JP3272313B2 - Information medium with 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 an information medium provided with a card connector, and more particularly, to a medium for recording and / or reproducing by attaching to an electronic device, which is commercially available and versatile. The present invention relates to an information medium which is formed in a casing having the same size as a medium, for example, a floppy disk, and has a thin-shaped card connector for mounting an IC card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A card connector according to the prior art is mounted on an electronic device or the like and provided with a memory, for example, an I / O card.
There is a well-known mechanism in which a C card can be inserted. That is, the electronic device has a structure provided with a dedicated connector mechanism for inserting an IC card into the electronic device.

[0003]

However, a card connector for mounting the above-described IC card is generally fixed and used as a dedicated connector, and the size and thickness of the card connector are limited. There is a problem that an IC card cannot be used by using a mechanism for inserting and recording and reproducing a general-purpose information medium, for example, a 3.5-inch floppy disk. is there.

[0004] Therefore, there is a problem that a mechanism for mounting an versatile information medium must be used as it is so as to solve a structure in which an IC card can be used.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information medium provided with a card connector according to the present invention comprises:
A housing detachably attached to the electronic device and having the same size as the recording and / or reproducing medium; and an IC card having a plurality of contact pieces arranged in the housing in a state where the contact pieces are aligned and detachably attached to the plurality of contact pieces. And a connector means for obtaining an electrical connection, the connector means comprising a first terminal contacting at both ends with the aligned contact piece having a fractured surface obtained by punching a plate member as a contact portion, and a plate member. And a second terminal having a punched surface as a contact portion. When the IC card is inserted, firstly, the first terminal at both ends positions the insertion via the contact piece and temporarily fixes the insertion. After that, the remaining connection pieces are connected to the second terminal.

The first terminal is a fork-type terminal, and the second terminal is a bellows-type terminal;
The holding wall for guiding and holding the fork-type first terminal also serves as a guide for inserting and removing the IC card; the contact for electrically connecting the first terminal is formed on the second terminal. The housing is formed in the same size as a floppy disk; the connector means is provided with an engagement means for engaging from the side of the IC card.

An information medium provided with a card connector having such a configuration is generally commercially available, and is formed in a casing having the same size as a versatile medium, and terminals constituting the connector have different shapes. By using the characteristic characteristics of the terminals having different shapes, the connector itself can be miniaturized and the IC card can be normally inserted and removed.

In the card connector, the first terminal having a contact surface formed by punching the plate member is provided at a position forward of a contact of the second terminal having a punched surface formed by punching the plate member as a contact portion. By providing the first terminal having a strong elastic pressing force and the holding wall thereof so as to also serve as an IC card insertion / extraction guide, it is possible to provide a protection function against stiffness due to oblique insertion or the like. .

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment relating to an information medium having a card connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] The information medium has a structure in which a recordable and / or reproducible medium, in the embodiment, a casing of the same size as a 3.5-inch floppy disk is formed, and a card connector to which an IC card can be attached is provided in a part thereof. Has become. This IC card has a memory.

This information medium 10 is, as shown in FIG.
A housing 11 formed to be the same size as a thin 3.5-inch floppy disk, and a front portion of the housing 11 are an electronic device 12 and a recording / reproducing section 13 for recording / reproducing. And the IC card mounting portion 14 is provided at a position deviated from the center position.

The housing 11 is formed in the same size (shape) as the external shape of a commercially available and widely used floppy disk, but has a substrate (not shown) instead of a recording / reproducing disk inside. It is housed and has a structure in which data of an IC card can be output by an electromagnetic transducer (not shown) soldered to this substrate.

The IC card mounting section 14 includes a card connector storage section 16 for mounting the card connector 15 on the housing 11.
A card insertion support portion 17 that communicates with the card connector storage portion 16 to insert an IC card, and a metal member that covers an upper position of the card connector storage portion 16 and an intermediate position of the card insertion support portion 17. Cover part 18
It is composed of

The card connector storage section 16 is connected to the card insertion support section 17 and has a card connector 15 on one side.
The card connector 15 is formed to be thicker than the bottom surface of the guide portion 19 for guiding and engaging the card connector 15 and the card insertion support portion 17.
And a connector support portion 20 for supporting the connector.
The structure is such that the contact piece of the IC card is electrically connected to the terminal of the card connector by utilizing the gap between the connector support portion 20 and the bottom surface of the card insertion support portion 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the card connector 15 has a housing 24 having arm portions 21 and 22 at left and right positions and a terminal portion 23 at a center position, and is mounted and fixed to one arm portion 21 of the housing 24. A lock plate portion 25, a hold-down portion 26 attached and fixed to the other arm portion 22,
It is composed of a fork-type first terminal 27 and a bellows-type second terminal 28 which are mounted and fixed to the terminal portion 23 in an aligned state. Also, the inside of the arms 21 and 22 has I
It has a structure in which insertion guide portions 29 and 30 for guiding erroneous insertion and insertion direction of the C card are provided. The second terminal 28 and the first terminal 27 are each soldered to a substrate inside the housing 11.

