JP2009158500A - Memory card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a memory card connector for mounting a memory card in which springing out of the memory card can be effectively prevented when the mounted memory card is ejected. <P>SOLUTION: The memory card connector 1 is provided with a half-lock mechanism 6 on a connector side surface 3a corresponding to a side surface MC4 which is not an insertion/removal side of the memory card MC, and the mechanism holds an inserted memory card MC and can contact with a contact portion MC2 of the memory card MC to make an electrical connection and can hold temporarily the inserted memory card MC at an insertion intermediate position. On a connector side surface 3b opposed to the half-lock mechanism 6, there is provided a pushing spring 7 which can energize the inserted memory card MC toward a side of the half-lock mechanism 6, and the spring 7 prevents the memory card from springing out when the card is take out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a memory card connector. Specifically, the present invention relates to a memory card connector that can prevent a memory card from popping out when an inserted memory card is taken out by an eject mechanism or the like.

With the development of electronic devices such as MP3 audio devices and digital cameras, it has become possible to use recording media for these electronic devices. In addition, recording media such as memory cards have been miniaturized in accordance with these increasingly smaller electronic devices, and various memory cards such as memory stick cards and SD cards have come to be used.
As a result, in electronic devices such as mobile phones that use memory cards, a memory card connector has been developed that can securely mount the memory card and support the memory card so that a stable electrical connection can be obtained. Has been.
For example, there were the following memory card connectors.

Hereinafter, a conventional memory card connector will be described with reference to FIGS.
MC is a memory card, and the memory card MC has a thin plate shape consisting of four side surfaces and front and back surfaces. The contact surface, which is a plurality of contact portions, is exposed on the surface, and is electrically connected to the memory card connector. Data exchange is possible by contact.
Reference numeral 100 denotes a conventional memory card connector. The memory card connector 100 is a connector for a memory stick card, and has a contact surface 101 having a width corresponding to the shape of the memory card MC. In addition, a plurality of contact pieces 102 that can be connected to the contact portion of the inserted memory card MC are provided on the surface of the contact surface 101 facing the contact portion of the memory card MC. The contact piece 102 is provided so as to protrude from the front surface to the back surface side, and is urged to generate a drag force by a spring force when pressed to the front surface side.

Further, a standing wall 103 having a thickness of the memory card MC is provided from opposite sides of the contact surface 101 so as to sandwich the memory card MC inserted into the contact surface 101, and further from the standing wall 103. A card pressing portion 104 is provided that protrudes toward the standing wall facing each other. By providing the standing wall 103 and the card pressing portion 104 in this manner, the memory card MC is mounted on the memory card connector 100 with the contact portion positioned at the contact piece 102 as shown in FIGS. Is possible.
Furthermore, a cantilevered card presser spring 105 is provided on the side of the standing wall 103 of the contact surface 101. The card retainer spring 105 is formed by cutting a metal plate constituting the contact surface 101 into a U-shape so that the insertion port 106 side of the memory card connector 100 serves as a fulcrum, and is free on the card retainer 104 side. By projecting the end toward the memory card MC, the surface of the memory card MC is formed so as to be able to be pressed toward the card pressing portion 104 when the memory card MC is inserted.
Reference numeral 107 denotes an ejection mechanism. The eject mechanism 107 is a mechanism for discharging the inserted memory card MC in which the contact piece 102 and the contact of the memory card MC are in contact and electrically connected. Although not described in detail, the ejection mechanism 107 includes a mechanism that presses the insertion leading end side of the memory card MC in the ejection direction by operating an operation unit (not shown). When the operation unit (not shown) of the eject mechanism 107 is ejected, the memory card MC is moved in the ejection direction by releasing the electrical connection between the contact piece 102 and the contact of the memory card MC. .
When the memory card MC is ejected, the surface of the memory card MC is pressed by the card presser spring 105. Therefore, the memory card MC moved vigorously in the ejecting direction is caused by friction on the surface due to the spring force of the contact piece 102. The memory card connector 100 is prevented from jumping out.
Some memory card connectors 100 have a card lock mechanism 108 that can temporarily hold the inserted memory card MC in the middle of the memory card MC in order to prevent the memory card MC from popping out.
That is, the half-lock mechanism 108 forms a locking projection 110 whose front end protrudes to the inside of the memory card connector 100, the base end 111 is fixed to the memory card connector 100, and the locking projection 110 side swings. The side of the memory card connector 100 that can be inserted into and removed from the inserted memory card MC and that faces the locking projection 110 is cut in half by cutting the metal plate constituting the side into a U-shape. A lock spring 109 is formed, and the locking projection 110 is always biased inward of the memory card connector 100.
By having the half lock mechanism 108 in this way, in the memory card MC provided with the groove MC3 on the side surface that is not the insertion side of the memory card MC to be inserted, the locking projection 110 of the half lock mechanism 108 is inserted into the memory card MC. At the time of discharging or at the time of discharging, it is locked by the pressing force of the groove MC3 and the half lock spring 109, and the half lock state can be maintained.

