロック部材７９と凹部７８底面との間に張設してセミロック部材７９の先端係止部８０を凹部７８からカード挿入口３の直後のカード挿入空間１９の前端部にこの左横外側から弾力的に突出させるコイルバネや板バネその他ゴム弾性材等で構成する弾性部材８１とを備え、セミロック部材７９の先端係止部８０の先端前後角部に面取部８２，８３を設け、大形カード１挿入時、該大形カード１の誤挿入防止用面取部６７とセミロック部材７９の先端係止部８０の先端前角部の面取部８２との接触によってセミロック部材７９を弾性部材８１に抗して凹部７８内に押込むと共に、大形カード１の挿入端部がイジェクト位置にある上スライダ７の前端面（大形カード受止面４２）とこの前端面より前方に突出する左右脚部３５，３６の内側面とで形成された前方に開いた平面視コの字形の凹部に嵌込まれ、大形カード１の挿入側端面が上スライダ７の大形カード受止面４２に前方から係合する時、即ち大形カード１が上スライダ７の押込開始位置まで挿入された時、該大形カード１の左側面で誤挿入防止用面取り部６７の直後（挿入方向に対して）に形成されるセミロック溝８４にセミロック部材７９を対向させ、弾性部材８１によってセミロック部材７９の先端係止部８０をセミロック溝８４内に突出係入させ、大形カード１の上スライダ７に対する前後方向の位置決めを行い、大形カード１のカードセット位置への挿入動作に追従した上スライダ７の後方への押込みから上スライダ７のイジェクト位置への復帰動作に追従した大形カード１の後方への排出（押出し）を確実に行わせるように構成している。
【００４７】
図２及び図８乃至図１１に示す如く、カード判別機構１０はカード挿入口３付近のカード挿入空間１９にこの横外側方から弾力的に先端部を突出させるカード判別部材８５を備える。
【００４８】
カード判別部材８５は縦長な長方形状の板バネで構成し、カード挿入空間１９を挟んでセミロック部材７７と反対側に配設するもので、上スライダ７の右脚部３６の内側に前方に開く平面視縦長な略Ｙ字形状の収容溝８６を形成し、該収容溝８６にカード判別部材８５を表裏が左右に向く姿勢で嵌合させ、カード判別部材８５の後半部を筋状の収容溝８５後半部に圧入固定させ、カード判別部材８５の自由端部となる前半部を前方に開いた略Ｖ字状の収容溝８６前半部の左側壁面に弾力的に押当てる状態で、収容溝８６内にカード判別部材８５を取付けている。また収容溝８６の前端より少し後側に入った部分を右脚部３６の内側に開放する溝口８７を形成すると共に、カード判別部材８５の前端より少し後側に入った部分に左側に張出す係止部８８を形成し、該係止部８８を右側方に開く平面視コの字形状に形成し、その前角部に面取部８９を形成し、該係止部８８を収容溝８６から溝口８７を介してカード挿入口３の直後のカード挿入空間１９の前端部にこの右横外側から弾力的に突出させている。さらに係止部８８に付勢するカード判別部材８５の弾性力とセミロック部材７９に付勢する弾性部材８１の弾性力を略同じに設定している。
【００４９】
小形カード２挿入時、図１０に示すように、該小形カード２をセミロック部材７９の先端係止部８０と小形カード２をカード判別部材８５の係止部８８とで左右から挟み、小形カード２とこの左右両外側の左右脚部３５，３６の内側面との間（カード挿入空間１９の左右両側部）に略同じ左右幅の隙間を形成するように、小形カード２を突起６１から外れるカード挿入空間１９の左右中央部に位置決めした状態で挿入し、セミロック部材７９の先端係止部８０と共にカード判別部材８５の係止部８８をカード挿入空間１９に突出させ、セミロック部材７９と共にカード判別部材８５を略自由状態に保持する一方、大形カード１挿入時、該大形カード１の左側面の面取部８２でセミロック部材７９の先端係止部８０を弾性部材８１に抗して左側に後退させ、カード挿入空間１９の左外側に押退けると同時に、大形カード１の右側面でカード判別部材８５の係止部８８をこの面取部８９を介してカード判別部材８５自身のバネ力に抗して右側に後退させ、カード挿入空間１９の右外側に押退け、カード判別部材８５の前半部を収容溝８６の右側部に撓み変位（揺動）させ、係止部８８を収容溝８６内に押込みむように構成し、大形カード１と小形カード２の横幅に基づくカード挿入空間１９へのカード判別部材８５の係止部８８の突出量の多少（出入れ）によって大形カード１と小形カード２とを判別するように構成している。
【００５０】
図２及び図８乃至図１１に示す如く、スライダ一体分離切換機構１１は上スライダ７に設けた前記カード判別部材８５と、該カード判別部材８５先端部の係止部８８を下スライダ４４に係合させる係合溝９０とを備える。
【００５１】
係合溝９０は下スライダ４４の右側縁を部分的にカード判別部材８５先端部の係止部８８の外形と略同じ形状に内側に窪ませて形成したもので、カード未挿入時で、上スライダ７がイジェクト位置にあり、下スライダ４４が初期位置にある時、自由状態のカード判別部材８５の係止部８８の下部を係合溝９０に嵌合させることにより、該係止部８８の上部をカード挿入口３の直後のカード挿入空間１９の前端部にこの右横外側から弾力的に突出させ、小形カード２挿入時のカード判別部材８５の小形カード２判別動作、即ちカード判別部材８５の係止部８８がカード挿入空間１９に突出する動作状態によって、係止部８８の下部を係合溝９０に嵌合保持させ、上下スライダ７，４４をカード判別部材８５によって一体に連結した状態で、該上下スライダ７，４４をこの間に小形カード２の挿入端部を挟んだ状態で小形カード２によって一体的に後方へ押込み、また上下スライダ７，４４をこれらに付勢されているイジェクトバネ３９、左右復帰バネ５３，５４によってイジェクト位置、初期位置に一体的に復帰させる一方、大形カード１挿入時のカード判別部材８５の大形カード１判別動作、即ちカード判別部材８５の係止部８８がカード挿入空間１９から収容溝８６内に押込まれる動作によって、係止部８８の下部を係合溝９０から離脱させ、上下スライダのカード判別部材８５による連結を解除した独立分離状態で、該上下スライダ７，４４を大形カード１によって別々に後方へ押込み、また上下スライダ７，４４をこれらに付勢されているイジェクトバネ３９、左右復帰バネ５３，５４によってイジェクト位置、初期位置に別々に復帰させるように構成している。
【００５２】
上記から明らかなように本実施例のカードコネクタは、カード判別機構１０とスライダ一体分離切換機構１１とを備え、カード判別機構１０はカード挿入口３付近のカード挿入空間１９にこの横外側方から弾力的に先端部の係止部８８を突出させるカード判別部材８５を備え、大形カード１と小形カード２の横幅の異なりによって小形カード２挿入時に比べて大形カード１挿入時にカード挿入空間１９へのカード判別部材８５の先端部の係止部８８の突出量が多くなることによって大形カード１と小形カード２の判別を行い、スライダ一体分離切換機構１１は前記上スライダ７に設ける前記カード判別部材８５と、該カード判別部材８５の先端部の係止部８８を下スライダ４４に係合させる係合溝９０とを備え、カード判別機構１０による小形カード２判別動作によってカード判別部材８５の先端部の係止部８８を係合溝９０に嵌込み、上スライダ７と下スライダ４４をカード判別部材８５によって連結し、カード判別機構１０による大形カード１判別動作によってカード判別部材８５の先端部の係止部８８を係合溝９０から外し、上スライダ７と下スライダ４４を分離する本発明の特徴構成を有し、この構成を採用したことによって、大形カード１挿入時で前コンタクト６の保護が必要な場合にのみ、上スライダ７と下スライダ４４を分離独立させ、小形カード２挿入時で前コンタクト６の保護が不必要な場合は、上スライダ７と下スライダ４４を連結一体化することで、小形カード２挿入時、該小形カード２のがたつき等を容易に抑制できる。
【００５３】
尚、カード判別機構１０は前記セミロック機構７７と同様のシリンダ型やソレノイド型、又はカム式のものでもよく、突出方向に常時付勢されるカード判別体を大形カード１と小形カード２の横幅の異なりによってカード挿入空間１９に対して出入れでき、同時に係合溝９０に対して係脱できるものであれば良いが、カード判別機構１０を板バネ製のカード判別部材８５で構成した場合、その組込みスペースが小さいので有効である。
【００５４】
図１、図２及び図１２乃至図１５に示す如く、シャッタ部材１２は樹脂材料によって一体成形加工したもので、カード挿入口３に対応して横長な長方形状に形成し、左右側縁に左右係止突起９１，９２を一体形成すると共に、下縁左右側部に前方に開く断面Ｃ形の左右軸受部９３，９４を、該左右軸受部９３，９４の間に後方に開く断面Ｃ形の中央軸受部９５をそれぞれ一体形成している。左右両端部をボディ前側壁１４に支持させてカード挿入口３の下縁に横架させる細長い金属軸で構成するシャッタ軸９６を設け、左右軸受部９３，９４と中央軸受部９５をシャッタ軸９６にこの周側上方から嵌着し、シャッタ軸９６を左右軸受部９３，９４と中央軸受部９５によって前後方向から挟持し、シャッタ部材１２をシャッタ軸９６を支点にカード挿入口３の内側に起伏自在に取付けると共に、シャッタ軸１２の左端部に遊嵌するコイルバネ９７の一端をシャッタ部材１２の内面に、他端をボディ底面１３にそれぞれ着脱自在に取付け、シャッタ部材１２にバネ力を起立方向に常時付勢し、左右係止突起９１，９２をボディ前側壁１４の内面に当接させることによってシャッタ部材１２を起立保持させ、カード挿入口３をシャッタ部材１２によって閉じ、大形カード１又は小形カード２の挿入端面でシャッタ部材１２を後方へ押倒しカード挿入口３を開きながら、挿入カード１又は２をカード挿入口３からカード挿入空間１９に挿入すると共に、挿入カード１又は２の下面でシャッタ部材１２をボディ底面１３上に水平に押倒保持し、挿入カード１又は２を抜去ることによって、シャッタ部材１２を起立復帰させてカード挿入口３を閉じるように構成している。
【００５５】
上記から明らかなように本実施例のカードコネクタは、カード挿入口３を開閉するシャッタ部材１２を備えたことによって、カード挿入口３からカードコネクタ内部に塵埃等が侵入することを防止でき、塵埃等から後コンタクト５及び前コンタクト６やその他内部機構を保護できる。またシャッタ部材１２は本体ボディ４のシャッタ軸９６に対してこの周側から着脱自在に取付けることができるから、カードコネクタの組立てや修理時にシャッタ部材１２が邪魔になるのを防止できる。
【００５６】
本実施例のカードコネクタは上記のように構成するもので、全体の作用を以下に簡単に説明する。図１、図２、図８、図１２、図１４に示すように、カードコネクタはカード未挿入時には、上スライダ７がイジェクト位置に復帰し、下スライダ４４も初期位置に復帰し、ロック機構９がアンロック状態となり、カード判別機構１０のカード判別部材８５が自由状態でスライダ一体分離切換機構１１により上下スライダ７，４４が一体に連結された状態にある。
【００５７】
図１０に示すように、小形カード２の使用に当たって、該小形カード２を適正姿勢でカード挿入口３からカード挿入空間１９に挿入すると（１回目の押込操作が行われると）、カード判別機構１０のカード判別部材８５はこの先端の係止部８８が図２、図８及び図９の実線、図１０に示すようにカード挿入空間１９に突出する略自由状態を維持し、小形カード２を判別する。これによって係止部８８と係合溝９０との嵌合が維持され、スライダ一体分離切換機構１１による上下スライダ７，４４の一体連結が維持される。この状態で小形カード２がさらに挿入されると、該小形カード２の挿入端面が上スライダ７の小形カード受止面４１によって受止められる。この状態から挿入操作を継続してさらに小形カード２を挿入すると、それによって上スライダ７と下スライダ４４が後方へ一体的に押込まれる。そして、イジェクト機構のカムロック機構（図示省略）の働きによって上スライダ７が第２の押込位置で位置固定されてロック状態となり、これに伴って上スライダ７に一体連結されている下スライダ４４もロック状態となり、小形カード２がこのカードセット位置に挿入され、前コンタクト６の各前コンタクト接点３２が小形カード２の各接触パッドに接触保持される。尚、小形カード２のカードセット位置への挿入時には、下スライダ４４の前側縁部が各前コンタクト接片３１の手前（前側）で停止し、前コンタクト保護機構８及びそのロック機構９は機能しない。
【００５８】
小形カード２がこのカードセット位置に挿入されている状態から２回目の押込操作が行われると、イジェクト機構のカムロック機構（図示省略）がアンロック状態となるので、イジェクトバネ３９及び左右復帰バネ５３，５４によって上スライダ７と下スライダ４４が前方へ一体的に押出され、上スライダ７がイジェクト位置に、下スライダ４４が初期位置に復帰し、これに伴って小形カード２が上スライダ７にセミロック部材７９とカード判別部材８５を介して保持された状態で前方に押出され（排出され）、この後、小形カード２をカード挿入口３から突出する部分を指で摘んでカードコネクタから抜取る。
【００５９】
