JP2005340141A - Card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card connector 10 for preventing insertion of another card when one card is inserted, which is reduced in sized, without restrictions in the circuit design of board, without problems when made into high density, with an easy cabinet design and with easy extraction of the card. <P>SOLUTION: The card connector 10 is provided with a required number of contacts 13, brought into contact with a connection part of two or more memory cards 45 and a housing 12 provided with two or more inserting openings 23 into which two or more memory cards 45 are inserted and the contacts 13 are arrayed/retained in the card connector. At least one or more locking members 20 are provided which can be turned or moved, when one type of memory card 45 is inserted and at least one or more spring members 18 are provided which can have their positions varied, when one type of memory card 45 is inserted in specified positions of the housing 12 so that only one type of memory card 45 can be inserted due to the locking members 20 and the spring members 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a card connector which can be used for various electronic / electric devices such as printers and card readers, and which can input / output signals to / from a memory card by inserting a plurality of types of memory cards. It relates to a structure that cannot be inserted at the same time.

  In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras and the like, memory cards having a large storage capacity and a compact shape have come to be used. The memory card is also, for example, an SD (Secure Digital memory card (registered trademark) card) (hereinafter simply referred to as an SD card) or a Memory Stick (registered trademark) card (hereinafter simply referred to as an MS card) depending on the characteristics of the device using the memory card. SmartMedia (registered trademark) card (hereinafter simply referred to as SM card), CompactFlash (registered trademark) card (hereinafter simply referred to as CF card), xD card (registered trademark) (hereinafter simply referred to as xD card), multimedia Various cards such as (registered trademark) cards (hereinafter simply referred to as MM cards) have come to be used. Accordingly, a memory card reader / writer is used in the computer main body or as an external device as a device for writing / reading to these various memory cards.

  As a matter of course, the memory card reader / writer is preferably compatible with various memory cards. Therefore, in the conventional memory card reader / writer, a card connector is arranged on the reader / writer main body, and various memory cards are provided. Can be inserted, and the inserted memory card can be read and written.

  As described above, there are various types of memory cards such as an SD card, an MS card, an SM card, a CF card, an xD card, and an MM card. The memory card reader / writer can handle all or some of these memory cards. Specifically, the card connector is provided with an insertion slot into which a corresponding memory card can be inserted. Here, an example corresponding to an SD card, an xD card, and an MS card will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of contacts 63 are arranged in the card connector 60 so that it can be connected to the terminal portion of each inserted memory card in a state where each memory card is inserted. Is retained. By inserting the memory card, the memory card can be read / written. As shown in FIG. 7, as the insertion slot 23 into which the card connector 60 can be inserted, an SD card 49 is inserted into the upper insertion slot 27 in the figure, and the left insertion slot 26 in the lower stage is inserted. Each insertion slot is provided in a structure in which the MS card 48 is inserted and the xD card 47 is inserted into the right insertion slot 25 in the upper stage.

