JP5198527B2 - Memory card connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a memory card connector having a shutter that covers an opening of a card housing portion while no memory card is inserted, and more specifically, the insertion of an incompatible memory card into a card housing portion is regulated by the shutter. The present invention relates to a memory card connector.

  In the conventional memory card connector, a shutter is attached near the opening of the card housing part into which the memory card is inserted, and when the memory card is not inserted, the shutter is blocked by the shutter and the inside of the card housing part is externally inserted. Prevents dust from entering. The shutter is rotatably supported by the cases on both sides of the card accommodating portion so as not to be an obstacle when the memory card is inserted into the card accommodating portion.

  On the other hand, there is known a memory card connector 100 that is provided with a lock mechanism that locks the rotation of the shutter so as to eliminate the insertion of an unsuitable memory card having a different size or insertion direction with the shutter (Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, the conventional memory card connector 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The memory card connector 100 accommodates a memory card such as a large SD card shown in FIG. 16 in the card housing portion 101 as a compatible memory card 10 and is exposed to the conductive pads 12, 12. A connector for connecting contacts 102, 102,. On the front right side in the insertion direction of the compatible memory card 10 (front left side in FIG. 16), an inclined surface 10a for determining whether the compatible memory card 10 is inserted is formed on the connector side. Accordingly, the conductive pad 12a in the portion where the inclined surface 10a is formed is exposed slightly rearward (downward in FIG. 16) from the other conductive pads 12, and the contact 102a electrically connected to the conductive pad 12a is provided in the card housing portion 101. And projecting rearwardly (to the right in FIG. 14).

  A shutter 103 is stretched behind the opening side of the card accommodating portion 101. The shutter 103 includes an elongated plate-like connecting portion 103a disposed in a direction orthogonal to the card accommodating portion 101, a rectangular engaging portion 103b formed on both sides of the connecting portion 103a, and a lower portion of the engaging portion 103b. It is comprised from the column-shaped axial part 103c continuously provided in the crank shape on the both sides of the connection part 103a. The cylindrical shaft portion 103c is rotatably supported by the side wall 104 of the case forming the card accommodating portion 101, and the shutter 103 is connected to the shaft portion 103c by a torsion coil spring (not shown) wound around the shaft portion 103c. It is biased to rotate around in one direction.

  In addition, a pair of lock spring pieces 105 are arranged along both side walls 104, 104 behind the card accommodating portion 101. A front end of the lock spring piece 105 is fixed to the side wall 104, and in a free state, a detection portion 105 a that curves backward inwardly protrudes in the vicinity of the opening of the card housing portion 101. As shown in FIG. 15, a rectangular engagement hole 105 b is formed in a portion of the lock spring piece 105 facing the engagement portion 103 b of the shutter 103, and the detection portion 105 a protrudes into the card housing portion 101. The rectangular engaging portion 103 b is inserted into the rectangular engaging hole 105 b, and the connecting portion 103 a locks the rotation around the shaft portion 103 a of the shutter 103 that blocks the card accommodating portion 101.

  On the other hand, the lock spring piece 105 rotates outward about the front end when the detection unit 105a is pressed by the memory card inserted into the card storage unit 101, and is engaged when the detection unit 105a is retracted from the card storage unit 101. The hole 105 b is disengaged from the engaging portion 103 a of the shutter 103. Since the horizontal width of the card accommodating portion 101 is a width that allows the compatible memory card 10 to be loosely fitted, when the compatible memory card 10 is inserted forward into the card accommodating portion 101, the left and right lock spring pieces 105 rotate outwardly, The engagement between each engagement hole 105b and the engagement portion 103a of the shutter 103 is released. As a result, the shutter 103 is rotatable around the shaft portion 103a and can be inserted up to a connection position where the compatible memory card 10 is connected to the contacts 102, 102.

