JP4766338B2 - Card connector with card detection switch - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card connector, and more particularly to a card connector having a card detection switch.

  In order to prevent operation without a card (malfunction), a card detection switch that can detect card insertion / extraction may be provided in the card connector. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-1000083 discloses an example of a card connector having a card detection switch. This card connector is in contact with the first detection terminal that can be displaced in the card insertion direction by contacting the card when the card is inserted into the card accommodation space through the card insertion / extraction opening, and is not in contact with the first detection terminal. Are disposed in proximity to each other and have a second contact portion that can be electrically connected to the first detection terminal by first contacting the first detection terminal when the first detection terminal is displaced in the card insertion direction. The insertion / extraction of the card 11 in the card accommodation space is detected based on the presence / absence of conduction between the detection terminal and the second terminal.

  However, in this type of card detection switch, when the insulation distance between the first detection terminal or the second terminal and the metal cover is short, the top surface of the cover is pushed when the card is operated, and the first detection terminal and the second detection terminal There is a risk that the terminal is short-circuited through the cover, and as a result, the switch is turned on to erroneously detect card insertion / removal. In recent years, miniaturization of devices using card connectors, such as mobile phones, has been progressing, but with this, card connectors are also required to be small and low-profile, and as a result, there is a risk that the switch will malfunction. It is getting higher.

JP 2005-1000083 A

  The present invention has been made to solve these problems in the prior art, and even if the metal cover is pressed and deformed, it does not cause a malfunction (short circuit) in the switch that detects card insertion / extraction. An object of the present invention is to provide a card connector having a card detection switch.

  The present invention provides a contact, a housing in which the contacts are arranged, a metal cover that forms at least an upper part of a card storage space in which the contacts are arranged, and a card in the card storage space through a card insertion / extraction slot. A first terminal that contacts the card when inserted and can be displaced by inserting the card; and is arranged in a non-contact manner with the first terminal, and the first terminal is displaced when the first terminal is displaced in the card insertion direction. A second terminal having a second contact portion that can be electrically connected to the first terminal by contacting with the first contact portion, and depending on whether the first terminal and the second terminal are electrically connected or not. When detecting insertion / extraction of the card, when the metal cover is displaced toward the bottom of the card accommodation space, one of the first terminal and the second terminal is the other Although it may be in contact with the metal cover to have a portion close to the metal cover than the terminal and the other terminal is characterized in card connector having a card detection switch that is not in contact with the metal cover.

  In the card connector, the bottom of the card accommodation space may be formed by the housing or a substrate on which the card connector 1 is placed.

  In the card connector, when the first terminal in contact with the metal cover is further displaced toward the bottom of the card housing space by the metal cover, the one terminal is connected to the metal cover and the metal cover. A portion protruding upward may be provided in at least a part of the housing or the board on which the card connector is placed so as to stretch between the bottom of the card housing space.

  Furthermore, in the card connector, when the metal cover is displaced toward the bottom of the card accommodation space, the one terminal can come into contact with the metal cover before the other terminal. A portion projecting upward is provided in at least a part of the one terminal that can come into contact with the metal cover, or the first terminal in contact with the metal cover is further provided in the card accommodating space by the metal cover. At least a part of the one terminal that can come into contact with the card housing space so that the one terminal stretches between the metal cover and the bottom of the card housing space when displaced toward the bottom. A portion protruding toward the bottom of the card accommodation space may be provided, or both of them may be provided.

  Further, in the card connector, when the metal cover is displaced toward the bottom of the card housing space, the one terminal can come into contact with the metal cover before the other terminal. You may provide the part which protruded toward the bottom part of the said card accommodation space in the at least one part site | part of the said metal cover which can contact one terminal.

  Furthermore, in the card connector, the one terminal and the other terminal may be entirely covered with the metal cover, and at least a part of the other terminal is covered with the metal cover. It does not have to be broken.

  In the card connector, the first terminal and the second terminal may be formed as two leaf springs extending in a cantilever shape from left and right sides in a direction intersecting the card insertion direction. Good.

  In the card connector, the contact portion of the first terminal is provided near the middle of the cantilever portion, and the second contact portion of the second terminal is near the tip of the cantilever portion. May be provided.

  In the card connector, a portion where the one terminal can contact the card may be extended in the same direction as the displacement direction of the contact in the card insertion direction.

  In the card connector, the one terminal and the metal cover may be electrically connected.

  Hereinafter, a card connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 4 show a card connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of the card connector 10, FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views thereof, and FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof.