In the card connector having such a structure, a desired memory card, for example, a CF card is inserted into the CF insertion slot, and information is read from and written to the CF card.
In a card connector into which a plurality of memory cards are inserted, an IC for controlling each memory card is shared. However, if two or more memory cards are inserted at the same time, an error may occur on the IC. It was. There are two possible methods for avoiding this error. One is to dedicate an IC for controlling each memory card, and the other is a connector structure in which two or more memory cards cannot be inserted simultaneously. Two things. The first proposal is very difficult to realize in consideration of the current dense board layout and the occupied area of the board where the miniaturization of devices is progressing, and leads to an increase in cost.
Therefore, as a second proposal, as a card connector having a structure that can prevent insertion of another card when one card is inserted even if it is a card connector having a plurality of card insertion slots, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-2003 297489 is disclosed.
According to the summary of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-297489, in order to provide a memory card connector that can prevent insertion of another memory card by inserting one of a plurality of insertable memory cards. A memory card connector into which a memory card can be inserted, and a plurality of insertion openings that open in a shape corresponding to the memory card to be inserted are provided, and a space is formed inside the insertion opening, and is inserted into the space. A connector body for providing a contact to be electrically connected to an electrode of the memory card, and provided on the outer side of the insertion slot, opening in a pair with the insertion slot in a shape corresponding to the memory card to be inserted. A memory card connector having a card insertion slot that opens away from a relative position, and a slide cover that is movable along the insertion opening surface. It has been disclosed. Therefore, when the pair of centers of the space portion and the card insertion slot coincide, the center of the pair of the other space portion and the card insertion opening opposite to the other space portion does not coincide. By the way, the claims include a memory card connector into which a plurality of memory cards can be inserted. The connector includes a housing and has a plurality of insertion openings that open in a shape corresponding to the inserted memory card. A space is formed inside, and a contact is provided in the space to be electrically connected to an electrode of a memory card to be inserted. A connector main body electrically connected to the memory card to be inserted, and insertion of the connector main body A slide cover that is provided on the outer side of the mouth and has a shape corresponding to the memory card to be inserted, and is provided with a card insertion opening that opens in a pair with the insertion opening of the connector body, and is movable along the insertion opening surface of the connector body. And when the center of the space portion of the pair of connector bodies and the card insertion slot of the slide cover coincide with each other, It is described as a memory card connector, characterized in that but do not match.

In the card connector having the structure of Patent Document 1, a slide cover which is a separate part is attached to the surface of the housing, the slide cover is slid in the lateral direction, and one kind of card insertion slot of the housing and one kind of slide cover are provided. Only the center of the card insertion slot is matched, and the centers of the other pairs of card insertion slots are not matched so that two or more memory cards cannot be inserted.
In recent years, the demand for further miniaturization of equipment has been increasing, and the demand for miniaturization of connectors has also been increasing. In the structure of Patent Document 1, a slide cover is disposed in front of the fitting port. As a result, the size of the connector is reduced and the circuit design of the board is also limited (the connection part of the connector to the board cannot be placed on the mating side). The problem of increasing the density when installing the camera occurred.
In addition, structurally, since the slide cover needs to slide on the surface of the housing, it is necessary to project the housing from the housing side, which makes it difficult to design the housing and lowers the shielding effect. There was also a problem.
Furthermore, in the structure as in Patent Document 1, since a slide cover which is a separate part is attached to the housing surface, when removing the card from the connector, the portion with the card is reduced and it is difficult to remove the card. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem. When one card is inserted, the insertion of another card can be prevented, the size can be reduced, and the circuit design of the board is limited. Therefore, the present invention intends to provide a card connector that does not hinder high density, is easy to design a housing, and is easy to remove a card.

  The purpose is a card connector 10 into which a plurality of memory cards are detachably inserted, and a required number of contacts 13 that come into contact with connecting portions of the plurality of memory cards 45 and a plurality of cards into which a plurality of memory cards 45 are inserted. In the card connector 10 having the insertion slot 23 and the housing 12 in which the contacts 13 are arranged and held, the card connector 10 is rotated when one type of memory card 45 is inserted into a predetermined position of the housing 12. At least one lock member 20 that can be moved and at least one spring member 18 that can be displaced when one type of memory card 45 is inserted are provided. This can be achieved by allowing only the type of memory card 45 to be inserted.

  In the case of having three insertion openings 23, the above object is the card connector 10 into which a plurality of memory cards 45 are detachably inserted, and the required number of contacts 13 that come into contact with the connection portions of the plurality of memory cards 45. And a housing 12 in which a plurality of insertion ports 23 into which a plurality of memory cards 45 are inserted and a housing 12 in which the contacts 13 are arranged and held are 2 in the card connector 10. One insertion port 23 and one insertion port 23 are provided above the insertion port 23, and turn when a memory card 45 is inserted into one of the two insertion ports 23 in the middle of the two insertion ports 23 Alternatively, a movable lock member 20 is provided and can be displaced when the memory card 45 is inserted into the insertion slot 23 below the one insertion slot 23 above. The spring member 18 is provided, can be achieved by so only the locking member 20 and the one of the memory card 45 by the spring member 18 can not be inserted, such.

