JP2006024543A - Connector for recording media, and insertion checking method of recording media - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector for recording media which facilitates small-sizing and thinning of the connector main part and is capable of certainly detecting insertion of the recording media. <P>SOLUTION: The connector for recording the media comprises a housing for receiving the recording medium inserted and a contact part 4 for connecting electrically to a terminal 51 of the recording medium. An expansion type detecting member 30 which is made of an elastic material and expands in the width direction of the housing by contacting the recording medium inserted is provided at the inner depth in insertion direction of the recording medium, and a contact piece member 31 which contacts the end part side portion in width direction of the expansion type detecting member 30 in expanded state is provided correspondingly at the end part side portion of the expansion type detecting member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium connector including a housing that receives an inserted recording medium, and a contact portion that is electrically connected to a terminal of the inserted recording medium, and also relates to a recording medium insertion confirmation method.

  As a switch structure for detecting a card attached to a recording medium connector, a cantilever structure using an elastic body is often used (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3).

  In the switch structure described in Patent Document 1, first and second contacts 31 and 32 are provided at the back of the connector, and the card insertion state is detected by the operation structure shown in FIG. In the technique described in this document, cantilever deformation occurs in both contacts.

  Also in the case of the switch part described in Patent Document 2, the contact plate 4 is cantilevered with the structure described in the document. Furthermore, this switch part is provided in the state which protrudes to the side part of the connector apparatus for cards.

  Also in the case of the detection switch 14 described in Patent Document 3, detection is performed by a cantilevered deformation mechanism, and the detection switch 14 is provided at the back of the IC card connector.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-252045 (FIG. 5) JP 2001-338729 A (FIG. 4) JP-A-11-97110

However, if card insertion detection is performed in order to ensure detection with the cantilever structure, the reaction force (load) generated by deformation of the elastic member constituting the switch is increased, and the amount of displacement is increased. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures such as increasing the material thickness of the elastic material and shortening the substantial length of the beam of the elastic portion.
In other words, in order to ensure the certainty of detection, it is necessary to change the shape of the beam, which does not meet the demand for a small-sized thin film connector for a recording medium that has recently been required.
On the other hand, the longer the elastic deformation portion is, the more difficult it is to secure the position of the contact portion due to deformation and the like because the tip of the elastic portion is inclined due to deformation, so that the detection becomes unstable and the probability of malfunctioning increases.

  Furthermore, when the detector is disposed on the side surface or the lower surface of the connector, it cannot respond to a request for a small thin film of the connector itself.

In a card connector, as a method for improving vibration resistance and impact resistance, electrical disconnection is prevented by dividing the tip of the contact into a plurality of parts to increase the contact part and change the resonance frequency. (The contacts are not removed from the card electrodes.)
However, since this method simply divides the tip of one contact into a plurality of parts, the contact contact pressure per one is almost the same as when the tip is not divided (one piece). is there. Therefore, it is difficult to cope with sudden impact loads (eg dropping) that are likely to occur on a daily basis. (Only a certain amount of vibration / impact load can be supported)

  An object of the present invention is to provide a connector for a recording medium in which the connector main body can be easily reduced in size in view of the drawbacks of the prior art, and can reliably detect the insertion of a storage medium, and adopts this type of configuration. Another object of the present invention is to provide an insertion confirmation method capable of reliably detecting an insertion state of a recording medium by a recording medium connector.

In order to achieve the above object, a characteristic configuration of a recording medium connector including a housing that receives and supports an inserted recording medium, and a contact portion that is electrically connected to a terminal of the inserted recording medium,
An expansion type detection member that is made of an elastic material and expands in the width direction of the housing in contact with the recording medium to be inserted is provided at the back in the insertion direction of the recording medium, and the expansion type in the expansion state The contact piece member that contacts the end side portion in the width direction of the detection member is provided corresponding to the end side portion of the expansion type detection member in the width direction.

  The recording medium connector according to the present application is provided with an expansion-type detection member and a contact piece member that comes into contact with the expansion-type detection site in the expanded state. Then, for example, the state of insertion of the recording medium in a state in which conduction between both members is ensured is determined to be a non-insertion state in a non-conduction state. Of course, the relationship between the insertion and non-insertion state and the conduction / non-conduction state may be reversed.

  In the detection structure having this configuration, the deformation that occurs in association with the insertion operation of the storage medium of the expansion type detection member occurs in the width direction at the back of the housing. No overhang in the thickness direction is required. As a result, it is possible to meet the demand for a small thin film.

  Furthermore, when the expansion deformation that occurs with both-end support is compared with the cantilever deformation, the expansion detection member expands due to the contact of the recording medium, returns to the original posture from the expanded state, etc. In this operation, since the operation has a two-fulcrum structure, a reliable detection operation can be executed.

  In addition, when a double-supported structure is adopted, when a recording medium is inserted, the contact position where the medium first contacts and the initial tension acting in that state can be easily adjusted, and the insertion detection distance and detection can be adjusted. The contact pressure at the time can be easily adjusted and set.

  Also, with this structure, the reaction force (load) that can be generated by the expansion-type detection member that accompanies the insertion of the storage medium can be easily increased with respect to the deformation amount as compared with the cantilever spring structure. It can be configured such that a reaction force (load) acts in the opposite direction to the medium insertion direction, and it functions not only as a storage medium detection but also as a discharge assist mechanism when the storage medium is discharged.

