JP2948795B2 - IC card connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card connector serving as a connection medium between an IC card and an electronic device. I above
The C card is used by loading it into electronic equipment such as an automatic cash dispenser, a personal computer, a camera, and a telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An IC card is connected to an information processing circuit formed on a printed circuit board in an electronic device via a card connector, and gives information held by the IC card to the electronic device or transmits information in the device. It is used to capture and record on an IC card.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 5-506734 discloses a method in which contacts that can be elastically displaced up and down are juxtaposed on a bottom plate of an IC card case, and the contacts are elastically connected to external contacts of the IC card inserted into the card case. At the same time that the IC card is brought into pressure contact, the IC card is pushed up by the elasticity of the contact and pressed against the top plate of the card case, and the IC card is held in the card case to maintain the contact.

[0004]

The card case forming the card connector has left and right side rulers for guiding the insertion and removal of the IC card, and the left and right side rulers are used to position the IC card in the width direction.

However, in the case where the left and right side rulers are used to regulate the left and right side surfaces of the IC card, a certain play is intentionally formed between the left and right side surfaces of the IC card and the left and right side rulers, so that the IC card is formed. It is indispensable to have specifications that facilitate the insertion and extraction of

[0006] However, the above play causes a displacement of a contact point between the external contact of the IC card and the contact, and causes a problem that it is difficult to effectively cope with a narrow pitch between the external contact and the contact of the IC card.

The displacement of the contact point between the IC external contact and the contact due to the play is promoted by an external impact, and also occurs due to the card insertion posture by the card user.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, the conventional I
The C card connector has problems that it is difficult to maintain the fixed position of the IC card inserted into the card case, and it is difficult to cope with a decrease in contact reliability and a narrow pitch between the IC external contact and the contact. The present invention provides an IC card connector that appropriately solves these problems.

In order to achieve this, a first side ruler and a second side ruler are formed on a bottom plate of an IC card case so as to face each other, and an IC card accommodating space is formed between the first and second side rulers. A spring element provided on the first side ruler resiliently presses one side surface of the IC card housed in the IC card housing space and presses the other side surface against the second side ruler. Configuration.

A contact is provided on the bottom plate to contact an external contact of the IC card, and the card is pressed against a top plate facing the bottom plate of the card case by a pushing force of the contact against the IC card, or the top plate is pressed. And the pressing force of the spring element and the pressing force of the contact acting in the direction perpendicular to the pressing direction cooperate to securely hold the IC card in a fixed position of the card case, Appropriately maintain pressurized contact between external contacts and contacts.

For example, the IC card is inserted into the IC card accommodating space against the elasticity of the spring element toward the first side ruler through the opening on the second side ruler side, and is orthogonal to the insertion direction. It is removed from the direction you do.

Alternatively, the IC card is inserted into an IC card insertion space against an elastic force of the spring element from an opening formed on a side adjacent to the first and second side rulers,
It is removed from the opening.

As an example, the spring element has a pair of elastic pressure arms extending in opposite directions along the side ruler from an intermediate portion of the first side ruler, and an IC card is provided at a free end of the elastic pressure arm. A pressing portion for pressing the side surface of the IC card is formed to uniformly press the side surface of the IC card.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As a first example, FIGS. 1 to 10 show an IC card connector of a type in which an IC card is inserted into the IC card case from the upper surface side and brought into contact with contacts. 11 and 12 show an IC card connector of a type in which an IC card is inserted from the side of an IC card case into the case and is brought into contact with contacts.

The IC card connector in the first example is an IC
A connector body is formed by the card case 2. The IC card case 2 includes a bottom plate 3 on which contacts 10 are juxtaposed, and first and second side surfaces 1 of the IC card 1.
First and second side rulers 5 and 6 for regulating 5 and 16;
It has a third side ruler 9 for regulating the third side surface 17 of the C card 1 and an upper pad 4 'for regulating the upper surface of the IC card 1. Each element 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 4' is provided. One-block structure by integrally molding with synthetic resin, each element 2, 3, 5,
6, 7, 4 'define an IC card accommodation space 13.

The upper surface of the space 13 is opened to form an IC card insertion opening 23a, and an IC card removal opening 23b is formed on the side of the IC card case 2 facing the third side ruler 9.

