JP4734206B2 - Card connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card connector for connecting a memory card to electronic devices such as a mobile phone, a digital camera, a portable music player, and a PDA.

  The card connector structure basically includes a housing and a plurality of contacts. The housing is provided with a card insertion slot on the front surface, and holds the card inserted from the card insertion slot in a predetermined position, and the plurality of contacts are arranged side by side in the housing, Contact is made while pressing the contact pad to electrically connect the contact pad of the card and the substrate of the electronic device. This enables power-on to the card from the device side and communication between the device and the card.

In addition, the connector is usually provided with a card recognition switch for detecting card attachment based on the contact and separation of two metal pieces that respond to card insertion / extraction. In terms of circuit protection and data protection, this switch has a rule that the switch must be turned on after each contact of the connector comes into contact with all contact pads of the card when the card is inserted (for example, a patent) Reference 1).
JP 2002-100440 A

  Currently, when the device detects card insertion (when the card recognition switch is turned on), the card is powered on, the startup time required to initialize the card normally, and the device The shutdown time from when the removal is detected (when the card recognition switch is turned off) to when the power is safely turned off tends to become longer as the capacity of the card increases. On the other hand, the time from when the device detects the removal of the card until the contact between the contact pad of the card and the contact of the connector is cut off is shortened with the miniaturization of the card and the connector. For this reason, in the case of a conventional card connector, particularly for a small card, the card contact pad and the connector are connected from the time when the device detects the card removal even though the card removal operation is normally performed. A new problem arises that the card cannot be shut down safely within the time until contact with the contact is broken.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card connector capable of safely shutting down a card when the card is removed.

A housing that is provided with a card insertion slot on one side and a card having contact pads arranged in a row on one main surface so as to be freely inserted and removed through the card insertion slot ;
These contacts are arranged in two rows on the front side and back side in the card insertion direction in the housing, and are electrically connected and disconnected between the card contact pad and the board by contacting and leaving the card contact pad as the card is inserted and removed. When the card is inserted, the card contact pad contacts the front row of contacts on the card insertion opening side of the card contact pad when the card contact pad is mounted in the housing, and the card contact pad contacts the back row of contacts. After that, contact with the front row of contacts is cut off, and only the back row of contacts contacts the contact pad of the card when it is mounted in the housing.When the card is removed, the contact pad of the card is contacted with the back row of contacts. Contact the front row of contacts before breaking the contact of the card. Disconnect the contact with the front row of contacts on the card insertion slot side, and when the card contact pad comes into contact with the front row of contacts when inserting the card, the card contact pad and the board are electrically connected. The electrical contact between the card contact pad and the board is from the time the card contact pad contacts the front row of contacts during insertion until the card contact pad breaks contact with the front row contacts when the card is removed. The contact that holds the connection and disconnects the electrical connection between the contact pad of the card and the board when the contact pad of the card cuts off the contact with the front row of contacts when the card is removed, and
A card recognition switch that is placed in the housing and detects card attachment based on the contact and separation of two metal pieces that respond to card insertion / extraction, and when the card is inserted, the contact pad of the card contacts the contact in the back row. After that, the two metal pieces are contacted and turned on by the card, and when the card is inserted, the card contact pad becomes the back row contact when the card is removed The contact between the pair of metal pieces is maintained by the card until it contacts the front row of contacts in the contacted state and remains on, and the card contact pad contacts the back row of contacts when the card is removed. When the contact is made with the front row of contacts in the closed state, the contact holding of the pair of metal pieces by the card is released, and the pair of metal pieces are separated and turned off. Characterized by comprising a card recognition switch made.

  According to the present invention, when the card is removed, the card contact pad and the board are electrically connected to each other even on the card insertion opening side of the card contact pad when the card is mounted in the housing, so that the card removal is detected. The time until the connection between the contact pad of the card and the board is broken is longer than that of the conventional connector. For this reason, it is possible to safely shut down the card within the time from when the removal of the card is detected until the connection between the contact pad of the card and the substrate is disconnected.

In addition, since only one type of contact need be prepared, it is possible to realize a safe shutdown of the card while reducing the manufacturing cost and ensuring the contact reliability.

In the card contact of the present invention, a slide member disposed on one side of the housing and provided with an operation unit for pushing the card into the back side by the card, and a biasing member that constantly biases the slide member toward the card insertion slot side And a heart-shaped cam groove provided on one of the housing and the slide member, and a cam pin that supports one end on the other and moves in the cam groove in accordance with the movement of the slide member. When the slide member is pushed into the back side and then released, the card is mounted on the housing while the slide member is held at the card mounting position. The slide member is returned to its original position and mounted on the housing by releasing it after pushing it in again. With a card ejection mechanism for ejecting the card, the contact pads of the card discharged by the card ejection mechanism is in contact with the contact of the front side a row, also in the card discharged by the card ejection mechanism, between the contact pad and the substrate of the card Are preferably electrically connected. In such a form, the card can be safely shut down in the card connector having the card ejection mechanism that ejects the card mounted on the housing by the biasing force of the biasing member accumulated when the card is inserted. .

  In the card connector of the above embodiment, the engaging portion that engages the notch on the side of the card before the card is inserted into the slide member of the card ejection mechanism before the slide member is pushed into the inside of the housing by the card. It is preferable to provide it. In such a configuration, the card ejected by the card ejecting mechanism can be prevented from coming out of the housing, so that the card mounted on the housing is ejected by the urging force of the urging member accumulated when the card is inserted. In the card connector provided with the card ejection mechanism, the card can be safely shut down more reliably.

