JP4733610B2 - IC card connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an IC card connector for electrically connecting a mounted IC card and a wiring board.

  In electronic devices such as mobile phones, a central processing unit (CPU) or an IC card such as a SIM (subscriber identity module) card with a built-in memory integrated circuit can be attached to and detached from each device via an IC card connector. By attaching to the device, various function expansions and the like in the electronic device are performed.

  An IC card connector to which an IC card such as a SIM card is mounted is arranged on a wiring board in an electronic device, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, for example. The IC card connector includes a contact terminal group for electrically connecting the IC card and the wiring board. The contact terminals constituting such a contact terminal group are arranged in parallel to each other in the card housing portion of the IC card connector. The contact terminal is made of a thin metal material, and is supported on the base member only by a fixed terminal portion described later like a so-called cantilever. The contact terminal includes a movable piece portion that has a contact portion that contacts the contact pad of the IC card and is elastically displaceable, and a fixed terminal portion that is connected to the movable piece portion and fixed to a base member that forms a card housing portion. It is comprised including. For example, one end of the fixed terminal portion is fixed by soldering to the conductive layer of the wiring board. In addition, the contact portion of the movable piece portion connected to the other end side of the fixed terminal portion is a free end, and when the IC card is inserted into the card housing portion, it is pressed downward while sliding on the contact pad of the IC card. Will be.

  Since the IC card connector is required to be further reduced in height in electronic devices such as mobile phones that are relatively miniaturized, the thickness of the thin metal material of the contact terminal used and the thickness of the bottom of the base member are: It tends to be thinner.

JP 2000-215952 A JP 2001-237010 A

  When the thickness of the thin metal material of the contact terminal used as described above becomes thinner, in the cantilever type, the contact pressure between the contact pad of the IC card and the contact portion of the contact terminal is set to a predetermined value. Therefore, the spring constant of the contact terminal may not be maintained above a predetermined value.

  Further, when the fixed portion of the contact terminal is fixed to the base member by press-fitting, due to the manufacturing error of the press-fitting position, the manufacturing error of the contact terminal, etc., in the cantilever type, the base member of the contact portion There is also a possibility that the height position from the surface of the bottom part becomes a predetermined position or more. At that time, there is also a problem that the movable piece part buckles due to interference with the end part of the IC card into which the contact part is inserted.

  In consideration of the above problems, the present invention is an IC card connector, and the thickness of the thin metal material of the contact terminal used and the thickness of the bottom of the base member can be further reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an IC card connector that can prevent the movable piece from buckling when mounted.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an IC card connector according to the present invention includes an end portion formed with a card slot through which an IC card passes, an other end portion facing the one end portion, and an end portion and the other end portion. A base member that forms a card housing part that includes a partition wall that partitions an opening formed in the bottom portion and a fixing groove that is formed in each of the one end part and the other end part, and in which an IC card is detachably housed. And a fixed portion fixed to the fixed groove of the base member and a movable end supported movably in the groove formed in the partition wall of the base member, and abutted against and electrically connected to the electrode pad of the IC card. A plurality of elastically displaceable movable piece portions formed so as to protrude upward between the fixed portion and the movable end, and arranged to face each other via a partition wall of the base member Contact terminal and The base member partition wall groove includes a bottom wall portion formed at the periphery of the opening in the bottom portion, and a pair of grooves formed to extend substantially parallel to the bottom wall portion at a position above the bottom wall portion. The groove is formed along the IC card attachment / detachment direction with the shoulder portion, and the groove has an opening end portion that opens toward the opening portion of the bottom portion, and the movable piece portion of the contact terminal movable end each have a pair of engaging portions for engaging the shoulder, when the contact portion of the movable piece is in contact pressed against the electrode pads of the IC card, the movable end of the movable piece, the partition wall It is characterized by being slidably contacted with the bottom wall portion within the groove and being subjected to a reaction force from the bottom wall portion.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the IC card connector of the present invention, at least one shoulder and bottom wall formed apart from the bottom wall formed at the periphery of the opening in the bottom. A movable piece portion of the plurality of contact terminals is arranged along the IC card attaching / detaching direction, and the movable end of one end of the movable piece portion is engaged with the shoulder portion. And when the contact portion of the movable piece abuts against the electrode pad of the IC card and is pressed, the movable end of the movable piece is slidably contacted with the bottom wall portion in the groove. The thickness of the metal sheet of the contact terminal used and the thickness of the bottom of the base member can be made thinner, and the movable piece can buckle when the IC card is installed. Can also be avoided.

  FIG. 2 shows the appearance of an example of an IC card connector according to the present invention.