On the other hand, the IC card connector of the second example is an IC card connector
A connector body is formed by the card case 2. The IC card case 2 includes a bottom plate 3 having contacts 10 arranged side by side, a top plate 4 facing in parallel with the bottom plate 3, and first and second IC cards 1. First and second side rulers 5, 6 for regulating the side surfaces 15, 16;
A third side ruler 9 for regulating the third side surface 17; a one-block structure in which each element is integrally formed of synthetic resin; and an IC card accommodated in each element 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 A space 13 is defined. And the third side ruler 9
The IC card insertion / extraction opening 23 is formed on the side opposite to the side, i.e., on the case side surface facing the side wall 11.

The card case 2 can be separately formed so as to be divided into a bottom plate 3 side and a top plate 4 side, and can be combined into a one-block structure.

The IC card case 2 in the first and second examples has side walls 7, 8 extending parallel to each other along two opposing sides of the bottom plate 3, and the side walls 7, 8 The first and second side rulers 5, 6 are formed.

In the IC card connector shown in the second example, the third plate extending along one side of the bottom plate 3 forming the IC card case 2 adjacent to the side where the first and second side rulers 5 and 6 are provided. It has a side ruler 9.

The three sides of the bottom plate 3 and the three sides of the top plate 4 are side walls 7, 8, extending along each side.
The third side ruler 9 is formed by the side walls 11.

As described above, the IC card connector shown in the first example does not have the top plate 4 of the second example, but has an upper pad 4 'instead of the top plate 4. ′ Are side walls 7 forming the first side ruler 5 and side walls 8 forming the second side ruler 6
And provided. The upper pad 4 'is a means for regulating the upper surface of the edge portion of the IC card at a key point to prevent the IC card 1 pushed up by the contact 10 from jumping out of the IC card storage space.

The top plate 4 in the second example also has the same function as this top pad 4 '. Therefore, in the claims, the top plate 4 including the top plate 4 in the second example is referred to as a top plate.

The upper pad 4 'provided on the first side ruler 5 in the first example is formed by, for example, a locking piece projecting upward from the middle or end of the side wall 7 to the upper portion of the bottom plate 3. The upper pad 4 'provided on the two-side ruler 6 is a side wall 7
And formed along the upper surface of the bottom plate 3 while extending along.

An upper pad 4 'comprising the above-mentioned locking piece,
The side walls 7 and 8 forming the second side rulers 5 and 6 form ruler grooves 25 on two opposite sides of the bottom plate 3 for receiving and regulating the two opposite sides of the IC card 1.

The upper pad 4 'in the first example can be provided not on the first side ruler 5 but on the second side ruler 6 and a spring element 14 described later.

The first to third side rulers 5, 6, and 9 in the first and second examples use the side walls 7, 8, and 11 as well as protrusions provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate 3 or the top plate 4. It can be formed by a member, such as a post or a post, that contacts the pole of the IC card at a plurality of points.

As described above, the IC card connector of the second example includes the bottom plate 3 and the top plate 4 of the IC card case 2 and the first to third side rulers 5, 6, 9 (side walls 7, 8, 11). ), The IC card storage space 1
3, while the IC card case 2 shown in the first example is formed by first, second and third side rulers 5, 6, 9 (side walls 7, 8, 11 and a top pad 4 '). An IC card accommodation space 13 is defined, and in any of the first and second examples,
An IC card accommodation space 13 is formed between the first and second side rulers 5 and 6.

A spring element 14 is provided on the side wall 7 forming the first side ruler 5.

The spring element 14 elastically presses the opposing first side surface 15 of the IC card 1 inserted into the card accommodating space 13, and the other side is pressed by the spring element 14. The second side surface 16 is pressed against the inner surface of the side wall 8 forming the second side ruler 6, so that the IC card 1 is securely held at a fixed position in the IC card case 2. At this time, the third side ruler 9 in the first and second examples regulates the third side surface 17 of the IC card 1.