When one type of memory card 45 is inserted into the insertion slot 23 of the housing 12, the locking member 20 rotates or moves, and the insertion is performed in the insertion slot 23 arranged in parallel with the inserted insertion slot 23. The lock member 20 protrudes so that the spring member 18 is not displaced by the lock member 20 so that only one type of memory card 45 can be inserted.
When one type of memory card 45 is inserted into the insertion slot 23 of the housing 12, the spring member 18 is displaced, and a part of the displaced spring member 18 projects into the other insertion slot 23, Only one type of memory card 45 can be inserted.
Furthermore, it has a common part with the other insertion port 23 among the said insertion ports 23 as needed.

As apparent from the above description, according to the card connector 10 of the present invention, the following excellent remarkable effects can be obtained.
(1) When at least one or more locking members 20 and one type of memory card 45 that are rotatable or movable when one type of memory card 45 is inserted into a predetermined position of the housing 12 are inserted. Since at least one spring member 18 that can be displaced is provided so that only one type of memory card 45 can be inserted by the lock member 20 and the spring member 18, of course, only one memory card 45 can be inserted. Since it cannot be inserted, no error occurs in the IC that controls the memory card 45, and the circuit design of the board can be designed without any restrictions. At the same time, there is no hindrance to high density, and the housing design is easy. An easy card connector 10 can be provided.
(2) The housing 12 is provided with two insertion ports 23 arranged substantially in parallel and one insertion port 23 above the insertion port 23, and one of the two insertion ports 23 is provided in the middle of the two insertion ports 23. When the memory card 45 is inserted into the insertion slot 23, a lock member 20 that can be rotated or moved is provided, and when the memory card 45 is inserted into the insertion slot 23 on the lower side of the upper one insertion slot 23. Since a displaceable spring member 18 is provided so that only one type of memory card 45 can be inserted by the lock member 20 and the spring member 18, of course, only one memory card 45 can be inserted. No error occurs in the IC that controls the circuit, and the circuit design of the board can be designed without any restrictions. At the same time, there is no problem in increasing the density, and the housing design is easy. It is possible to provide a withdrawal if easy card connector 10 of the card.
(3) When one type of memory card 45 is inserted into the insertion port 23 of the housing 12, the lock member 20 rotates or moves, and the insertion port 23 is arranged in parallel with the inserted insertion port 23. Since the locking member 20 protrudes into the inside and the spring member 18 is not displaced by the locking member 20 so that only one type of memory card 45 can be inserted, of course, only one memory card has a simple structure. Since the 45 cannot be inserted, it is possible to design the circuit of the substrate and the housing without causing an error in the IC that controls the memory card 45.
(4) When one type of memory card 45 is inserted into the insertion slot 23 of the housing 12, the spring member 20 is displaced, and a part of the displaced spring member 20 projects into the other insertion slot 23. Since only one type of memory card 45 can be inserted, of course, only one memory card 45 can be inserted with a simple structure, so that no error occurs in the IC that controls the memory card 45, and the circuit of the board Design and housing design can be done.
(5) Since it has a common part with the other insertion port 23 as needed among the said insertion ports 23, without making a connector large by sharing two insertion ports 23, Many types of memory cards 45 can be supported.

An embodiment of the card connector of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A is a perspective view of the card connector of the present invention as viewed from above the fitting side, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the card connector of the present invention as viewed from below the fitting side. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of mounting the spring member and the lock member to the card connector of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view for explaining a case where a plurality of memory cards are inserted into the card connector of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view for explaining a case where a memory card is inserted in the upper stage. FIG. 5A is a front view for explaining a case where a memory card is inserted on one side of the lower stage, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of FIG.
The card connector 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a housing 12, various contacts 13, a lock member 20, and a spring member 18.

