JP2005347219A - Card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To strengthen and improve semi-lock force in a card mounting state, in a card connector with a push/push type ejection mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: A cut-out part 101 is formed on a side face of a card 100, and an elastic piece 20c having a lock part 19 for locking the cut-out part on the card side face in elastic return is mounted on a slider 15 of the ejection mechanism 8 on the other connector side. The spring supporting point is so changed as to make the length from the supporting point of the elastic piece smaller in the card mounting state than that in a card ejection state. A fixed end of the elastic piece is used as a first spring supporting point A in the card ejection state, and a second spring supporting point B in the card mounting state is provided for a housing 1. The spring supporting point of the elastic piece is changed from the first spring supporting point A to the second spring supporting point B by movement of the slider to the card mounting position, and the spring supporting point of the elastic piece is changed from the second spring supporting point B to the first spring supporting point A by return of the slider to an ejection position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a card connector with a so-called push / push type eject mechanism among card connectors for electrically connecting a memory card and substrates of various electronic devices.

Conventional card connectors with a push / push type eject mechanism prevent the card from suddenly ejecting when the card is ejected and dropping from the connector, or preventing the card from dropping from the connector due to unexpected external force when the card is installed. The card has a notch on the side of the card, and on the other connector side, an elastic piece having a locking part for locking the notch on the side of the card to the slider constituting the ejection mechanism, and the card is inserted through the notch and the locking part. In this state, the card is held at the card mounting position and is ejected from the card mounting position (see, for example, “Patent Document 1”). And, locking the card to the slider in such a way as to be detachable is usually called “half-lock” or “semi-lock”, and the locking force is called “half-locking force” or “semi-locking force”. Yes.
JP 2001-185286 A

  In order to prevent the card from being forcibly removed from the card mounted state, it is necessary to increase the semi-locking force. However, the semi-locking force can be simplified by increasing the spring constant of a leaf spring that is often used as an elastic piece, for example. If it is too large, the resistance when the card is inserted in the ejected state becomes large, making it difficult to insert the card, and the slider moves when the card is inserted, and the feeling of insertion becomes worse. Further, as the card is inserted / removed, there is a problem in that the side of the card or the notch thereof wears the engaging portion on the connector side, and the semi-locking force is suddenly reduced, thereby shortening the life of the semi-locking force.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can hold a card with a large semi-locking force when the card is forcibly removed from a card-mounted state, and can be held with an appropriate semi-locking force when the card is inserted or removed. An object of the present invention is to provide a card connector that can be inserted / removed and that can maintain the life of the semi-locking force properly.

  In order to strengthen and improve only the semi-locking force when the card is mounted, the present invention is provided with a notch on the side of the card, and is provided on the other side of the connector housing so as to be movable in the card insertion / removal direction, and always in the card ejection direction. The urged slider is provided with an elastic piece having a locking portion that is locked to the notch on the side of the card when elastically restored, and the slider moves following the insertion of the card and is pushed into the housing from the eject position. When the card is locked at the card mounting position, the card is held at the mounting position, and when the card is mounted, the slider is pushed back into the housing by pushing in the card to release the lock and push it back in the eject direction. The card connector (so-called push / push) having an eject mechanism for returning to the eject position and ejecting the card. In the card connector) with shoe-type ejection mechanism, the length of the spring fulcrum of the elastic pieces, characterized in that changing the spring fulcrum like elastic piece made shorter when the card attachment state than when the card eject mode.

  In the present invention, since the length of the elastic piece from the spring fulcrum is long in the card eject state, the spring constant becomes small and the semi-locking force becomes small. On the other hand, since the length of the elastic piece from the spring fulcrum is short when the card is mounted, the spring constant increases and the semi-locking force increases. Therefore, it is possible to realize the enhancement of only the semi-locking force when the card is mounted.

  In the present invention, the fixed end of the elastic piece is used as the first spring fulcrum in the card ejected state, and the second spring fulcrum in the card mounted state is provided in the housing, and is elasticized by the movement of the slider from the ejected position to the card mounted position. Change the spring fulcrum of the piece from the first spring fulcrum to the second spring fulcrum, and return the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece from the second spring fulcrum to the first spring fulcrum by returning from the card mounting position of the slider to the eject position. Thus, the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece can be changed. By adopting this configuration, the semi-lock function can be improved with a simple structure and cost increase.

  When the housing is composed of an insulating resin body for attaching a plurality of contacts to be brought into electrical contact with the electrode of the card, and a sheet metal cover fitted to the body, The spring fulcrum may be provided integrally with the body. However, in order to obtain a second spring fulcrum having a small size and high strength, it is desirable to cut and raise a part of the cover.