一方、図１１に示すように、大形カード１の使用に当たって、該大形カード１を適正姿勢でカード挿入口３からカード挿入空間１９に挿入すると（１回目の押込操作が行われると）、カード判別機構１０のカード判別部材８５はこの先端の係止部８８が図８及び図９の仮想線、図１１に示すようにカード挿入空間１９から収容溝８６内に押込まれ、大形カード１を判別する。これによって係止部８８が係合溝９０から離脱し、スライダ一体分離切換機構１１による上下スライダ７，４４の一体連結が解除される。この状態で大形カード１がさらに挿入されると、先ず、図４、図７の（ａ）に示すように前コンタクト保護機構８とロック機構９に共用の突起６１の前端面に大形カード１の垂直面６９が前方から係合し、下スライダ４４が後方へ押込まれる。次いで、該大形カード１の挿入端面が図６の（ａ）、図１１に示すように上スライダ７の大形カード受止面４２によって受止められると共に、図１１に示すようにセミロック機構７７のセミロック部材７９の先端係止部８０が大形カード１のセミロック溝８４に突出係入する。この状態から挿入操作を継続してさらに大形カード１を挿入すると、大形カード１が前コンタクト６の各前コンタクト接点３２を通過する前（大形カード１が前コンタクト６の各前コンタクト接点３２に接触する前）に、図６の（ｂ）、図６の（ｃ）に示すように自由状態の各前コンタクト接片３１上側に下スライド４４の前側縁部が乗上げ、各前コンタクト接片３１をコンタクト押下面６２によって下方へ強制的に押倒し、各前コンタクト接点３２が大形カード１に擦れない位置までカード挿入空間１９の下方へ逃がし、前コンタクト６を保護する。このように前コンタクト保護機構８が働いた時、図５、図７の（ｂ）、図７の（ｃ）に示すようにロックレバー６３がロック溝６４の真上に移動してこの中に落込み、下スライダ４４が各前コンタクト接片３１の押倒位置にて本体ボディ４に位置固定されてロック状態となる。このようにロック機構９が働くとロックレバー６３の前端に設けた突起６１がカード挿入空間１９の下側に下降して大形カード１の垂直面６９から外る。したがって、これ以降大形カード１には下スライダ４４の左右復帰バネ５３，５４の荷重は掛からず、イジェクトバネ３９の荷重のみが掛かることになり、大形カード１は上スライダ７を押込むだけの小さな押込力でカードセット位置へ挿入することができるのである。この状態から挿入操作を継続してさらに大形カード１を挿入すると、図６の（ｃ）、図７の（ｃ）に示すように大形カード１の下面で突起６１を介してロックレバー６３をロック溝６４内に押込保持した状態で前コンタクト６を通過し、上スライダ７のみを後方へ押込む。そして、イジェクト機構のカムロック機構（図示省略）の働きによって上スライダ７が第１の押込位置で位置固定されてロック状態となり、大形カード１がこのカードセット位置に挿入され、後コンタクト５の各後コンタクト接点３４が大形カード１の各接触パッドに接触保持される。
【００６０】
大形カード１がこのカードセット位置に挿入されている状態から２回目の押込操作が行われると、イジェクト機構のカムロック機構（図示省略）がアンロック状態となるので、イジェクトバネ３９によって上スライダ７が前方へ押出され、上スライダ７がイジェクト位置に復帰し、これに伴って大形カード１が前方へ押出され、大形カード１の垂直面６９が突起６１を超えて前方へ通過すると、ロックレバー６３が係合溝６４から上方に抜出て下スライダ４４のロックが解除され、下スライダ４４も各復帰バネ５３，５４によって初期位置に復帰し、これに伴って小形カード２が上スライダ７にセミロック部材７９を介して保持された状態で前方に押出され（排出され）、この後、大形カード１をカード挿入口３から突出する部分を指で摘んでカードコネクタから抜取る。
【００６１】
以上のように本実施例のカードコネクタは、サイズの異なる２種類の大形カード１及び小形カード２が使用できる。また挿入された大形カード１又は小形カード２の動きに追従する上スライダ７と前コンタクト６を保護する下スライダ４４を備え、挿入カード１又は２のサイズ（形状）の違いにより上スライダ７と下スライダ４４の動作を一体又は分離独立できる機構によって前コンタクトを保護している。
【００６２】
【発明の効果】
以上実施例から明らかなように本発明は、サイズの異なる２種類の大形カード１及び小形カード２共用の単一のカード挿入口３を有する本体ボディ４に、大形カード用コンタクト５及び小形カード用コンタクト６とカードイジェクト用スライダ７とを備え、小形カード２をカードイジェクト用スライダ７を押込みながら大形カード用コンタクト５より手前に配置された小形カード用コンタクト６に対応するカードセット位置へ挿入し、大形カード１をカードイジェクト用スライダ７を押込みながら小形カード用コンタクト６より奥側に配置された大形カード用コンタクト５に対応するカードセット位置へ挿入するカードコネクタにおいて、小形カード用コンタクト保護機構８とそのロック機構９とを備え、小形カード用コンタクト保護機構８はカード排出方向へバネ付勢されるコンタクト保護用スライダ４４を備えると共に、該コンタクト保護用スライダ４４には大形カード１をこの挿入方向から当接させる突起６１を備え、大形カード１挿入時、該大形ガード１によってコンタクト保護用スライダ４４が本体ボディ４のボディ底面１３上で押込まれ、該コンタクト保護用スライダ４４によって小形カード用コンタクト６を下方へ押倒し大形カード１に接触することを防止し、ロック機構９はコンタクト保護用スライダ４４の側部に上下方向に揺動自在に設けるロックレバー６３と、該ロックレバー６３の揺動端部に設ける前記突起６１と、本体ボディ４のボディ底面１３に設けるロック溝６４とを備え、前記小形カード用コンタクト保護機構８が働いた時、ロックレバー６３がロック溝６４に落込み、コンタクト保護用スライダ４４を小形カード用コンタクト６押倒位置にて本体ボディ４に位置固定すると共に、コンタクト保護用スライダ４４の突起６１を大形カード１から外す。この構成を採用したことによって、大形カード１挿入時、小形カード用コンタクト保護機構８が働いた以降、カードイジェクト用スライダ７を押込むだけの押込力で大形カード１をカードセット位置へ挿入できるから、カードイジェクト用スライダ７とは別に小形カード用コンタクト保護用スライダ４４を備えても、従来に比べて小さい押込力で大形カード１をカードセット位置へ挿入できるという顕著な効果を奏する。
【００６３】
また、大形カード１に対する前記突起６１の当接面を垂直方向から水平方向へ湾曲する円弧面７０で形成し、前記小形カード用コンタクト保護機構８が働いた時、大形カード１が突起６１を押下げながら通過することによって、ロックレバー６３がロック溝６４に落込み、ロック機構９を働かせると共に、そのロック状態を維持するように構成した。この構成を採用することによって、大形カード１排出時、ロック機構９をアンロック状態に復帰させて小形カード用コンタクト保護機構８を自動的に初期状態に復帰させることが可能となり、小形カード用コンタクト保護機構８及びそのロック機構９を簡潔な構成にできるという顕著な効果を奏する。
【００６４】
また、カード判別機構１０とスライダ一体分離切換機構１１とを備え、カード判別機構１０はカード挿入口３付近のカード挿入空間１９にこの横外側方から弾力的に先端部を突出させるカード判別部材８５を備え、大形カード１と小形カード２の横幅の異なりによって小形カード２挿入時に比べて大形カード１挿入時にカード挿入空間１９へのカード判別部材８５の先端部突出量が多くなることによって大形カード１と小形カード２の判別を行い、スライダ一体分離切換機構１１は前記カードイジェクト用スライダ７に設ける前記カード判別部材８５と、該カード判別部材８５の先端部をコンタクト保護用スライダ４４に係合させる係合溝９０とを備え、カード判別機構１０による小形カード２判別動作によってカード判別部材８５の先端部を係合溝９０に嵌込み、カードイジェクト用スライダ７とコンタクト保護用スライダ４４をカード判別部材８５によって連結し、カード判別機構１０による大形カード１判別動作によってカード判別部材８５の先端部を係合溝９０から外し、カードイジェクト用スライダ７とコンタクト保護用スライダ４４を分離するように構成した。この構成を採用したことによって、大形カード１挿入時で小形カード用コンタクト６の保護が必要な場合にのみ、カードイジェクト用スライダ７とコンタクト保護用スライダ４４を分離独立させ、小形カード２挿入時で小形カード用コンタクト６の保護が不必要な場合は、カードイジェクト用スライダ７とコンタクト保護用スライダ４４を連結一体化することで、小形カード２挿入時、該小形カード２のがたつき等を容易に抑制できるという顕著な効果を奏する。
【００６５】
また、ロックレバー６３とロック溝６４との接触部分に金属部材７３，７４を備えた。この構成を採用したことによって、これら接触部分の耐磨耗性を確保でき、ロック機構９の性能を適正に維持できるという顕著な効果を奏する。
【００６６】
また、ロックレバー６３とロック溝６４との接触部分を円弧状に形成した。この構成を採用したことによって、ロックレバー６３がロック溝６４に落込時及びロック溝６４から抜出時の摺動性を確保でき、ロック機構９の円滑なロック及びアンロック動作を実現できるという顕著な効果を奏する。
【００６７】
また、カード挿入口３を開閉するシャッタ部材１２を備えた。この構成を採用したことによって、カード挿入口３からカードコネクタ内部に塵埃等が侵入することを防止でき、塵埃等から大形カード用コンタクト５及び小形カード用コンタクト６やその他内部機構を保護できるという顕著な効果を奏する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係るカードコネクタの外観斜視図。
【図２】図１のカードコネクタのカバーを取外した状態の外観斜視図。
【図３】本体ボディの外観斜視図。
【図４】コンタクト保護機構及びそのロック機構の作動前の状態を示す斜視説明図。
【図５】図４のロック機構の作動直前の状態を示す斜視説明図。
【図６】コンタクト保護機構の作動状態を示す側面説明図。
【図７】ロック機構の作動状態を示す側面説明図。
【図８】カード判別機構とスライダ一体分離機構を示す平面説明図。
【図９】カード判別機構とスライダ一体分離機構の部分拡大斜視説明図。
【図１０】小形カード挿入時のカード判別機構とスライダ一体分離機構を示す平面説明図。
【図１１】大形カード挿入時のカード判別機構とスライダ一体分離機構を示す平面説明図。
【図１２】シャッタを閉じた状態のカード挿入口部内側の斜視図。
【図１３】シャッタを開いた状態のカード挿入口部内側の斜視図。
【図１４】シャッタを閉じた状態のカード挿入口部の外観斜視図。
【図１５】シャッタを開いた状態のカード挿入口部の外観斜視図。
【符号の説明】
１ 大形カード
２ 小形カード
３ カード挿入口
４ 本体ボディ
５ 後コンタクト（大形カード用コンタクト）
６ 前コンタクト（小形カード用コンタクト）
７ 上スライダ（カードイジェクト用スライダ）
８ 前コンタクト保護機構（小形カード用コンタクト保護機構）
９ ロック機構
１０ カード判別機構
１１ スライダ一体分離切換機構
１２ シャッタ部材
１３ ボディ底面
１９ カード挿入空間
３９ イジェクトバネ
４４ 下スライダ（コンタクト保護用スライダ）
５３，５４ 復帰バネ
６１ 突起
６２ コンタクト押下げ面
６３ ロックレバー
６４ ロック溝
７０ 円弧面
７３ 金属カバー（金属部材）
７４ 補強ピン（金属部材）
８５ カード判別部材
９０ 係合溝[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a card connector in which two types of cards having different sizes can be used.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in so-called MS cards and MS Duo cards (the MS card is larger than the MS Duo card in thickness, width, and length), card connectors that can use two types of cards of different sizes are used. When a large card (MS card) is inserted, the slider for contact protection is pushed by the large card and pushes down the contact for the small card (MSDuo card) placed in front of the large card contact to the outside of the card insertion space. In addition to the card eject slider, there has been a technique for preventing the small card contact from contacting the large card (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-44052
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the prior art, when a large card is inserted, a card corresponding to a large card contact disposed behind the small card contact while pushing both the contact protection slider and the card eject slider with the large card. In order to insert into the set position, a large card pushing force (card inserting force) was required.
[0005]