First, the lock member 20 which is the point of the present invention will be described. The lock member 20 is an electrically insulating plastic, and is manufactured by a known technique of injection molding. This material is appropriately selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, cost, etc. Generally, polybutylene is used. Examples thereof include terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA, 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC), and synthetic materials thereof.
The lock member 20 has a substantially triangular prism shape, and a hole 32 into which the fixing pin 22 is inserted is provided near one apex angle 34. When the lock member 20 is fixed to the housing 12 by the fixing pin 22, the lock member 20 is rotatable about the hole 32 (the fixing pin 22). That is, there is a clearance in the relationship between the hole 32 and the fixing pin 22, and the hole 32 is designed to be rotatable. As shown in FIG. 5, when the memory card 45 is inserted into one of the insertion ports 23 of the memory card 45 arranged in parallel to the housing 12 as shown in FIG. When the memory card 45 hits one other apex angle 34 other than that provided, the lock member 20 is rotated, and the other apex angle 34 is inserted into the insertion slot 23 other than the memory card 45 inserted. By protruding inward, the card 45 is prevented from entering other than the insertion slot 23 into which the memory card 45 is inserted. The size of the lock member 20 is appropriately designed in consideration of such a role, the size of the card connector 10, the interval between the insertion openings 23 arranged in parallel, and the like. The lock member 20 is inserted and fixed from the direction of the arrow “B” as shown in FIG.

  In the above description, the locking member 20 is a substantially triangular prism and is mounted on the housing 12 so as to be rotatable. However, what is necessary is just to satisfy the above roles. For example, a substantially quadrangular prism may be provided, and the hole 32 may be provided at the center thereof (substantially the center of the lock member 20), and the shape of the hole 32 may be elliptical so that it can be moved instead of rotating. That is, when the memory card 45 is inserted into one of the insertion ports 23 arranged in parallel, the lock member 20 is moved by pushing the lock member 20 laterally with the memory card 45, and the lock member A part of 20 protrudes into the other insertion port 23.

Next, the spring member 18, which is another point of the present invention, will be described. The spring member 18 is made of metal and is manufactured by a known press working. As the material of the spring member 18, spring property, moldability, and the like are required, and examples thereof include brass, beryllium copper, and phosphor bronze. The spring member 18 is substantially L-shaped, and the spring member 18 includes a fixed portion fixed to the housing 12, an elastic portion 28, and two projecting portions 30 on both sides in the width direction. The spring member 18 is inserted in the direction of the arrow “A” in FIG. 2 so that the elastic portion 28 protrudes into the upper insertion port 23 between the insertion ports 23 provided in parallel in the lower stage as shown in FIG. And placed (fixed). The spring member 18 is fixed to the housing 12 by press fitting or hooking.
As the role of the spring member 18, when the memory card 45 is inserted into the upper insertion slot 23 and the memory card 45 presses the elastic portion 28 of the spring member 18, the spring member 18 is displaced downward, By projecting the two protruding portions 30 into the lower insertion slot 23 arranged in parallel, when the memory card 45 is inserted into the upper insertion slot 23, the memory card 45 is inserted into the lower insertion slot 23. It is something that is not.

Further, as a further role of the spring member 18, when the memory card 45 is inserted into one of the lower insertion ports 23 arranged in parallel, the spring member 18 is inserted into the inserted memory card 45. The protruding portion 30 is caught and the elastic portion 28 of the spring member 18 is not displaced, so that the memory card 45 is prevented from entering the upper insertion slot 23.
The amount of displacement of the elastic portion 28 of the spring member 18 is appropriately designed in consideration of such a role. The amount of displacement is 1.05 mm in this embodiment. In addition, the shape and size of the protruding portion 30 are appropriately designed in consideration of the above role. The size of the protrusion 30 is set to 0.8 mm in this embodiment.
In this embodiment, as described above, when the memory card 45 is inserted into the upper stage by one spring member 18, the memory card 45 is prevented from entering the lower insertion slot 23 arranged in parallel. The spring member 18 may be disposed at each of the insertion port 23 portions disposed in the above-described positions so as to have the above-described role. In that case, the protrusion 30 may be provided in the displacement direction, not in the width direction.