  As described above, the card connector of the present invention has a remarkable effect that the card can be safely shut down when the card is removed.

  In particular, when connecting a small card to an electronic device, even when the card mounted in the housing is provided with a card discharge mechanism that discharges by a biasing force of a biasing member accumulated at the time of card insertion, It has a remarkable effect that the card can be shut down safely.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a card connector with a push / push type card ejection mechanism for a small micro SD card among memory cards.

  1A is a front view of the micro SD card 1, FIG. 1B is a side view of the micro SD card 1, and FIG. 1C is a back view of the micro SD card 1. The micro SD card 1 is a substantially rectangular flat plate whose outer shape is vertically long. The card 1 is provided with a notch 2 for dropping one corner, and the notch 2 prevents erroneous insertion of the card 1 into the connector. Further, a notch 3 is provided on the front side of the notch 2, and the notch 3 prevents the card 1 from being inadvertently pulled out from the connector. A plurality of contact pads 4 made of a narrow rectangular metal plate are exposed on the back surface (one main surface) on the lateral side of the cutout portion 2 so that the one main surface is exposed on the back surface of the card 1. In this state, they are arranged side by side. In FIG. 1C, the contact pads 4 are the first, second, seventh, and eighth from the left for a total of four, and the third from the left is for commands, and the fourth and sixth are for power. The fifth is for the clock and has an 8-pin configuration. By electrically connecting each of the contact pads 4 to the printed wiring board of the electronic device via the contact of the connector, it is possible to turn on the power from the device side to the card and to communicate between the device and the card 1. The end of the card insertion direction is more uneven in the card insertion direction than that of the other contact pad 4 so that the power contact pad 4 contacts the power contact of the connector prior to the other contact pads 4. is doing.

  The structure of the card connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the card 1 is mounted will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the card connector 10. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the card connector 10 with the cover 30 showing the internal structure removed. FIG. 4 shows the card connector 10 with the cover 30 showing the internal structure removed. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a structure of a contact 40 provided in the card connector 10. This connector 10 has a box-shaped housing 12 that is opened with a card insertion slot 11 into which the card 1 is inserted from the end provided with the notch 2 with the back side down, to one side (left side) of the front side. A contact 40 for electrically connecting the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the board of the device, and a pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B for electrically detecting the mounting of the card 1 on the device side. The card 1 is held and mounted in a predetermined position in the housing 12 by the first push operation by the card recognition switch 50 and the card 1, and is mounted in the housing 12 by the second push operation by the card 1. A push / push type card ejection mechanism 60 for ejecting the card 1 is configured.

  In the housing 12, the inner space on the back side (rear side) of the card insertion slot 11 becomes a card storage space in which the contact 40 and the card recognition switch 50 are arranged, and the inner space on one side (right side) of this card storage space is This is a space for arranging the card discharge mechanism 60. Such a housing 12 includes a body 13 which is an insulating body of a resin molded product to which a contact 40 and a pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B and the like are attached, and is attached to the body 13 from above to prevent electrostatic breakdown and noise. And a cover 30 formed by punching and bending a metal plate to be applied. The body 13 integrally forms a housing bottom plate 14, a housing right side wall 15, a housing rear side wall 16, and a housing front side wall 17 on the right side of the card insertion slot 11, and a cover 30 includes a housing top plate 31, A housing left side wall 32 and a right side plate 33 covering the outer surface of the housing right side wall 22 are integrally formed.

  Further, the body 13 is provided with a fitting portion 18 for positioning and an engagement portion 19 for preventing separation on the left end surface of the housing bottom plate 14 and the outer surface of the right side wall 15 of the housing. A notch 20 is provided on the housing bottom plate 14 on the bottom side of the card receiving space opposite to the front end of the housing bottom plate 14 so that the central portion of the front edge of the housing bottom plate 14 is retracted from both ends. A plurality of narrow press-fitting grooves 21 for positioning and fixing the contacts 40 are provided in two front and rear rows on the front side and the back side in the card insertion direction. A front stopper portion 22 and a rear stopper portion 23 that abut against the slide member 61 of the card discharge mechanism 60 are provided, and the card discharge mechanism 60 is provided in the front stopper portion 22. A bearing portion 24 for supporting the cam pin 64 is provided, and a pair of front and rear slit-like press-fit grooves 25 and 26 for positioning and fixing the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B are provided on the rear stopper portion 23, and the front wall of the housing 17 is provided with a stopper 27 on the return side for locking the locking portion 66 with respect to the card 1 of the card discharge mechanism 60.

  The press-fitting grooves 21 of the contacts 40 are arranged in parallel in the card lateral direction in each row, and the front portions of the press-fitting grooves 21 in the front row are opened into the notches 20 to form the rear row. The rear portion of each press-fit groove 21 passes through the housing rear side wall 16 and is opened to the rear side of the body 13.

  The cover 30 is provided on the housing left side wall 32 and the right side plate 33 with the mating fitting part 34 for the positioning fitting part 18 on the body 13 side and the mating engagement part 19 for the engagement preventing part 19 on the body 13 side. 35, a connector mounting terminal portion 36 is provided on the front and rear portions of the housing left side wall 32 and the right side plate 33, and the card is discharged to the housing top plate 31 on the upper front side of the space for arranging the card discharge mechanism 60. A flexible cantilever-like leaf spring piece 37 is provided for pressing the cam pin 64 of the mechanism 60 downward at all times.