The present invention provides a card connector which can use two types of cards of different sizes, and has a large card with a smaller pushing force than a conventional card even if a contact protecting slider for a small card is provided in addition to the card eject slider. It is a main object of the present invention to provide a card connector that can be inserted into a card set position.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a card connector of the present invention has a large card contact and a small card contact on a main body having a single card insertion slot for two types of large cards and small cards shared by different sizes. And a card eject slider, insert the small card into the card set position corresponding to the small card contact placed before the large card contact while pushing the card eject slider, and eject the large card Card connector, which is inserted into the card set position corresponding to the large card contact located behind the small card contact while pushing the slider, and is equipped with a small card contact protection mechanism and its locking mechanism. Contact protection mechanism with spring in the card ejection direction The contact protection slider is provided with a protrusion for abutting the large card from the insertion direction. When the large card is inserted, the contact protection slider is mounted on the main body by the large guard. The contact protection slider pushes down the small card contact to prevent it from coming into contact with the large card, and the lock mechanism swings vertically on the side of the contact protection slider. A lock lever provided freely, the protrusion provided on the rocking end of the lock lever, and a lock groove provided on the bottom surface of the body of the main body, and the lock lever is locked when the contact protection mechanism for the small card is activated. The contact protection slider is fixed to the main body at the position where the small card contact is pushed down. While, characterized by removing the protrusions of the contact protective slider from large card.
[0007]
Further, the contact surface of the protrusion with respect to the large card is formed by an arc surface that curves from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, and the large card passes while pushing down the protrusion when the contact protection mechanism for the small card operates. Thus, the lock lever is lowered into the lock groove to operate the lock mechanism and to maintain the locked state.
[0008]
In addition, a card discriminating mechanism and a slider-integrated separation / switching mechanism are provided, and the card discriminating mechanism includes a card discriminating member that elastically protrudes the front end portion from the lateral outer side in the card insertion space near the card insertion slot, Due to the difference in the width of the small card and the small card, the large card and small card are distinguished by increasing the amount of protrusion of the tip of the card discriminating member into the card insertion space when a large card is inserted compared to when a small card is inserted. The separation switching mechanism includes the card discriminating member provided on the card ejecting slider and an engaging groove for engaging the tip of the card discriminating member with the contact protecting slider, and the card is discriminated by a small card discriminating operation by the card discriminating mechanism. The tip of the discriminating member is inserted into the engaging groove, and the card ejection slider and the contact protection slider are The card discriminating member is connected, and the card discriminating member is detached from the engaging groove by a large card discriminating operation by the card discriminating mechanism, and the card ejecting slider and the contact protecting slider are separated. To do.
[0009]
In addition, a metal member is provided at a contact portion between the lock lever and the lock groove.
[0010]
Further, the contact portion between the lock lever and the lock groove is formed in an arc shape.
[0011]
In addition, a shutter member for opening and closing the card insertion slot is provided.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is an external perspective view of a card connector according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the card connector with the cover of FIG. 1 removed, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a main body, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory perspective view showing a state immediately before the operation of the locking mechanism of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is an explanatory side view showing an operating state of the contact protection mechanism, and FIG. Is an explanatory side view showing the operating state of the locking mechanism, FIG. 8 is an explanatory plan view showing the card discriminating mechanism and the slider integrated separating mechanism, FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective explanatory view of the card discriminating mechanism and the slider integrated separating mechanism, and FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view showing a card discriminating mechanism and a slider integrated separating mechanism when a small card is inserted, FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view showing a card discriminating mechanism and a slider integrated separating mechanism when a large card is inserted, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the inside of the card insertion slot with the shutter opened, and FIG. 14 is an external perspective view of the card insertion slot with the shutter closed. 15 is an external perspective view of the card insertion slot with the shutter opened, and the card connector has a basic configuration of a single card insertion slot 3 shared by two types of large cards 1 and small cards 2 of different sizes. A large card contact (hereinafter referred to as “rear contact”) 5 and a small card contact (hereinafter referred to as “front contact”) 6, and a card ejector constituting a card ejection mechanism. And a slider (hereinafter referred to as “upper slider”) 7. In addition, as a characteristic configuration of the present invention, a small card contact protection mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “front contact protection mechanism”). 8), a lock mechanism 9 thereof, a card discriminating mechanism 10, a slider-integrated separation switching mechanism 11, and a shutter member 12 for opening and closing the card insertion slot 3, and an electronic device such as a mobile phone, PDA, portable audio, camera, etc. Two types of large cards 1 and small cards 2 which are mounted on a printed circuit board of the device and have different sizes can be used.