  The IC card connector shown in FIG. 2 electrically connects, for example, the electrode portion of the memory card 30 detachably accommodated in the card accommodating portion and the connection terminal portion of the wiring board disposed inside a predetermined electronic device. To be connected. The IC card connector is arranged inside an electronic device such as a mobile phone, a telephone, a PDA, or a camera. The thin-plate memory card 30 is, for example, a SIM card, and a plurality of electrode pads are formed on one surface portion corresponding to the arrangement of contact terminals described later (see FIG. 9).

  The IC card connector includes a base member 12 on which a plurality of contact terminals for electrical connection to the memory card 30 to be accommodated are arranged, and a cover member that forms a housing chamber for the memory card 30 in cooperation with the base member 12. 10.

  The cover member 10 has a plurality of through holes 10d and 10e on both side walls. Further, the cover member 10 has a plurality of through holes 10f in a wall portion on the back surface side connecting both side wall portions. The claw portions 12d, 12e, and 12f (see FIG. 7) of the corresponding base member 12 are engaged with the plurality of through holes 10d, 10e, and 10f, respectively. Thereby, the cover member 10 and the base member 12 are integrated and combined.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of openings 10 a and 10 b are provided at predetermined intervals between the contact portions of the contact terminals described later at the center of the flat plate-like portion of the cover member 10. Is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the card accommodating portion 14 in which the memory card 30 is inserted and accommodated is formed as an internal space surrounded by the cover member 10 and the base member 12. As shown in FIG. 3, one end portion of the base member 12 protrudes from the end portion of the cover member 10, and a memory card 30 that is attached to and detached from one end portion of the card housing portion 14. An opening (card slot) through which the card passes is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the base member 12 formed of resin contacts the electrode pads of the memory card 30 to be mounted, and contacts terminals 20 ai that electrically connect the memory card 30 and the wiring board. (Where i = 1 to n and n is a positive integer).

  Claw portions 12 d and 12 e that are engaged with the through holes 10 d and 10 e of the cover member 10 described above are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of both side wall portions of the base member 12, respectively. A claw portion 12 f that is engaged with the through hole 10 f of the cover member 10 is also formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wall portion on the back side of the base member 12.

  Three rows of openings 12Rai (i = 1 to 6) are formed in an elongated shape at a predetermined interval substantially parallel to the side wall at the center of the bottom of the base member 12. The openings 12Rai in the same row are formed on a common straight line. As shown in FIG. 1, the openings 12Rai in the same row are partitioned by a partition wall 12w formed in the middle thereof. Further, the openings 12Rai in adjacent rows are partitioned by a partition wall 12p (see FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 1, each contact is provided in the vicinity of the end on the card slot side in the opening 12Rai in each row and in the vicinity of the end on the wall side on the back side in the opening 12Rai. Grooves 12Gai and 12Gbi into which the fixed terminal portion of the terminal 20ai is press-fitted are formed.

  On the other hand, in the partition wall 12w between the openings 12Rai in each row, grooves 12SG into which the movable ends of the contact terminals 20ai are movably inserted are formed opposite to each other as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. Has been. The groove 12SG is formed between the bottom wall portion 12SB and the pair of shoulder portions 12S formed on the periphery of the opening 12Rai. The pair of shoulder portions 12 </ b> S is formed at a position above the bottom wall portion 12 </ b> SB so as to continue to the periphery of the opening portion 12 </ b> Rai. A notch is formed between the pair of shoulders 12S.

  Each contact terminal 20ai (i = 1 to 6) supported at both ends so as to straddle each opening 12Rai is made of a sheet metal material and has the same structure. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the contact terminal 20ai includes a movable piece portion 20C having a contact portion 20cb that is in contact with and electrically connected to the electrode pad of the memory card 30, and wiring not shown. It includes a soldered terminal portion 20fs fixed by soldering to the conductive layer of the substrate, and a fixed portion 20F that connects the movable piece portion 20C and the soldered terminal portion 20fs and is press-fitted into the groove 12Gbi or the groove 12Gbi. It is configured.

  The elastically displaceable movable piece portion 20C has a curved contact portion 20cb at an intermediate portion thereof. The contact portion 20 cb of each contact terminal 20 ai is arranged corresponding to the arrangement of the electrode pads of the memory card 30. Slits 20ra and 20rb are formed in portions that are connected to both ends of the contact portion 20cb, respectively. The length of the slit 20ra in the extending direction is set larger than the corresponding length in the slit 20rb.