In the above configuration, the guide for guiding the expansion type detection member between the expansion type detection member and the contact piece member in accordance with the expansion operation of the expansion type detection member or the return operation from the expanded state. It is preferable to provide a part.
By providing the guide unit, when the expansion type detection member expands with the insertion of the recording medium, or when the recording medium is returned to the original state by the discharge operation of the recording medium, the operation / deformation direction is guided to the guide unit. Can be stable along.
With this configuration, the wiping effect of the contacts in both members can be obtained.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the expansion type detection member is an elastic metal member that protrudes toward the recording medium insertion port side from the end portion side portion at the central side portion in the width direction.
In the case of this configuration, since the expansion type detection member is roughly a “<” shape member in plan view, the deformation of the elastic metal member can be stably generated with the insertion / ejection operation of the recording medium. Therefore, reliable detection is possible.

Furthermore, in the above configuration, as the contact portion, a first contact portion that is electrically connected to a terminal of the recording medium in a posture in which the recording medium is inserted face up, and the recording medium is inserted face down. A second contact portion electrically connected to the terminal of the recording medium in a posture;
In a posture in which an electrical connection is established between the recording medium and one of the contact portions, a structure in which the other contact portion fixes and supports the recording medium with the housing is adopted. ,preferable.

With this configuration, it is possible to ensure the connection with the recording medium regardless of the insertion orientation (front orientation or reverse orientation) of the recording medium.
Furthermore, since the other contact portion plays a role of fixing and supporting the recording medium in a state where electrical connection is ensured between the one contact portion and the terminal provided on the recording medium, it is resistant to insertion when the recording medium is inserted. Vibration and attack resistance can be improved.

To realize this kind of fixed support structure,
The first and second contact parts are both made of a conductive elastic material,
The first contact portion includes a first contact portion that contacts the terminal of the recording medium, the second contact portion includes a second contact portion that contacts the terminal of the recording medium, and the first contact portion. And the second abutting portion are arranged with respect to the thickness direction center of the housing,
In a posture in which one abutting portion abuts against the terminal of the recording medium, the deformation amount received by the abutting portion is set to be smaller than the deformation amount received by the other abutting portion contacting the main body surface of the recording medium. Structure.

  When this configuration is adopted, the first contact portion and the second contact portion made of a conductive elastic material are both deformed in a posture in which the recording medium is inserted into the recording medium connector, and both the contact portions are both in the thickness direction of the housing. An elastic reaction force in the direction toward the center is generated.

  This elastic reaction force depends on the amount of deformation. However, as described above, the reaction force generated on the other contact portion side (the contact portion side to which the other contact portion belongs) that is not electrically connected as described above. The force is greater than the reaction force generated on one abutting part side (the contact part side to which the one abutting part where the electrical connection is established), and as a result, the recording medium is firmly connected electrically. Is urged toward the contact portion side of the contact portion where the contact is established, and the fixed support between the recording medium and the housing is established. As a result, vibration resistance and impact resistance can be improved when the recording medium is inserted (because the contact pressure on the contact portion side where electrical connection is established increases).

As a method for detecting the insertion state of the recording medium using the recording medium connector described above,
It is preferable to determine that the recording medium is in an inserted state when conduction between the contact piece member and the expansion-type detection member is ensured, and that the recording medium is in a non-inserted state when not in a conductive state. .
In this configuration, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the contact piece member is disposed at the width direction end portion of the expansion type detection member, and the advantages of the both end support configuration can be effectively utilized.

Further, the configuration of the present application can be effectively used to detect the lock state of the recording medium.
That is, as a method of detecting the insertion state of the recording medium using the recording medium connector described above,
When the recording medium has a locked state in which the position is fixed in the recording medium connector and an unlocked state in which the position fixing is released,
A configuration for determining that the recording medium is in the locked state when conduction between the contact piece member and the expansion type detection member is ensured, and that the recording medium is in an unlocked state when not in the conducting state; To do.

The recording medium connector according to the present application is normally operated in a locked state in which the recording medium is inserted into the recording medium connector and the position is fixed, and an unlocked state in which the position fixing is released. It is configured.
In the locked state and the unlocked state, the relative positional relationship between the recording medium connector and the recording medium is different, and in the configuration of the present application, the position of the end portion in the width direction of the expansion type detection member changes. To do.

  Accordingly, by appropriately adjusting the positional relationship in the width direction between the expansion type detection member and the contact piece member that works as a contact type switch (in other words, by adjusting the relative separation distance at which the contact between the two members starts. ), The ON / OFF timing of the contact type switch can be changed.

  Therefore, only when the locked state is realized, the two members are brought into contact with each other to cause conduction, so that the conduction can be achieved only in the locked state and the conduction cannot be achieved in the unlocked state. In this way, only the locked state of the recording medium can be reliably detected.

  In addition, in this configuration, a state other than the locked state can be identified with respect to the locked state by adopting a configuration in which the recording medium is not conductive in the ejected state.

If contacts are not placed on the top and bottom, but only on one side, the reaction force generated by contact displacement pushes up (pushes down) the card electrode, so the card electrode is pushed up (pushed down). Since the displacement of the contact is reduced, the contact contact pressure is reduced.
However, since contacts corresponding to the electrode portions of the card are provided above and below the connector as in this structure, the contact that does not correspond to the card electrode surface is displaced more greatly than the corresponding contact when the card is inserted. The card itself is always pushed down (pushed up) toward the contact corresponding to the card electrode surface.