[0013]
In this embodiment, two types of cards having different sizes are indicated as an MS (memory stick) card as a large card 1, an MS (memory stick) Duo card as a small card 2, and the large card 1 (MS card). Thickness, width, and length are larger than those of small cards (MSDuo cards).
[0014]
First, the basic configuration of the card connector will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the main body 4 is integrally molded with an insulator such as a resin material, and the body front side wall 14 extends from the front edge of the substantially rectangular body bottom surface 13 in a plan view vertically to the right edge. The right side wall 15 from the rear side and the rear side wall 16 from the rear side edge are vertically formed to form a tray shape with the upper surface and the left side surface opened, and the central portion of the front side wall 14 is formed in the thickness of the large card 1. In addition, a single card insertion slot 3 shared by the large card 1 and the small card 2 is formed by cutting out the width and depth according to the width. Further, a horizontally long and square C-shaped cover 17 that opens downward from the front or rear of the main body 4 is provided on the outer side of the main body 4. The wall 15 is also covered, and a vertically long and thin rectangular box-shaped connector case 18 is formed by opening the card insertion slot 3 on the front side surface by the body body 4 and the cover 13, and the inside of the connector case 18, that is, inside the body body 4. One of the large card 1 and the small card 2 is inserted into the card insertion space 19 from the card insertion slot 3 one by one.
[0015]
The cover 17 is integrally molded with a thin metal plate, and also serves as a shield frame for the connector case 18. A rectangular window 20 is formed in the front upper surface of the cover 17, and left and right card pressing leaf springs 21 are formed integrally with the cover 17 so as to extend obliquely forward and downward from the left and right sides of the rear edge of the window 20. The free ends of the leaf springs 21 are projected from the upper side to the left and right sides of the front end of the card insertion space 19 to form an arc-shaped card presser 22 that opens upward at the free end, and the presser 22 Is inserted on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the large card 1 or the small card 2 inserted into the card insertion space 19 from the card insertion slot 3, and the insertion card 1 or 2 is always elastically pushed downward to insert the card 1 or In the middle of insertion and at each card set position, it is configured to prevent lifting and vertical shaking.
[0016]
Front and rear contact mounting portions 23, 24 are formed at the front center and the rear center of the body bottom surface 13 corresponding to the front lower side and the rear lower side of the card insertion space 19. A plurality of grooves 25 and 26 extending in the front-rear direction are formed side by side in the lateral direction on the upper surface. The body bottom surface 4a on the front side of the front contact mounting portion 23 is notched to form a front contact outlet 27, and a plurality of the rear ends of the grooves 26 of the rear contact mounting portion 24 are communicated with the outer surface of the body rear side wall 16. Rear contact outlets 28 are formed in the body rear side wall 16 side by side in the horizontal direction. The front contact outlet 27 and the card insertion slot 3 are formed continuously.
[0017]
The rear contact 5 is composed of a plurality of rear contact terminals 29 that are elongated contact spring pieces, and the front contact 6 is also composed of a plurality of front contact terminals 30 similar to the rear contact terminals.
[0018]
Each front contact terminal 30 is press-fitted and fixed at the front half portion into each groove 25 of the front contact mounting portion 23, and the rear half portion, which is a free end portion, protrudes from the rear end of each groove 25 in an upwardly inclined posture. A piece 31 is formed, and each front contact piece 31 arranged in the horizontal direction is protruded from the lower part to the front part of the card insertion space 19 and is arcuately opened downward at the front end part of each front contact piece 31. A front contact contact 32 is formed, and each front contact terminal 30 is disposed in front (front) of each rear contact terminal 29 described later. Further, the front end of each front contact terminal 30 is taken out from the front end of each groove 25 to the back side of the bottom surface 13 of the body through a front contact outlet 27, and is a front contact pad (small card contact pad) of a printed wiring board of an electronic device. Soldered to
[0019]
Each rear contact terminal 29 is press-fitted and fixed at its rear half portion into each groove 26 of the rear contact mounting portion 24, and the front half portion serving as a free end is protruded from the front end of each groove 26 in a front-up and inclined posture, thereby forming a rear contact piece. 33, and the rear contact pieces 33 arranged in the left and right lateral directions protrude from the lower side to the rear part of the card insertion space 19 and are arcuate rear contacts opened downward from the front end parts of the rear contact pieces 33. A contact 34 is formed, and each rear contact terminal 29 is arranged on the back side (rear side) from each of the front contact terminals 30 described above. Each rear contact terminal 29 has its rear end taken out from the rear end of each groove 26 to the outer surface side of the body rear side wall 16 via each rear contact outlet 28, and the rear contact pad (large size) of the printed circuit board of the electronic device. Solder connection to card contact pad).
[0020]
The upper slider 7 is integrally molded with a resin material, and is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is horizontally long in a plan view so as to cross the upper part in the card insertion space 19 to the left and right, and the left and right leg portions 35 and 36 are integrally formed on both sides. is doing.
[0021]
The upper slider 7 slidably supports the lower surface of the left leg portion 35 on the left side edge of the body bottom surface 13 on the left side of the card insertion space 19, and the lower surface of the right leg portion 36 on the right side of the body bottom surface of the card insertion space 19. 13 is slidably supported on the right side edge of 13 and is laid between the left and right leg portions 35 and 36 so as to cross the upper part in the card insertion space 19 from side to side. The left and right side edge portions of the body bottom surface 13 that slidably support the lower surfaces of the left and right leg portions 35 and 36 are formed one step higher than the center portion of the body bottom surface 13 where the front and rear contact mounting portions 23 and 24 are formed. The left and right leg portions 35 and 36 are slidably sandwiched between the body bottom surface 13 and the upper surface of the cover 13 to position the upper slider 7 in the vertical direction, and the outer surface of the left leg portion 35 is positioned on the left side of the body bottom surface 13. The guide rail 37 formed in the front-rear direction along the edge is slidably supported, and the outer surface of the right leg portion 36 is slidably supported on the inner surface of the body right side wall 15 to position the upper slider 7 in the left-right direction. The upper slider 7 is attached to the main body 4 so as to be slidable only in the front-rear direction. The guide rail 37 that slidably supports the outer surface of the left leg portion 35 has a left edge portion (left edge portion of the body bottom surface 13) of the left side edge portion of the body bottom surface 13 that slidably supports the lower surface of the left leg portion 35. Furthermore, it forms by the level | step difference surface which can be formed one step higher.
[0022]
The left and right leg portions 35, 36 protrude forward from the front end surface of the upper slider 7, the left leg portion 35 protrudes rearward from the rear end surface of the upper slider 7, and the rear end surface of the right leg portion 36 faces the upper slider 7. It is formed flush with the rear end surface, the front end surfaces of the left and right leg portions 35 and 36 are brought into contact with the inner surface of the front body side wall 14 from the rear side, and the sliding movement of the upper slider 7 forward (in the card ejection direction) is restricted. The upper slider 7 is positioned substantially directly above each front contact contact piece 31 at the forward movement end position, that is, the eject position, while the rear end surface flush with the upper slider 7 and the right leg portion 36 is the body rear wall. 16 and the rear end surface of the left leg 35 are abutted simultaneously from the front to the inner surface of the body overhanging rear side wall 38 projecting rearward from the left end of the body rear side wall 16, respectively. Slide to the card insertion direction) The upper slider 7 is positioned above the rear half of each rear contact terminal 29 at the rearward movement end position, that is, the most pushed position, and the upper slider 7 is moved in the front-rear direction between the eject position and the most pushed position. It is possible to slide (reciprocate). An insertion end portion of the large card 1 is formed in a U-shaped concave portion opened in front and formed by a front end surface of the upper slider 7 and inner surfaces of left and right leg portions 35 and 36 projecting forward from the front end surface. Is inserted.
[0023]
The card ejection mechanism includes an ejection coil spring (hereinafter referred to as “ejection spring”) 39. The eject spring 39 is fitted to the outside of a round bar-like spring fitting portion 40 that projects forward from the inner surface of the side wall 38 after the body extension, and the rear end abuts the inner surface of the rear side wall 38 of the body extension. A spring receiving portion that is supported and is inserted into a hollow interior of the left leg portion 35 through a hole (not shown) formed in the rear end surface of the left leg portion 35, and the front end is provided in the hollow interior of the left leg portion 35. (Not shown) is abutted and supported, and is stretched between the main body 4 and the upper slider 7, and is elastically pushed forward by the eject spring 39 so that the card is not inserted and the card is ejected. The upper slider 7 is configured to return and hold to the eject position.
[0024]
The lower surface of the front end portion of the upper slider 7 is recessed upward, and a small card receiving surface 41 is formed at the lower surface position that enters a predetermined dimension rearward from the front end surface of the upper slider 7. When the small card 2 is inserted, the insertion-side end surface (rear end surface) of the small card 2 is engaged with the small card receiving surface 41 of the upper slider 7 at the eject position from the front side. While the card 2 pushes the upper slider 7 backward against the eject spring 39, the small card 2 is provided side by side on the bottom surface of the insertion side end and is connected to the IC circuit inside the small card 2. A plurality of contact pads ride on the respective front contact contacts 23b of the front contact 6 disposed in front of the rear contact 5 and are pushed (inserted) into a card set position where they come into contact with each other. At this time, the insertion side end surface (rear end surface) of the large card 1 is engaged with the large card receiving surface 42 of the upper slider 7 at the eject position from the front, and the large card 1 causes the upper slider 7 to be ejected by the eject spring 39. The large card 1 is positioned in a plurality of grooves formed side by side in the lateral and lateral directions, which are formed from the insertion-side end surface to the lower surface and are opened rearward and downward. In addition, a plurality of contact pads connected to the IC circuit inside the large-sized card 1 are placed on the back side of the front contact 6 and are inserted into the rear contact contacts 34 of the rear contact 5 to be inserted into the card set position where they contact each other. It is configured to do.
[0025]
When the large card 1 is inserted, the upper slider 7 extends in the front-rear direction on the lower surface of the upper slider 7 in order to prevent the upper slider 7 from contacting the rear contact contacts 34 when the upper slider 7 passes through the rear contact contacts 34. A plurality of grooves 43 are formed side by side in the horizontal direction.
