JP2006072720A - Card for information apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card for information apparatus enabling to prevent a printed circuit board from being broken and to prevent an SIM card inserted in the information apparatus from accidentally be taken out by keeping the strength of the card itself. <P>SOLUTION: A PC card 1 of the present invention comprises a card body 3 on one end of which a card terminal 3a is formed and on the other end of which the other card end 3b is formed. Inside the other card end 3b, a chip slot 7 is prepared. This chip slot 7 is constructed to electrically connect the SIM card inserted from the loading slot 7a with a printed circuit board 9. The loading slot 7a of the chip slot 7 has an opening on the lateral surface of the card end 3b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information device card such as a PC card inserted into an information device such as a portable computer or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and in particular, a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card and a UIM (User Identity Module) card. The present invention also relates to a technique for connecting and holding a chip card in which identification information is recorded, such as a USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card, to a PC card (information equipment card).

  In general, some PC cards of this type are used as transmission / reception terminals for wireless communication by extending the functions of information devices (portable computers, hereinafter also referred to as “PCs”). When one of these PC cards is used by a plurality of persons, a SIM card in which identification information such as personal data and a contract telephone number is recorded is attached to the PC card in order to manage the use of each subscriber. In this state, the PC card is inserted from the card slot of the PC to be electrically connected, and the SIM card identification information is transmitted via the PC card.

  By the way, according to the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) standard, for example, in the case of Type 2, the size is defined as width: 54 mm × length: 86.5 mm × thickness: 5 mm. When a SIM card having a thickness of about 0.8 mm is mounted on such an extremely thin PC card, various design difficulties are involved from the viewpoint of installation space and the like (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Therefore, in the prior art, a mechanism that simply slides and inserts the SIM card into the PC card is adopted, and the operability is poor because the exposed portion of the SIM card is gripped during removal. Since bending stress or the like is generated, internal destruction may occur.

In recent years, PC cards that employ an eject mechanism have been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems such as operability and connection reliability. In this PC card, the middle part of the PC card is cut out, and the SIM card is inserted and removed in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the PC card by an eject mechanism attached to the part.
“JI Systems”, [July 6, 2004 search], Internet <http://www.jisystems.co.jp/jisys/icsys/icsys.html>

  In a conventional PC card, if the SIM card is accidentally removed during the operation, the circuit board of the PC card may be destroyed. Therefore, the SIM card is removed when the PC card is mounted on the PC. It is necessary to protect the PC card from such misoperation.

  On the other hand, in the PC card adopting the eject mechanism, since the notch for the eject mechanism is formed in the middle part of the PC card, the strength of the PC card itself is weakened. As a result, the circuit board or the like may be destroyed. In addition, the PC card notch and the insertion slot of the eject mechanism place the SIM card or the circuit board of the PC card under the influence of electrical noise inside the PC. There was also a problem that could not be fully addressed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information equipment card that can maintain the strength of the card itself to prevent damage to the circuit board and the like, and can prevent an erroneous operation such that the chip card is pulled out while attached to the information equipment. There is to do.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an information equipment card which is not easily affected by electrical noise generated inside the information equipment.

  The present invention is applied to a single-plate information equipment card or an information equipment card with an extension, and in the former case, a card terminal portion that is electrically connected to the information equipment is formed at one end. An information equipment card having a card main body mounted in a card slot of an information device and connected to and holding a chip card. The other end of the card main body is provided with a chip slot for mounting the chip card. The insertion slot of the chip slot is disposed in the insertion slot of the card slot when the card main body is installed in the card slot, and the chip card is discharged into the card main body. The operation unit is arranged so as to be shielded by the card slot when the card body is installed in the card slot. It is obtained by achieving the above object by providing a card information device according to claim.

  In addition, in the case of an information equipment card with an expansion section, the present invention provides a card body portion that is formed at one end of a card terminal portion that is electrically connected to the information equipment, and is inserted into a card slot of the information equipment, and the card A card expansion unit that projects from the card slot in a state where the main body unit is mounted, and the card expansion unit is provided with a chip slot for mounting the chip card. The insertion slot of the chip slot is disposed on an outer surface that communicates with the insertion slot of the card slot when the card main body is installed in the card slot. An operation unit for ejecting the card is provided, and the operation unit is configured such that the card slot is inserted when the card body is installed in the card slot. In those that have achieved the above object by providing a card information device, characterized in that it is arranged to be shielded.

  According to the present invention, a chip in which a chip card is mounted on the other end of the card body or the card expansion part, whether it is a single-plate information equipment card or an information equipment card with an expansion part. By providing a slot and placing this insertion slot on the end face of the other end of the card body or on the outer face of the card expansion part, it can be easily mounted just by inserting a chip card, and a notch is provided in the card body. Without breaking the strength of the card itself, it is possible to prevent damage to the circuit board and the like.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when an information device card is inserted into a card slot of the information device, the operation unit for discharging the chip card is shielded by the card slot of the information device, thereby mounting the information device card. In the state, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation that the chip card is removed from the information device card.