  Next, the housing 12 will be described. The housing 12 is an electrically insulating plastic and is manufactured by a known technique of injection molding. The material is appropriately selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, cost, etc. Generally, polybutylene terephthalate is used. (PBT), polyamide (66PA, 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC), and synthetic materials thereof.

The housing 12 is provided with a required number of insertion openings 23 for inserting a plurality of types of memory cards 45. The insertion slot 23 has a shape and size along each memory card 45. Based on FIG. 3, the kind of the memory card 45 inserted in the insertion slot 23 of a present Example is demonstrated. The upper insertion slot 24 is for inserting the CF card 46, and the lower right insertion slot 25 is for inserting the xD card 47. The lower left insertion slot 26, 27 has two insertion slots 26, 27 that share a part to be inserted. In each insertion slot 26, 27, there is an MS card 48 and an SD card or MM card 49. It is supposed to be inserted.
The housing 12 is provided with an insertion groove 36 in which a plurality of types of contacts 13 are mounted, and is fixed by press fitting, hooking (lance), welding, or the like.

The housing 12 is provided with an insertion hole 38 to which the spring member 18 is fixed. The position of the insertion hole 38 takes into consideration the role of the spring member 18 described above, the strength of the housing 12, the miniaturization of the connector 10, and the like. And design accordingly. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, it is provided between the lower insertion ports 23 arranged in parallel as described above. The size of the insertion hole 38 is designed in consideration of the holding force of the spring member 18.
Further, the housing 12 is provided with a mounting hole 40 in which the lock member 20 is mounted. The position of the mounting hole 40 is the role of the lock member 20, the strength of the housing 12, the downsizing of the connector 10, and the like. To design appropriately. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, and as described above, the connector 10 is provided between the lower insertion ports 23 arranged in parallel on the lower side of the connector 10. The size of the mounting hole 40 is designed in consideration of the shape of the lock member 20 and the strength of the housing 12 so that the lock member 20 can be rotated or moved. In addition, a fixing hole for receiving a fixing pin 22 for mounting the lock member 20 to the housing 12 is provided in the mounting hole 40.

  Next, a plurality of types of contacts 13 will be described. The plurality of types of contacts 13 are made of metal and are manufactured by a known press working. The material of the contact 13 is required to be springy or conductive, and examples thereof include brass, beryllium copper, and phosphor bronze.

  The multiple types of contacts 13 mainly include a contact portion 42 that contacts the connection portion of the memory card 45, a fixed portion that is fixed to the housing 12, and a connection portion 44 that is connected to the substrate. Considering the insertion opening 23 of the housing 12, the plurality of types of contacts 13 of this embodiment include a CF card contact 14, an xD card contact 15, an MS card contact 16, an SD card or MM card contact 17. It is fixed in place. The connection portions 44 of the respective contacts 14, 15, 16, and 17 are appropriately designed in consideration of the circuit design and occupation area of the board, the size and design of the connector 10. In this embodiment, the connection portion 44 of the CF card contact 14 is disposed on the side opposite to the insertion port 23, and the connection portion 44 of the xD card contact 15 is disposed on the insertion port 23 side. The connection portion 44 of the MS card contact 16 is disposed on the side opposite to the insertion slot 23, and the connection portion 44 of the SD card or MM card contact 17 is disposed on the insertion slot 23 side.

Finally, the operation of the lock member 20 and the spring member 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
First, the case where the upper memory card 45 is inserted will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, when the memory card 45 is inserted into the upper insertion slot 23, the elastic portion 28 of the spring member 18 is inserted by the memory card 45. Is displaced downward, and the protrusion 30 of the spring member 18 protrudes into the lower insertion slot 23 arranged in parallel, so that the memory card 45 is inserted into the lower insertion slot 23. The insertion is prohibited.
Next, the case where the memory card 45 is inserted into either one of the lower tiers will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, when the memory card 45 is inserted into the lower left insertion slot 23, the memory card 45 As shown in FIG. 5A, the lock member 20 rotates and a part of the lock member 20 protrudes into the lower right insertion slot 23, so that the memory card 45 is inserted into the lower right insertion slot 23. At the same time, the spring member 18 is not displaced by the inserted memory card 45 (that is, the elastic portion 28 is not displaced because the protruding portion 30 of the spring member 18 is not lowered). The memory card 45 cannot be inserted into the opening 23.