  Each contact 40 is formed of a thin metal plate spring as shown in FIG. 5 formed by punching and bending a thin metal plate, and is fixed in the connector mounting terminal portion 41 and the press-fitting groove 21. A fixed spring portion 42, a flexible spring piece portion 43, and a mountain-shaped contact portion 44 formed in the spring piece portion 43. Such a contact 40 is inserted into each of the press-fitting grooves 21 in the front row and in the rear row of press-fit grooves 21, and from the front side of the body 13 to the rear side of the press-fit grooves 21 in a row of the rear side. By press-fitting each press-fitting groove 21 from the rear side of the body 13, it is arranged on the housing bottom plate 14 on the bottom side of the card receiving space so as to face the front and rear rows in the card insertion direction. is doing. In correspondence with the contact pads 4 of the card 1, eight contacts 40 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction of the card, and one row has an 8-pin configuration.

A plurality of (eight) contacts 40 (hereinafter referred to as “first contacts 40 </ b> A”) in the front row are fixed to the inner side of the front portions of the press-fitting grooves 21 in the front row. A terminal portion 41 extending from the front side toward the front side protrudes into the cutout portion 20 from the front portion of each press-fitting groove 21 in a row on the front side. Further, the spring piece 43 is extended obliquely upward and rearward from the fixed portion 42 so that the tip side protrudes from the upper front portion of the housing bottom plate 14 (front portion of the card receiving space). The contact pad 44 formed on the cantilever-like spring piece 43 does not come into contact with the contact pad 4 (see FIGS. 10 and 16) of the card 1 when mounted on the housing 12. the card insertion slot side than 4 (front side) is positioned elastically displaceable projecting vertically upward front of the housings the bottom plate 14 (front portion of the card housing space). In FIG. 4, the contact portions 44 of the first and fourth power contacts 40A from the right in FIG. 4 precede the contact portions 44 of the other first contacts 40A when the card is inserted. Of the other first contact 40A so that the contact with the contact pad 4 for power supply of the card 1 is cut off later than the contact portion 44 of the other first contact 40A when the card is removed. The contact part 44 is biased toward the card insertion slot side (front side).

  On the other hand, the plurality of (eight) contacts 40 (hereinafter referred to as “second contacts 40B”) in the rear row are fixed to the rear inner side of the press-fitting grooves 21 in the rear row, A terminal portion 41 extending from the fixed portion 42 toward the rear side protrudes from the rear portion of each press-fit groove 21 in the rear row to the rear side of the body 13. Further, the spring piece portion 43 is inclined forward from the fixing portion 42 so that the tip side protrudes from the spring piece portion 43 of the first contact 40A to the upper rear portion (rear portion of the card receiving space) of the housing bottom plate 14 on the back side. The contact portion 44 that extends upward at an angle and is formed on the cantilever-like spring piece 43 contacts the contact pad 4 (see FIG. 16) of the card 1 when the housing 12 is mounted. The contact pad 4 (see FIG. 16) of the card 1 when mounted on the housing 12 at the upper rear portion (rear portion of the card receiving space) of the housing bottom plate 14 on the back side of the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A. Within the range of the length W, it is arranged so as to protrude in a horizontal row so as to be elastically displaceable up and down. 4, the contact portions 44 of the fourth and sixth power second contacts 40B from the right are for power supply of the card 1 prior to the contact portions 44 of the other second contacts 40B when the card is inserted. Of the second contact 40B so that the contact with the contact pad 4 for power supply of the card 1 is cut off later than the contact portion 44 of the other second contact 40B when the card is removed. The contact part 44 is biased toward the card insertion slot side (front side).

  As described above, the contact pads 4 of the card 1 are mounted on the housing 12 when the card is inserted in the plurality of contacts 40 arranged in the front and back rows in the card insertion / removal direction in the card receiving space in the housing 12. The contact pad 4 of the card 1 contacts the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 12) closer to the card insertion slot than the contact pad 4 of the card 1 (see FIGS. 10 and 16). After contact with the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B, the contact with the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A is cut off (see FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, FIG. 13 to FIG. 15), and the card is mounted on the housing 12 Only the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B comes into contact with the first contact pad 4 (see FIGS. 10 and 16), and when the card is removed, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 contacts the contact portion of the second contact 40B. The card when contacting the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A (see FIGS. 11 to 7 and FIGS. 17 to 13) before the contact pad 4 of the card 1 is mounted on the housing 12 The contact with the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A is cut off from the first contact pad 4 (see FIGS. 10 and 16) on the card insertion slot side (see FIGS. 16 and 12).

  In other words, each contact 40 is electrically connected between the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the board of the device as the card 1 is inserted and withdrawn from the contact pad 4 of the card 1 when attached to the housing 12. The conductive connection and disconnection are maintained, and the connection is maintained from the time of connection until disconnection.