  In the present invention, since the improvement of only the semi-locking force when the card is installed can be realized, the card can be held with a large semi-locking force when the card is forcibly removed from the card-mounted state, while it is appropriate when the card is inserted and removed. With the semi-locking force, the card can be inserted and removed smoothly and with a good touch, and the service life of the semi-locking force can be properly maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the card connector, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the card connector with the cover removed. The card connector of this embodiment includes a thin rectangular box-shaped connector housing 1. The housing 1 is composed of an insulating resin body 2 and a sheet metal cover 3 fitted to the body 2, and a memory card 100 to be used (in this embodiment, a mini SD card is illustrated as an example of the memory card). 6 to FIG. 8), the slot inlet 4 for inserting the card 100 is formed in the front side surface so that the card 100 is inserted and accommodated from the slot inlet 4 into the internal space of the housing 1. That is, the housing 1 forms a slot 5 into which the card 100 is inserted and received.

  Further, the card connector of the present embodiment includes a plurality of contacts (contact terminals) 6 for electrically connecting the card 100 and the substrate of the electronic device. Each contact 6 is formed of an elongated plate piece made of a conductive material (metal material), and is integrally attached to the rear portion of the body 2 in a side-by-side state by press-fitting or insert molding. The front half of each contact 6 protrudes from the rear surface of the body 2 (the bottom bottom of the slot 5) so as to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction, and inclines upward. Internal contacts 7 corresponding to a plurality of electrodes provided side by side on the lower surface of the part are formed. The rear end portion of each contact 6 protrudes from the rear side surface of the body 2 to the outside of the housing 1, and the protruding end portion is electrically connected to each electrode of the board on which the card connector of the present embodiment is mounted by soldering. An external contact for connection is formed.

  Further, the card connector of the present embodiment includes a so-called push / push type eject mechanism 8. The eject mechanism 8 is disposed on the left side of the body 2 that is one side of the housing 1 so as to be movable in the card insertion / removal direction (front-rear direction), and protrudes toward the right side of the body 2 along the card width direction. The cam groove 14 has a card receiving portion 9 to be formed at the rear end portion and is formed in a substantially heart shape, and connects the starting portion 10 at the rear end top portion and the engaging portion 11 at the front end recess portion by the forward path 12 and the return path 13. (See FIG. 3) comprising a slider 15 having a rear portion thereof, a coil spring 16 for constantly urging the slider 15 in the card ejecting direction (forward), and an elongated metal bar bent at both ends at right angles in one direction, The rear end bent portion is supported by the rear end portion of the body 2 so as to be rotatable about this axis, and the front end bent portion is constituted by a cam pin 17 slidably fitted into the cam groove 14 when the card is not inserted. , Slider 15 There is restored held by the coil spring 16 in abutment upcoming eject position at the front end of the body 2, the front bent portion of the time the cam pin 17 is fitted into the starting portion 10 of the cam groove 14.

  When the card 100 is inserted into the slot 5 from the slot inlet 4 in the normal insertion posture, the eject mechanism 8 is in a semi-locked state in which the slider 15 and the card 100 are locked and connected in the card insertion / removal direction by a semi-lock mechanism described later. At substantially the same time, the receiving portion 9 of the slider 15 receives the insertion end portion of the insertion card 100. When the insertion card 100 is further inserted into the slot 5 in this state, the receiving portion 9 is pressed backward, and the slider 15 moves following the insertion of the insertion card 100 to resist the coil spring 16 from the ejection position of the slot 5. The slider 15 is pushed inward (inward of the housing 1), and moves to the most pushed position where the rear end of the slider 15 hits the rear end of the body 2. At this time, when the insertion force of the card 100 is released, the slider 15 is pushed back by the coil spring 16 from the most pushed position to the card eject direction. By a series of operations from the ejecting position of the slider 15, the bent portion of the front end of the cam pin 17 is introduced and locked to the locking portion 11 from the starting portion 10 of the cam groove 14 via the forward path 12 (see FIG. 3). 15 in the eject direction is restricted at a position slightly before the most pushed position (card mounting position), and the slider 15 is locked to the body 2 at the card mounting position. As a result, the insertion card 100 latched and connected to the slider 15 in the card insertion / removal direction is accommodated and held at the card mounting position of the slot 5, and each electrode of the insertion card 100 contacts the internal contact 7 of each contact 6. It is electrically connected and the card is inserted.