  A substantially T-shaped movable end 20 </ b> E that is movably inserted into the groove 12 </ b> SG of the base member 12 is formed at the tip of the portion where the slit 20 rb is formed in the movable piece 20 </ b> C. Engaging portions 20e that are engaged with the pair of shoulder portions 12S of the base member 12 described above are formed at both end portions of the movable end 20E. The engagement margin of the movable end 20E with respect to the pair of shoulder portions 12S along the longitudinal direction of the movable piece portion 20C is such that the central portion of the base member 12 is directed upward by a predetermined amount of heat due to an assumed reflow soldering operation or the like. Thus, even when the projection is warped, the engaging portion 20e of the movable end 20E is set so as not to be detached from the pair of shoulder portions 12S.

  Thereby, the movable end 20 </ b> E is not exposed to the surface of the bottom portion of the base member 12 by the pair of engaging portions 20 e being engaged with the pair of shoulder portions 12 </ b> S. In addition, for example, during the reflow soldering operation, the position of the contact portion 20cb of the movable piece portion 20C becomes a predetermined height or more as the convex portion warps above the substantially central portion of the base member 12. It will be regulated. Therefore, when the memory card 30 is inserted into the card housing portion 14, the end of the memory card 30 in the traveling direction does not interfere with the movable end 20E of the movable piece 20C, so that each contact terminal 20ai bends or buckles. There is no fear.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, when the memory card 30 is mounted in the card accommodating portion 14, the contact portion 20cb of the movable piece portion 20C is in contact with the electrode pad of the memory card 30 and is pressed downward. At this time, the movable end 20E is brought into sliding contact with the end in the groove 12SG. As a result, a reaction force from the bottom wall portion 12SB acts on the movable end 20E, so that the movable piece portion 20C receives the elastic force in a state where the contact portion 20cb and the electrode pad of the memory card 30 are in contact with each other with a predetermined contact pressure. It will be pressed against. Therefore, in order to reduce the height of the IC card connector, the contact portion 20cb and the electrode pad of the memory card 30 are in contact with each other with a predetermined contact pressure even when the contact terminal 20ai is thinner. Can be secured.

  In such a configuration, when the memory card 30 is mounted in the card accommodating portion 14, one end portion having two corners of the memory card 30 is inserted through the card slot. At that time, the memory card 30 is inserted to a predetermined position so that the electrode pad in the memory card 30 faces the contact terminal 20ai. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the memory card 30 is urged and held toward the cover member 10 by the elastic force of the movable piece 20C of each contact terminal 20ai. The other end portion having a chamfer at one corner protrudes from the opening end of the base member 12 by a predetermined length.

  On the other hand, when the memory card 30 is taken out from the card accommodating portion 14, the memory card 30 is pulled out with the other end of the memory card 30 held.

  In the above-described example, an example of the IC card connector according to the present invention is applied to the IC card connector to which the SIM card is mounted. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and the electrodes as described above. The present invention may also be applied to an IC card connector in which another type of IC card having a pad is used.

It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of an example of the connector for IC cards which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an example of the connector for IC cards which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the example shown in FIG. 2. It is the front view seen from the card slot side in the example shown by FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the contact terminal used in the example shown by FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the base member in the example shown by FIG. It is a top view in the example shown by FIG. FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of a part of the example shown in FIG. 6. It is a top view with which operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2 is provided. It is sectional drawing with which operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2 is provided.

Explanation of symbols

12 base member 12SG groove 12Gai, 12Gbi groove 12S shoulder 20ai contact terminal 20e engaging part

Claims (2)

One end where a card slot through which an IC card passes is formed, the other end facing the one end, a partition partitioning an opening formed at the bottom between the one end and the other end, and the one end A base member that forms a card accommodating portion in which the IC card is detachably accommodated.
A fixing portion fixed to the fixing groove of the base member; and a movable end movably supported in the groove formed in the partition wall of the base member; and electrically contacting the electrode pad of the IC card Each of the contact portions to be connected has an elastically displaceable movable piece formed by protruding upward between the fixed portion and the movable end, and faces each other through the partition wall of the base member. A plurality of contact terminals arranged, and
The groove of the partition wall of the base member is formed to extend from the bottom wall portion formed at the periphery of the opening portion in the bottom portion to be approximately parallel to the bottom wall portion, spaced apart at an upper position. Between the pair of shoulders formed along the direction of attaching and detaching the IC card, and the groove of the partition has an opening end that opens toward the opening of the bottom ,
Each of the movable ends of the movable piece portion of the contact terminal has a pair of engaging portions that engage with the shoulder portion, and the contact portion of the movable piece portion contacts and is pressed against the electrode pad of the IC card. In this case, the movable end of the movable piece is slidably contacted with the bottom wall within the groove of the partition wall, and a reaction force from the bottom wall is applied.   2. The IC card connector according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is formed at each of both end portions of the movable end.

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