  The card connector 10 mainly includes a housing (insulator) 20, a plurality of contacts 23 arranged in the housing 20, and a card receiving space 29 in which the plurality of contacts 23 are arranged. And a metal cover 60 configured together with detection switches (first detection terminal 21 and second detection terminal 22) for detecting insertion / removal of the card 11 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). The card 11 is freely inserted into and removed from the card accommodation space 29 through the card insertion / extraction opening 30 provided on one side surface of the card accommodation space 29 in the illustrated arrow “a” direction (card insertion direction). When a predetermined position in the accommodation space 29 is reached, the insertion of the card can be detected by the detection switch (the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22).

  The metal cover 60 can be formed by punching and bending a thin metal plate. When the card connector 10 is assembled, the top of the housing 20, the left and right side surfaces, and a part of the bottom are covered. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the like, when the entire upper part of the card accommodation space 29 including the detection switches (the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22) is covered, dirt contamination and external force There is an advantage that the card connector 10 can be more effectively protected from destruction. Since the upper part of the housing 20 is open, at least a part of the upper part of the card accommodation space is formed by the metal cover 60 by covering with the metal cover 60. The upper part of the metal cover 60 on the side of the card insertion / extraction port 30 has a part 68 cut out by using a curved surface shape in order to facilitate insertion / removal of the card 11. A card pressing piece 63 for preventing the card 11 inserted in the card accommodation space 29 from falling off is displaced slightly on one side of the cutout 68 toward the bottom of the card accommodation space 29. It is formed by. Also, a press-fitting protrusion 64 that can be press-fitted into a corresponding portion (locking hole 34) of the housing 20 when the metal cover 60 is fixed to the housing 20 is formed by bending a part of the upper surface downward. Further, on both side surfaces of the metal cover 60, a locking hole 65 is formed in which a corresponding portion (the locking projection 33) of the housing 20 can be locked (however, in the drawing, the engaging hole provided on one side surface is provided. Only the blind hole 65 appears).

  The housing 20 includes a terminal arrangement portion 37 provided on the card insertion / removal opening 30 side, and first and second arms 35 and 2 extending from the card insertion / removal opening 30 to the opposite side in the card insertion direction on the left and right sides of the terminal arrangement portion 37. The arm 36 includes a connecting portion 38 that extends in a direction crossing the first arm 35 and the second arm 36 and connects the first arm 35 and the second arm 36 on the opposite side of the card insertion / removal port 30. The bottom of the card receiving space 29 may be formed by the housing 20 or, as well shown in FIG. 3, for example, a part 69 of the connecting portion 38 is moved along the movement of the first detection terminal. The card connector 10 may be formed by a substrate (not shown) on which the card connector 10 is mounted.

  The contactor 23 is incorporated into the terminal array portion 37 by integral molding. The terminal arrangement part 37 arranges the plurality of contacts 23 in parallel along the card insertion direction. Each contact 23 has a fixing portion 25 fixed to the substrate on which the card connector 10 is placed at one end thereof, and a pad portion (not shown) of the card 11 inserted through the card insertion / extraction opening 30. A contact portion 24 that can be contacted is provided at the other end. The contactor 23 is provided in the card accommodation space 29 in a state of being slightly displaced upward in the card insertion direction. As a result, the card inserted through the card insertion / extraction port 30 comes into contact with the contact portion 24 with a predetermined contact pressure.

  On each side surface of the first arm 35 and the second arm 36, there are provided a plurality of locking protrusions 33 that engage with the locking holes 65 of the metal cover 60 and fix the metal cover 60 to the housing 20. In addition, a locking hole 34 that press-fits the press-fit protrusion 64 of the metal cover 60 and fixes the metal cover 60 to the housing 20 is provided on the upper portion of the second arm 36 that is formed wider than the first arm 35. By covering the metal cover 60 from above the housing 20, the metal cover 60 and the housing 20 can be fixed through these fixing means.

