JP2006146794A - Adapter device for card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adapter device for a card whose thickness reduction is suitably executable, and whose high reliability is maintainable. <P>SOLUTION: This adapter for a card is provided with a housing 1 where a card 10 having an information storing function can be inserted and mounted and a plurality of terminal members 2 fixed to the housing 1, and electrically connected to the card 10. This adapter for a card is provided with a shutter member 3 held by the housing 1, and configured to move backward and forward between a closed position where an elastic contact piece 2a of each terminal member 2 is covered and an open position saved from the closed position and a return spring 4 for always energizing the shutter member 3 to the closed position. The housing 1 is provided with an upwardly opened card storing part 1a into whose side the card 10 is inserted is formed as an open edge. Then, an elastic contact piece 2a of each terminal member 2 is arranged in the card storing part 1a, and the shutter member 3 moved to the closed position is pushed into and retreated by the card 10 when it is inserted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a card adapter device that is loaded into a card loading unit of an electronic device having a contact portion pitch or the like different from that of the card with a card having an information storage function inserted.

  Ultra-small cards with an information storage function often have a very narrow contact pitch, so they cannot often be loaded directly into a card loading section of a relatively large electronic device such as a personal computer. Therefore, it is necessary to load this adapter device in the card loading section of the electronic device.

  As a conventional example of this type of card adapter device, a card insertion slot is provided on the front surface of a housing incorporating a plurality of terminal members, and each terminal member is led out to the rear end of the housing, and the card insertion slot is inserted into the housing. It is known that the card inserted into the card can be held and the housing can be loaded into a card loading section of an electronic device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a conventional card adapter device, when the card inserted from the card insertion slot moves to a predetermined mounting position in the housing, a plurality of contact portions exposed on one side of the card correspond to one end portion (elastic piece) of the corresponding terminal member. ). When the housing is loaded in the card loading section, the other end of each terminal member comes into contact with a corresponding contact section on the electronic device side. That is, one end portions of a plurality of terminal members built in the housing are arranged at the same pitch as the contact portion on the card side, and the other end portion of the terminal member is arranged at the same pitch as the contact portion on the electronic device side. Therefore, by attaching a card to this adapter device, it is possible to electrically connect a card having a different contact portion pitch and a card loading portion of an electronic device.

Further, in such a conventional card adapter device, the housing includes an insert-molded member in which each terminal member is integrated, and a synthetic resin base that is a laminated body disposed so as to sandwich the insert-molded member. It is comprised by the member and the metal cover members attached so that this base member might be covered, and a card | curd is inserted between a cover member and the baseplate part of a base member. Therefore, by restricting the card at the time of insertion in the vertical direction by the cover member and the bottom plate portion of the base member, the card can be smoothly inserted to a predetermined mounting position in the housing.
JP 2000-40131 (page 3-4, FIG. 2)

  Recently, there is a tendency to reduce the space of the card loading unit with the miniaturization of various electronic devices. Therefore, there is a demand for thinning the card adapter device loaded in the card loading unit. In the prior art, the height of the housing that defines the overall size of the card adapter device cannot be smaller than the sum of the thickness of the cover member, the thickness of the card itself, and the thickness of the bottom plate of the base member. However, there is a limit to promoting the thinning of the housing while ensuring the mechanical strength of the housing.

  In view of this, the present inventors have examined a configuration in which the cover member is omitted from the housing and the upper surface of the inserted card is not covered in order to promote thinning of the adapter device for the card. Then, when the card is not inserted, one end portion (elastic piece) of each terminal member is exposed on the bottom plate portion of the housing, so that foreign matter accumulates on the exposed portion and the elastic deformation failure or contact of the terminal member occurs. It has been found that defects tend to occur, and as a result, it is difficult to maintain high reliability.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a state of the art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card adapter device suitable for thinning and capable of maintaining high reliability.

  In order to achieve the above object, a card adapter device according to the present invention includes a card storage unit into which a card can be inserted and mounted, a plurality of terminal members electrically connected to the card, and the terminal member. A shutter member that can reciprocate between a closed position that covers and an open position that is retracted from the closed position, and the shutter member that is in the closed position when the card is inserted into the card storage portion. It was configured to push in and retract to the open position.