Therefore, the contact pressure of the contact corresponding to the card electrode is increased by adding “the amount of displacement of the card pushed down by the contact not corresponding to the card electrode surface” to “the amount of displacement of itself”.
Therefore, compared with the case where the contact is provided only on one (one), the contact contact pressure is increased, and the contact stability is improved.

  In addition, since the upper and lower contacts are provided, the card holding force is doubled compared to the case where contacts are provided only on one side. Excellent in preventing electrical disconnection.

An embodiment of the card connector 1 according to the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a card connector 1 (an example of a recording medium connector) and a memory card 50 (an example of a recording medium) according to the present application, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the card connector 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing each component attached to the body 2 of the card connector 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view when the memory card 50 (front side) is at the initial position (eject position), and FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an action when a pushing operation is applied to the memory card 50 (front side). In the figure, (a) corresponds to the state during the first pushing operation, and (b) corresponds to the state during the second pushing operation.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of the heart cam 10e that plays an important role in the present application.

〔memory card〕
For convenience of explanation, FIG. 1 shows both a memory card 50 (left side in the figure) arranged in a face-up position and a memory card 50 (right side in the figure) arranged in a face-down position.

  Eleven terminals 51 are provided on the front end side of the back surface of the memory card 50. Further, when the outline of the memory card 50 is viewed from the front side, the left side portion of the memory card 50 is cut out in a trapezoidal shape, and as a result, the right side surface extends at right angles to the end face 50a of the tip. The left side surface is composed of a single straight side 50b, and the left side surface has a first straight side 50c on the front end extending perpendicularly to the end surface 50a, and a second straight line extending obliquely rearward from the first straight side 50c. And a third straight side 50e extending perpendicularly to the end surface 50a from the second straight side 50d.

  A pair of locking recesses 52a and 52b (an example of a locked portion) and a pair of contacted portions 53a and 53b are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the memory card 50.

  The pair of locking recesses 52a and 52b are located on the right straight side 50b and the left third straight side 50e, respectively, and are located at an equal distance from the end face 50a of the tip.

  However, since the left side portion of the pair of contact portions 53a and 53b is cut out in a trapezoidal shape as described above, when the memory card 50 is viewed from the front side, The contact portion 53b is disposed so as to be displaced to the base end side of the memory card 50 by a few millimeters compared to the first contacted portion 53a on the right side.

[Card connector]
As shown in FIG. 2, the card connector 1 includes a synthetic resin body 2 and a metal case 3 connected to the body 2. The body 2 and the case 3 constitute a housing 1a that receives and supports the inserted memory card 50. On the rear end side of the body 2, contact portions 4 and 5 that are electrically connected to the terminals 51 of the inserted memory card 50 are provided.

[Two features of the card connector according to the present application]
1 1st characteristic The 1st characteristic of this card connector 1 exists in the insertion detection mechanism of the card connector 1, the general | schematic "<"-shaped expansion-type detection member 30 provided in the connector back part, and this The structure provided with the contact piece member 31 corresponding to is adopted.

  As will be described later, the expandable detection member 30 expands and deforms with its head abutting against the tip of the memory card as the memory card 50 is inserted. One end is electrically connected to the contact piece member 31 and insertion of the memory card 50 can be detected.

2 Second Feature The second feature of the card connector 1 is that the housing 1a can be used regardless of whether the memory card 50 is inserted with the terminal 51 facing downward or the terminal 51 facing upward. It is in the point that it can accept and support.

3. Details of each feature The configuration and operation will be described in the order of the first feature and the second feature.
3-1 Configuration According to First Feature A member having this feature is an expansion-type detection member 30 according to the present application installed in the card connector 1 and a contact that makes a pair with the expansion-type detection member 30. This is a single member 31.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the expansion type detection member 30 is disposed in the back part of the card connector 1 (back part in the insertion direction of the memory card 50), and this member is the center in the connector width direction. In the side portion 30a (substantially the center in the illustrated example), the “<” shape is a shape protruding from the both end side portions (both end portions 30b in the illustrated example) toward the recording medium insertion port side. It is the elastic metal member made into a shape.
By forming the member 30 as a “<”-shaped member made of an elastic metal material, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the member 30 comes into contact with the tip portion of the memory card 50 to be inserted in the width direction of the housing. Expand. On the other hand, when the memory card 50 is taken out, it returns to the “<” shape, which is the standby posture.

  The contact piece member 31 is provided on the substantially rear side (actually, the rear end of the card connector) with respect to the expansion type detection member 30. In a state where the expansion type detection member 30 is pressed and expanded to the back side by the memory card 50, the contact piece member 31 comes into contact with the end part 30 b in the width direction of the expansion type detection member 30. Electrical connection between the open mold detection member 30 and the contact piece member 31 is ensured.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a notch 30 c that opens at the inner end in the width direction of the contact piece member 31 is provided in the end portion side portion 30 b of the expansion type detection member 30, and the contact piece member 31. In addition, a fitting portion 31c to be fitted into the notch 30c is provided.
The notch 30c and the fitting portion 31c constitute a guide portion G that guides the expansion type detection member 30 in the expansion operation or the return operation to the “<” shape from the expanded state. ing.

3-2 Operation According to First Feature As described above, FIG. 6 is a plan view when the memory card 50 (front side) is at the initial position (eject position), and FIG. 7 is pushed into the memory card 50 (front side). It is a top view which shows an effect | action when operation is added.

  In FIG. 7, (a) shows a state where the first pushing operation is finished, and (b) shows a state at the start of the second pushing operation toward the release of the insertion.