  The detection switch is disposed in the connecting portion 38. The detection switch mainly includes a first detection terminal 21 and a second detection terminal 22. Both the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 are disposed on the opposite side of the card insertion / extraction opening 30 in the card accommodation space 29 and are integrally formed with the housing 20 in the same manner as the contactor 23. In particular, in addition to the function as a detection terminal, the first detection terminal 21 can be electrically connected to the same circuit as the metal cover 60, for example, a ground circuit. The first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 are supported in a state where they can be elastically displaced in a cantilevered manner from the left and right sides in a direction crossing the card insertion direction. Are formed as leaf springs that face each other, and can be electrically connected to each other through contact between a contact portion 26 provided near the middle of the first detection terminal 21 and a corresponding contact portion 27 provided near the tip of the second detection terminal 22. . The contact portion 26 and the corresponding contact portion 27 are in close contact with each other in the card insertion direction in a non-contact state before the card is inserted into the card accommodation space 29. In the illustrated example, the contact portion 26 is disposed closer to the card insertion / extraction port 30 than the corresponding contact portion 27 in the card insertion direction. However, the contact portion 26 may be disposed on the far side. In order to ensure contact between the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22, for example, it is preferable that the corresponding contact portion 26 of the first detection terminal 21 is driven out toward the second detection terminal 22 side.

  The part where the first detection terminal 21 can first contact the card 11, in the illustrated example, is near the tip of the first detection terminal 21, but in the vicinity of this tip, the displacement direction of the contact 23 in the card insertion direction ( The upper extension 28 is provided by extending in the same direction as the upper direction. As described above, the contact 23 is provided in a state of being slightly displaced upward in the card insertion direction. As a result, the card inserted through the card insertion / extraction opening 30 is moved upward by the action of the contact 23. The contact 23 is contacted while being pushed up. By providing the upper extension 28 corresponding to the upward displacement of the card by the contact 23, the contact between the first detection terminal 21 and the card 11 can be ensured. Corresponding to the upper extension 28, a collision preventing hole 62 is provided on the upper surface of the metal cover 60.

  The functions of the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3, and shows a top view of the internal state of the card connector 10 before the card 11 is inserted into the card accommodation space 29, and FIG. 6 shows the card accommodation space 29. The internal state when the card 11 is inserted is shown in a top view.

  When the card 11 is inserted into the card accommodation space 29 through the card insertion / extraction opening 30, the card 11 comes into contact with the first detection terminal 21, and the first detection terminal 21 is displaced in the card insertion direction. As a result, the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 are brought into contact with each other through the contact portion 26 and the corresponding contact portion 27 and are brought into conduction. Although it is not clear in the drawing, the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 are electrically connected to each other through a substrate on which the card connector 10 is placed in the fixing portions 41 and 42 that are a part of each. ing. Therefore, before the card 11 is inserted into the card accommodation space 29, the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 are connected to each other through the board on which the card connector 10 is placed. By being inserted into the card accommodating space 29, the contact portion 26 and the corresponding contact portion 27 come into contact with each other, and the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 are brought into conduction. The card insertion / extraction in the card accommodation space 29 can be detected based on the presence / absence of the conductive state. The first detection terminal 21 that can be connected to the ground circuit does not have any problem even if it is electrically connected to the metal cover 60 that also functions as a ground. Therefore, contact between the first detection terminal 21 and the metal cover 60 is allowed. It is. In other words, the first detection terminal 21 and the metal cover 60 may be electrically connected. On the other hand, when the second detection terminal 22 that functions only as a signal terminal comes into contact with the metal cover 60, the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 are short-circuited through the metal cover 60. Will cause the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal 22 to be conducted regardless of the insertion / removal of the card, that is, an erroneous detection result that a card is inserted into the card accommodation space 29 is output. End up. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to avoid contact between the second detection terminal 22 and the metal cover 60.

  The metal cover 60 may receive a force from above due to a user's erroneous operation or the like. When receiving a force of a predetermined level or more, the metal cover 60 is displaced toward the bottom of the card accommodation space 29, and as a result, the second detection terminal 22 and the metal cover 60 come into contact with each other. In particular, in a low profile thin connector like the present invention, such a danger is great because the insulation distance between the metal cover 60 and the second detection terminal 22 (first detection terminal 21) is short. In order to prevent the contact between the second detection terminal 22 and the metal cover 60, the first detection terminal 21 is used in the present invention. That is, even when the metal cover 60 is displaced by receiving a force toward the bottom of the card accommodation space 29, by bringing the first detection terminal 21 into contact with the metal cover 60 before the second detection terminal 22, Further, after this contact, even when the first detection terminal 21 is displaced toward the bottom of the card accommodation space 29 by the metal cover 60, the first detection terminal 21 is formed by the housing 20 or the substrate (not shown). The first detection terminal 21 is stretched between the bottom of the card accommodation space 29 and the metal cover 60 so that the second detection terminal 22 and the metal cover 60 are not brought into contact with each other. Further, when there is no member supporting the metal cover 60 downward, there is a risk that the metal cover 60 is plastically deformed. However, the plasticity due to excessive deformation is caused by the first detection terminal 22 being supported. Deformation and the like are prevented. Since the first detection terminal receives a force in the plate width direction of the leaf spring, it can withstand a large force.