  Each of the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B forming the card recognition switch 50 is constituted by a thin metal plate spring formed by punching and bending a metal thin plate, and includes a connector mounting terminal 51 and a press-fitting groove. It has the fixing | fixed part 52 for fixing in 24,25, the spring piece part 53 which has flexibility, and the contact part 54 formed in the spring piece part 53. As shown in FIG. Each of the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B is press-fitted into the press-fit grooves 24 and 25 from above, so that the fixed portion 52 is located at the rear of the arrangement space of the card discharge mechanism 60 via the press-fit grooves 24 and 25. A terminal portion 51 which is fixed to the stopper portion 23 and extends from the lower edge of the fixing portion 52 toward the rear side protrudes toward the rear side of the body 13. Further, the spring piece portion 53 extends substantially in parallel with an angle to the right and obliquely forward from the fixed portion 52 so as to protrude to the rear portion of the card receiving space on the far side from the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B. A contact portion 54 formed on the cantilever-like spring piece portion 53 protrudes in a card insertion / removal direction in a card insertion / removal direction further to the rear portion of the card accommodation space farther than the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B of the card accommodation space. The card recognition switch 50 is formed and arranged in the innermost part of the housing 12 by the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B.

  The card contact switch 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction has a card recognition switch that comes in contact with and separates from the end on the insertion side of the card 1 as the card 1 is inserted / removed immediately before the contact portion 54 of the spring piece 53. Fifty operation units 55 are provided.

  As described above, in the card recognition switch 50 formed and arranged at the innermost part in the housing 12 by the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B, when the card 1 is not inserted in the housing 12, the card insertion switch 50 is in front of the card insertion direction. The contact portion 54 of the metal piece 50A on the side and the contact portion 54 of the metal piece 50B on the back side are separated from each other, and the card recognition switch 50 is off (see FIGS. 3 and 4). When the card is inserted, the operation part 55 is pushed into the back side by the insertion side end of the card 1, the spring piece 53 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction is bent back, and the near side in the card insertion direction. When the contact portion 54 of the metal piece 50A contacts the contact portion 54 of the rear metal piece 50B, the card recognition switch 50 is turned on (see FIG. 8). Thereafter, the operation unit 55 is further pushed inward by the insertion side end of the card 1 until the housing 12 is mounted and the insertion side end of the card 1 when mounted on the housing 12. In this way, while the operation unit 55 is pushed inward by the insertion side end of the card 1, the spring piece 53 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction and the spring of the metal piece 50B on the back side. Both the contact pieces 53 bend to the back side, and the contact between the contact part 54 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction and the contact part 54 of the metal piece 50B on the back side is maintained, and the card recognition switch 50 is turned on. (See FIGS. 8 to 11). Further, when the card is removed, the pushing force of the operation portion 55 by the insertion side end portion of the card 1 is removed, and the spring piece portion 53 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction and the spring piece portion of the metal piece 50B on the back side. 53 returns to the original state before the card recognition switch 50 is turned on, and the contact part 54 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction is separated from the contact part 54 of the metal piece 50B on the back side. The card recognition switch 50 is turned off (see FIG. 7).

  That is, in the card recognition switch 50, since the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B come in contact with and separate from each other when the card 1 is inserted and removed, the presence or absence of the card 1 is detected on the device side by electrically detecting this. can do.

  In the card recognition switch 50, when the card is inserted, after the contact pad 4 of the card 1 comes into contact with the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B, the operation portion 55 is pushed inward by the insertion side end portion of the card 1. The contact / separation timing of the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B is set so that the card recognition switch 50 is turned on (see FIGS. 7 to 8 and FIGS. 13 to 14). Thus, the card recognition switch 50 is in compliance with the requirement that the switch 50 must be turned on after each contact of the connector contacts all the contact pads 4 of the card 1 when the card is inserted.

  The push / push type card discharge mechanism 60 includes a slide member 61, a coil spring 62 that is an urging member of the slide member 61, a position holding mechanism for the slide member 61 formed by a heart-shaped cam groove 63 and a cam pin 64. 65 and an engaging member 66 for engaging the card 1 with the slide member 62.

  The slide member 61 is an insulator of a resin molded product, and a card insertion / removal direction along the housing right side wall 15 between the front stopper portion 22 and the rear stopper portion 23 is arranged in a space for arranging the card discharge mechanism 60 in the housing 12. It is arrange | positioned so that reciprocation is possible. Such a slide member 61 protrudes from one side surface (left side surface) of the card accommodation space side, and an extended portion 61a that fits into the cutout portion 2 of the card 1 when the card is inserted. In order to push the card into the back side, the operation part 61b protruding from the rear part of the overhanging part 61a so as to abut against the insertion side end of the card 1, the heart-shaped cam groove 63 of the positioning mechanism 65, A slit groove 61c for attaching the combined member 66 is integrally formed.

  The coil spring 62 is disposed between the slide member 61 and the rear stopper portion 23 and constantly urges the slide member 61 toward the card insertion slot side (front side).

  The cam pin 64 of the positioning mechanism 65 is formed of a thin metal round bar bent into a U-shape, one end of which is in contact with the cam groove 63 provided on the slide member 61 at a substantially right angle, and the other end provided on the body 13. The cam member 63 is rotatably supported by the portion 24 and is moved in accordance with the movement of the slide member 61. Further, the cam pin 64 is always pressed downward by a leaf spring piece 37 provided on the cover 30, one end is pressed to the cam groove 63 at a substantially right angle, and the other end is pressed into the bearing portion 24.