[0026]
The upper slider 7 has a cam lock mechanism (not shown) composed of a cam groove formed on the outer surface of the left leg portion 35 and a cam pin formed on the main body 4 side. 2, that is, a first pushing position corresponding to the card setting position of the large card 1 and a second pushing position corresponding to the card setting position of the small card 2, and the first and second The pushing operation on the upper slider 7 at each pushing position releases the fixed position at each pushing position, and the ejecting spring 39 returns to the ejecting position, and the inserted card 1 or 2 is pushed back from the card setting position. Discharged. Accordingly, the large card 1 and the small card 2 are inserted and ejected by two push operations, so-called push push operations.
[0027]
As is clear from the above, the card connector of this embodiment is provided with a rear contact 5 and a front contact on a main body 4 having a single card insertion slot 3 for sharing two types of large cards 1 and small cards 2 of different sizes. 6 and an upper slider 7 constituting a card ejecting mechanism, and the small card 2 is inserted into the card set position corresponding to the front contact 6 disposed in front of the rear contact 5 while pushing the upper slider 7. The card 1 has a basic configuration in which the card 1 is inserted into the card setting position corresponding to the rear contact 5 which is disposed on the back side of the front contact 6 while pushing the upper slider 7.
[0028]
Next, the characteristic configuration of the present invention added to the above basic configuration will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 and FIGS. 12 to 15, the front contact protection mechanism 8 includes a contact protection slider (hereinafter referred to as “lower slider”) 44. The lower slider 44 is integrally molded with a resin material, and is formed into a square frame plate shape in plan view so as to surround each front contact piece 31, and a guide plate 45 having a square shape in plan view is formed forward from the center of the front end. It extends as a whole.
[0029]
The lower slider 44 is placed at the center of the body bottom surface 13 that is one step lower than the left and right side edges of the body bottom surface 13 that slidably supports the lower surfaces of the left and right leg portions 35, 36. The bottom surface of the side edge is slidably supported on the body bottom surface 13 on both outer sides of the front contact mounting portion 23, and the bottom surface of the rear edge portion is slidably supported on the body bottom surface 13 on the rear side from the front contact mounting portion 23. The front side edge portion laid between the left and right side edge portions and the rear end upper portion of the rear side edge portion is slidably supported on the upper surface across the upper side of the front contact mounting portion 23, and each front contact piece 31 is supported. It is disposed on the bottom surface 13 of the body below the card insertion space 19 so as to surround, and each front contact piece 31 is rearwardly raised from the inner opening 46 of the lower slider 44 to the front portion of the card insertion space 19 in an inclined posture. Configured to protrude There.
[0030]
When the large card 1 or the small card 2 is inserted, the lower slider 44 is sandwiched between the inserted card 1 or 2 and the body bottom surface 13 to position the lower slider 44 in the vertical direction, and the lower surfaces of the left and right leg portions 35 and 36 In the front-rear direction formed by stepped surfaces of the left and right side edges of the body bottom surface 13 that slidably support and the left and right side edges of the lower slider 44 and the center portion of the body bottom surface 13 that slidably supports the bottom surface of the rear edge. The left and right outer surfaces of the lower slider 44 are slidably supported on the left and right guide rails 47 and 48, and the left and right outer surfaces of the guide plate 45 are placed on the body bottom surface 13 below the rear contact contact pieces 33 on the front side of the rear contact mounting portion 24. Are slidably supported on the left and right guide rails 49 and 50 provided in the front and rear, the lower slider 44 is positioned in the left and right direction, and the lower slider 44 is attached to the main body 4 so as to be slidable only in the front and rear direction. There.
[0031]
The lower slider 44 is placed on the left and right stopper surfaces 51 and 52 formed at the left and right corners of the front end portion of the body bottom surface 13 that is one step lower than the left and right side edge portions of the body bottom surface 13 that slidably supports the lower surfaces of the left and right leg portions 35 and 36. The front end surfaces of the left and right side edges of the lower slider 44 are contacted from the rear to restrict the sliding movement of the lower slider 44 forward (in the card ejection direction). Each front contact piece 31 is enclosed, the front edge of the lower slider 44 is moved to the upper side of the front contact mounting portion 23 on the front side of each front contact piece 31, and each front contact piece 31 is opened inside the lower slider 44. It is configured to protrude from the portion 46 to the front portion of the card insertion space 19 in a free state of a rearwardly inclined posture.
[0032]
The front contact protection mechanism 8 includes coil springs 53 and 54 for returning to the initial position (initial state) of the lower slider 44 (hereinafter referred to as “return spring”). Two return springs 53, 54 are provided on the left and right sides, and left and right spring receiving round holes 55, 56 are formed in the rear end surfaces of the lower slider 44 on both outer sides of the guide plate 45. The front ends of the return springs 53 and 54 are fitted inside, the front ends of the return springs 53 and 54 are abutted and supported on the bottom surfaces of the left and right round holes 55 and 56, The body bottom surface 13 is provided with left and right spring bearings 57 and 58 that are opposed to the left and right round holes 55 and 56, and round bar-like spring fitting portions 59 and 60 project from the front surfaces of the left and right spring bearings 57 and 58, respectively. The rear ends of 53 and 54 are fitted to the outside of the left and right spring fitting portions 59 and 60, and the rear ends of the return springs 53 and 54 are brought into contact with and supported by the front surfaces of the left and right spring receivers 57 and 58, respectively. The springs 53 and 54 are stretched between the main body 4 and the lower slider 44. Always resiliently pushed forward the lower slider 44 by respective return springs 53 and 54, when the card is not inserted and the card ejection, it is configured so as to return hold the lower slider 44 to the initial position.
[0033]
The lower slider 44 is provided with a projection 61 for bringing the large card 1 into contact with this insertion direction, and a contact push-down surface 62 having a rearwardly inclined shape is formed on the lower surface of the front edge of the lower slider 44. When the card 1 is inserted, the large card 1 is engaged with the front end surface of the protrusion 61 of the lower slider 44 at the initial position from the front before the pushing start timing of the upper slider 7. Pushing backward against the return springs 53, 54, the front edge of the lower slider 44 is moved from the upper front half of each front contact terminal 30 (above the front contact mounting portion 23) to the rear half of each front contact terminal 30. Each front contact piece 31 is slid and moved up to the upper side of each front contact piece 31 in a free state in an upwardly inclined posture. 2 is forcibly 押倒 downward of the card insertion space 19 prior to contacting the large card 1, the pre-contact contact 32 is configured to prevent contact with the large card 1.
[0034]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 and FIGS. 12 to 15, the lock mechanism 9 of the front contact protection mechanism 8 includes a lock lever 63 provided on the left side of the lower slider 44 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and the lock lever The protrusion 61 provided on the swinging end portion of 63 and the lock groove 64 provided on the body bottom surface 13 of the main body 4 are provided.
[0035]
A rectangular plate-like projecting portion 65 that is horizontally long in plan view is projected from the left side upper portion of the lower slider 44 to the left side, and the right side portion (base side portion) of the plate-like projecting portion 65 extends from the front end. A slit 66 is formed in the front-rear direction slightly before the rear end, and the horizontal position is such that the rear end is the base, the front end is the free end, and the upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the lower slider 44 on the left side of the slit 66. A rectangular plate spring portion that is vertically long and can be bent and deformed in a downwardly inclined posture is formed, and the plate spring portion is used as a lock lever 63. The lower surface of the lock lever 63 is positioned on the left side of the lower slider 44. On the bottom surface 13, specifically, the lower surface of the left and right side edges and the bottom surface of the rear edge of the lower slider 44 are slidably supported, and the bottom surface of the left leg 35 is slidably supported. Body bottom It is slidably supported on the third left edge.
[0036]
The protrusion 61 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the front end, which is the free end of the lock lever 63, in a vertically long rectangular shape in plan view. When the lower slider 44 is in the initial position, the protrusion 61 is formed in the front portion of the card insertion space 19. When the large card 1 is inserted, the large card 1 is inserted into the initial position before the insertion end surface of the large card 1 is engaged with the large card receiving surface 42 of the upper slider 7 at the eject position. On the front end surface of the protrusion 61 of a certain lower slider 44, a recess 68 is formed on the lower surface side of the mis-insertion preventing chamfered portion 67 formed at the left corner of the insertion side end of the large card 1 and opens rearward and downward. The vertical slider 69 is engaged from the front, and the lower slider 44 is pushed backward before the upper slider 7 is pushed backward by the large card 1.
[0037]
An arcuate surface 70 that is rounded (so-called “R”) is provided at the front upper corner portion constituted by the vertical front end surface and the horizontal upper end surface of the protrusion 61, and the protrusion 61 contacts the vertical surface 69 of the large card 1. The contact surface is formed by the circular arc surface 70 that is curved from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, and the lower lever 44 and the lock lever 63 are pressed against the upper surface of the left side edge of the body bottom surface 13 (while a pressing force is applied to the lock lever 63). It is configured so as to be slid backward together.
[0038]
The lock groove 64 is the left side edge of the bottom surface 13 of the body that slidably supports the lock lever 63, and overlaps the lock lever 63 when seen in a plan view when the lower slider 44 is slid to the pushed position of each front contact piece 31. Is formed in a rectangular shape that is vertically long so that the lock lever 63 can be inserted. When the large card is inserted, the lower slider 44 returns from the initial position via the projection 61 by the large card 1. When the front contact piece 31 is pushed backward against the springs 53 and 54 and is forcibly pushed down below the card insertion space 19 at the front edge of the lower slider 44, that is, the front contact protection mechanism 8. Since the sliding contact support surface of the lock lever 63 is eliminated by the lock groove 64, the lock lever 63 is bent downwardly from the rear end as a base point (fulcrum) and deformed (oscillated). The front end of the lock lever 63 is engaged with the front end portion of the lock groove 64 from the rear by the return springs 53 and 54, and the lower slider 44 is brought into the depressed position of each front contact piece 31. Thus, the protrusion 61 provided at the front end of the lock lever 63 is lowered to the lower side of the card insertion space 19 by dropping the lock lever 63 into the lock groove 64. The large card 1 is released from the vertical surface 69, the engagement between the large card 1 and the lower slider 44 is released, and the large card 1 is pushed further backward while pushing only the upper slider 7, so that the vertical surface 69 of the large card 1 protrudes. Passing rearward over 61 and holding the protrusion 61 down on the lower surface of the large card 1, the lock lever 63 is moved from the forward-downward inclined posture (locked state) to the horizontal posture (unlocked). In the meantime, when the large card 1 is ejected, the vertical surface 69 of the large card 1 passes forward beyond the protrusion 61 and the large card 1 is moved. 1 is released, the lock lever 63 is returned to the horizontal posture (unlocked state) from the tilted-down posture (locked state), the lock mechanism 9 is unlocked, and the lower slider 44 is configured to return to the initial position by the return springs 53 and 54.