The operation relating to the first characteristic configuration can explain main functions in comparison between the state shown in FIG. 6 and the state shown in FIG.
That is, when the memory card 50 shown in FIG. 6 is in the initial position, the expansion-type detection member 30 does not receive the pressing force from the memory card 50, and therefore is in the natural state of “<”. Thus, the continuity between the expansion type detection member 30 and the contact piece member 31 is not ensured.

From this state, when the memory card 50 is pushed in as shown in FIG. 7A and the position is fixed as will be described later, the expansion-type detection member 30 is removed from the memory card 50. Upon receiving the pressing force, the expanded state is established, and electrical connection between the expanded detection member 30 and the contact piece member 31 is ensured. As a result, the insertion state of the memory card 50 can be detected by detecting the electrical connection between the expansion type detection member 30 and the contact piece member 31.
In the insertion operation of the memory card 50, the guide portion G serves as a guide, and the sliding positional relationship between the expansion type detection member 30 and the contact piece member 31 can be maintained well.

  Further, when the memory card 50 is pushed in again as shown in FIG. 7B, the memory card 50 is eventually released from the insertion as will be described later. The contact with the single member 31 is cut off, and a non-conduction state is established, and the initial state is restored.

  Therefore, in the card connector 1, in order to detect the insertion state of the memory card 50 which is a recording medium, when the contact piece member 31 and the expansion type detection member 30 are secured, the recording medium Is in the inserted state and is not in the conductive state, it is determined that the recording medium is in the non-inserted state. This determination circuit (not shown) may be provided on the device side where the card connector 1 is equipped, or may be provided on the connector itself.

3-3 Configuration According to Second Feature In order to realize the second feature, in the card connector 1 according to the present application, as shown in FIG. 2, the memory card 50 is face-up (normal) as a contact portion. The first contact portion 4 connected to the terminal 51 when inserted in the posture and the second contact portion 5 connected to the terminal 51 when the memory card 50 is inserted in the reverse (reverse) posture are separately provided. .
FIG. 10 shows a state of electrical connection when the memory card 50 is inserted. FIG. 10A shows a terminal when the memory card 50 is inserted in a face-up position (position shown on the left side of FIG. 1). FIG. 10B shows a connection state between the terminal 51 and the first contact portion 4 and a connection state between the terminal 51 and the second contact portion 5 in a state where the terminal 51 is inserted in a reverse orientation (the posture shown on the right side in FIG. 1). Indicated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, eleven normal contacts 4 a constituting the first contact portion 4 and eleven reverse contacts 5 a constituting the second contact portion 5 are pressed into the rear end side of the body 2. Attached by. Further, the reverse contact 5 a has an output side contact 5 c protruding from the rear end of the body 2, and the normal contact 4 a has an output side contact 4 c protruding from the intermediate edge of the body 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, slide grooves 2a are formed in the vicinity of the left and right side surfaces of the body 2 so as to slidably receive sliders 10 and 11, which will be described later. Further, spring support portions 7 a and 7 b erected on the body 2 are provided in the vicinity of the left and right end portions of the rear end of the body 2. Each of the spring support portions 7a and 7b extends into the left and right slide grooves 2a.

  Sliders 10 and 11 are slidably mounted in the front and rear direction of the card connector 1 in the left and right slide grooves 2a. The right slider 10 and the left slider 11 have different shapes, but are symmetrical with respect to the left and right centers of the card connector 1 except that the arrangement levels of contact portions 10b and 11b described later are different. Presents.

  The sliders 10 and 11 are formed by synthetic resin integral molding, and have slider main bodies 10a and 11a that slide in the slide groove 2a in the front-rear direction.

  Near the center of the slider main body 10a, 11a in the front-rear direction, contact portions 10b, 11b provided inward are provided, and elastic pieces 10c, extending from the vicinity of the contact portions 10b, 11b toward the front end, Claw portions 10d and 11d are formed at the tip of 11c. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, stop portions 10 z and 11 z are provided on the distal end side (on the upper side in the drawings in FIGS. 2 and 3), respectively.

  The contact portions 10b and 11b are provided corresponding to the first and second contact portions 53a and 53b of the memory card 50, and the claw portions 10d and 11d are locking recesses 52a and 52b of the memory card 50, respectively. It is provided corresponding to.

  The sliders 10 and 11 are formed with upward cam grooves called heart cams 10e and 11e. Details of the shapes and functions of the heart cams 10e and 11e will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Near the front end of each slide groove 2a of the body 2, a downward end 13a of the hook pin 13 extending along the moving direction of the sliders 10 and 11 is pivotally connected around a substantially vertical axis (FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and 11).

  The other end of the hook pin 13 that faces downward also serves as a scanning shaft 13b that moves to the left and right according to the cam grooves of the heart cams 10e and 11e. Is pressed against any one of the cam grooves constituting the.

  A coil spring 15 (an example of an urging means) is externally supported by the spring support portions 7a and 7b. The coil spring 15 connects the end surfaces 10f and 11f of the sliders 10 and 11 to the spring support portions 7a and 7b. It exerts an urging force in a direction away from the base end (front end of the housing).

  The sliders 10 and 11 are in contact with the front end of the slide groove 2a (the state shown in FIG. 3) and close to the rear end of the slide groove 2a (based on the pushing operation when the memory card 50 is inserted). And slide in the slide groove 2a. In addition, holes (not shown) for receiving the tips of the spring support portions 7a and 7b and a part of the coil spring 15 are formed in the end surfaces 10f and 11f facing the spring support portions 7a and 7b of the sliders 10 and 11, respectively. .