  The engaging member 66 is formed of a thin metal plate spring formed by punching and bending a thin metal plate. The engaging member 66 is fixed to a slit groove 61c provided in the slide member 61, and flexible. A spring piece portion 66b having a hook, a chevron-shaped engagement portion 66c formed on the spring piece portion 66b, and a spring piece portion 66b for preloading by locking the spring piece portion 66b to the stopper 27 on the return side. And a locking end portion 66d formed at the tip of the. Such an engaging member 66 presses the fixing portion 66a into the slit groove 61c of the slide member 61 from above, so that the fixing portion 66a is fixed to the slide member 61 via the slit groove 61c, and the front side from the fixing portion 66a. A spring piece 66b extending toward the front of the slide member 61 projects in the card lateral width direction so as to be elastically displaceable. Further, the engaging portion 66c formed in the cantilever-like spring piece portion 66b is disposed so as to protrude elastically in the card lateral width direction on the front side of the protruding portion 61a of the slide member 61.

  The card connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is formed on a printed wiring board built in a housing of an electronic device such as a mobile phone, and each terminal portion 36 of the cover 30 and each first connector. The terminal part 41 of the contact 40A, the terminal part 41 of each second contact 40B and the terminal part 51 of the pair of metal pieces 50A, 50B forming the card recognition switch 50 are each mechanically fixed and electrically connected by soldering. And can be used by mounting. It should be noted that the first contact 40A and the second contact 40B are provided so that each contact pad 4 of the card 1 is electrically connected to a corresponding port of a host (card control CPU) mounted on the board of the device. The terminal part 41 of the first contact 40A and the terminal part 41 of each second contact 40B are fixed and connected to the substrate electrode.

  Next, the operation of the card ejection mechanism 60 of the card connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention accompanying the insertion and removal of the card 1, the contact pad 4 of the card 1, the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A, and the second contact 40B. The relationship between the contact / separation with the contact portion 44 and the operation of the card recognition switch 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 4, 6 to 11, and 12 to 17.

  3 to 4 show a state when the card 1 is not inserted. The spring piece 43 of each first contact 40A and the spring piece 43 of each second contact 40B are in a free state, and the contact 44 of each first contact 40A is in contact with the card 1 when mounted on the housing 12. On the card insertion slot side (front side) with respect to the pad 4 (see FIG. 16), it protrudes in a horizontal row on the upper front portion (front portion of the card receiving space) of the housing bottom plate 14, and the contact portions 44 of the respective second contacts 40B are The upper rear portion of the housing bottom plate 14 behind the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A (rear portion of the card receiving space) so as to contact the contact pad 4 (see FIG. 16) of the card 1 when mounted on the housing 12. Thus, the contact pads 4 (see FIG. 16) of the card 1 when mounted on the housing 12 are projected in a horizontal row within the range of the length W. The spring pieces 53 of the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B forming the card recognition switch 50 are also in a free state, the contact parts 54 of the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B are separated, and the card recognition switch 50 is Is turned off. Further, in the card ejection mechanism 60, the slide member 61 that is constantly urged toward the card insertion slot (front side) by the coil spring 62 moves to the initial position where it abuts against the front stopper portion 22, and the cam pin 64 has a cam groove. 63 is located at the starting point 63a. The engaging member 66 has an engaging end 66d formed at the tip of the spring piece 66b abutting against the stopper 27 provided on the body 13, and the engaging portion 66c formed on the spring piece 66b is a slide member. A front side of the overhanging portion 61a 61 projects into the card storage space.

  FIG. 6 shows a state when the card 1 is inserted into a position where the slide member 61 of the card ejection mechanism 60 is pushed, and the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A and the second contact 40B at that time. FIG. 12 shows the relationship with the contact point 44 of FIG. When the card 1 is properly inserted into the card receiving space of the housing 12 through the card insertion slot 11 from the end where the notch 2 is provided with the back side down, the card 1 slides into the notch 2 of the card 1. While fitting the overhanging portion 61 a of the member 61, it is fitted between the housing left side wall 32 and the slide member 61, and the insertion side end portion of the card 1 abuts on the operation portion 61 b of the slide member 61.

  When the notch portion 2 of the card 1 passes through the engaging portion 66c of the engaging member 66 provided on the slide member 61 as the card 1 is inserted, the engaging portion 66c is arranged on the side surface of the notch portion 2. After sliding onto the side surface portion between the notch portion 2 and the notch 3 of the card 1 with bending to the outside (right side) of the spring piece portion 66b, the insertion side end portion of the card 1 is a slide member. At substantially the same time as contacting the operation portion 61b of 61, the card 1 is fitted into the notch 3 of the card 1 with the elastic return to the inside (left side) of the spring piece 66b facing the notch 3 of the card 1. Thereby, the card 1 and the slide member 50 are engaged and connected in the card insertion / extraction direction, and the state shown in FIG. 6 is obtained.

  Further, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 is a little before the insertion side end of the card 1 comes into contact with the operation portion 61b of the slide member 61. First, the contact pad 4 for power supply is connected to the first contact 40A for power supply. After contact with the contact portion 44, the contact pad 4 other than the power source is the first contact other than the power source substantially simultaneously with the insertion side end of the card 1 coming into contact with the operation portion 61b of the slide member 61. The state shown in FIG. 12 is in contact with the contact portion 44 of 40A, all the contact pads 4 are in contact with only the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A, and are electrically connected to the substrate of the device by the first contact 40A. become.