When the memory card MC attached to the memory card connector 100 is ejected as described above, the memory card connector 100 and the memory card connector 100 are caused by friction between the card pressing spring 105 and the surface of the memory card MC. The memory card MC is prevented from popping out.
However, the surface of the memory card MC is generally free of irregularities, and if the eject mechanism 107 has a large force to move the memory card MC in the ejecting direction, the memory card MC has too much momentum, and the memory card connector 100 From the memory card connector 100, or in some cases, the memory card connector 100 may drop off.

  In order to solve this problem by the conventional example, it is conceivable to increase the spring force of the card pressing spring 105 of the memory card connector 100. For this purpose, the contact surface 101 of the memory card connector 100 is configured. This can be dealt with by increasing the thickness of the metal plate, but when the plate thickness is increased, the cost of the metal plate further increases. In addition, it is conceivable that the contact surface 101 is made of a material having the same plate thickness and a stronger spring force. However, in this case, the material itself becomes special, and the material cost also increases. .

  Further, in the memory card connector 100 provided with the half-lock mechanism 108, when the memory card MC is taken out, the groove portion MC3 of the memory card MC is half-locked by the half-lock mechanism 108. In the half-locked state by the half-lock mechanism 108, the memory card MC must be easily inserted / removed, not completely locked, and is loosely held by the half-lock spring 109 provided in a cantilever state. Since the state is taken, there is a problem that the half lock mechanism 108 may not be able to prevent the jumping out when the ejection mechanism happens to be strong.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a memory card connector capable of suppressing the ejection of a memory card when ejected with a simple structure without changing the material of the memory card connector 100 or the like. Let it be an issue.

  Therefore, in this invention, in order to improve the structure of the connector for the memory card and ensure the temporary holding of the memory card by the half-lock mechanism,

A memory card in the form of a plate consisting of front and back and side surfaces is inserted and held, and electrical connection is possible by connecting to the contacts provided on the memory card, and the inserted memory card can be temporarily held In the memory card connector having a half-lock mechanism on the side surface parallel to the direction of inserting and removing the memory card,
A connector for a memory card, characterized in that a card presser spring capable of urging the inserted memory card toward the half-lock mechanism is provided on the side of the connector facing the side provided with the half-lock mechanism;

  I will provide a. Therefore, when removing the inserted memory card, the memory card connector pushes the side that is not the insertion / removal side of the memory card that is about to be ejected by the eject mechanism etc. Yes. Therefore, the memory card that is pressed to the half-lock mechanism by the card presser spring when ejected by the eject mechanism or the like is locked between the half-lock mechanism and the groove provided in the memory card, and the memory card is half-locked. Temporarily held in position.

  In the memory card connector according to the present invention, since the inner side facing the inner side of the connector provided with the half-lock mechanism is provided with a card presser spring that can press the inserted memory card to the half-lock mechanism side, It is possible to prevent the memory card from popping out of the connector due to the force applied by the eject mechanism when removing the memory card.

  The memory card connector 1 provided with an insertion slot in the shape of the inserted memory card MC contacts the contact portion MC2 of the memory card MC at the surface position facing the contact portion MC2 of the inserted memory card MC. The contact 4 which is a contact piece to be electrically connected is provided. The contact 4 protrudes inward of the memory card connector 1 and is installed with a spring force capable of appropriately applying a contact pressure.