  A structure for preventing contact between the second detection terminal 22 and the metal cover 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7. FIG. 7 is a view showing a rear view of the card connector 10 as in FIG. 4, but FIG. 4 shows that the metal cover 60 does not receive a force from above toward the bottom of the card housing space 29. 7 shows the first detection terminal 21 when the metal cover 60 is displaced by receiving a force (a force in the direction of the arrow “A” in the figure) from the upper side toward the bottom of the card receiving space 29. Shows a state in which the first detection terminal 21 is further displaced toward the bottom of the card housing space 29 by the metal cover 60 after the contact.

  Even when the metal cover 60 is displaced by receiving a force toward the bottom of the card housing space 29, the first detection terminal 21 comes into contact with the metal cover 60 before the second detection terminal 22, and the second detection is performed. In order to prevent contact with the terminal 22, an upper protrusion 46 is provided at least at a part of the first detection terminal 21 that can come into contact with the metal cover 60. By providing the upper protruding portion 46, the first detection terminal 21 is brought closer to the metal cover 60 than the second detection terminal 22, so that the first detection terminal 21 is second when the metal cover 60 is deformed. The metal cover 60 comes into contact before the detection terminal 22. Further, after the contact between the metal cover 60 and the first detection terminal 21, the first detection terminal 21 may further be displaced toward the bottom of the card accommodation space 29 by the metal cover 60, so that it contacts the card accommodation space 29. It is preferable that a lower projecting portion 47 projecting toward the bottom of the card housing space 29 is provided in at least a part of the first detection terminal 21 to be obtained. By providing the downward projecting portion 47, even if the first detection terminal 21 contacts and deforms with the metal cover 60, the first detection terminal 21 is located between the bottom of the card accommodation space 29 and the metal cover 60. Therefore, before the metal cover 60 comes into contact with the second detection terminal 22, the metal cover 60 is prevented from being deformed more than a predetermined amount, and a short circuit between the second detection terminal 22 and the metal cover 60 can be effectively prevented. . In addition, you may provide the upper protrusion part 46 and the downward protrusion part 47 over not only the one part site | part of the 1st detection terminal 21, but those whole.

  As another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, instead of providing the upper protrusion 46 and the lower protrusion 47, or in addition to the upper protrusion 46 and the lower protrusion 47, You may provide the part (downward protrusion part) 67 which protruded toward the bottom part of the card | curd accommodating space 29 in the at least one part site | part of the metal cover 60 which can contact the 1st detection terminal 21. FIG. This protrusion can be easily made by punching. By providing the downward projecting portion 67, the first detection terminal 21 is brought closer to the metal cover 60 than the second detection terminal 22, so that the metal cover 60 receives a force toward the bottom of the card accommodation space 29. Even when the first detection terminal 21 is displaced, the first detection terminal 21 comes into contact with the metal cover 60 before the second detection terminal 22, and contact with the second detection terminal 22 can be prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, instead of providing the upper protrusion 46, the lower protrusion 47, and the lower protrusion 67, or in addition to the upper protrusion 46, the lower protrusion 47, and the lower protrusion 67. Then, after the metal cover 60 and the first detection terminal 21 come into contact, when the first detection terminal 21 is further displaced toward the bottom of the card housing space 29 by the metal cover 60, the first detection terminal 21 can be contacted. A portion 66 that protrudes upward may be provided in at least a part of the substrate on which the housing 20 or the card connector 10 is placed. As a result, even when the first detection terminal 21 is deformed in contact with the metal cover 60, the first detection terminal 21 stretches between the bottom of the card accommodation space 29 and the metal cover 60, so that the metal cover Before 60 contacts the second detection terminal 22, the metal cover 60 is prevented from being deformed more than a predetermined amount, and a short circuit between the second detection terminal 22 and the metal cover 60 can be effectively prevented.

  Finally, FIG. 8 shows a modification of the present invention. In this figure, the same members as those shown in FIG. In this modification, a portion that is not covered by the metal cover 60 is provided, for example, by providing a portion 70 in which a part of the metal cover 60 in the card insertion direction on the side opposite to the card insertion / extraction opening 30 is shortened. In this case, although there is a drawback that the second detection terminal 22 is exposed, it is possible to increase the insulation distance between the second detection terminal 22 and the metal cover 60 (infinite in the vertical direction). In addition, the plastic deformation of the metal cover 60 at the first detection terminal 21 can also be prevented. However, instead of providing 70, a hole (not shown) may be provided in a corresponding portion of the metal cover 60.