  7 shows a state immediately before the card recognition switch 50 is turned on, and the relationship between the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the contact part 44 of the first contact 40A and the contact part 44 of the second contact 40B at that time. Is shown in FIG. When the card 1 is further inserted from the state shown in FIG. 6, the card 1 pushes the operation portion 61 b of the slide member 61 to the back side by the insertion side end portion, and the slide member 61 is resisted against the biasing force of the coil spring 62. While pushing inward, the insertion side end of the card 1 is inserted immediately before the operation unit 55 of the card recognition switch 50, and the state shown in FIG. 7 is obtained.

  Further, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 slides back on the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A with the insertion of the card 1 from the state shown in FIG. First, after the contact with the power supply contact pad 4 contacts the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B for power supply, the contact pads 4 other than for power supply use other first contacts other than for power supply. 2 contact 40B contact portion 44, all contact pads 4 contact the second contact 40B contact portion 44, between the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A and the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B. The first contact 40A and the second contact 40B are electrically connected to the board of the device, and the state shown in FIG. 13 is obtained.

  Next, FIG. 8 shows a state when the card recognition switch 50 is turned on, and the contact pad 4 of the card 1 at that time and the contact part 44 of the first contact 40A and the contact part 44 of the second contact 40B. The relationship is shown in FIG. When the card 1 is further inserted from the state shown in FIG. 7, the card 1 is operated to push the operation portion 55 of the card recognition switch 50 to the back side while pushing the slide member 61 further to the back side by the insertion side end. Then, the spring piece 53 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction is bent back, and the contact part 54 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction becomes the contact part 54 of the metal piece 50B on the back side. At the point of contact, the card recognition switch 50 is turned on and the state shown in FIG. 8 is obtained.

  Further, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 slides back on the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A and the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B with the insertion of the card 1 from the state shown in FIG. However, after the contact between the contact pad 4 for power supply and the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A for power supply is cut off first, the contact pad 4 other than for power supply and the contact of the first contact 40A other than for power supply The contact with the part 44 is cut off, and all the contact pads 4 are transferred to and brought into contact with the contact part 44 of the second contact 40B, and are electrically connected to the substrate of the device by the second contact 40B, as shown in FIG. become.

  Subsequently, FIG. 9 shows a state when the card 1 has pushed the slide member 61 of the card ejection mechanism 60 to the most pushed position, and the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A and the first contact at that time. The relationship between the two contacts 40B and the contact point 44 is shown in FIG. When the card 1 is further inserted from the state shown in FIG. 8, the card 1 further pushes the slide member 61 to the back side while holding the card recognition switch 50 by the insertion side end, and the rear stopper portion. 9 is pushed into the most pushed-in position where it abuts against 23 and stops, resulting in the state shown in FIG.

  Further, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 slides back on the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B with the insertion of the card 1 from the state shown in FIG. 14, and is the same as the state shown in FIG. Further, all the contact pads 4 are in contact with only the contact portions 44 of the second contacts 40B, and are electrically connected to the substrate of the device by the second contacts 40B, resulting in the state shown in FIG.

  Next, FIG. 10 shows a state when the card 1 is mounted, and shows the relationship between the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the contact part 44 of the first contact 40A and the contact part 44 of the second contact 40B at that time. 16 shows. When the slide member 61 and the card recognition switch 50 are opened except for the pushing force of the operation portion 61b of the slide member 61 and the operation portion 55 of the card recognition switch 50 by the insertion side end of the card 1 from the state shown in FIG. The member 60 is pushed back from the most pushed position by the biasing force of the coil spring 62, and the card 1 is pushed back from the pushed position to the front side accordingly.

  Then, by the series of operations from the initial position of the slide member 61 described above, the cam pin 64 passes from the starting point 63a of the cam groove 63 through the forward path 63b to the engaging portion 63c on the opposite side to the starting point 63a. When the cam pin 64 is locked to the locking portion 63c of the cam groove 63, the movement of the slide member 61 toward the front side is restricted. Thus, the slide member 61 is held at the card mounting position slightly in front of the most depressed position, and the card 1 engaged and connected to the slide member 61 in the card insertion / removal direction is held at the card mounting position. 12 and the card recognition switch 50 is held on by the insertion side end portion of the card 1, and the state shown in FIG.

  Further, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 slides forward on the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B in accordance with the pushing back from the state shown in FIG. 9 to the card mounting position, as shown in FIGS. Similarly to the state, all the contact pads 4 are in contact with only the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B, and are electrically connected to the substrate of the device by the second contact 40B, resulting in the state shown in FIG.

  10 and 16, the card recognition switch 50 is kept on, and the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the board of the device are electrically connected by the second contact 40B. The power supply to the card 1 from the device side and the communication between the device and the card 1 are possible.

  Next, FIG. 11 shows a state when the card 1 has pushed the slide member 61 of the card ejection mechanism 60 into the most pushed position when the card is removed, and the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the first contact 40A at that time are shown. The relationship between the contact portion 44 and the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B is shown in FIG. When the card 1 is pushed in from the card mounting state shown in FIG. 10, the card 1 moves the slide member 61 from the card mounting position to the back side while keeping the card recognition switch 50 in the ON state by the insertion side end. It pushes in again, it pushes in again to the most pushing position which strikes against the rear stopper part 23, and it stops. By the operation of the slide member 61 from the card mounting position to the most pushed-in position, the cam pin 64 is released from the locking portion 63c of the cam groove 63 and is introduced into the return path 63d to release the position holding of the slide member 61. The state shown in FIG.