The terminal portion 23 is composed of a signal terminal hole 31 in which eight second terminals 28 are arranged and arranged, and a ground terminal hole 32 in which first terminals 27 are arranged at both ends thereof. I have.

The signal terminal hole 31 is an elongated rectangular through hole and has a structure in which the bellows type second terminal 28 can be stored. The ground terminal hole 32 is formed by a vertically thin groove, and has a structure in which the fork-type first terminal 27 can be stored.

The signal terminal hole 31 and the ground terminal hole 32 are provided with a holding portion 23A for guiding and supporting the terminals 27 and 28 by inserting the terminals 27 and 28 at the distal ends thereof.

The holding portion 23A is a second terminal 2 of bellows type.
8 and a guide holding wall 32a (a holding wall for guiding and holding the second terminal 28) for holding the fork-shaped first terminal 27 in the fracture surface direction. ing.

The guide holding wall 32a is formed with the guide groove 31.
a is formed as a holding wall structure protruding linearly at both ends of the first terminal a, and a plate for forming the first terminal 27 between the holding walls so as to exactly match the positional relationship of the ground terminal hole 32. The groove 32b into which the thickness of the fracture surface of the member can be inserted is formed.

The guide holding wall 3 having such a structure
2a has a wall structure in which the width in the lateral direction can be made thinner than that of the guide groove 31a, and which protrudes linearly upward. This is a structure that can be reduced in size as much as the width can be reduced, and also functions as a guide when inserting an IC card in a portion projecting linearly.

The bellows type has a structure in which, as described with reference to the second terminal 28 in FIG. 2, a punched surface obtained by punching a plate member is used as a contact portion. That is, a contact surface 33 is formed by punching a part of the elongated metal member that is bent upward by approximately 180 degrees in the upper direction and further bent into a convex shape. The contact 33 has a contact structure utilizing elastic pressing force between the surfaces generated by bending the plate member.

On the other hand, the fork type has a first terminal 2 shown in FIG.
To explain with reference to FIG. 7, the structure is such that a fractured surface obtained by punching a plate member is used as a contact portion. That is, the center of the surface of the elongated metal member is cut out, and the contact point 34 is formed at the vertex formed in a triangular broken surface on the upper side. The contact 34 has a contact structure using an elastic pressing force in a vertical direction with respect to the surface.

While the bellows type has a contact structure by elastic pressing force formed by bending the surface of the plate member, the fork type has a contact structure in the vertical direction with the surface, and the elastic pressing force is strong. It becomes something.

The lock plate portion 25 is an engagement means for engaging from the side of a so-called IC card. The lock member 25 has a metal member formed in an elongated shape, and has a tongue-shaped support portion 35 at its rear end and a front end portion. On the side, a locking portion 36 is bent in a C-shape toward the terminal portion 23 which is the inner side. The lock plate portion 25 is engaged and fixed in a state of being pressed against a groove 37 provided in the arm portion 21, and
3 is located forward of the free ends of the first terminal 27 and the second terminal 28 mounted on the third terminal 27 and is elastically disposed with the c-shaped top of the locking portion 36 inserted therein. You.

The hold-down portion 26 is formed of a metallic member, is formed by bending a single flat plate at 90 degrees, and is engaged with a groove 38 provided in the arm portion 22 for fixing. 11 (see FIG. 1), the positioning portion 40 also serves as positioning and is formed wider than the engaging portion 39. The engaging portion 39 is pressed into contact with the groove 38 provided in the arm portion 22 to engage. The structure is fixed.

The card connector 1 having such a structure
5 is mounted in the card connector housing 16 as shown in FIG. At the time of mounting, the support portion 35 of the lock plate portion 25 is engaged with the guide portion 19, and the positioning portion 40 of the hold-down portion 26 is positioned on the distal end side of the guide wall 41 of the card insertion support portion 17.

Thus, the card connector housing 16
Of the card connector 15 (first terminal 2
As shown in FIG. 4, the contact 34 of the fork-type first terminal 27 is located forward of the contact 33 of the bellows-type second terminal 28, as shown in FIG. .

On the other hand, the IC card 45 to be inserted into the information medium having such a structure has a memory (not shown) provided therein, and is formed in a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. The main body 46 includes a joining portion 47 having a contact piece at an end of the main body 46, and an engaging portion 48 provided on a side surface near the joining portion 47 in the longitudinal direction of the main body 46.

The joint 47 has a ground contact piece 49 at both ends.
And eight signal contact pieces 50 are arranged in a position sandwiched between the ground contact pieces 49 in an aligned state.