As the spring element 14 in the first and second examples, a leaf spring is used as an example. The leaf spring is attached and fixed to an intermediate portion of the first side ruler 5 and extends from the intermediate portion along the first side ruler 5. A pair of elastic pressure arms 19, 20 extending in opposite directions to each other, and pressing portions 21, 19 for uniformly pressing the first side surface 15 of the IC card 1 against the free ends of the elastic pressure arms 19, 20. 22 is formed. Further elastic pressing arm 1
9 and 20 are provided with an upper pad 4 'which is engaged with the upper surface of the edge of the IC card.

By using a leaf spring extending along the first side ruler 5 as the spring element as described above, the spring accommodating space can be reduced, which contributes to downsizing of the IC card case.

The contact 10 in the first and second examples is formed by a punched and formed elongated plate spring, has a terminal piece 10b protruding outward from a base end fixing portion, and has an IC card 1 at an opposite free end. Contact portion 1 that comes into pressure contact with external contact 1a
0a is formed. The contact portion 10a protrudes from the upper surface of the bottom plate 3, and can be elastically displaced up and down.

FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 11A and 11B show a state in which the IC card 1 is not inserted into the card accommodating space 13 of the IC card case 2, and FIGS.
FIGS. 12A and 12B and FIGS. 12A and 12B show a state where the IC card 1 is inserted into the accommodation space 13.

The insertion operation of the IC card in the first example will be described below with reference to FIGS.

IC in the first example shown in FIGS. 1 to 10
In the card connector, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIGS. 6A and 6B, the IC card 1 is provided with an IC card accommodating space from the second side ruler 6 side to the first side ruler 5 through the IC card insertion opening 23a. 13 is inserted into
During this insertion, the first side surface 15 of the IC card 1 elastically displaces the spring element 14 against its elasticity, and the second side surface 16 is pressed against the second side ruler 6 by the reaction force.

The opening 23a is formed by opening the upper surface of the IC accommodating space 13 without providing the top plate 4 in the second example as described above, or partially forming the top plate on the first side ruler 5 side. This can be provided as an overlay.

The IC card 1 has the card insertion opening 23a.
Is inserted toward the first side ruler 5 beyond the upper end surface of the second side ruler 6 (FIGS. 5A and 5B), and the second side surface 16
Space 1 when the player completely exceeds the second side ruler 6
The external contacts 1a dropped into the IC card 1 and arranged on the surface of the IC card 1
The pressure contact is made with the zero contact portion 10a (FIGS. 6A and 6B).

That is, the IC card 1 has its first side surface 1
5 is directed into the opening 23 a, and while being regulated by the bottom plate 3 and the third side ruler 9, the opening 23 a
When inserted into the space 13 through the first side surface 15, the pressing portions 2 of the pressing arms 19, 20 of the spring element 14
1 and 22, and the second side surface 16 is pressed against the inner surface of the second side ruler 16 by the reaction force (FIGS. 7A and 7B). In this pressed state, the external contact 1 a of the IC card is pressed against the contact 10.

By pressing the external contact 1a of the IC card 1 against the contact portion 10a of the contact 10, the contact 10 is displaced downward against its elasticity, and the IC 10 is displaced by the reaction force.
The card 1 is pushed up, and the upper surface of the card 1 is pressed against the upper pad 4 ′ including the top plate 4, so that the contact state between the external contact 1 a and the contact 10 is maintained.

To restate, in the first example, when the IC card 1 is inserted into the space 13 from the opening 23 toward the first side ruler 5 and the spring element 14 as shown in FIGS. The one side surface 15 is pushed into the ruler groove 25 while displacing the spring element 14 provided on the first side ruler 5 against its elasticity, and the insertion into the space 13 proceeds. Then, the second side surface 16 is dropped into the space 13 at a position beyond the second side ruler 6.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the first side surface 15 of the IC card 1 is pressed by the reaction force of the spring element 14, and the second side surface 16 is pushed into the ruler groove 25 while the second side surface 16 is pressed. Press against the inner surface of the side ruler 6.

As a result, the IC card 1 is
0 is displaced downward against its elasticity, and this contact 1
0 presses the IC card 1 against the external contact 1a of the IC card 1 by the reaction force and simultaneously pushes up the IC card 1 to press the upper surface of the IC card 1 against the upper pad 4 '.

The action of pressing the IC card 1 against the second side ruler by the spring element 14 and the action of pressing the IC card 1 against the upper cover 4 'by the contact 10 act in directions orthogonal to each other. The card 1 is firmly held in the space 13, and the contact between the external contact 1a and the contact 10 is stably held.