  A preferred embodiment (first embodiment) of a terminal for information equipment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a PC card (information equipment card) of the present embodiment (first embodiment) with a SIM card (chip card) attached, FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the PC card with the SIM card ejected. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the PC card of this embodiment mounted on a PC (information device) with the SIM card ejected.

  As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the PC card 1 of this embodiment is a single-plate PC card, holds the SIM card 2 connected, and is inserted into the PC slot (card slot) 11 of the PC 10. In this state, the PC 10 is used as a wireless communication terminal to expand its function. The SIM card 2 is a rectangular card having a built-in circuit board (not shown) on which identification information is recorded and having a connection terminal 2a formed on the back surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the PC card 1 of this embodiment includes a card main body 3 having a card terminal 3a formed at one end and a card other end 3b formed at the other end.

  The card body 3 is in the shape of a thin rectangular case incorporated in a resin frame with the upper plate 31 and the lower plate 32 of a thin metal plate overlapped, and has a printed circuit board 9 and the like built therein. Here, the “upper plate” of the card body 3 refers to the operation side surface of the PC 10 when the PC card 1 is inserted into the PC slot 11, and the “lower surface” of the card body 3 refers to the PC 10. The surface on the installation side.

  At one end of the printed circuit board 9, a card terminal portion 3a for a PC card bus (32 bits) is formed. The card terminal portion 3 a is exposed from one end side (the insertion side of the PC card 1) of the card body portion 3 and is electrically connected to a PC terminal portion (not shown) attached to the back of the PC slot 11. It has become.

  In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, or FIG. 2, a chip slot 7 is provided inside the card other end 3b. In this chip slot 7, the SIM card 2 inserted from the insertion slot 7 a is mounted by the chip slider 25 and disposed above the printed circuit board 9. In this state, the connection terminal 2 a of the SIM card 2 is placed on the printed circuit board 9. The spring terminal 9a is electrically connected. Further, the card body 3 is provided with an eject switch (operation unit) 20. The eject switch 20 ejects the SIM card 2 from the insertion slot 7a. Hereinafter, the configuration of the chip slot 7 and the eject switch 20 will be specifically described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the card other end portion 3b includes an upper plate 31 and a lower plate 32, and a gate portion 21 disposed therebetween. The insertion slot 7a of the chip slot 7 is formed through the gate portion 21 and opens on the outer side surface of the card other end portion 3b (end surface opposite to the card terminal portion 3a side). On the lower surface of the upper plate 31, a front stopper 24 and a rear stopper 23 are arranged side by side at regular intervals in the front and rear (in the direction of the card terminal portion 3a side and the card other end portion 3b side). A chip slider 25 is disposed below the front stopper 24 and the rear stopper 23. The chip slider 25 is formed in a plate shape having an L-shaped cross section, and is adapted to be closely engaged with the tip portion of the SIM card 2 inserted from the insertion port 7a.

  The chip slider 25 is disposed so as to reciprocate in the insertion direction A− or the extraction direction A + of the SIM card 2 by contacting the lower surfaces of the front stopper 24 and the rear stopper 23 and guiding them.

  On the other hand, an eject switch 20 is fixed to the upper surface of the chip slider 25. The eject switch 20 is a member having a substantially T-shaped cross section, and moves the chip slider 25. The upper plate 31 is formed with a switch recess 3c. The switch recess 3c accommodates the eject switch 20 in a gap portion sandwiched between the front stopper 24 and the rear stopper 23 so that the upper surface of the eject switch 20 does not protrude from the upper plate 31 and is disposed at a lower position. It has become.

  The eject switch 25 reciprocates in the insertion direction A− or the extraction direction A + of the SIM card 2 in the switch recess 3c, and the chip slider 25 is interlocked accordingly. Yes.

  Further, the chip slider 25 moves in the insertion direction A− along with the insertion of the SIM card 2 and stops when the eject switch 20 contacts the front stopper 25. Such a stop position of the chip slider 25 is set so that the rear end portion of the SIM card 2 does not protrude from the insertion slot 7 a of the chip slot 7.

  Next, the usage mode or operation of the PC card 1 of this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the SIM card 2 is attached to the PC card 1, the SIM card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 7 a of the other end 3 b of the card and is inserted into the chip slot 7. In this case, the chip slot 7 moves in the insertion direction A− along with the insertion of the SIM card 2, and in conjunction with this, the eject switch 20 moves in the insertion direction A−. As shown in FIG. 2, when such a PC card 1 is installed in the PC slot 11 of the PC 10, the insertion slot 7 a of the chip slot 7 is disposed so as to be exposed in the insertion slot 11 a of the PC slot 11. The eject switch 20 is shielded by the upper surface of the PC slot 11.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the PC card 1 is installed in the PC slot 11, the eject switch 20 that ejects the SIM card 2 is shielded by the PC slot 11. In the mounted state of the PC card 1, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation that the SIM card 2 is removed from the PC card 1.