  The side of the memory card MC inserted into the memory card connector 1 is not the insertion / removal side, that is, the right or left side of the memory card connector 1 is in the middle of the insertion of the memory card MC. The half-lock mechanism 6 is provided at an appropriate position facing the groove MC3 provided on the non-side surface. The half-lock mechanism 6 has a locking projection 62 that protrudes inwardly of the connector 1 and is swingable so as to be able to advance and retract into the groove MC3 of the memory card MC. A half lock spring 63 having a spring force capable of urging the locking protrusion 62 inward of the connector 1 is provided on the side surface of the connector 1 on the half lock mechanism 6 side.

  A card presser spring 7 having a spring force for pressing the memory card MC toward the half lock mechanism 6 is provided on the side surface of the connector 1 facing the half lock mechanism 6 via the memory card MC. The card presser spring 7 is a leaf spring provided in a cantilevered manner, and is provided so that the insertion back side is a free end located inward of the connector 1 with the memory card MC insertion slot side as a base end.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is the same explanatory view, (a) is a plane explanatory view, (b) is a front explanatory view, and (c) is a rear explanatory view. (D) is an explanatory diagram on the left side, (e) is an explanatory diagram on the right side, FIG. 3 is an explanatory sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 (a), and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line -B, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line CC in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view showing a memory card.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a memory card connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The memory card connector 1 is a connector that enables electrical connection with the inserted memory card MC. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 2 that holds the inserted memory card MC, and both ends of the housing 2 And a contact 4 which is a contact piece which is electrically connected to the memory card MC inserted into the housing 2.

Here, the memory card MC used by being inserted into the memory card connector 1 will be described.
The memory card MC is a card in which a contact portion MC2 for performing electrical connection and exchanging information or exchanging signals with other devices is exposed on the card surface, such as a memory stick card. Therefore, the structure of the memory card MC will be described with reference to FIG.
The memory card MC is arranged side by side with the contact portion MC2 exposed at one end of the card surface MC1. A plurality of the contact portions MC2 are arranged in parallel at the end portion on the insertion side to the memory card connector 1 in parallel with the end portion. In this embodiment, the contact portions MC2 are provided at ten locations. The card contact portion MC2 has a contact surface that is recessed from the card surface MC1. A semicircular groove MC3 that continues to the half lock side surface MC4 is formed at the end of the card surface MC1 that faces the half lock mechanism 6 when inserted into the memory card connector 1. . The groove MC3 is a groove in which the half lock mechanism 6 provided in the memory card connector 1 is locked, and the memory card MC is temporarily held in the middle of insertion at a position where the half lock mechanism 6 is locked. The side surface of the memory card MC facing the half lock side surface MC4 is a pressing side surface MC5, which is the side surface pressed by the card pressing spring 7.

Next, details of the memory card connector 1 will be described.
In the memory card connector 1, a housing 2 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view forms a main body. The housing 2 is made of a thin plate-like metal plate material, and both sides of the housing 2 are formed by bending so that card holding portions 3 capable of holding cards are respectively opposed and extended. Therefore, the card holding portion 3 bent in a U-shape facing the side surface that is not the insertion / removal side of the memory card MC constitutes the side surface of the memory card connector 1. The card holding part 3 has a U-shaped holding groove 31 and is provided as a card holding part 3a and a card holding part 3b with the grooves 31 facing each other. The memory card MC into which the U-shaped holding groove 31 of the card holding unit 3 is inserted and removed is guided. Accordingly, the memory card connector 1 has a shape in which the card holding portion 3 protrudes from both sides of the housing 2 in an arm shape, and the memory card MC is inserted along the holding groove 31 as shown in FIG. Can be retained.

  Then, on the other end side of the housing 2, a card insertion slot 23 into which the memory card MC can be inserted into the holding portion 3 provided to face is formed. Further, on the side of the housing 2 that faces the card insertion side opening 23, a contact 4 that is in contact with and electrically connected to the contact portion MC2 of the memory card MC is provided in parallel. The back surface of the housing 2 is opposed to the card surface MC1 of the inserted memory card MC.

  The contact 4 is installed on the housing rear surface 22 side of the housing 2. For the installation of the contact 4, since the housing 2 body is a metal plate, it is fixed to a position corresponding to the contact portion MC2 of the memory card MC by a contact fixing portion 24 made of an insulating material. The base end 41 of the contact 4 is positioned outside the memory card connector 1 so that it can be electrically fixed to an electronic circuit board or the like on which the memory card connector 1 is mounted. Further, the end portion of the contact 4 facing the base end portion 41 forms a contact portion 42 and is positioned so as to protrude to the back side of the memory card connector 1.