Next, the card ejection operation in the first example will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in the above figures, the fourth side surface 18 of the IC card 1 faces the card removal opening 23b, and a corner of the card is cut off at one end of the fourth side surface. An inclined surface 18 'is formed. On the other hand, at one end of the card removal opening 23b, that is, at the end of the side wall 8 forming the second side ruler 6, a card ejection guide wall 27 for limiting the opening surface of the opening 23b is provided. An inclined surface 26 facing the inclined surface 18 'is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, the inclined surface 26 has an inclination angle α1 with respect to the inner surface of the second side ruler 6 and an inclination angle α2 with respect to the upper surface of the bottom plate 3.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, when the IC card 1 is pressed by a finger toward the card removal opening 23b, the inclined surface 18 'of the IC card 1 is inclined according to the inclination angle α1 of the inclined surface 26. While moving W1 toward the first side ruler 5 along the lower end thereof, and simultaneously moving W2 toward the opening 23b to escape from the ruler groove 25. That is, the second side surface 16 of the IC card 1 escapes from the upper pad 4 ′ on the second side ruler 6 side. At this time, the first side surface 15 of the IC card 1 compresses the spring element 14.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, FIGS.
When the IC card 1 is further pushed out by fingers from the state formed as described above, the inclined surface 18 'rises while sliding on the surface of the inclined surface 26 according to the inclination angle α2 of the inclined surface 26, and further moves toward the opening 23b. Ride on the upper surface of the guide wall 27.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, FIG.
B, by further pushing the card out with the fingers from the state formed on the B side, the fourth side surface 18 of the IC card 1 is formed.
Escapes completely from the opening 23b.

As described above, the contact portion 1 of the contact 10
0a constantly applies a push-up force to the IC card 1 during the card eject operation shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, and the card push-up action by the contact 10 and the inclined surface 26
The card ejection operation is effectively induced in cooperation with the action of guiding the rise of the card 1 by the above.

Next, the operation of inserting and removing an IC card in the second example will be described with reference to FIGS.

The IC card case 2 in the second example shows an example in which the card insertion / extraction opening 23 is formed on the side adjacent to the first and second side rulers 5, 6. In other words, the IC card case 2 An example in which the card insertion / extraction opening 23 is formed on the case side surface facing the third side ruler 9 is shown. Therefore, the first and second side rulers 5,
6 extends parallel to the card insertion / removal direction, so that the elastic pressure arms 19 and 20 of the spring element 14 also extend in the card insertion / removal direction.

In the first example, the pressing force of the spring element 14 acts on the IC card 1 from the direction opposite to the card insertion direction. That is, the pressing force in the opposite direction to the card insertion force is I
This method is applied to the first side surface 15 of the C card 1, but according to this method, the IC card 1 can be inserted from above.

On the other hand, in the second example, the pressing force of the spring element
It acts on the card 1 and does not apply a pressing force from the opposite direction. Therefore, the insertion force of the IC card 1 is reduced, and the spring element 1
4 effectively prevents the IC card 1 from inadvertently jumping out of the opening 23.

Although the directions pressed by the spring elements 14 are different from each other in the former and the latter, in this specification, the surface pressed by the spring elements 14 is referred to as a first side face 15 and a ruler provided with the spring elements 14. Is referred to as a first side ruler 5, and a ruler opposed thereto is referred to as a second side ruler 6.

In the IC card connector of the second example, when the IC card 1 is inserted from the opening 23, the first side surface 15 is pressed by the spring element 14 provided on the first side ruler 5, and the second side ruler is formed. While being pressed against the second side surface 16, the second side surface 16 is housed in the IC card housing space 13 and is brought into contact with the side wall 11 forming the third side ruler 9 facing the card insertion / extraction opening 23 to complete the insertion. I do. When the IC card 1 is inserted, the contact 10 is displaced downward against its elasticity,
At the same time, the IC card 1 is pressed against the external contact 1 a of the IC card 1 by the reaction force, and at the same time, the upper surface of the IC card 1 is pressed against the top plate 4.