On the other hand, when a nonconforming memory card 10 ′, which has a size that can be inserted into the card accommodating portion 101 but is smaller than the conforming memory card 10 and has a short width, is inserted into the card accommodating portion 101, a pair of left and right lock spring pieces Since the 105 detection portions 105a cannot be pressed simultaneously and rotated outward, the engagement between at least one of the engagement holes 105b and the engagement portion 103b is not released, and the shutter 103 is connected to the card accommodating portion by the connecting portion 103a. Rotation is restricted while 101 is shut off. This eliminates the insertion of the nonconforming memory card 10 '.
JP 2007-165011 A

  The above-mentioned memory card connector 100 discriminates the compatible memory card 10 from the lateral width of the inserted memory card, and therefore a detection portion 105a of the lock spring piece 105 that locks the rotation of the shutter 103 is arranged on the side of the card housing portion 101. As a result, the case 104 becomes larger, the mounting area for mounting on the printed circuit board in the vertical direction (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 14) increases, and this is an obstacle to high-density mounting.

  Further, in order to lock the rotation of the shutter 103, it is necessary to separately prepare a lock spring piece 105 and to assemble it to the case 104, which increases the number of parts and adds an extra assembly process.

  Further, in the memory card connector 100 in which the memory card shown in FIG. 16 is the compatible memory card 10, since the inclined surface 10a is formed on the front right side in the insertion direction, the compatible memory card 10 with the conductive pad 12 on the lower surface side is formed. Even if the detection unit 105a on the left side (the lower side in FIG. 14) is retracted from the card storage unit 101 and the engagement hole 105b is disengaged from the engagement unit 103b, the right detection unit 105a is inserted. Does not contact the side surface of the compatible memory card 10, and the engagement between the engagement hole 105b and the engagement portion 103b is not released. As a result, the front end of the compatible memory card 10 comes into contact with the shutter 103 whose rotation is locked before the right detection unit 105a is retracted, and the right detection unit 105a is retracted from the card storage unit 101 and is released. Even when the camera is rotatable, a so-called “memory card sticking” occurs in which the shutter 103 does not rotate. Therefore, the front-rear distance between the left detection unit 105a and the shutter 103 is set so that the front surface of the compatible memory card 10 does not come into contact with the shutter 103 until the detection unit 105a that responds on the side surface on the inclined surface 10a side retracts. It is necessary to set it to L2 or more in FIG.

  Further, even when the compatible memory card 10 is inserted obliquely with respect to the insertion direction in the front-rear direction, the “detection of the memory card” occurs without pressing one of the detection portions 105a, and the shutter 103 rotates. There was a problem that it could not be inserted.