[0039]
As apparent from the above, the card connector of the present embodiment includes a front contact protection mechanism 8 and a lock mechanism 9 thereof. The front contact protection mechanism 8 includes a lower slider 44 that is spring-biased in the card ejection direction. The lower slider 44 is provided with a projection 61 for bringing the large card 1 into contact with this insertion direction. When the large card 1 is inserted, the lower slider 44 is pushed onto the body bottom surface 13 of the main body 4 by the large guard 1. In rare cases, the lower slider 44 prevents the front contact 6 from being pushed down and brought into contact with the large card 1, and the lock mechanism 9 includes a lock lever 63 provided on the side of the lower slider 44 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction. The front contact protection mechanism 8 includes the protrusion 61 provided on the rocking end of the lock lever 63 and the lock groove 64 provided on the body bottom surface 13 of the main body 4. When working, the lock lever 63 falls into the lock groove 64, and the lower slider 44 is fixed to the main body 4 at the position where the front contact 6 is pushed down, and the protrusion 61 of the lower slider 44 is removed from the large card 1. By having this characteristic configuration and adopting this configuration, when the large card 1 is inserted, after the front contact protection mechanism 8 is activated, the large card 1 is carded with a pressing force sufficient to press the upper slider 7 Since it can be inserted into the set position, even if the lower slider 44 is provided separately from the upper slider 7, the large card 1 can be inserted into the card set position with a smaller pressing force than in the prior art.
[0040]
Further, the contact surface of the projection 61 with respect to the large card 1 is formed by a circular arc surface 70 that curves from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, and the large card 1 pushes the projection 61 when the front contact protection mechanism 8 is activated. By passing while being lowered, the lock lever 63 falls into the lock groove 64, and the lock mechanism 9 is operated, and also has the characteristic configuration of the present invention that maintains the locked state. When the card 1 is ejected, the lock mechanism 9 can be returned to the unlocked state, and the front contact protection mechanism 8 can be automatically returned to the initial state, and the front contact protection mechanism 8 and the lock mechanism 9 can be simplified. it can.
[0041]
The lock lever 63 may be configured separately from the lower slider 44. In this case, the rear end portion of the lower slider 44 is supported on the left side portion of the lower slider 44 so as to be swingable about the swing fulcrum shaft in the left-right direction, and the spring member and the lock lever for spring-biasing the lock lever 63 upward By providing a stopper member that engages 63 from below and holds it in a horizontal position, a lock lever 63 having the same function as the lock lever 63 of this embodiment can be obtained. However, by using the leaf spring portion integrally formed on the left side surface of the lower slider 44 as in the present embodiment as the lock lever 63, the lock mechanism 9 can be simply configured with few parts and can be easily assembled. . Further, the lock lever 63 is formed between the left guide rail 47 and the lock groove 64 for slidingly supporting the left outer surface of the lower slider 44 so that the lock lever 63 is surely dropped into the lock groove 64 without being caught on the body bottom surface 13 side. A front portion of the thin guide rail portion 71 is formed so as to fit into the slit 66. Further, the rear end portion of the lock groove 64 is not dropped from the body bottom surface 13 at a right angle, but is gradually dropped by a slope surface 72 having a downwardly inclined slope, and the slope surface 72 is moved in the swinging direction downward of the lock lever 63. In addition to acting as a stopper, the opening area of the body bottom surface 13 by the lock groove 64 is made as small as possible to serve as reinforcement for maintaining body rigidity.
[0042]
The lower surface and front and rear end portions of the lock lever 63 are covered with a C-shaped reinforcing cover 73 made of a thin metal plate and opened upward, and a thin metal reinforcing pin 74 having a circular cross section crossing the rear end portion of the lock groove 64 is provided on the body. Provided on the bottom surface 13 to slidably support the metal surface of the bottom surface of the lock lever 63 with respect to the resin body bottom surface 13, and when the lock lever 63 is dropped into the lock groove 64 and pulled out from the lock groove 64, The arc-shaped metal surface at the front end of the lock lever 63 and the arc-shaped metal surface at the front end of the lock groove 64 (a thin metal reinforcing pin 74 having a circular cross section) are brought into contact with each other, and the wear resistance of the contact portion between the lock lever 63 and the lock groove 64 is contacted. And slidability is ensured.
[0043]
As apparent from the above, the card connector of the present embodiment has the characteristic configuration of the present invention including the metal members 73 and 74 at the contact portion between the lock lever 63 and the lock groove 64, and by adopting this configuration, The wear resistance of these contact portions can be ensured, and the performance of the lock mechanism 9 can be properly maintained.
[0044]
Further, the present invention has a characteristic configuration of the present invention in which a contact portion between the lock lever 63 and the lock groove 64 is formed in an arc shape. By adopting this configuration, when the lock lever 63 falls into the lock groove 64 and when the lock groove 63 The slidability when being pulled out from 64 can be ensured, and the lock mechanism 9 can be smoothly locked and unlocked.
[0045]
The protrusion 61, which is a contact portion with the large card 1 provided at the front end of the lock lever 63, is covered with a reinforcing cover 75 made of a thin metal plate in the same manner as the lock lever 63. Wear resistance and slidability with respect to the card 1 are secured. Further, a chamfered portion 76 is provided at the rear upper corner portion of the protrusion 61 for preventing the portion from being caught on the lower surface of the large card 1 during ejection.
[0046]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 to 11, a semi-lock mechanism 77 for the upper slider 7 of the large card 1 is provided. The semi-lock mechanism 77 rises perpendicularly to the left end of the card insertion space 19. A recess 78 formed by partially indenting the front end portion of the inner side surface, a semi-lock member 79 that allows the base to be slidably fitted and held in the left-right direction, and the bottom surface of the semi-lock member 79 and the recess 78 A coil spring or a leaf spring that elastically protrudes from the left lateral outside to the front end portion of the card insertion space 19 immediately after the card insertion slot 3 from the recess 78. And an elastic member 81 made of a rubber elastic material or the like, and chamfered portions 82 and 83 are provided at the front and rear corners of the front end locking portion 80 of the semi-lock member 79. When the large card 1 is inserted, the large card is provided. 1 The semi-lock member 79 is pushed into the recess 78 against the elastic member 81 by contact between the mis-insertion preventing chamfer 67 and the chamfer 82 at the front end corner of the front end locking portion 80 of the semi-lock member 79. The insertion end of the large card 1 is formed by the front end surface (large card receiving surface 42) of the upper slider 7 in the eject position and the inner surfaces of the left and right leg portions 35, 36 projecting forward from the front end surface. When the insertion side end face of the large card 1 is engaged with the large card receiving surface 42 of the upper slider 7 from the front, that is, the large card. When 1 is inserted to the pushing start position of the upper slider 7, a semi-lock member is inserted into a semi-lock groove 84 formed on the left side of the large card 1 immediately after the mis-insertion preventing chamfer 67 (relative to the insertion direction). 79 are opposed to each other by the elastic member 81 The front end locking portion 80 of the Miroc member 79 is projected and engaged in the semi-lock groove 84 to position the large card 1 in the front-rear direction with respect to the upper slider 7 to follow the insertion operation of the large card 1 to the card setting position. Thus, the large card 1 is configured to be surely discharged (extruded) to the rear following the pushing operation of the upper slider 7 to the rear and the returning operation of the upper slider 7 to the eject position.
[0047]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 to 11, the card discrimination mechanism 10 includes a card discrimination member 85 that elastically protrudes the tip from the laterally outer side in the card insertion space 19 near the card insertion slot 3.
[0048]
The card discriminating member 85 is constituted by a vertically long rectangular plate spring, and is disposed on the opposite side of the semi-lock member 77 with the card insertion space 19 in between, and opens forward inside the right leg portion 36 of the upper slider 7. A substantially Y-shaped receiving groove 86 that is vertically long in plan view is formed, and the card determining member 85 is fitted in the receiving groove 86 in a posture in which the front and back faces left and right. The receiving groove 86 is press-fitted and fixed to the latter half portion 85, and is elastically pressed against the left wall surface of the front half portion of the substantially V-shaped receiving groove 86 opened forward, with the front half portion serving as the free end of the card discriminating member 85 open. A card discriminating member 85 is mounted inside. Further, a groove opening 87 is formed in the right leg portion 36 so as to open a portion slightly behind the front end of the receiving groove 86 to the inside of the right leg portion 36 and project to the left on a portion slightly behind the front end of the card discrimination member 85. A locking portion 88 is formed, the locking portion 88 is formed in a U-shape in plan view that opens to the right, a chamfered portion 89 is formed at the front corner, and the locking portion 88 is accommodated in the receiving groove 86. From the right lateral outer side to the front end portion of the card insertion space 19 immediately after the card insertion slot 3 through the groove opening 87. Further, the elastic force of the card discriminating member 85 urging the locking portion 88 and the elastic force of the elastic member 81 urging the semi-lock member 79 are set to be substantially the same.