  The card adapter device configured as described above can protect the terminal member by covering the terminal member with the shutter member in the closed position when the card is not mounted, and thus foreign matter may accumulate on the exposed portion of the terminal member. Loss of the elastic deformation and contact failure of the terminal member can be avoided. When the card is inserted into the card storage portion, the shutter member in the closed position is pushed into the card and retracted to the open position, so that the shutter member is retracted from the terminal member and the terminal member is covered with the card. Therefore, the contact portion of the card can be brought into contact with one end portion of the terminal member when the card is inserted to a predetermined mounting position. In other words, this card adapter device does not have a possibility of impairing reliability even if the cover member is omitted. Therefore, the overall height dimension is reduced by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the cover member, thereby facilitating thinning. can do.

  In the above-described configuration, a spring member that constantly biases the shutter member toward the closed position is provided, and the card during insertion pushes the shutter member against the biasing force of the spring member. In this way, when the card mounted on the card adapter device is removed, the shutter member is urged by the spring member and pushed back to the closed position, so that one end of the terminal member is automatically covered with the shutter member. Can be restored.

  Further, in the above configuration, stepped portions are formed on both side edges of the upper surface of the card, and the card storage portion is formed in the housing, and is inserted into the housing in contact with the upper surface in the stepped portion of the card. An upper restricting portion that restricts the upward movement of the card at the time and a lower restricting portion that contacts the lower surface of the card and restricts the downward movement of the card at the time of insertion are provided. By engaging the upper restricting portion of the housing with the step portion when the card is inserted, the vertical movement of the card can be restricted by the housing, so that the card insertion operation can be performed smoothly. In this case, the height dimension of the housing that defines the size of the entire adapter device can be reduced to the extent that the thickness of the card itself and the thickness of the lower regulating portion are added.

  In addition, when the upper restricting portion and the lower restricting portion are provided in the housing, the upper restricting portion is mounted in the housing if the thickness dimension of the upper restricting portion is set to be substantially equal to the depth dimension of the stepped portion of the card. Since the upper surface of the formed card and the upper surface of the housing can be made substantially flush with each other, the card adapter device can be effectively reduced in thickness, which is preferable. The step portion may be formed over the entire range from the front end to the rear end of the card, but the rear end of the card is an erroneous insertion prevention portion where no step portion is formed, It is preferable that the erroneous insertion preventing portion is configured to come into contact with the front end portion of the upper restricting portion when the card is inserted in the reverse direction, because it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion of the card with a simple configuration.

  Further, when the housing is provided with an upper restricting portion and a lower restricting portion, the housing is provided with a guide portion that extends along both side edges of the card storage portion and guides the card when inserted. If the upper restricting portion and the lower restricting portion are formed integrally with the guide portion, the guide portion can be formed by a molded product, so that the cost of the card adapter device can be easily reduced. .

  Further, in the case where the upper restricting portion and the lower restricting portion are provided in the housing, at least one of the upper restricting portions is in contact with the side surface of the stepped portion to restrict the lateral movement of the card during insertion. If comprised in this way, the guide mechanism which guides insertion of a card | curd can be simplified.

  The card adapter device of the present invention can protect the terminal member by covering the terminal member with the shutter member in the closed position when the card is not loaded, so there is no possibility that foreign matter accumulates on the exposed portion of the terminal member. In addition to avoiding defective elastic deformation and poor contact of the member, the shutter member is pushed into the card and retracted to the open position when the card is inserted, so that the terminal member can be covered with the card and electrically connected. Therefore, the card adapter device can maintain high reliability even if the cover member is omitted to reduce the thickness.

  An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card adapter device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card adapter device, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the card adapter device, FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the card adapter device, FIG. 6 is a front view of the card adapter device, and FIG. 7 is for the card. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the card, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the card is inserted into the card adapter device, and FIG. 10 is the card adapter device. FIG.

  The card adapter device shown in these drawings is loaded with a card 10 having an information storage function, and is loaded into a card loading section of an electronic device (not shown) having a contact point pitch different from that of the card 10. Is. The card adapter device is held by a synthetic resin housing 1 having a card storage portion 1a that opens upward, a plurality of terminal members 2 fixed to the housing 1, and a housing 1 that can be reciprocated. A shutter member 3 made of synthetic resin, a pair of return springs 4 for constantly urging the shutter member 3 toward a closed position, which will be described later, and a pair of presser springs 5 for clamping the inserted card 10 from both the left and right sides. The card 10 is inserted into the card storage portion 1a of the housing 1 and can be mounted. Further, the housing 1 includes a lower plate member 6 in which a recessed step portion 6a is formed, an intermediate plate member 7 in which each terminal member 2 is integrated, and an upper plate member 8 in which a notch 8a is formed. It is the structure which laminated | stacked in order from the bottom. The card storage portion 1a of the housing 1 is defined by making the concave step portion 6a of the lower plate member 6 and the notch 8a of the upper plate member 8 face each other. The side to be inserted is an open end.