Next, a connection mode for inserting the IC card 45 into the information medium 10 having the above-described structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the housing 11 (FIG. 1)
When the IC card 45 is inserted into the IC card mounting portion 14 of FIG. 2), the positioning is performed by the guide holding wall portions 32a and the insertion guide portions 29 and 30 that guide and position the first terminals 27 in FIG. While being inserted, the undulation and the like generated at this time are corrected. In FIG. 4, the contacts 34 of the fork-shaped first terminals 27 provided at both ends of the terminal portion 23 come into contact with the ground contact piece 49 of the IC card 45. This fork-shaped first terminal 27
Has a higher elastic pressing force than the second terminal 28,
First, the ground connection pieces 49 on both sides of the C card 45 can be firmly sandwiched to obtain an electrical connection state.

Next, the contacts 3 of the first terminals 27 at both ends
If it is further pushed in with the electrical connection with 4, the second
Of the terminal 28 and the signal contact piece 50 of the IC card 45
Get an electrical connection. In this state, in FIG. 3, the locking portion 36 of the lock plate 25 is fitted into the engaging portion 48 provided on the side surface of the IC card 45, and the IC card 45 is locked and locked.

In this manner, the first terminals 2 at both ends are
If the connection and connection are made to the second terminal 28 after the positioning and the temporary fixation in step 7, the first terminal 27 also serves as a guide positioning even if a dent or the like occurs at the time of insertion and removal. The correction can be performed by the strong elastic pressing force of the guide holding wall portion 32a and the first terminal 27. Therefore,
Since there is no need for a guide member for insertion and removal and a guide member for preventing stiffness and the like, there is an advantage that the structure of the housing itself can be simplified and the thickness can be reduced particularly in a connector that needs to be thin.

In this embodiment, the bellows type second
The fork-type first terminals 27 are provided on both ends sandwiching the terminal 28, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the positional relationship and the number of the first terminals 27 also serving as guides can be changed as appropriate. .

[0036]

As described above, in the information medium provided with the card connector according to the present invention, the terminals forming the contacts are formed of the first terminal and the second terminal having different shapes, so that each of the terminals has a different shape. The insertion and removal of the IC card can be performed normally using the structure unique to the terminal. That is, the terminal and the holding wall for guiding and holding the terminal can also serve as the function of preventing the occurrence of stiffness when the IC card is inserted and removed, and the structure can be simplified and the size and thickness can be reduced accordingly. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an information medium provided with a card connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the card connector.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state where a card connector is mounted on the information medium.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between contacts of terminals (a cross-sectional view taken along line AA and a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4) when a card connector is mounted on the information medium.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the IC card.

[Explanation of symbols]

10; information medium; 11; housing; 12; electronic device;
Recording / reproducing section, 14; IC card mounting section, 15; card connector, 16; card connector storage section, 17; card insertion support section, 18; cover section, 19; guide section, 20; connector support section, 21; arm section , 22; arm portion, 23; terminal portion, 23A; holding portion, 24; housing, 25; lock plate portion, 26; hold-down portion, 27; first terminal, 28; second terminal, 29; Part, 30; insertion guide part, 31; signal terminal hole, 31a; guide groove part,
32; ground terminal hole, 32a; guide holding wall portion, 32
b; groove, 33; contact, 34; contact, 35; support, 3
6; locking portion, 37; groove, 38; groove, 39; engagement portion, 4
0: positioning part, 41; guide wall, 45; IC card,
46; body, 47; joint, 48; engagement, 49; ground contact, 50; signal contact

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI H01R 13/11 H01R 43/00 B 13/642 23/02 E 43/00 23/68 301E (72) Inventor Yoshimasa Ito Tokyo 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku Sony Corporation (56) References JP-A-5-74107 (JP, A) JP-A-1-183081 (JP, A) JP-A-10-284186 (JP) , A) JP-A-63-241887 (JP, A) JP-A-4-242087 (JP, A) JP-A-10-74568 (JP, A) JP-A-9-155 (JP, U) JP-A-9-155 (JP, U) 6-36255 (JP, U) Actually open 1988-3081 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/11-43/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housing which is detachable from an electronic device and has the same size as a recording and / or reproducing medium, and an IC card having a plurality of contact pieces arranged on the housing in an aligned state. A first terminal for contacting at both ends with the aligned contact piece having a contact surface with a fractured surface obtained by punching a plate member; If, which is composed of a second terminal of the contact portion of the blanked surface punched plate member, when inserting the IC card, first the first of said end
Position the insertion via the contact piece with the terminal and
After the constant state, the remaining contact piece is connected to the second terminal.
Information medium with a card connector, characterized in that the connection. 2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said first terminal is a fork-type terminal, and said second terminal is a bellows-type terminal.
An information medium provided with a card connector according to claim 1. 3. The information provided with a card connector according to claim 2, wherein the holding wall for guiding and holding the fork-type first terminal also serves as a guide for inserting and removing the IC card. Medium. 4. The information provided with a card connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact for electrically connecting the first terminal is provided at a position forward of the contact for the second terminal. Medium. 5. The information medium having a card connector according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed in the same size as a floppy disk. 6. An information medium having a card connector according to claim 1, wherein said connector means is provided with an engagement means for engaging from a side of said IC card.