  In the present embodiment, the card connector 10 in which the housing 12 is provided with the three insertion ports 23 has been described. However, the number of the insertion ports 23 may be any number. By combining a plurality of the members having the structure of the spring member 18 and the lock member 20 described above, it is possible to appropriately design so that only one memory card 45 can be inserted.

  As an application example of the present invention, the present invention relates to a structure that can be used for a card connector 10 used in various electronic / electrical devices such as printers and card readers, and in particular, only one memory card 45 can be inserted simultaneously.

(A) It is a perspective view of the card connector of this invention seen from the fitting side upper direction. (B) It is a perspective view of the card connector of this invention seen from the fitting side downward. It is explanatory drawing which attaches a spring member and a locking member to the card connector of this invention. It is a front view explaining the case where a some memory card is inserted in the card connector of this invention. It is a front view explaining the case where a memory card is inserted in the upper stage. (A) It is a front view explaining the case where a memory card is inserted in one side of the lower stage. (B) It is the top view which looked at (A) from the downward direction. It is a perspective view of the conventional card connector seen from the fitting side upper direction. It is a front view explaining the case where a some memory card is inserted in the conventional card connector.

Explanation of symbols

10, 60 Connector 12, 62 Housing 13, 63 Contact 14 Contact for CF card 15 Contact for xD card 16 Contact for MS card 17 Contact for SD card or MM card 18 Spring member 20 Lock member 22 Fixing pin 23 Insertion slot 24 CF card Insertion slot 25 xD card insertion slot 26 MS card insertion slot 27 SD card or MM card insertion slot 28 Elastic part 29 Fixing part 30 Projection part 32 Hole 34 Vertical angle 36 Insertion groove 38 Insertion hole 40 Mounting hole 42 Contact part 44 Connection 45 Memory card 46 CF card 47 xD card 48 MS card 49 SD card or MM card

Claims (5)

A card connector into which a plurality of memory cards are detachably inserted, the contact having a required number of contacts that contact connection portions of the plurality of memory cards, and a plurality of insertion ports into which the plurality of memory cards are inserted, and the contacts In a card connector comprising a housing in which are arranged and held,
At least one locking member that can be rotated or moved when one type of memory card is inserted into the predetermined position of the housing and at least one that can be displaced when one type of memory card is inserted. A card connector comprising the above-described spring member so that only one type of memory card can be inserted by the lock member and the spring member. A card connector into which a plurality of memory cards are detachably inserted, the contact having a required number of contacts that contact connection portions of the plurality of memory cards, and a plurality of insertion ports into which the plurality of memory cards are inserted, and the contacts In a card connector comprising a housing in which are arranged and held,
The housing is provided with two insertion ports arranged substantially in parallel and one insertion port above the insertion port, and a memory card is inserted into one of the insertion ports in the middle of the two insertion ports. A locking member that can be rotated or moved when the memory card is inserted, and a spring member that is displaceable when a memory card is inserted into the insertion slot on the lower side of the upper one insertion slot. A card connector characterized in that only one type of memory card can be inserted by a spring member. When one type of memory card is inserted into the insertion slot of the housing, the locking member rotates or moves, and the locking member protrudes into the insertion slot arranged in parallel with the inserted insertion slot. 3. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is prevented from being displaced by a member so that only one type of memory card can be inserted. When one type of memory card is inserted into the insertion slot of the housing, the spring member is displaced, and a part of the displaced spring member protrudes into the other insertion slot so that only one type of memory card can be inserted. 3. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein the card connector is formed. The card connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the card connector has a common part with other insertion ports as required among the insertion ports.

Images