  When the insertion card 100 is pushed in the card mounting state, the receiving portion 9 is pushed backward, and the slider 15 moves from the card loading position to the most pushed position again against the coil spring 16. . By this operation, the bent portion at the front end of the cam pin 17 is released from the engaging portion 11 of the cam groove 14 and introduced into the return path 13 (see FIG. 3), and the restriction on the movement of the slider 15 in the card eject direction is released. (The slider 15 is unlocked). At this time, by releasing the pushing force of the card 100, the slider 15 is pushed back from the most pushed position to the ejecting direction by the coil spring 16 and returned to the ejecting position, and is locked and connected to the slider 15 in the card inserting / removing direction. The inserted card 100 is ejected and held at the eject position of the slot 5. The insertion card 100 ejected to the ejection position of the slot 5 is released from the locking connection in the card insertion / removal direction with the slider 15 by pulling the end protruding from the slot entrance 4 with a finger and pulling it out ( After the semi-lock is released, it is removed from the slot 5 via the slot inlet 4.

  The card connector of the present embodiment having the basic configuration as described above is mounted on the substrate in a state where the external contacts of the contacts 6 are soldered and electrically connected to the electrodes of the substrate, and the housing of the electronic device The card 100 is attached to the electronic device so that the slot inlet 4 is opened in the slot hole formed in the slot, and the card 100 inserted and received in the slot 5 from the slot inlet 4 is electrically connected to the board of the electronic device. Demonstrate and enable input and output of electronic data. The card connector of the present embodiment is configured to be small and small, and is mainly used for small electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, and digital cameras.

  Next, the semi-lock mechanism (card drop prevention function) provided in the push / push type card connector with the eject mechanism of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is an external perspective view of the slider, FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a spring body for semi-locking, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the semi-locking mechanism portion in the card ejecting state, and FIG. 7 is a semi-locking mechanism portion in the card mounting state. FIG. 8 is a plan view, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the semi-lock mechanism when the card is mounted.

  The semi-lock mechanism 18 includes a notch 101 provided in a form in which one side surface of the card 100 is partially recessed, and an engaging portion 19 that is engaged with the notch 101, and is provided in the slider 15 on the connector side. The spring body 20 is constituted. As shown in FIG. 5, the spring body 20 is formed by bending a rectangular leaf spring into a substantially U shape, and extending a pair of elastic pieces 20b, 20c in one direction from the folded portion 20a. The locking portion 19 is formed by bending a claw-shaped protrusion protruding downward from the tip (free end) of the piece 20c outward along the lower edge of the elastic piece 20c. A housing recess 21 for housing and holding the spring body 20 is formed in the front portion of the slider 15. The housing recess 20 is formed in such a manner that the upper surface of the front portion of the slider 15 is recessed in a rectangular shape that is long in the card insertion / removal direction, and opens the space between the pair of elastic pieces 20b, 20c in the card insertion direction. The spring body 20 is accommodated in a posture in which the stopper 19 protrudes sideways toward the card 100 side. Specifically, the elastic piece 20b on one side from the substantially middle portion of the folded portion 20a in the spring body 20 is opposed to the peripheral side wall 21a on the side wall side of the body 2 in the housing recess 21 with a predetermined gap therebetween. It is fitted and fixed between the holding walls 21b and 21c, and the elastic piece 20c on the other side from the substantially middle part of the folded part 20a in the spring body 20 is orthogonal to the card insertion / removal direction with the substantially middle part of the folded part 20a as a fulcrum. Is supported in a cantilevered state toward the card insertion direction inside the peripheral wall 21d on the card 100 side in the housing recess 21 and is formed at the tip of the elastic piece 20c. The slider 19 facing the side face of the card 100 provided with the notch 101 from the notch 21e formed in the peripheral side wall 21d on the card 100 side in the accommodating recess 21. 5 of which is projected on the side.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the semi-lock mechanism 18 is such that the length from the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece 20c forming the locking portion 19 is shorter when the card is installed than when the card is ejected (L1> L2). ) In order to change the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece 20c, the fixed end of the elastic piece 20c (substantially middle part of the folded portion 20a) is used as the first spring fulcrum A when the card is ejected, and the second spring fulcrum when the card is attached B is provided in the housing 1, and the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece 20c is changed from the first spring fulcrum A to the second spring fulcrum B by the movement of the slider 15 from the eject position to the card mounting position. By returning to the eject position, the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece 20c is returned from the second spring fulcrum B to the first spring fulcrum A. The second spring fulcrum B is a part of the cover 3 made of sheet metal that forms the top surface of the housing 1 so as to be located behind the fixed end and the tip of the elastic piece 20c when the card is mounted. It consists of a cut and raised piece that is cut and raised downward. Further, a notch 20 g for allowing the second spring fulcrum B to enter and exit the housing recess 21 as the slider 15 moves is formed on the peripheral wall 21 f on the card insertion side in the housing recess 21.