  The bottom plate portion of the recessed step portion 6a of the lower plate member 6 functions as a lower side restricting portion 6b that restricts the downward movement of the card 10 at the time of insertion, and each terminal member 2 is provided at the back of the recessed step portion 6a. The opening 6c used as the escape space of the elastic contact piece 2a formed in the front-end part is provided. Moreover, in the innermost part of the lower board member 6, the jetty part 6d for fitting the upper board member 8, and the contact part 2b provided in the rear-end part of each terminal member 2 are exposed outside. A plurality of long holes 6e are formed.

  The intermediate plate member 7 is a molded product formed by inserting a plurality of terminal members 2 and a pair of presser springs 5 into a mold. The middle plate member 7 is placed on the lower plate member 6 between the concave step portion 6a and the long hole 6e, and the elastic contact piece 2a of each terminal member 2 projects from the middle plate member 7 onto the opening 6c, The contact portion 2b of the terminal member 2 protrudes from the middle plate member 7 onto the long hole 6e. As is apparent from FIG. 10, a gap 1b is defined between the middle plate member 7 and the upper plate member 8 on the back side of the card storage portion 1a, and the middle plate member excluding the lower region of the gap 1b. 7 is sandwiched between the lower plate member 6 and the upper plate member 8. Engaging protrusions 7a for holding the rear end portion of the return spring 4 made of a coil spring project from the left and right ends of the middle plate member 7 toward the front. The middle plate member 7 has a base end portion of a pair of presser springs 5 formed of plate springs embedded therein, and each presser spring 5 protrudes greatly from the vicinity of each engaging projection 7a to the front, and the card storage portion 1a. It is arranged on both side edges.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic contact pieces 2a on the front end side of each terminal member 2 are arranged at a narrower pitch than the contact portions 2b on the rear end side. That is, the elastic contact pieces 2a are arranged at the same pitch as the external connection portions 10b (see FIG. 8) provided on the card 10, and the contact portions 2b are arranged at the same pitch as the corresponding contact portions on the electronic device side. It is arranged.

  The upper plate member 8 is placed and fixed on the lower plate member 6 with the middle plate member 7 being sandwiched at a predetermined position, and a notch 8a is disposed directly above the recessed step portion 6a. Since this notch 8a is formed to be slightly narrower than the recessed step portion 6a except for the vicinity of the open end, a portion of the intermediate plate member 7 that extends linearly along both side edges of the notch 8a It protrudes slightly onto the recessed step portion 6a, and this protruding portion functions as an upper restricting portion 8b that restricts the upward movement of the card 10 during insertion.