  Since the metal cover 60 and the first detection terminal 21 (one detection terminal in the claims) can be connected to a ground circuit, the first detection terminal 21 is made to extend by extending a spring piece from the metal cover 60. It can also be formed as part of the metal cover 60. Further, the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal do not necessarily have to be provided on the opposite side of the card insertion / extraction opening 30. For example, the first detection terminal 21 and the second detection terminal are provided on one or both sides of the card insertion opening 30 along the card insertion direction. Also good.

1 is an external perspective view of a card connector 10 according to the present invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a card connector 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a card connector 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a rear view of a card connector 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a top view showing an internal state of the card connector 10 before the card 11 is inserted into the card accommodation space 29. FIG. FIG. 6 is a top view showing an internal state when a card 11 is inserted into a card accommodation space 29. It is a figure which shows the effect | action by this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Card connector 11 Card 20 Housing (insulator)
21 First detection terminal (ground terminal)
22 Second detection terminal 23 Contact 24 Contact part 25 Fixing part 26 Contact part 27 Corresponding contact part 28 Upper extension part 29 Card accommodation space 30 Card insertion / extraction port 33 Locking protrusion 34 Locking hole 35 First arm 36 Second arm 37 Terminal arrangement part 38 Connecting part 41 Fixing part 42 Fixing part 46 Upper protrusion part 47 Lower protrusion part 60 Metal cover 62 Collision prevention hole 63 Card pushing piece 64 Press-in protrusion 65 Locking hole 66 Upper protrusion part 67 Lower protrusion part 68 Notch

Claims (11)

In the card connector,
A contact,
A housing in which the contacts are arranged;
A metal cover forming at least an upper part of a card accommodation space in which the contact is arranged;
A first terminal that can be displaced by card insertion in contact with the card when a card is inserted into the card accommodation space through a card insertion slot;
A second contact portion that is disposed in a non-contact manner with the first terminal and can be electrically connected to the first terminal by contacting the contact portion of the first terminal when the first terminal is displaced in the card insertion direction. A second terminal;
Detecting the insertion / extraction of the card in the card accommodation space based on the presence / absence of conduction between the first terminal and the second terminal,
When the metal cover is displaced toward the bottom of the card accommodation space, either one of the first terminal and the second terminal has a portion closer to the metal cover than the other terminal. A card connector having a card detection switch, wherein the card can contact a metal cover, but the other terminal does not contact the metal cover.   The card connector according to claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the card housing space is formed by the housing or a substrate on which the card connector is placed.   When the first terminal in contact with the metal cover is further displaced toward the bottom of the card housing space by the metal cover, the one terminal is between the metal cover and the bottom of the card housing space. The card connector according to claim 2, wherein a portion projecting upward is provided at least at a part of the housing or the board on which the card connector is placed so as to be stretched by the cable.   The one that can come into contact with the metal cover so that the one terminal can come into contact with the metal cover before the other terminal when the metal cover is displaced toward the bottom of the card housing space. A portion protruding upward is provided at least at a part of the terminal of the terminal, or when the first terminal in contact with the metal cover is further displaced toward the bottom of the card housing space by the metal cover, The at least a part of the one terminal that can come into contact with the card housing space is directed toward the bottom of the card housing space so that the one terminal stretches between the metal cover and the bottom of the card housing space. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is provided, or both of them are provided.   When the metal cover is displaced toward the bottom of the card accommodation space, the one terminal can come into contact with the one terminal so that the one terminal can come into contact with the metal cover before the other terminal. 5. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein a portion projecting toward the bottom of the card accommodation space is provided in at least a part of the metal cover.   6. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein the one terminal and the other terminal are entirely covered with the metal cover.   The card connector according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the other terminal is not covered with the metal cover.   The first terminal and the second terminal are formed as two leaf springs extending in a cantilever shape from left and right sides in a direction crossing the card insertion direction. The card connector described.   9. The contact portion of the first terminal is provided near the middle of the cantilever portion, and the second contact portion of the second terminal is provided near the tip of the cantilever portion. Connector for card as described in 1.   The card connector according to claim 1, wherein a portion where the one terminal can come into contact with the card is extended in the same direction as a displacement direction of the contact in the card insertion direction.   The card connector according to claim 1, wherein the one terminal and the metal cover are electrically connected.

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