  Next, the operation of the semi-lock mechanism 18 will be described. When the card 100 is inserted into the slot 5 from the slot inlet 4 in the normal insertion posture, the locking portion 19 is elastic piece until the insertion end portion of the insertion card 100 is received by the receiving portion 9 of the slider 15. As shown in FIG. 6, the card 100 is almost at the same time as it rides on the side surface of the insertion card 100 with the elastic deformation of the outer side 20c and the insertion end portion of the insertion card 100 is received by the receiving portion 9 of the slider 15. The notch 101 on the side faces the locking part 19, and the locking part 19 fits into the notch 101 on the side of the card 100 by elastic return to the inside of the elastic piece 20c. As a result, as described above, the slider 15 and the card 100 are locked and connected in the card insertion / removal direction to be in a semi-locked state, and in this semi-locked state, the inserted card 100 is accommodated and held at the card mounting position. Since the card is ejected from the card loading position to the ejection position, it is possible to prevent the card 100 from dropping from the connector due to an unexpected external force when the card is loaded, or the card 100 from suddenly ejecting and dropping from the connector during card ejection. That is, the card drop prevention function is exhibited.

  Further, when the insertion card 100 is removed from the slot 5, the locking portion 19 rides on the side surface of the insertion card 100 with elastic deformation to the outside of the elastic piece 20c. The locking connection in the card insertion / extraction direction is released (semi-lock is released). After the insertion card 100 is removed from the slot 5 via the slot inlet 4, the locking piece 19 protrudes to the side surface of the slider 15 facing the side surface of the card 100 by elastic return to the inside of the elastic piece 20c, and the next card. You will be prepared for insertion.

  Further, as is apparent from FIGS. 6 to 8, the semi-lock mechanism 18 moves the slider 15 from the eject position to the card mounting position when the card is mounted, so that the elastic piece 20c acts on the second spring fulcrum B. Move to the position you want. In other words, as the slider 15 moves from the eject position to the card mounting position, the second spring fulcrum B passes through the notch 21g of the receiving recess 21 from the non-acting position outside the receiving recess 21 in the card insertion direction. And enters between the holding wall and the elastic piece 20c by passing between the tips of the pair of elastic pieces 20b, 20c in the spring body 20 accommodated in the accommodation recess 21. When the card is mounted, the second spring fulcrum B is located at the back acting position between the fixed end and the tip of the elastic piece 20c (the state shown in FIGS. 7 and 8), and the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece 20c is The first spring fulcrum A is changed to the second spring fulcrum B. On the other hand, when the card is ejected, the elastic piece 20c moves to a position where the second spring fulcrum B does not act by returning the slider 15 from the card mounting position to the ejecting position. In other words, with the return of the slider 15 from the card mounting position to the ejection position, the second spring fulcrum B is in a path opposite to that at the time of card mounting, and the card in the receiving recess 21 from the operating position inside the receiving recess 21. In the card ejecting state, the second spring fulcrum B is located at the non-acting position on the outer side in the card inserting direction of the housing recess 21 (state in FIG. 6), and the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece 20c is in the card ejecting state. The second spring fulcrum B is returned to the first spring fulcrum A.

  In this way, when the slider 15 is in the card ejecting state at the ejecting position, the elastic piece 20c is elastically deformed and elastically restored with the fixed end of the elastic piece 20c, that is, the spring fulcrum A as a fulcrum. The length of the piece 20c from the spring fulcrum A is indicated by L1 in FIG. On the other hand, when the card 15 is in the card mounting position with the slider 15 in the card mounting position, the elastic piece 20c is elastically deformed with the fulcrum changed from the spring fulcrum A in the card ejected state to the tip side of the elastic piece 20c, that is, the spring fulcrum B. The length of the elastic piece 20c from the spring fulcrum B at this time is indicated by L2 in FIG.