  The shutter member 3 is mounted on the lower plate member 6 across the concave step portion 6a in the width direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the card 10 is not mounted, the shutter member 3 stores the card. It arrange | positions in the closed position which covers the elastic contact piece 2a of each terminal member 2 in the inner part in the part 1a. The shutter member 3 is held so as to be able to reciprocate between a back portion in the card storage portion 1a and a gap 1b communicating with the back portion by regulating the position of the upper plate member 8, and the card 10 is held in the card storage portion 1a. When the card 10 is inserted into the card 10, the shutter member 3 is pushed into the card 10 and moved to the back side. When the card 10 is inserted to a predetermined mounting position, the shutter member 3 is moved from above the elastic contact piece 2a of each terminal member 2. It is retracted and placed in the open position. Engaging protrusions 3a for holding the front end portion of the return spring 4 protrude from the left and right end portions of the shutter member 3 toward the back side. Since the pair of return springs 4 whose both ends are held by the engagement protrusions 3a and 7a are interposed between the shutter member 3 and the intermediate plate member 7 in a compressed state, the shutter member 3 is provided with the return spring 4. Therefore, it is always biased toward the closed position.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the card 10 used in this card adapter device has a rectangular shape in plan view, and stepped portions 10a are formed on the left and right side edges of the upper surface, and a plurality of lower surfaces are formed on the lower surface. The external connection portion 10b is disposed. Each step 10a extends from the front end to the middle of the rear end of the card 10, and the rear end of the card 10 is an erroneous insertion preventing portion 10c where the step 10a is not formed. The upper width dimension W1 of the card 10 is slightly smaller than the lower width dimension W2 because of the stepped portion 10a, W1 is set to be substantially equal to the width dimension excluding the vicinity of the open end of the notch 8a, and W2 is a concave step. It is set to a value slightly smaller than the width dimension of the portion 6a. Further, the card 10 has a wide portion whose width dimension is W2 is set to be substantially equal to the distance between the lower restricting portion 6b and the upper restricting portion 8b, and the depth dimension (width) of the step portion 10a. The thickness of the narrow portion whose dimension is W1) is set to be substantially equal to the thickness of the upper restricting portion 8b. Accordingly, when the card 10 is inserted into the card storage portion 1a of the housing 1, the card 10 is restricted from moving upward by the upper surface of the stepped portion 10a coming into contact with the upper restricting portion 8b. Since the lower surface of 10 is in contact with the lower side restricting portion 6b, the downward movement is restricted, and the lateral movement of the card 10 is restricted by the upper restricting portion 8b. Therefore, the card 10 can be smoothly inserted to a predetermined mounting position in the card storage portion 1a, and the external connection portions 10b of the card 10 at the position can be elastic contact pieces 2a of the corresponding terminal members 2. Elastically touch. Further, since the depth dimension of the stepped portion 10a is set to be substantially equal to the thickness of the upper restricting portion 8b, the upper surface of the card 10 mounted on the housing 1 and the upper surface of the housing 1 (the upper surface of the upper plate member 8). ) Is substantially the same surface.

  Next, the operation of the card adapter device described above will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the card 10 is inserted into the card storage unit 1a in a correct posture, that is, when the card 10 is inserted into the card storage unit 1a from the front end of the card 10 with the stepped portion 10a facing upward. The card 10 is smoothly inserted into the card because the upper and lower restricting portions 8b and 6b restrict the vertical movement and the left and right upper restricting portions 8b restrict the lateral movement. be able to. When the card 10 is inserted into the card storage portion 1a to some extent, the front end of the card 10 comes into contact with the shutter member 3 in the closed position, so that the card 10 is inserted against the urging force of the return spring 4, Transition from the state of FIGS. 9 and 10A to the state of FIG. 10B, the shutter member 3 pushed into the card 10 moves back into the gap 1b. Accordingly, the shutter member 3 is retracted from the elastic contact piece 2 a of each terminal member 2 so that the card 10 comes into sliding contact with each elastic contact piece 2 a, and each elastic contact piece 2 a is placed in the opening 6 c by the bottom surface of the card 10. It is pushed and bent.

  Thereafter, when the card 10 is inserted to a predetermined mounting position, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the shutter member 3 greatly enters the gap 1b and reaches the open position. The part 10b contacts the corresponding elastic contact piece 2a of each terminal member 2. At that time, since each elastic contact piece 2a is pushed and bent, the elastic contact piece 2a can be elastically contacted with the corresponding external connection portion 10b with a sufficient contact pressure. The electrical connection with can be performed reliably. Therefore, when this card adapter device is mounted on a card loading portion of an electronic device (not shown) and each contact portion 2b is brought into contact with a corresponding contact portion on the electronic device side, the card 10 and the electronic device are electrically connected. Can be connected. Since the tip of the presser spring 5 comes into elastic contact with the card 10 inserted into the card storage portion 1a from both the left and right sides, the card 10 mounted on the housing 1 is held in a state of being sandwiched between the presser springs 5.

  Further, when the card 10 is removed from the card adapter device, the shutter member 3 is urged by the pair of return springs 4 and pushed back to the closed position, so that the elastic contact piece 2a of each terminal member 2 is moved by the shutter member 3. It is possible to automatically return to the original covered state.

  As described above, in the card adapter device according to the present embodiment, the upper restriction portion 8b and the lower restriction portion 6b of the housing 1 are used by using the step portions 10a formed on both side edges of the upper surface of the card 10. Since the vertical movement of the card 10 at the time of insertion can be restricted, even if the upper surface of the card 10 existing in the card storage portion 1a is exposed, that is, the cover member is omitted from the housing 1. Even if the upper surface of the card 10 is not covered, the card insertion operation can be performed smoothly. Therefore, this card adapter device can reduce the height of the housing 1 that defines the overall size to the extent that the thickness of the card 10 itself and the thickness of the lower side restricting portion 6b are added. Easy to promote.