[0049]
When the small card 2 is inserted, as shown in FIG. 10, the small card 2 is sandwiched from the left and right by the tip locking portion 80 of the semi-lock member 79 and the small card 2 is locked by the locking portion 88 of the card discriminating member 85. The small card 2 is removed from the projection 61 so as to form a gap having substantially the same left and right width between the left and right outer legs 35 and 36 (the left and right sides of the card insertion space 19). Inserted in a state of being positioned at the left and right center portion of the insertion space 19, the locking portion 88 of the card determination member 85 together with the tip locking portion 80 of the semi-lock member 79 protrudes into the card insertion space 19, and the card determination member together with the semi-lock member 79. While the large card 1 is inserted, the front end locking portion 80 of the semi-lock member 79 is resisted against the elastic member 81 by the chamfered portion 82 on the left side of the large card 1 when the large card 1 is inserted. At the same time as it is retracted and pushed out to the left outside of the card insertion space 19, the locking portion 88 of the card discrimination member 85 on the right side surface of the large-sized card 1 via the chamfer 89 is the spring force of the card discrimination member 85 itself. Against the right side, pushes the card insertion space 19 to the right outer side, flexes and displaces (swings) the front half of the card discriminating member 85 to the right side of the receiving groove 86, and locks the locking part 88 into the receiving groove. The large card 1 and the large card 1 are configured so as to be pushed into the card insertion space 19 based on the lateral width of the large card 1 and the small card 2 depending on the amount of protrusion (in / out) of the locking portion 88 of the card discriminating member 85 into the card insertion space 19. The small card 2 is discriminated.
[0050]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 to 11, the slider-integrated separation switching mechanism 11 is engaged with the lower slider 44 by the card discriminating member 85 provided on the upper slider 7 and the locking portion 88 at the tip of the card discriminating member 85. And an engaging groove 90 to be mated.
[0051]
The engaging groove 90 is formed by partially indenting the right edge of the lower slider 44 inwardly in the same shape as the outer shape of the engaging portion 88 at the tip of the card discriminating member 85. When the slider 7 is in the eject position and the lower slider 44 is in the initial position, the lower portion of the locking portion 88 of the card determining member 85 in the free state is fitted into the engaging groove 90, thereby The upper part is elastically projected from the right lateral outer side to the front end of the card insertion space 19 immediately after the card insertion slot 3, and the small card 2 discriminating operation of the card discriminating member 85 when the small card 2 is inserted, that is, the card discriminating member 85. A state in which the locking portion 88 is protruded into the card insertion space 19 so that the lower portion of the locking portion 88 is fitted and held in the engaging groove 90 and the upper and lower sliders 7 and 44 are integrally connected by the card discriminating member 85. And above The sliders 7 and 44 are pushed together backward by the small card 2 with the insertion end of the small card 2 sandwiched therebetween, and the upper and lower sliders 7 and 44 are urged by the eject spring 39 and return to the left and right. While the springs 53 and 54 are integrally returned to the eject position and the initial position, the large card 1 discriminating operation of the card discriminating member 85 when the large card 1 is inserted, that is, the locking portion 88 of the card discriminating member 85 is inserted into the card. The upper and lower sliders 7 are separated in an independent separated state in which the lower portion of the locking portion 88 is detached from the engaging groove 90 by the operation of being pushed into the receiving groove 86 from the space 19 and the connection of the upper and lower sliders by the card discriminating member 85 is released. , 44 are separately pushed backward by the large card 1, and the upper and lower sliders 7, 44 are urged by these eject springs 39, left and right return springs It is configured so as to return separately to the eject position, the initial position by 3,54.
[0052]
As is apparent from the above, the card connector of the present embodiment includes a card discrimination mechanism 10 and a slider-integrated separation switching mechanism 11, and the card discrimination mechanism 10 enters the card insertion space 19 near the card insertion slot 3 from the laterally outer side. A card discriminating member 85 that elastically protrudes the locking portion 88 at the tip is provided, and the card insertion space 19 is larger when the large card 1 is inserted than when the small card 2 is inserted due to the difference in width between the large card 1 and the small card 2. The large card 1 and the small card 2 are discriminated by increasing the amount of protrusion of the engaging portion 88 at the tip of the card discriminating member 85, and the slider integrated separation switching mechanism 11 is provided on the upper slider 7. A discriminating member 85 and an engaging groove 90 for engaging the locking portion 88 at the tip of the card discriminating member 85 with the lower slider 44, By the card 2 discriminating operation, the engaging portion 88 at the tip of the card discriminating member 85 is fitted into the engaging groove 90, the upper slider 7 and the lower slider 44 are connected by the card discriminating member 85, and the large card by the card discriminating mechanism 10 is obtained. By having this characteristic configuration of the present invention in which the locking portion 88 at the tip of the card discrimination member 85 is removed from the engagement groove 90 and the upper slider 7 and the lower slider 44 are separated by one discrimination operation. Only when the large card 1 is inserted and the front contact 6 needs to be protected, the upper slider 7 and the lower slider 44 are separated and independent. When the small card 2 is inserted and the front contact 6 is not required to be protected, By connecting and integrating the upper slider 7 and the lower slider 44, rattling of the small card 2 can be easily suppressed when the small card 2 is inserted.
[0053]
The card discriminating mechanism 10 may be a cylinder type, a solenoid type, or a cam type similar to the semi-lock mechanism 77, and the card discriminating body that is constantly urged in the protruding direction is the horizontal width of the large card 1 and the small card 2. However, the card discriminating mechanism 10 may be a card discriminating member 85 made of a leaf spring. It is effective because its installation space is small.
[0054]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12 to 15, the shutter member 12 is integrally molded from a resin material, is formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape corresponding to the card insertion slot 3, The locking projections 91, 92 are integrally formed, and the left and right bearing portions 93, 94 having a C-section opening forward on the left and right sides of the lower edge are formed in a C-shaped section opening rearward between the left and right bearing portions 93, 94. The central bearing portions 95 are integrally formed. A left and right end portions are supported on the front side wall 14 of the body, and a shutter shaft 96 composed of an elongated metal shaft that is horizontally mounted on the lower edge of the card insertion slot 3 is provided, and the left and right bearing portions 93 and 94 and the central bearing portion 95 are connected to the shutter shaft 96. The shutter shaft 96 is sandwiched from the front and rear by the left and right bearing portions 93 and 94 and the central bearing portion 95, and the shutter member 12 is undulated inside the card insertion slot 3 with the shutter shaft 96 as a fulcrum. At the same time, one end of a coil spring 97 loosely fitted to the left end of the shutter shaft 12 is detachably attached to the inner surface of the shutter member 12 and the other end is detachably attached to the body bottom surface 13 so that the spring force is applied to the shutter member 12 in the upright direction. The shutter member 12 is held upright by constantly energizing the left and right engaging projections 91 and 92 against the inner surface of the front wall 14 of the body. 12, and the insertion member 1 or 2 is inserted into the card insertion space 19 from the card insertion slot 3 while pushing the shutter member 12 backward at the insertion end face of the large card 1 or the small card 2 to open the card insertion slot 3. At the same time, the shutter member 12 is horizontally held down on the bottom surface 13 of the body by the lower surface of the insertion card 1 or 2 and the insertion card 1 or 2 is removed, whereby the shutter member 12 is raised and returned to close the card insertion slot 3. It is configured as follows.
[0055]
As apparent from the above, the card connector according to the present embodiment includes the shutter member 12 that opens and closes the card insertion slot 3, thereby preventing dust and the like from entering the card connector from the card insertion slot 3. The rear contact 5 and the front contact 6 and other internal mechanisms can be protected from the above. Further, since the shutter member 12 can be detachably attached to the shutter shaft 96 of the main body 4 from the peripheral side, the shutter member 12 can be prevented from interfering when the card connector is assembled or repaired.
[0056]
The card connector of the present embodiment is configured as described above, and the overall operation will be briefly described below. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 8, 12, and 14, when the card connector is not inserted, the upper slider 7 returns to the eject position, and the lower slider 44 also returns to the initial position. Is in an unlocked state, and the upper and lower sliders 7 and 44 are integrally connected by the slider integrated separation switching mechanism 11 while the card determining member 85 of the card determining mechanism 10 is in a free state.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 10, when the small card 2 is used, when the small card 2 is inserted into the card insertion space 19 from the card insertion slot 3 in an appropriate posture (when the first pushing operation is performed), the card discrimination mechanism 10 The card discriminating member 85 maintains the substantially free state in which the locking portion 88 at the tip protrudes into the card insertion space 19 as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9, and discriminates the small card 2. To do. As a result, the engagement between the locking portion 88 and the engagement groove 90 is maintained, and the integral connection of the upper and lower sliders 7 and 44 by the slider integrated separation switching mechanism 11 is maintained. When the small card 2 is further inserted in this state, the insertion end face of the small card 2 is received by the small card receiving surface 41 of the upper slider 7. When the insertion operation is continued from this state and the small card 2 is further inserted, the upper slider 7 and the lower slider 44 are thereby integrally pushed backward. The upper slider 7 is locked at the second push-in position by the action of a cam lock mechanism (not shown) of the eject mechanism, and the lower slider 44 integrally connected to the upper slider 7 is also locked accordingly. The small card 2 is inserted into this card setting position, and each front contact point 32 of the front contact 6 is held in contact with each contact pad of the small card 2. When the small card 2 is inserted into the card set position, the front edge of the lower slider 44 stops before (front side) each front contact piece 31, and the front contact protection mechanism 8 and its lock mechanism 9 do not function. .
[0058]
When the second pushing operation is performed from the state in which the small card 2 is inserted in the card setting position, the cam lock mechanism (not shown) of the eject mechanism is unlocked, so that the eject spring 39 and the left / right return spring 53 54, the upper slider 7 and the lower slider 44 are integrally pushed forward, the upper slider 7 returns to the eject position, and the lower slider 44 returns to the initial position, and the small card 2 is semi-locked to the upper slider 7 accordingly. After being pushed forward (discharged) while being held via the member 79 and the card discriminating member 85, the small card 2 is removed from the card connector by picking a portion protruding from the card insertion slot 3 with a finger.