  Although the heart cams 10e and 11e have different shapes, the heart cams 10e and 11e are symmetrical with respect to the left and right centers of the card connector 1, so only the heart cam 10e of the right slider 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the heart cam 10 e has a series of cam grooves 21 formed so as to have a heart shape around the protruding portion 20 protruding upward. The cam groove is a standby lane in which the scanning shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 is located when the memory card 50 is not inserted, that is, when the slider 10 is at the initial position of the front end of the slide groove 2a (which coincides with an eject position described later). 21a, an insertion lane 21b for guiding the copying shaft 13b from the waiting lane 21a to the first dead center S1 on the opposite side of the waiting lane 21a in response to the first pushing operation of the memory card 50 by the user, and the user A lock lane 21c that guides the scanning shaft 13b from the first dead center S1 to a lock recess S2 (an example of a lock mechanism) formed in a recess shape at one end of the projection 20 when the first pushing force of the is released The copying shaft 13b is waited from the lock recess S2 according to the second pushing operation of the memory card 50 by The separation lane 21d that guides to the second dead center S3 on the opposite side of the screen 21a, and the copying shaft 13b from the second dead center S3 to the standby lane 21a when the user loosens the second pushing force of the memory card 50. It consists of an eject lane 21e to be returned.

  In addition, between the insertion lane 21b and the ejection lane 21e, a vertical wall (a wall extending in the front and back direction in FIG. 11) prevents the copying shaft 13b from entering the ejection lane 21e according to the first pushing operation. The same applies to the vertical wall hereinafter) w1 is formed, and when the user loosens the first pushing force of the memory card 50 between the insertion lane 21b and the lock lane 21c, the copying shaft 13b returns to the insertion lane 21b. A vertical wall w2 that prevents this is formed, and the copying shaft 13b returns to the first dead center S1 between the lock lane 21c and the separation lane 21d when the user pushes the memory card 50 for the second time. A vertical wall w3 is formed to prevent the memory between the separation lane 21d and the ejection lane 21e. Vertical wall w4 the copying shaft 13b is prevented from returning to leaving the lane 21d is formed when loosening the second time pushing force over de 50.

  The heart cams 10e and 11e, the hook pin 13, and the coil spring 15 lock the memory card 50 in the inserted state in which the terminal 51 and the contact portion 4 (or 5) are connected based on the first pushing operation of the memory card 50, Based on the second pushing operation of the memory card 50, a lock / discharge mechanism that discharges the memory card 50 to a dischargeable state is configured.

3-4 Action of second feature 3-4-1
(Action when inserting face up)
Since no external force is applied before the memory card 50 is inserted, both the left and right sliders 10 and 11 are at the initial position (eject position) of the front end of the slide groove 2a. 13b is located in the waiting lane 21a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the memory card 50 is inserted into the housing 1a of the card connector 1 with the front side facing up, first, the elastic pieces 10c, 11c of the left and right sliders 10, 11 are elastically deformed outward. After that, the claw portion 10d of the right elastic piece 10c is engaged with the right engagement recess 52a of the memory card 50, and at the same time, the claw portion 11d of the left elastic piece 11c is engaged with the left engagement recess 52 of the memory card 50. Engage in 52b (initial state). In this state, the left and right sliders 10 and 11 are still at the initial position of the front end of the slide groove 2a.

  When the user performs the first pushing operation on the memory card 50 from this state, the leading end 50a of the memory card 50 comes into contact with the stopper 10z of the right slider 10 as understood from FIG. Thus, the slider 10 is pushed into the slide groove 2a against the biasing force of the coil spring 15, and at the same time, the copying shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 of the right slider 10 enters the insertion lane 21b from the standby lane 21a.

  When the memory card 50 is pushed in all the way and reaches a predetermined position on the inner surface of the housing 1a, the copying shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 is guided to the first dead center S1.

  When the user loosens the first pushing force of the memory card 50, the memory card 50 is slightly pushed back together with the slider 10 to the inlet side of the card connector 1 by the biasing force of the coil spring 15, as shown in FIG. At the same time, the copying shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 of the slider 10 is pressed against the locking recess S2 by the urging force of the coil spring 15 and locked at the same position (at this time, the slider 10 is also in the locking position). As shown in (a), the terminal 51 located on the lower surface of the memory card 50 is locked in the inserted state in which it is electrically connected to the first contact portion 4 (the second contact portion 5 is not used).

  When the memory card 50 is pushed in for the first time, the copying shaft 13b of the left hook pin 13 does not reach the first dead center S1 even if it enters the insertion lane 21b of the heart cam 11e of the slider 11. If the user loosens the first pushing force of the memory card 50 without proceeding to the lock recess S2, it is held on the insertion lane 21b as it is.

  That is, the left slider 11 is not locked based on the first pushing operation. In addition, when the memory card 50 is pushed in for the first time, the slider 11 on the left side causes “displacement” to the front end side of the card connector 1 with respect to the memory card 50 by the same length as this displacement amount. ), The left claw portion 11d is pulled out of the locking recess 52b of the memory card 50.

  Next, when the user performs a second pushing operation on the memory card 50, as shown in FIG. 7B, the copying shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 of the right slider 10 comes out of the lock recess S2, and the second The dead point S3 is reached.