  As apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7, since the length of the elastic piece 20c from the spring fulcrum A is longer in the card ejected state than in the card mounted state (L1> L2), the spring constant becomes smaller. The semi-locking force becomes smaller. On the other hand, since the length of the elastic piece 20c from the spring fulcrum is shorter (L1> L2) when the card is attached than when the card is ejected, the spring constant increases and the semi-locking force increases. Accordingly, since only the semi-locking force in the card mounted state is enhanced and improved, the card 100 can be held with a large semi-locking force when the card 100 is forcibly removed from the card mounted state, while the card 100 in the ejected state is held. When inserting / removing, the card 100 can be inserted / removed smoothly and with a good touch with an appropriate semi-locking force, and the life of the semi-locking force can be properly maintained.

  In the present embodiment, the elastic piece 20c having the locking portion 19 is provided as a separate part. However, the slider 15 may be provided integrally with resin by molding. In addition, when a separate part is provided, a normal metal leaf spring is used, but a resin molded product can also be used. Furthermore, the form of the elastic piece 20c when it is provided as a separate part and the fixing method to the slider 15 can be appropriately selected. In short, the elastic piece 20c can be used as long as the locking portion 19 is locked to the notch 101 on the side surface of the card 100 and is elastically deformed to release the locking portion 19 from the notch 101 on the side surface of the card 100 at the time of elastic recovery. A predetermined effect can be obtained by applying the present invention.

  By the way, in the card connector shown in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, circular guide protrusions 22a and 22b are formed so as to protrude from the upper surface and the lower surface of the receiving portion 9 of the slider 15. A pair of upper and lower elongated holes 23a, 23b extending in the card insertion / removal direction are formed to face the bottom surface (body 2) and the top surface (cover 3) of the other slot 5, and the guide protrusions 22a, 22b are formed into the elongated holes 23a, 23b. By being slidably fitted, the slider 15 is guided to move in the card insertion / removal direction, and the slider 15 can be smoothly moved in the card insertion / removal direction by pressing back and the like. Thereby, the card can be inserted and ejected more smoothly. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a normally open card attachment detection which is closed on one side portion of the body 2 opposite to the slider 15 and is closed on the side opposite to the notch 101 of the card 100 inserted and accommodated at the card attachment position. Switch 24 (A contact) is composed of a movable contact piece 24a and a fixed contact piece 24b, and the other end of each contact point 24a, 24b is also soldered and electrically connected to the electrode of the board when the connector is mounted on the board. It is also provided with a function of electrically detecting card 100 loading.

It is an external appearance perspective view of a card connector. It is an external appearance perspective view of the card connector of the state which removed the cover. It is a top view of a slider cam groove. It is an external appearance perspective view of a slider. It is an external appearance perspective view of a semi-lock spring. It is a top view of the semi-lock mechanism part at the time of a card ejection state. It is a top view which shows the semi-lock mechanism part at the time of card mounting state. It is a perspective view which shows the semi-lock mechanism part at the time of card mounting state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector housing 2 Resin body 3 Cover 8 Ejecting mechanism 15 Slider 19 Locking part 20c Elastic piece 100 Memory card 101 Notch A 1st spring fulcrum B 2nd spring fulcrum L1 From the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece at the time of card ejection Length of L2 from the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece when the card is installed

Claims (3)

  A notch on the side of the card, and a slider that is movably mounted in one side of the connector housing in the card insertion / removal direction and is always urged in the card ejection direction, and is locked to the notch on the side of the card when elastically restored. An elastic piece having a locking portion to be moved, the slider follows the insertion of the card, and is pushed from the eject position to the inside of the housing and locked at the card mounting position to hold the card in the mounting position. In a card connector provided with an eject mechanism for ejecting a card by releasing the lock when the card is inserted and the slider is pushed inward again by pushing the card into the housing, being unlocked and pushed back in the eject direction. The length of the elastic piece from the spring fulcrum is shorter when the card is installed than when the card is ejected. Card connector, characterized in that intoxicated changing the spring fulcrum of the elastic pieces.   The fixed end of the elastic piece is used as a first spring fulcrum in the card ejected state, the second spring fulcrum in the card mounted state is provided in the housing, and the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece by moving from the eject position of the slider to the card mounted position The first spring fulcrum is changed from the first spring fulcrum to the second spring fulcrum, and the spring fulcrum of the elastic piece is returned from the second spring fulcrum to the first spring fulcrum by returning the slider from the card mounting position to the eject position. The card connector described.   An insulating resin body for attaching a plurality of contacts to be brought into electrical contact with the electrode of the card and a sheet metal cover fitted to the body constitute a housing, and a part of the cover is cut and raised. The card connector according to claim 2, wherein two spring fulcrums are provided.

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