[0059]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, when the large card 1 is used, when the large card 1 is inserted into the card insertion space 19 from the card insertion slot 3 in an appropriate posture (when the first pushing operation is performed), The card discriminating member 85 of the card discriminating mechanism 10 has a locking portion 88 at its tip pushed into the receiving groove 86 from the card insertion space 19 as shown in phantom lines in FIGS. Is determined. As a result, the locking portion 88 is disengaged from the engagement groove 90, and the integral connection of the upper and lower sliders 7, 44 by the slider integrated separation switching mechanism 11 is released. When the large card 1 is further inserted in this state, first, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7A, the large card is formed on the front end face of the protrusion 61 shared by the front contact protection mechanism 8 and the lock mechanism 9. 1 vertical surface 69 is engaged from the front, and the lower slider 44 is pushed backward. Next, the insertion end face of the large card 1 is received by the large card receiving surface 42 of the upper slider 7 as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 11, and the semi-lock mechanism 77 as shown in FIG. The front end locking portion 80 of the semi-lock member 79 projects into the semi-lock groove 84 of the large card 1. When the large card 1 is inserted by continuing the insertion operation from this state, before the large card 1 passes through each front contact point 32 of the front contact 6 (the large card 1 is connected to each front contact point of the front contact 6). 6 (b) and 6 (c), the front side edge of the lower slide 44 rides on the upper side of each front contact piece 31 in the free state, as shown in FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c). The contact piece 31 is forcibly pushed down by the contact pressing surface 62, and the front contact contacts 32 are released below the card insertion space 19 to a position where they do not rub against the large card 1 to protect the front contact 6. When the front contact protection mechanism 8 operates in this way, the lock lever 63 moves directly above the lock groove 64 as shown in FIGS. 5, 7B and 7C. The lower slider 44 is fixed to the main body 4 at the position where the front contact piece 31 is pushed down to be locked. Thus, when the lock mechanism 9 operates, the protrusion 61 provided at the front end of the lock lever 63 descends to the lower side of the card insertion space 19 and comes off the vertical surface 69 of the large card 1. Therefore, thereafter, the large card 1 is not loaded with the left and right return springs 53 and 54 of the lower slider 44, but only the load of the eject spring 39, and the large card 1 only pushes the upper slider 7. The card can be inserted into the card setting position with a small pushing force. When the insertion operation is continued from this state and the large card 1 is further inserted, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 7C, the lock lever 63 is inserted through the protrusion 61 on the lower surface of the large card 1. Is pushed into the lock groove 64 and passes through the front contact 6, and only the upper slider 7 is pushed backward. Then, the upper slider 7 is locked at the first pushing position by the action of the cam lock mechanism (not shown) of the eject mechanism, and the large card 1 is inserted into this card setting position. The rear contact 34 is held in contact with each contact pad of the large card 1.
[0060]
When the second pushing operation is performed from the state in which the large card 1 is inserted at the card setting position, the cam lock mechanism (not shown) of the eject mechanism is unlocked, so that the upper slider 7 Is pushed forward, the upper slider 7 is returned to the eject position, the large card 1 is pushed forward, and the vertical surface 69 of the large card 1 passes forward beyond the projection 61 to lock. The lever 63 is pulled upward from the engaging groove 64 and the lock of the lower slider 44 is released. The lower slider 44 is also returned to the initial position by the return springs 53 and 54, and accordingly, the small card 2 is moved to the upper slider 7. And is pushed forward (discharged) while being held via the semi-lock member 79, and thereafter the large card 1 is picked up with a finger at the portion protruding from the card insertion slot 3. Withdrawn from the card connector.
[0061]
As described above, the card connector of this embodiment can use two types of large cards 1 and small cards 2 having different sizes. Further, an upper slider 7 that follows the movement of the inserted large card 1 or small card 2 and a lower slider 44 that protects the front contact 6 are provided, and the upper slider 7 differs from the size of the inserted card 1 or 2 due to the difference in size (shape). The front contact is protected by a mechanism that can integrate or separate the operation of the lower slider 44.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above-described embodiments, the present invention includes a large card contact 5 and a small card in a main body 4 having a single card insertion slot 3 shared by two types of large cards 1 and small cards 2 of different sizes. A card contact 6 and a card ejection slider 7 are provided, and the small card 2 is moved to a card setting position corresponding to the small card contact 6 arranged in front of the large card contact 5 while pushing the card ejection slider 7. A card connector for inserting a large card 1 into a card set position corresponding to a large card contact 5 arranged on the back side of the small card contact 6 while pushing the card eject slider 7. A contact protection mechanism 8 and its locking mechanism 9 are provided, and the contact protection mechanism 8 for a small card is provided. The contact protection slider 44 is spring-biased in the card ejection direction, and the contact protection slider 44 is provided with a protrusion 61 that abuts the large card 1 from the insertion direction. When the large card 1 is inserted, The contact guard slider 44 is pushed onto the body bottom surface 13 of the main body 4 by the large guard 1, and the small card contact 6 is pushed down by the contact guard slider 44 to contact the large card 1. The locking mechanism 9 includes a lock lever 63 provided on the side of the contact protection slider 44 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, the protrusion 61 provided on the swing end of the lock lever 63, and the body of the main body 4. A lock groove 64 provided on the bottom surface 13, and when the small card contact protection mechanism 8 is activated, the lock lever 63 is The click groove 64 落Komi, the contact protective slider 44 while fixed in position the main body 4 at small card contacts 6 押倒 position, release the protrusion 61 of the contact protective slider 44 from large card 1. By adopting this configuration, when the large card 1 is inserted, the large card 1 is inserted into the card setting position with the pushing force enough to push the card eject slider 7 after the small card contact protection mechanism 8 is activated. Therefore, even if the small card contact protecting slider 44 is provided separately from the card ejecting slider 7, the large card 1 can be inserted into the card setting position with a smaller pushing force than in the prior art.
[0063]
Further, the contact surface of the protrusion 61 with respect to the large card 1 is formed by an arc surface 70 that curves from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, and when the small card contact protection mechanism 8 is activated, the large card 1 has the protrusion 61. The lock lever 63 falls into the lock groove 64 by moving the button while pushing down, and the lock mechanism 9 is operated and the locked state is maintained. By adopting this configuration, when the large card 1 is ejected, the lock mechanism 9 can be returned to the unlocked state, and the small card contact protection mechanism 8 can be automatically returned to the initial state. There is a remarkable effect that the contact protection mechanism 8 and the lock mechanism 9 can be configured simply.
[0064]
Further, the card discriminating mechanism 10 and the slider integrated separation switching mechanism 11 are provided, and the card discriminating mechanism 10 elastically protrudes the front end portion from the lateral outer side into the card insertion space 19 near the card insertion slot 3. Due to the difference in width between the large card 1 and the small card 2, the amount of protrusion of the tip of the card discriminating member 85 to the card insertion space 19 when the large card 1 is inserted is larger than when the small card 2 is inserted. The slider integrated separation / switching mechanism 11 is engaged with the card discriminating member 85 provided on the card ejecting slider 7 and the tip of the card discriminating member 85 is associated with the contact protecting slider 44. An engagement groove 90 to be joined, and the tip of the card discrimination member 85 by the small card 2 discrimination operation by the card discrimination mechanism 10 The card ejecting slider 7 and the contact protecting slider 44 are connected by the card discriminating member 85, and the leading end of the card discriminating member 85 is engaged by the large card 1 discriminating operation by the card discriminating mechanism 10. The card ejecting slider 7 and the contact protecting slider 44 are separated from the groove 90. By adopting this configuration, the card ejection slider 7 and the contact protection slider 44 are separated and independent only when the small card contact 6 needs to be protected when the large card 1 is inserted, and when the small card 2 is inserted. If it is not necessary to protect the small card contact 6, the card eject slider 7 and the contact protection slider 44 are connected and integrated so that when the small card 2 is inserted, the small card 2 can be rattled. There is a remarkable effect that it can be easily suppressed.
[0065]
Further, metal members 73 and 74 are provided at the contact portion between the lock lever 63 and the lock groove 64. By adopting this configuration, the wear resistance of these contact portions can be ensured, and the remarkable effect that the performance of the lock mechanism 9 can be appropriately maintained is achieved.
[0066]
The contact portion between the lock lever 63 and the lock groove 64 is formed in an arc shape. By adopting this configuration, the slidability when the lock lever 63 falls into the lock groove 64 and when the lock lever 63 is pulled out from the lock groove 64 can be secured, and the lock mechanism 9 can be smoothly locked and unlocked. Has an effect.
[0067]
Further, a shutter member 12 for opening and closing the card insertion slot 3 is provided. By adopting this configuration, dust and the like can be prevented from entering the card connector from the card insertion slot 3, and the large card contact 5 and the small card contact 6 and other internal mechanisms can be protected from dust and the like. Has a remarkable effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a card connector according to the present invention.
2 is an external perspective view of the card connector shown in FIG. 1 with a cover removed. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a main body.
FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state before the contact protection mechanism and its locking mechanism are activated.
FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state immediately before the operation of the locking mechanism of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory side view showing an operating state of the contact protection mechanism.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory side view showing an operating state of the lock mechanism.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory plan view showing a card discrimination mechanism and a slider-integrated separation mechanism.
FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective explanatory view of a card discrimination mechanism and a slider integrated separation mechanism.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory plan view showing a card discrimination mechanism and a slider integrated separation mechanism when a small card is inserted.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view showing a card discriminating mechanism and a slider integrated separating mechanism when a large card is inserted.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the inside of the card insertion slot with the shutter closed.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the inside of the card insertion slot with the shutter opened.
FIG. 14 is an external perspective view of the card insertion slot with the shutter closed.
FIG. 15 is an external perspective view of a card insertion slot with a shutter opened.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Large card
2 Small cards
3 Card slot
4 Body
5 Rear contact (large card contact)
6 Front contact (contact for small card)
7 Upper slider (card eject slider)
8 Front contact protection mechanism (Contact protection mechanism for small cards)
9 Locking mechanism
10 Card discrimination mechanism
11 Slider integrated separation switching mechanism
12 Shutter member
13 Body bottom
19 Card insertion space
39 Eject spring
44 Lower slider (contact protection slider)
53, 54 Return spring
61 protrusion
62 Contact pressing surface
63 Lock lever
64 Lock groove
70 circular arc surface
73 Metal cover (metal member)
74 Reinforcement pin (metal member)
85 Card discrimination member
90 engaging groove