  When the second pushing force is loosened, the copying shaft 13b enters the ejection lane 21e from the second dead center S3, finally returns to the standby lane 21a, and almost simultaneously with this, the hook pin 13 of the left slider 11 The copying shaft 13b returns to the standby lane 21a as it is on the insertion lane 21b. In response to this, the left and right sliders 10 and 11 are pushed straight out to the eject position (initial position) by the biasing force of each coil spring 15.

  In the final process of returning the left slider 11 to the eject position, the left claw portion 11d is also re-engaged in the locking recess 52b of the memory card 50, so that the memory card 50 has the claw portions of the left and right sliders 10 and 11. In a state where the left and right are evenly locked by 10d and 11d, the user is discharged to a discharge state in which the user can take out with his / her finger, and the state returns to the state of FIG.

3-4-2
(Action when inserting face down)
The action when inserting the memory card 50 face down is that the terminal 51 of the memory card 50 is electrically connected to the second contact portion 5 provided above the housing 1a by the first pushing operation. Except for the fact that it is locked and the left slider 11 is locked and the right slider 10 is not locked based on the first push-in operation, it is basically the same as the above-described operation when inserting in the front direction. It is.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the memory card 50 is inserted into the housing 1a of the card connector 1 with the face down, first, the elastic pieces 10c, 11c of the left and right sliders 10, 11 are elastically deformed outward. After that, the claw portion 10d of the right elastic piece 10c is engaged in the right engaging recess 52b of the memory card 50, and the claw portion 11d of the left elastic piece 11c is in the left engaging recess 52a of the memory card 50. Engage in (initial state). In this state, the left and right sliders 10 and 11 are still in the initial position (eject position) of the front end of the slide groove 2a.

  When the user performs the first pushing operation on the memory card 50 from this state, the tip 50a of the memory card 50 comes into contact with the stopper 11z of the left slider 11, as can be understood from FIG. The slider 11 is pushed in the slide groove 2a against the urging force of the coil spring 15, and at the same time, the scanning shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 of the slider 11 enters the insertion lane 21b from the standby lane 21a.

  When the memory card 50 is pushed in all the way and reaches a predetermined position on the inner surface of the housing 1a, the copying shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 is guided to the first dead center S1.

  When the user loosens the first pushing force of the memory card 50, the memory card 50 is slightly pushed back together with the slider 11 to the front end side of the card connector 1 by the biasing force of the coil spring 15, as shown in FIG. At the same time, the copying shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 of the slider 11 is pressed against the locking recess S2 by the urging force of the coil spring 15 and locked at the same position (at this time, the slider 11 is also in the locking position). As shown in (b), the terminal 51 located on the upper surface of the memory card 50 is locked in the inserted state in which it is electrically connected to the second contact portion 5 (the first contact portion 4 is not used).

  When the memory card 50 is pushed in for the first time, the copying shaft 13b of the right hook pin 13 does not reach the first dead center S1 even if it enters the insertion lane 21b of the heart cam 11e of the slider 10. If the user loosens the first pushing force of the memory card 50 without proceeding to the lock recess S2, it is held on the insertion lane 21b as it is.

  That is, unlike the front insertion, the right slider 10 is not locked based on the first pushing operation during the reverse insertion. Further, when the memory card 50 is pushed in for the first time, the right slider 10 causes “displacement” to the front end side of the card connector 1 with respect to the memory card 50 by the same length as the displacement amount. ), The right claw portion 10d is pulled out of the locking recess 52b of the memory card 50.

  Next, when the user performs a second pushing operation on the memory card 50, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 11, the copying shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 of the left slider 11 comes out of the lock recess S2. When the second dead center S3 is reached and the second pushing force is loosened, the copying shaft 13b enters the eject lane 21e from the second dead center S3 and finally returns to the standby lane 21a. The scanning shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 of the slider 10 returns to the standby lane 21a as it is on the insertion lane 21b. In response to this, the left and right sliders 10 and 11 are pushed straight out to the eject position (initial position) by the biasing force of each coil spring 15. In the final process of returning the right slider 10 to the eject position, the right claw portion 11d is also re-engaged in the locking recess 52b of the memory card 50, so that the memory card 50 has the claw portions of the left and right sliders 10 and 11. In a state where the left and right sides are evenly locked by 10d and 11d, the user is discharged to a discharge state where the user can take out with his / her finger, and the state returns to the state of FIG.

[Fixed support of recording medium by a pair of contacts]
As described above, the recording medium connector 1 according to the present application can cope with both the insertion state of the recording medium 50 in the front-side insertion and the back-side insertion.
In order to realize this operation, a pair of contact portions 4 and 5 are provided. However, due to the shape of these contact portions 4 and 5 and their constituent materials, and their arrangement, Such a recording medium connector 1 can realize good fixing support to the recording medium 50. Hereinafter, this structure will be described.

  The first and second contact portions 4 and 5 described so far are both made of a conductive elastic material such as phosphor bronze for a spring. As shown in FIG. 12, the first contact portion 4 is a recording medium. The first contact portion 4e that contacts the terminal 51, the second contact portion 5 includes a second contact portion 5e that contacts the terminal 51 of the recording medium, and the first contact portion 4e and the second contact portion. 5e are arranged with respect to the center C in the thickness direction of the housing 1a in a free state in which the recording medium 50 is not inserted.