  Further, in this card adapter device, when the card 10 is not mounted, the elastic contact piece 2a of each terminal member 2 can be covered and protected by the shutter member 3 in the closed position, so that it is in the vicinity of the elastic contact piece 2a. There is no possibility of foreign matter accumulating, and the elastic deformation failure and contact failure of the terminal member 2 can be avoided.

  In addition, since the rear end of the card 10 is the erroneous insertion prevention part 10c in which the step part 10a is not formed, even if the card 10 is inserted in the card storage part 1a with the front and back reversed, the erroneous insertion prevention is performed. The portion 10c comes into contact with the front end portion of the upper restricting portion 8b and insertion of the card 10 is prevented. Also, when the card 10 is turned upside down and inserted into the card storage portion 1a, the insertion of the card 10 is prevented because the portions other than the step portion 10a abut against the front end portion of the upper restriction portion 8b. . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion of the card 10 with a simple configuration.

  Further, in this card adapter device, the upper restricting portion 8b and the lower restricting portion 6b extend along the both side edges of the card storage portion 1a of the housing 1 and guide the card 10 at the time of insertion. Since it is integrally formed and the guide portion can be formed by a molded product, cost reduction is easy.

  Further, in this card adapter device, the lateral movement of the card 10 at the time of insertion can be regulated by the left and right upper regulating portions 8b, so that the guide mechanism for guiding the insertion of the card 10 is simplified. Yes. In addition, it is also possible to restrict the lateral movement of the card 10 at the time of insertion using the side wall of the recessed step portion 6a. In this case, at least one upper restriction portion 8b is the step portion 10a of the card 10. It is sufficient to be able to regulate the position of the side of the.

It is a perspective view of the adapter device for cards concerning the example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of this adapter device for cards. It is a disassembled perspective view of this adapter device for cards. It is a side view of this adapter device for cards. It is a bottom view of the card adapter device. It is a front view of this adapter device for cards. It is a top view of the card | curd used for this adapter device for cards. It is a bottom view of the card. It is a perspective view which shows the state which has inserted this card | curd in this card | curd adapter apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of this adapter device for cards.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 1a Card storage part 1b Gap 2 Terminal member 2a Elastic contact piece 2b Contact part 3 Shutter member 4 Return spring 5 Pressing spring 6 Lower plate member 6a Concave step part 6b Lower side regulation part 7 Middle plate member 8 Upper plate member 8a Cutting Notch 8b Upper restriction part 10 Card 10a Step part 10b Contact part 10c Incorrect insertion prevention part

Claims (7)

Reciprocating movement between a card storage portion that can be inserted and inserted, a plurality of terminal members electrically connected to the card, a closed position that covers the terminal member, and an open position that is retracted from the closed position A possible shutter member,
An adapter device for a card, wherein the card is configured to push the shutter member in the closed position and retract to the open position when the card is inserted into the card storage portion.   2. The spring member according to claim 1, further comprising a spring member that constantly biases the shutter member toward the closed position, so that the card during insertion pushes the shutter member against the biasing force of the spring member. A card adapter device characterized by comprising.   3. The step according to claim 1 or 2, wherein stepped portions are formed on both side edges of the upper surface of the card, the card storage portion is formed in a housing, and the housing contacts the upper surface in the stepped portion of the card. An upper restricting portion that restricts upward movement of the card during insertion and a lower restricting portion that contacts the lower surface of the card and restricts downward movement of the card during insertion. A card adapter device.   4. The card adapter device according to claim 3, wherein a thickness dimension of the upper restricting portion is set substantially equal to a depth dimension of the step portion.   5. The wrong insertion preventing portion according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the rear end of the card is an erroneous insertion preventing portion in which the step portion is not formed, and the erroneous insertion preventing portion is inserted when the card is inserted upside down. A card adapter device, wherein the card adapter device is configured to abut against a front end portion of the upper regulating portion.   The guide according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the housing is provided with guide portions that extend along both side edges of the card storage portion and guide the card at the time of insertion. An adapter device for a card, wherein the upper restricting portion and the lower restricting portion are formed integrally with each other.   The structure according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein at least one of the upper restricting portions is in contact with a side surface of the stepped portion to restrict movement of the card in the lateral direction when inserted. A card adapter device characterized by comprising:

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