  On the contrary, the above-mentioned memory card connector 100 discriminates the compatible memory card 10 from the width of the inserted memory card. Therefore, even if a non-conforming memory card 10 ′ thinner than the compatible memory card 10 is inserted, a pair of left and right lock springs The detection unit 105a of the piece 105 responds, and the shutter 103 becomes rotatable, and there is a problem that the insertion of the incompatible memory card 10 ′ cannot be excluded.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and provides a memory card connector that can reliably eliminate the insertion of a nonconforming memory card with a simple configuration without increasing the size of the case. For the purpose.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a memory card connector capable of discriminating a nonconforming memory card from the width and thickness of the memory card to be inserted and eliminating the insertion.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a memory card connector that can be inserted even when a compatible memory card is inserted at an angle with respect to the insertion direction.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided with a case in which a card accommodating portion for accommodating a compatible memory card inserted forward from an opening portion opened on the rear surface is formed.
A plurality of contact pieces that are attached to the case and insulated from each other so as to protrude forward in the card accommodating portion, and connected to a compatible memory card accommodated in the card accommodating portion;
Between a blocking position that is pivotally supported by the case and blocks the insertion of a compatible memory card in the front of the plurality of contact pieces, and an open position that allows the compatible memory card to be inserted forward. A shutter that rotates at
A locking mechanism that locks the rotation of the shutter at the blocking position,
The lock mechanism has an inclined surface inclined toward the inner top surface or the inner bottom surface facing the front from the inner bottom surface or the inner top surface of the card accommodating portion parallel to the shutter rotation axis, near the shutter opening. A leaf spring piece,
A first engagement portion formed in front of the inclined surface of each leaf spring piece;
The shutter is formed at a portion of the shutter on the movement locus of the first engagement portion of each leaf spring piece, and engages with the first engagement portion of each leaf spring piece in a free state when the shutter is in the blocking position. And a second engagement portion that is restricted from rotating,
The inclined surfaces of the two leaf spring pieces disengage the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion of each of the two leaf spring pieces when a compatible memory card is inserted into the card housing portion. When a non-conforming memory card whose width is narrower than that of the compatible memory card is inserted, the engagement between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion of at least one leaf spring piece is not released in the card accommodating portion. Face
The height of the second engaging portion in the card accommodating portion is such that when the compatible memory card is inserted into the card accommodating portion, the engagement with the first engaging portion is released and the non-conforming memory is thinner than the thickness of the compatible memory card. A memory card connector having a height at which engagement with the first engagement portion is not released when a card is inserted ,
The case includes an insulating case body, a cover made of a conductive metal plate that covers the upper surface of the insulating case body, and the card housing portion is formed between the insulating case body,
In the two leaf spring pieces, a part of the cover is notched, and the inside of the notch is inclined downward from the inner top surface of the card accommodating portion to form an inclined surface,
Each of the two leaf spring pieces has a bifurcated bifurcated piece bifurcated in an inverted V shape from the front end portion where the first engaging portion is formed to the diagonally rearward direction. The most important feature is a memory card connector whose lower surface is the inclined surface .

  When the shutter is in the blocking position, the second engagement portion of the leaf spring piece is at a height in the card housing portion where the engagement with the first engagement portion is released by insertion of the compatible memory card. When the memory card is inserted in front of the card accommodating portion, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are disengaged by contacting the inclined surface of the leaf spring piece. In addition, the inclined surfaces of the two leaf spring pieces are inserted into the card accommodating portion at an interval at which the first engagement portion of any leaf spring piece is disengaged from the second engagement portion by inserting a compatible memory card. Therefore, the engagement of all the first engaging portions and the second engaging portions is released, the shutter rotates to the open position, and the compatible memory card can be inserted forward beyond the shutter.

  On the other hand, an incompatible memory card having a thickness smaller than that of the compatible memory card does not come into contact with the inclined surface of the leaf spring piece even when it is inserted into the card accommodating portion, or even if it comes into contact with the first engagement portion from the second engagement portion. Since the shutter is not thick enough to release the shutter, its rotation is restricted at the blocking position and cannot be inserted forward. In addition, a nonconforming memory card whose width is narrower than that of the conforming memory card does not simultaneously contact the inclined surfaces of the two leaf spring pieces even when it is inserted into the card accommodating portion, and the first engaging portion of one leaf spring piece is not Since it will be in the state engaged with the 2nd engaging part, the rotation of the shutter is restricted at the blocking position and it cannot be inserted forward.

  A leaf spring having an inclined surface that inclines downward from the inner top surface to the front simply by cutting out a part of the cover made of a conductive metal plate, bending the inside downward, and facing the card housing portion A piece is formed.

  The leaf spring piece has a bifurcated bifurcated piece bifurcated in an inverted V shape into the left and right bifurcated diagonally backward, and since the upper surface or the lower surface of each bifurcated bifurcated piece is the inclined surface, Even if a compatible memory card is inserted at an angle with respect to the insertion direction, the compatible memory card abuts along one of the two inclined surfaces close to the insertion direction, and is formed at the front end of the inclined surface. The first engaging portion moves away from the second engaging portion, and the engagement with the second engaging portion is released.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, one bifurcated piece bifurcated into an inverted V shape is used as one bifurcated piece bifurcated into a V shape left and right obliquely forward. A bifurcated bifurcated branch piece is connected to the other bifurcated bifurcated branch piece, and a first V-shaped front end is formed at the front end of the bifurcated branch piece. A first engagement portion different from the engagement portion is formed.