The operation of pressing the IC card 1 against the second side ruler 6 by the spring element 14 and the operation of pressing the IC card 1 against the top plate 4 by the contact 10 operate in directions orthogonal to each other. The card 1 is firmly held in the space 13, and the contact between the external contact 1a and the contact 10 is stably held.

Next, the IC card 1 holds the edge of the IC card inserted into the card accommodating space 13 on the side of the fourth side surface 18 with a finger and applies a pulling force to the IC card 1 so that the spring element 14 It can be withdrawn from the opening 23 against the elasticity.

The bottom plate 3 and the top plate 4 are cut off in the middle of the opening 23 to form an opening 24 for exposing the card edge, and the third side surface 17 of the IC card 1 comes into contact with the third side ruler 9. The fourth side surface 18
Is exposed in the opening 24. The card edge on the side of the fourth side surface 18 exposed in the opening 24 is grasped with fingers, and the IC card 1 can be easily pulled out.

[0060]

According to the present invention, the spring element 14 provided on the first side ruler 5, the second side ruler 6, and the contact 10 cooperate to securely place the IC card 1 at a fixed position in the card accommodating space 13. Hold, contact 10 and IC card 1
Pressurized contact with the external contact 1 '.

Since the IC card 1 is firmly held at a fixed position in the IC accommodating space 13, it is possible to effectively cope with the narrow pitch of the contacts 10, and it is also effective in eliminating the backlash in the space 13 of the IC card 1. In addition, the effect of absorbing the external impact by the spring element 14 is synergistic, and the IC card 1 can be appropriately protected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an IC card connector showing a first example.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion C viewed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing an initial step of an operation of inserting an IC card into the IC card connector, and FIG.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing an intermediate step of an operation of inserting an IC card into the IC card connector, and FIG.

FIG. 7A is a plan view showing the final step of the operation of inserting the IC card into the IC card connector, and FIG.

FIG. 8A is a plan view showing an initial step of an operation of removing the IC card from the IC card connector, and FIG.

FIG. 9A is a plan view showing an intermediate step of an operation of removing the IC card from the IC card connector, and FIG. 9B is a front view of the same.

FIG. 10A is a plan view showing the final step of the operation of removing the IC card from the IC card connector, and FIG.

FIG. 11A is a plan view of an IC card connector showing a second example, showing a state before an IC card is inserted;
B is a sectional view taken along the line DD.

12A is a plan view of the IC card connector, showing a state after the IC card is inserted, and FIG. 12B is a sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC card 2 IC card case 3 Bottom plate 4 Top plate 4 'Top support 5 1st side ruler 6 2nd side ruler 9 3rd side ruler 10 Contact 13 IC card accommodation space 14 Spring element 19, 20 Elastic pressure arm 21 , 22 Pressing portion 18 'Inclined surface 23 IC card insertion opening 23a IC card insertion opening 23b IC card extraction opening 25 Ruler groove 26 Inclined surface

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01R 13/629-13/64 H01R 23/68 G06K 17/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first plate is provided on one of opposite sides of a bottom plate.
Each having a side ruler and a second side ruler on the other side,
An IC card accommodating space is formed between the first and second side rulers.
One side surface of the IC card accommodated in the C card accommodating space is elastically pressed, and the other side surface is pressed against the second side ruler. A contact for contacting a contact is provided, and the IC card is inserted or removed from the IC card accommodating space against an elastic force of the spring element from an opening formed on a side adjacent to the first and second side rulers. The contact and the release of the contact by
C card connector. 2. A first plate is provided on one of the opposite sides of the bottom plate.
Each having a side ruler and a second side ruler on the other side,
An IC card accommodating space is formed between the first and second side rulers, and a spring element provided on the first side ruler forms the IC card.
One side surface of the IC card accommodated in the C card accommodating space is elastically pressed, and the other side surface is pressed against the second side ruler. A contact is provided for contacting the contact, and the IC card is inserted into the IC card accommodating space against the resilience of the spring element from the opening on the second side ruler side toward the first side ruler. An IC card connector wherein the contact is released by being removed through an opening in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. 3. The IC card according to claim 2, wherein said contact applies a push-up force to said IC card in a direction perpendicular to a pressing direction of said spring element.
3. The IC card connector according to claim 1, wherein the card is pressed against an upper pad facing the bottom plate.