  In the posture in which one contact portion 4e (5e) contacts the terminal 51 of the recording medium 50, the deformation amount (a in FIG. 12) received by the contact portion 4e (5e) is the other contact portion 5e. (4e) is the amount of deformation received upon contact with the main body surface 1ab of the recording medium 50 (A in FIG. 12: Actually, since the recording medium 50 moves slightly in the width direction as shown in FIG. Slightly less but substantially less than A).

As a result, when the recording medium 50 is inserted into the recording medium connector 1, both the first contact portion 4 and the second contact portion 5 made of a conductive elastic material are deformed, and both the contact portions 4 and 5 are both housings. An elastic reaction force in a direction toward the thickness direction center of 1a is generated. This state is shown in FIG.
That is, in this state, in the posture in which the electrical connection between the recording medium 50 and the one contact portion 4 (5) is established, the other contact portion 5 (4) places the recording medium 50 on the housing 1a side. And fixedly supported by sandwiching.

  The elastic reaction force depends on the amount of deformation, but as described above, the reaction force generated on the other contact portion 5e (4e) side that is not electrically connected is established by the electrical connection. This is superior to the reaction force generated on the other contact portion 4e (5e) side. As a result, the recording medium 50 is strongly urged toward the contact portion 4 (5) side to which the contact portion 4e (5e) where one electrical connection is established, and between the recording medium 50 and the housing 1a. Fixed support in can be established. Therefore, in the inserted state of the recording medium 50 (because the contact pressure on the contact portion 4 (5) side to which the one contact portion 4e (5e) to which electrical connection is established belongs increases), vibration resistance and shock resistance Sex can be secured.

[Composition of case and body]
As shown in FIG. 2, the case 3 includes a generally plate-like case body 3a and a case side portion 3b extending downward at right angles from the side surface of the case body 3a, and left and right end portions of the rear end of the case body 3a. In the vicinity, a pair of fitting claws 3c are formed so as to protrude downward.

  In addition, a plurality of rectangular through holes 3f are formed in the case side portion 3b. From the vicinity of the left and right end portions of the front end of the case side portion 3b, a thin plate-like locking projection 3e faces the lower side of the case 3. It extends vertically. This position corresponds to the installation position of the ground terminal.

  Projections 2B for receiving the fitting claws 3c of the case 3 and the aforementioned spring support portions 7a and 7b are formed on the left and right ends of the rear end of the body 2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

  Further, near the left and right ends of the front end of the body 2, a terminal locking portion 2 </ b> C for installing the ground terminal 60 is provided. A plurality of protrusions 2 </ b> E that fit into the through holes 3 f of the case 3 are formed on both side surfaces of the body 2.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, on the rear end side of the body 2, there are 11 contact locking portions 2F for locking the normal contacts 4a and 11 pieces for locking the reverse contacts 5a. A locking portion 2G is formed. Also, on the back surface of the body 2 described above, the insertion hole 2X for inserting the expansion type detection member 30, the locking part 2Y into which one end 30b of the expansion type detection member 30 is fitted, and the contact piece member A locking portion 2Z into which 31 is fitted is provided.

3-5 Assembly Procedure The card connector 1 can be assembled by the following method, for example.
First, eleven normal contacts 4a are pressed into the body 2 and the eleven reverse contacts 5a are pressed into the contact 2 2G of the body 2 respectively.
Further, at this time, the above-described expansion type detection member 30 and the corresponding contact piece member 31 are attached to the body 2 and at the same time, the ground terminal 60 is also attached.

Next, the sliders 10 and 11 are mounted in the left and right slide grooves 2 a of the body 2, and the hook pin 13 is subsequently mounted between the body 2 and the sliders 10 and 11. For this, one end 13a of the hook pin 13 is pivotally connected to the front end of each slide groove 2a of the body 2, and the other end 13b of the hook pin 13 is positioned in the standby lane 21a of the heart cams 10e, 11e of the sliders 10, 11. Just install it.
At this time, each coil spring 15 is inserted into the slide groove 2 a of the body 2 so that one end of the coil spring 15 is inserted into the hole of the end surfaces 10 f and 11 f of the sliders 10 and 11.

  Next, the case 3 is fixed to the body 2, and this is carried out by the following method. First, the case 3 is placed on the body 2 so that the locking protrusion 3e of the case 3 covers the ground terminal 60. Next, when the case body 3a is pressed against the upper surface of the body 2, the locking protrusion 3e of the case 3 is locked with the ground terminal 60 provided on the body 2, and at the same time, the fitting claw 3c of the case 3 is moved to the body. 2 is fitted into the protrusion 2B, and the fixing of the case 3 to the body 2 is completed.

  When this fixing is completed, the left and right spring plate portions 3g of the case 3 elastically hold down the vicinity of the other end of the hook pin 13 downward. As a result, the copying shaft 13b of the hook pin 13 is in the standby lane of the heart cams 10e and 11e. It is pressed against 21a.

[Another embodiment]
In the above embodiment, the example in which the detection structure according to the present application is used for detecting the insertion state of the medium accompanying the insertion / ejection operation of the recording medium has been shown. The position where the recording medium abuts is provided, but by setting the abutting position as a position of a write protect switch attached to the recording medium, for example, it can also be configured as an ON-OFF detection mechanism of the write protect switch. it can.