An eject mechanism 5 is provided on one of the card holders 3, that is, the card holder 3a shown on the right side in FIG. 2A in this embodiment. The ejection mechanism 5 is a mechanism that pushes the insertion side surface MC6 of the memory card MC to the card insertion slot 23 side by operating the operation unit when taking out the memory card MC attached to the memory card connector 1. Since it is a commonly used mechanism, a detailed description is omitted.
Further, a half-lock mechanism 6 is provided in the card holding portion 3a. The half-lock mechanism 6 temporarily locks with the groove portion MC3 of the memory card MC at a midway position before the contact portion MC2 of the memory card MC inserted into the memory card connector 1 is connected to the contact 4. A holding state is set. The half lock mechanism 6 can swing so that the base end portion 61 as one end is locked to the card holding portion 3a, and the swing end as the other end forms a locking projection 62 to advance and retract toward the memory card MC side. To form. Then, the locking projection 62 side is positioned and installed on the card insertion slot 23 side from the base end portion 61, and the locking projection 62 protrudes toward the memory card MC to be inserted. The locking projection 62 has a gently sloping surface on the card insertion slot 23 side (front side of insertion) and a contact 4 side (insertion back side) formed substantially perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction. By making the shape of the locking projection 62 in this way, the memory card MC can be easily inserted along the gently inclined surface of the locking projection 62 when the memory card MC is inserted, and the insertion / removal direction when the memory card MC is pulled out. The surface formed substantially at right angles with the groove MC3 of the memory card MC can be easily stopped in a half-locked state (temporary holding state).

  Further, the card holding portion 3a facing the locking projection 62 of the half lock mechanism 6 is provided with a half lock spring 63 as shown in FIG. The half lock spring 63 has a spring force capable of urging the locking protrusion 62 toward the inside of the connector 1, that is, the inserted memory card MC side. In this embodiment, the half lock spring 63 is formed by inserting a U-shaped slit 64 into a metal plate forming a card holding portion 3 a provided extending from the housing 2, and separating the half lock spring by the metal plate separated by the slit 64. 63. Therefore, the half lock spring 63 is a cantilever spring, and biases the locking projection 62 toward the memory card MC by the spring force of the cantilever spring. Then, the locking protrusion 62 of the half-lock mechanism 6 is in a state of protruding toward the groove portion MC3 of the memory card at the position of the card holding portion 3a facing the groove portion MC3 of the memory card MC at an intermediate position where a temporary holding state is desired. Therefore, the temporary holding state can be maintained at a desired position. Of course, the half lock spring 63 does not use the housing 2, but a leaf spring or the like may be provided separately.

7 is a card presser spring. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the card presser spring 7 is provided in the card holding part 3 b facing the card holding part 3 a. The card presser spring 7 is a plate spring made of a metal plate, one end is a base end portion 71 fixed to the card insertion side end 23 side of the card holding portion 3b, and the other end is bent in an L shape. A free end 72 is formed. The free end 72 of the card presser spring 7 protrudes toward the card holding portion 3a, and when the memory card MC is inserted from the card insertion side end 23 side, the biasing force is exerted by the pressing side surface MC5 of the memory card MC. The memory card MC can be pressed toward the card holding portion 3a by being pushed against the card holding portion 3b. The card presser spring 7 is desirably provided at a position where the free end 72 side that substantially presses the memory card MC is opposed to the locking projection 62 of the half-lock mechanism 6 provided in the card holding portion 3a. Thus, when the memory card MC is removed, the memory card MC can be efficiently pressed toward the half lock mechanism 6 that prevents the memory card MC from being ejected. It does not matter if it is in a different position. However, for example, when the free end of the card presser spring 7 is located at the card insertion side end 23 of the card holding portion 3b, or when it is located at the innermost side (contact 4 side) of the housing 2. The pressing force of the card presser spring 7 presses the corners of the memory card MC, which is not preferable because the memory card MC may be positioned obliquely in the state of being inserted into the housing 2.
In this embodiment, the card presser spring 7 is a cantilevered leaf spring, but the card presser spring 7 is supported at both ends so as to obtain a desired force for pressing the inserted memory card MC toward the card holding portion 3a. What is necessary is just to select suitably the pressing means etc. which made the plate-shaped body which bent both ends to the front-end | tip of a spring or a coil spring protruded from the attachment card holding part 3b.