  Further, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 slides to the back side on the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B as the card 1 is pushed from the card mounting state shown in FIG. Only the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B comes into contact, and the state shown in FIG. 17 is exactly the same as FIG.

  11 and 17, except for the pushing force of the operation portion 61b of the slide member 61 and the operation portion 55 of the card recognition switch 50 by the insertion side end of the card 1, the slide member 61 and the card recognition switch 50 are removed. When the card is opened, the slide member 60 is pushed back from the most pushed position to the front side while pushing the insertion side end of the card 1 to the front side by the operation portion 61a of the slide member 61 by the biasing force of the coil spring 62 accumulated at the time of card insertion. Then, after returning to the initial position through the state shown in FIGS. 8 to 7, the card 1 is discharged to the state shown in FIG. However, the cam pin 64 passes through the return path 63d of the cam groove 63 and returns to the starting point portion 63a.

  Further, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 is changed to the state shown in FIG. 12 through the state shown in FIGS. 14 to 13 as the card 1 is discharged from the state shown in FIG. That is, it slides forward on the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B and contacts the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A before breaking the contact with the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B. The contact with the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B is cut off in a state where it is in contact with the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A, and the first contact 40A is transferred again to the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A. Only the contact portion 44 of the device and is electrically connected to the substrate of the device even at the discharge position. Here, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 discharged to the discharge position is longer than the contact pad 4 of the card 1 when mounted in the housing 12 on the card insertion opening side, and is the length of the contact pad 4 for the longest power supply. It is in a position displaced more than W (see C in FIG. 1).

  Further, the card recognition switch 50 has the first contact 40A in a state in which the contact pad 4 of the card 1 is in contact with the contact portion 44 of the second contact 40B as the card 1 is discharged from the state shown in FIGS. When the contact portion 44 is contacted, the pushing force of the operation portion 55 by the insertion side end portion of the card 1 is removed, and the spring piece portion 53 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction and the metal piece 50B on the back side. The spring piece 53 returns to the original state before the card recognition switch 50 is turned on, and the contact part 54 of the metal piece 50A on the near side in the card insertion direction extends from the contact part 54 of the metal piece 50B on the back side. At the time of separation, the card recognition switch 50 is turned off (see FIGS. 14 and 8, 13 and 7).

  When the card 1 ejected by the card ejection mechanism 60 is pulled by grasping and pulling the front end portion of the card 1 protruding from the card insertion slot 11 to the outside of the housing 12 with a finger, the engagement portion 66c of the engagement member 66 is 1 slidably comes into contact with the side surface of the notch 3 and rides on the side surface between the notch 2 and the notch 3 of the card 1 with bending outward (right side) of the spring piece 66 b, and the card 1 and the slide member 61. The engagement connection in the card insertion / removal direction is released, and the card 1 can be removed from the housing 12 through the card insertion slot 11. Then, after the card 1 is removed, the state shown in FIGS.

  As described above, in the card connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the card 1 discharged by the card discharge mechanism 60, that is, from the contact pad 4 of the card 1 when attached to the housing 12. On the card insertion port side, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the substrate are electrically connected, and this state is maintained until the card 1 is removed from the housing 12.

  Therefore, after the card recognition switch 50 is turned off and the device detects the removal of the card 1, the card 1 can be safely shut down within the time until the card 1 is removed from the housing 12.

  This is because the card connector as a comparative example having a structure substantially the same as that of the card connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, except that the first contact 40A is not provided, and the card according to the embodiment of the present invention. The connector 10 can be better understood when compared. That is, the time from when the card recognition switch 50 is turned off and the device detects the removal of the card 1 to when the conductive connection between the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the substrate is cut off is as follows: Immediately after the card recognition switch 50 is turned off and the device detects the removal of the card 1, the contact between the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the contact portion 44 of the contact (second contact 40B) is cut off. On the other hand, in the card connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 and the second connector 40B immediately after the card recognition switch 50 is turned off and the device detects the removal of the card 1. Even if the contact with the contact portion 44 is cut off, the contact pad 4 of the card 1 comes into contact with the contact portion 44 of the first contact 40A before the contact is cut off. Longer than the connector, the card recognition switch 50 is turned off, equipment earns time that can be shut down by detecting the removal of the card 1 card 1 safely.

  In the card connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B forming the contact 40 and the card recognition switch 50 are attached to the body 13 of the housing 12 by press fitting. It can also be integrally attached to the body 13 by molding. In addition, the card recognition switch 50 is formed by a pair of metal pieces 50A and 50B that are contacted and separated by the insertion end portion of the card 1, but can also be formed by a pair of metal pieces that are contacted and separated by the side portion of the card 1. . Further, the position holding mechanism 65 of the push / push type card ejection mechanism 60 is formed by a heart-shaped cam groove 63 formed integrally with the slide member 61 and a cam pin 64 that supports one end of the body 13. The groove 63 may be formed integrally with the body 13, and one end of the cam pin 64 may be supported by the slide member 61. Further, the engaging portion 66c of the card ejection mechanism 60 is provided by attaching the engaging member 66, which is a separate member, to the slide member 61. However, the engaging portion 66c may be formed by a resin leaf spring piece integrally formed on the slide member 61. .