  In particular, since the chip slider 25 is interlocked with the eject switch 20 in this respect, the chip slider 25 cannot be moved in the extraction direction A + of the SIM card 2 unless the eject switch 20 is operated. 1 can be reliably prevented from being removed, and when the SIM card 2 is mounted in the chip slot 7, the rear end of the SIM card 2 protrudes from the insertion slot 7a of the chip slot 7. Therefore, the SIM card 2 can be prevented from being pulled out.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the insertion slot 7a of the chip slot 7 is arranged on the end face of the card other end 3b, so that it can be easily mounted just by inserting the SIM card 2, and the card body 3 is notched. Without being provided, the strength of the card itself can be maintained and the circuit board or the like can be prevented from being destroyed.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the insertion slot 7a of the chip slot 7 is exposed in the insertion slot 11a of the PC slot 11 with the PC card 1 mounted in the PC slot 11, the chip slot 7 It is possible to easily visually check whether the SIM card 2 is installed inside.

  Next, another preferred embodiment (second embodiment) of the information equipment terminal of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the PC card (information equipment card) of the present embodiment (second embodiment) in a state where the SIM card (chip card) is ejected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the PC card 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment is a PC card with an expansion unit that includes a card main body unit 3 and a card expansion unit 4. 7 is different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, this point will be described in detail, and the other components and the like will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment and description thereof will be omitted.

  The card expansion part 4 is a thick case body extending from the other end of the card main body part 3 in the longitudinal direction (the removal direction of the SIM card 2) A +, and the printed board 9 straddling the card main body part 3 An end portion and an internal antenna (not shown) are incorporated. Such a card expansion unit 4 is arranged so as to protrude from the insertion slot of the PC slot 11 in a state where the card body 3 is mounted in the PC slot 11.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the chip slot 7 is disposed inside the card expansion unit 4, and the chip slot 7 extends in the insertion direction A− of the SIM card 2 and straddles the card body 3. The chip slider 25 is disposed inside the card body 3, and the eject switch 20 is fixed to the chip slider 25.

  The insertion slot 7a of the chip slot 7 is open on the outer side surface (side surface opposite to the card terminal portion 3a) of the card expansion portion 4, and when the card main body portion 3 is installed in the PC slot 11, the PC 10 Is arranged at a position leading to the insertion slot of the PC slot 11 on the end face (see FIG. 2).

  In the case of this embodiment, a check plate 4 a is fitted on the upper surface of the card expansion unit 4. The check plate 4a is transparent or translucent and is disposed above the chip slot 7. When the SIM card 2 is inserted into the chip slot 7, the SIM card 2 is seen through. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the transparent or translucent check plate 4a is provided on the card expansion unit 4 so that the SIM card 2 is seen through. Therefore, is the SIM card 2 mounted in the chip slot 7? You can easily recognize whether or not.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the insertion slot 7a of the chip slot 7 on the end face of the card expansion part 4 is arranged at a position leading to the insertion slot 11a of the PC slot 11 on the end face of the PC 10, the card main body part. Since the SIM card 2 can be placed on the printed circuit board 9 at a height close to the printed circuit board 9, the thickness of the connection terminal of the printed circuit board 9 can be reduced, and accordingly, the thickness of the card expansion portion 4 is also reduced. it can.

  Other configurations and operational effects of the PC card 1A are the same as those in the first embodiment.

(A) is a perspective view which shows the schematic structure of the PC card of 1st Embodiment in the state in which the SIM card was mounted | worn, (b) is a perspective view which shows the same PC card in the state by which the SIM card was discharged | emitted. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the PC card of 1st Embodiment with which PC was mounted | worn discharged | emitted the SIM card. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the PC card of 2nd Embodiment in the state by which the SIM card was discharged | emitted.

Explanation of symbols

2 SIM card (chip card)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Card main-body part 3a Card terminal part 3b Card other end part 4 Card expansion part 7 Chip slot 7a Chip slot insertion slot 10 PC (information equipment)
11 Card slot 11a Card slot slot 20 Eject switch (operation unit)
A + SIM card removal direction A- SIM card insertion direction

Claims (4)

A card terminal portion that is electrically connected to an information device is formed at one end and includes a card body portion that is mounted in a card slot of the information device.
The other end of the card body is provided with a chip slot for mounting the chip card, and the insertion slot of the chip slot is inserted into the card slot when the card body is mounted in the card slot. It is placed in the insertion slot,
The card body portion is provided with an operation portion for discharging the chip card, and the operation portion is shielded by the card slot when the card body portion is installed in the card slot. A card for information equipment, which is arranged. A card terminal portion formed at one end for electrical connection with an information device and mounted in a card slot of the information device, and a card expansion portion protruding from the card slot with the card body portion mounted In an information equipment card that holds and holds a chip card,
The card expansion part is provided with a chip slot into which the chip card is inserted, and the insertion slot of the chip slot leads to the insertion slot of the card slot when the card body is installed in the card slot. Located on the outside surface,
The card body portion is provided with an operation portion for discharging the chip card, and the operation portion is shielded by the card slot when the card body portion is installed in the card slot. A card for information equipment, which is arranged.   3. The information equipment card according to claim 2, wherein a part or all of the card expansion part is formed to be transparent or translucent so that the chip card can be seen through. 4. The information device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is configured to reciprocate in conjunction with the chip slot in an insertion direction or a withdrawal direction of the chip card. 5. card.

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