The operation of the thus configured memory card connector 1 will be described below.
The memory card MC is inserted from the insertion side end 23 of the memory card connector 1. At this time, the memory card MC is inserted from the contact portion MC2 side. The inserted memory card MC is inserted into the housing 2 while pushing the card presser spring 7 attached to the card holding part 3b toward the card holding part 3b, and the locking projection 62 of the half-lock mechanism 6 eventually becomes a memory. When positioned in the groove MC3 of the card MC, the locking projection 62 enters the groove MC3 and is in a half-locked state. However, when the memory card MC is further pushed to be inserted, the locking projection 62 is removed from the groove MC3 to release this half-locked state, the memory card MC is further inserted, and eventually the contact portion MC2 of the memory card MC. Presses the contact 4 toward the housing surface 21 and stops, and the contact portion MC2 of the memory card MC and the contact 4 are electrically connected at a predetermined insertion position.

To remove the memory card MC from the memory card connector 1 from the state where the memory card MC and the memory card connector 1 are electrically connected, the operation unit (not shown) of the eject mechanism 5 is connected to the memory card MC. Operate to remove. Then, the ejection mechanism 5 presses the insertion side surface MC6 of the memory card MC toward the card insertion side end 23 to release the locking between the contact 4 and the contact portion MC2, and the memory card MC is moved to the card insertion side end 23 side. Jump out to.
As a result, the memory card MC moves so as to jump out to the card insertion side end 23 side, but the groove portion MC3 of the memory card MC is moved to the engaging protrusion 62 of the half lock mechanism 6 by the lateral pressing of the card presser spring 7. When positioned, the locking projection 62 enters the groove MC3 and the memory card MC stops in a half-locked state.

In this state, the memory card MC is disconnected from the memory card connector 1 but is still in the memory card connector 1, so that the user can remove the memory card MC. Pull to pull out.
Then, the locking protrusion 62 that has entered the groove MC3 of the memory card MC is half against the pressing of the half lock spring 63 on the back side (card holding part 3a side) so as to release the locking with the groove MC3. The lock spring 63 is pushed in the direction opposite to the memory card MC to release the locking with the groove MC3.
The memory card MC is removed from the memory card connector 1 by releasing the locking between the groove MC3 of the memory card MC and the locking protrusion 62 of the half-lock mechanism 6.

  The present invention can be used for a memory card connector, and various types of memory cards can be used.

An explanatory perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention (A) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a back view, (d) is a left view, and (e) is a right view. AA line cross-sectional explanatory drawing BB line cross-sectional explanatory drawing CC sectional view Perspective explanatory view showing a memory card Perspective explanatory view showing a conventional example 7 partially enlarged explanatory diagram It is explanatory drawing showing a prior art example, (a) is plane explanatory drawing, (b) is front explanatory drawing, (c) is right side explanatory drawing.

MC memory card MC1 card surface MC2 contact portion MC3 groove portion MC4 half lock side surface MC5 pressure side surface MC6 insertion side surface 1 memory card connector 2 housing 21 housing surface 22 housing back surface 23 card insertion slot 24 contact fixing portion 3 card holding portion 3a Card holding part 3b Card holding part 31 Holding groove 4 Contact 41 Base end part 42 Contact part 5 Ejecting mechanism 6 Half-locking mechanism 61 Locking piece 62 Locking protrusion 63
Half lock spring 64 Slit 7 Card presser spring 71 Base end 72 Free end

Claims (1)

A memory card in the form of a plate consisting of front and back and side surfaces is inserted and held, and electrical connection is possible by connecting to the contacts provided on the memory card, and the inserted memory card can be temporarily held In the memory card connector having a half-lock mechanism on the side surface parallel to the direction of inserting and removing the memory card,

A memory card connector comprising a card pressing spring capable of urging an inserted memory card toward the half lock mechanism on a connector side facing the side provided with the half lock mechanism.

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