  As mentioned above, although this Embodiment showed one Embodiment of this invention, this invention is not limited to it, Various modifications can be implemented within the range which does not deviate from the summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a front view, FIG. 1B is a side view, and FIG. 3C is a rear view showing a micro SD card to be mounted on a card connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the state where the cover which shows the internal structure of the card connector concerning one embodiment of the present invention was removed. It is a top view of the state which removed the cover which shows the internal structure of the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the contact with which the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is equipped. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, it is a top view which shows a state when a card | curd is inserted in the position which pushes the slide member of a card discharge mechanism. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, it is a top view which shows the state just before a card recognition switch turns on. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, it is a top view which shows a state when a card recognition switch is turned on. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, a card | curd is a top view which shows a state when the card | curd discharge mechanism has pushed the slide member of the card discharge mechanism to the most pushed position. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, it is a top view which shows a state when a card | curd is mounted | worn. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, a card | curd is a top view which shows a state when a card | curd pushes the slide member of a card | curd discharge mechanism again to the most pushed position at the time of card removal. In the card connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, the contact pad of the card, the contact portion of the first contact, and the contact portion of the second contact when the card is inserted into a position where the slide member of the card ejection mechanism is pushed in. It is a bottom view which shows a relationship. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, it is a bottom view which shows the relationship between the contact pad of a card | curd just before a card recognition switch is turned on, the contact part of a 1st contact, and the contact part of a 2nd contact. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, it is a bottom view which shows the relationship between the contact pad of a card | curd, the contact part of a 1st contact, and the contact part of a 2nd contact when a card recognition switch is turned on. . In the card connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, the contact pad of the card and the contact portion of the first contact and the contact portion of the second contact when the card pushes the slide member of the card ejection mechanism to the most pushed position. It is a bottom view which shows a relationship. In the card connector which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, it is a bottom view which shows the relationship between the contact pad of a card | curd, the contact part of a 1st contact, and the contact part of a 2nd contact when a card | curd is mounted | worn. In the card connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the card is removed, the contact pad of the card, the contact portion of the first contact, and the second contact when the card pushes the slide member of the card ejection mechanism to the most pushed position again. It is a bottom view which shows the relationship with a contact part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Card 3 Notch 4 Contact pad 10 Card connector 11 Card insertion slot 12 Housing 40 Contact 40A 1st contact (front row of contacts 40)
40B 2nd contact (back side contact 40)
44 Contact part 50 Card recognition switch 50A, 50B Metal piece 60 Card discharge mechanism 61 Slide member 61b Operation part 62 Coil spring (biasing member)
63 Heart-shaped cam groove 64 Cam pin 66c Engagement part

Claims (3)

A housing that is provided with a card insertion slot on one side and a card having contact pads arranged in a row on one main surface so as to be freely inserted and removed through the card insertion slot ;
These contacts are arranged in two rows on the front side and back side in the card insertion direction in the housing, and are electrically connected and disconnected between the card contact pad and the board by contacting and leaving the card contact pad as the card is inserted and removed. When the card is inserted, the card contact pad contacts the front row of contacts on the card insertion opening side of the card contact pad when the card contact pad is mounted in the housing, and the card contact pad contacts the back row of contacts. After that, contact with the front row of contacts is cut off, and only the back row of contacts contacts the contact pad of the card when it is mounted in the housing.When the card is removed, the contact pad of the card is contacted with the back row of contacts. Contact the front row of contacts before breaking the contact of the card. Disconnect the contact with the front row of contacts on the card insertion slot side, and when the card contact pad comes into contact with the front row of contacts when inserting the card, the card contact pad and the board are electrically connected. The electrical contact between the card contact pad and the board is from the time the card contact pad contacts the front row of contacts during insertion until the card contact pad breaks contact with the front row contacts when the card is removed. The contact that holds the connection and disconnects the electrical connection between the contact pad of the card and the board when the contact pad of the card cuts off the contact with the front row of contacts when the card is removed, and
A card recognition switch that is placed in the housing and detects card attachment based on the contact and separation of two metal pieces that respond to card insertion / extraction, and when the card is inserted, the contact pad of the card contacts the contact in the back row. After that, the two metal pieces are contacted and turned on by the card, and when the card is inserted, the card contact pad becomes the back row contact when the card is removed The contact between the pair of metal pieces is maintained by the card until it contacts the front row of contacts in the contacted state and remains on, and the card contact pad contacts the back row of contacts when the card is removed. When the contact is made with the front row of contacts in the closed state, the contact holding of the pair of metal pieces by the card is released, and the pair of metal pieces are separated and turned off. Card connector characterized by comprising comprising a card recognition switch. Any one of a slide member disposed on one side of the housing and provided with an operation portion for pushing the card into the back side by a card, a biasing member that constantly biases the slide member toward the card insertion slot, and the housing and the slide member It has a heart-shaped cam groove provided on one side and a cam pin that supports one end on the other side and moves within the cam groove in accordance with the movement of the slide member. After opening the card, the card is mounted in the housing while the slide member is held at the card mounting position, and when the card is removed, the card is mounted after the slide member at the card mounting position is pushed again to the back side by the card. A card ejecting mechanism for returning the slide member to its original position and ejecting the card mounted in the housing. For example, claim 1 contact pads of the card discharged by the card ejection mechanism is in contact with the contact of the front side a row, also in the card discharged by the card ejection mechanism, for electrically connecting the contact pad and the substrate of the card Card connector as described in. 3. The card connector according to claim 2, wherein an engaging portion that engages with a notch on the side of the card is provided on the slide member of the card ejection mechanism before the slide member is pushed into the inner side of the housing by the card when the card is inserted. .

Images