  In the above embodiment, the insertion / ejection of the recording medium occurs along with the push-push (first pushing operation-second pushing operation). Instead, for all recording media that can be used by inserting / removing media, such as a connector for recording media that inserts and ejects recording media, corresponding to ejecting, lever ejecting, manual ejecting, etc. The configuration of the present application can be applied to an electronic device including a connector.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the structure of the present application is adopted for a configuration in which contact can be established regardless of the orientation of the recording medium, front or back, but this is the original orientation. Of course, the structure of the present invention can also be applied to a connector for a recording medium in which the recording medium can be inserted and ejected from the inserted state only by the insertion operation of the front posture.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, for the purpose of detecting the insertion of the recording medium, contact (conduction) between the contact piece member and the end portion in the width direction of the expansion type detection member is ensured in a relatively wide range. However, in a strict sense, when it is desired to identify and detect only the locked state, this object can be achieved by adjusting the contact position.

  In other words, as described above, as a method for detecting the insertion state of the recording medium, the locked state in which the recording medium is fixed in the connector for the recording medium is set, and the position is fixed at a position other than the locked state. In the case of a configuration in which the unlocked state is released, the recording medium is in the locked state when the contact piece member and the expansion type detection member are secured, and the recording medium is not in the conductive state. The configuration is such that it is determined to be in the unlocked state.

Specifically, the contact piece is ensured only in the positional relationship between the contact piece member that realizes the locked state and the expansion-type detection member, and is in a non-conducting state in other positional relationships. The member is a relatively short member in the width direction.
By doing so, the locked state and the unlocked state can be reliably detected.

Perspective view showing connector for recording medium and memory card Exploded perspective view of recording medium connector The perspective view which shows each component of the state attached to the body of the connector for recording media The perspective view which looked at the body before attaching each part from the slanting back Perspective view of the vicinity of the spring support Top view when the memory card (upward) is in the initial position (eject position) Plan view showing the action when a push operation is applied to a memory card (front) Top view when the memory card (backward) is in the initial position (eject position) Plan view showing the effect of pushing the memory card (backward) Front view showing the state when pushing the memory card Top view showing the action of the heart cam The figure which shows the positional relationship in the thickness direction of a pair of contact part The figure which shows the fixed support state of the connector for recording media which concerns on this application provided with a pair of contact part, and the fixed support state of the connector for recording media which provided the single contact part

Explanation of symbols

1 Recording medium connector (Recording medium connector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a Housing 4 1st contact part 4e contact part 5 2nd contact part 5e contact part 10, 11 Slider 10b, 11b Contact part 10d, 11d Claw part 10e, 11e Heart cam (lock / discharge mechanism)
S2 Lock recess (lock mechanism)
13 Hook pin (lock / discharge mechanism, lock mechanism)
15 Coil spring (lock / discharge mechanism, biasing means)
30 Opening type detection member 30a Central part 30b End part 30c Insertion part 31 Contact piece member 50 Memory card (recording medium)
51 Terminals 52a, 52b Locking recess (locked part)
53a, 53b Contact part G Guide part

Claims (7)

A recording medium connector comprising a housing for receiving and supporting an inserted recording medium, and a contact portion electrically connected to a terminal of the inserted recording medium,
An expansion type detection member that is made of an elastic material and expands in the width direction of the housing in contact with the recording medium to be inserted is provided at the back in the insertion direction of the recording medium, and the expansion type in the expansion state A connector for a recording medium, wherein a contact piece member that contacts an end side portion of the detection member in the width direction is provided corresponding to an end portion side portion of the expansion type detection member in the width direction.   A guide portion is provided between the expansion type detection member and the contact piece member to guide the expansion type detection member in accordance with the expansion operation of the expansion type detection member or the return operation from the expanded state. The recording medium connector according to claim 1.   The recording medium connector according to claim 1, wherein the expansion type detection member is an elastic metal member having a central portion in the width direction protruding from the end portion portion toward the recording medium insertion port. As the contact portion, a first contact portion that is electrically connected to a terminal of the recording medium in a posture in which the recording medium is inserted face-up, and a position of the recording medium in a posture in which the recording medium is inserted face-down. A second contact portion electrically connected to the terminal,
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in an attitude in which an electrical connection is established between the recording medium and one of the contact portions, the other contact portion fixes and supports the recording medium with the housing. The recording medium connector according to claim 1. As the contact portion, a first contact portion that is electrically connected to a terminal of the recording medium in a posture in which the recording medium is inserted face-up, and a position of the recording medium in a posture in which the recording medium is inserted face-down. A second contact portion electrically connected to the terminal,
The first and second contact parts are both made of a conductive elastic material,
The first contact portion includes a first contact portion that contacts the terminal of the recording medium, the second contact portion includes a second contact portion that contacts the terminal of the recording medium, and the first contact portion. And the second abutting portion are arranged with respect to the thickness direction center of the housing,
In a posture in which one of the contact portions contacts the terminal of the recording medium, the deformation amount received by the contact portion is smaller than the deformation amount received by the other contact portion contacting the main body surface of the recording medium. The recording medium connector according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium connector is set. To detect the insertion state of the recording medium using the recording medium connector according to claim 1,
A recording medium that determines that the recording medium is in an inserted state when conduction between the contact piece member and the expansion type detection member is ensured, and that the recording medium is in a non-inserted state when the contact piece member is not in a conductive state; Insert confirmation method. To detect the insertion state of the recording medium using the recording medium connector according to claim 1,
The recording medium has a locked state in which the position is fixed in the recording medium connector, and an unlocked state in which the position fixing is released,
A recording medium that determines that the recording medium is in the locked state when conduction between the contact piece member and the expansion-type detection member is ensured, and that the recording medium is in an unlocked state when not in conduction. Insert confirmation method.

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