  A first engagement portion that engages with the second engagement portion of the shutter is formed at two locations, an inverted V-shaped front end portion of the leaf spring piece and a front end portion of the other bifurcated branch piece that branches into a V shape. Is done.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in addition to the lateral width, insertion of a nonconforming memory card whose thickness is thinner than the conforming memory card into the card accommodating portion can be eliminated by locking the rotation of the shutter at the blocking position.

  In addition, the locking mechanism that locks the rotation of the shutter at the blocking position is not formed on the side of the card housing portion, but is formed on the inner bottom surface or inner top surface side case of the card housing portion. The vertical area does not increase, and the mounting area on the printed wiring board does not increase.

  Even if the memory card with the inclined surface on the front in the insertion direction is a compatible memory card, each inclined surface of the two leaf spring pieces abuts the upper or lower surface of the compatible memory card so that it can be retracted in the vertical direction. Compared to the conventional connector in which the detection part of the lock mechanism is retracted on both sides of the compatible memory card, the front-rear distance between the inclined surfaces can be shortened, and the size of the case in the front-rear direction can be reduced.

Moreover, the leaf | plate spring piece which has an inclined surface can be formed from the cover which covers the upper surface of a case, without using a new component.

  Since the cover is made of a conductive metal plate, it is possible to shield the compatible memory card and contacts in the card holder from the outside by grounding part of the cover. Thus, the leaf spring piece and the first engagement portion of the leaf spring piece can be easily processed.

In addition, even when a compatible memory card is inserted with an inclination with respect to the insertion direction in the front-rear direction, the compatible memory card abuts along one of the inclined surfaces of the bifurcated branch piece close to the insertion direction and the leaf spring piece Therefore, the torsional stress due to the contact of the compatible memory card from the inclined direction to the leaf spring piece is unlikely to occur. In particular, in order to reduce the insertion / extraction force of the compatible memory card into the card housing portion, the two leaf spring pieces are thinned to reduce the contact pressure by the leaf spring pieces, so that the board is thin and has reduced torsional strength. Even a spring piece does not cause plastic deformation due to torsional stress.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the first engagement portion that engages with the second engagement portion of the shutter is formed in one leaf spring piece at two locations, the rotation of the shutter is locked in a free state. Increased lock strength.

It is the perspective view which looked at the state which inserts the compatible memory card 10 in the memory card connector 1 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention from diagonally forward upper direction. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a case body 2 and a cover 3. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cover 3. FIG. 3 is a front view of a cover 3. FIG. It is the perspective view seen from diagonally the back of the shutter 4 which attached the torsion coil spring 7. FIG. It is the principal part perspective view which looked at the case main body 2 which supports the shutter 4 and the shutter 4 rotatably. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a memory card connector 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which a leaf spring piece 8 in a free state engages with a shutter 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing a state in which the compatible memory card 10 contacts the leaf spring piece 8. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the compatible memory card 10 is inserted into the card storage unit 6. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state where a nonconforming memory card 10 ′ is in contact with the shutter 4. It is the perspective view which looked at the connector 20 for memory cards and the compatible memory card 10 which concern on other embodiment of this invention from diagonally forward upper direction. 2 is a plan view of a cover 21 of a memory card connector 20. FIG. It is a top view which shows the conventional memory card connector 100 except a cover. It is a principal part perspective view of the conventional connector 100 for memory cards. 4 is a bottom view of the compatible memory card 10. FIG.

  A memory card connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The description of each part of the memory card connector 1 will be made assuming that the vertical direction in FIG. 3 is the front-rear direction, the left-right direction is the left-right direction, and the vertical direction in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the case 30 of the memory card connector 1 includes a case main body 2 having recesses formed on the inside by left and right side walls 2L, 2R and a front wall 2F along the periphery except the rear, The conductive metal cover 3 is assembled along the upper surface of the case body 2, and the metal cover 3 covers the concave portion of the case body 2 from above, so that an opening 6 a is opened on the rear surface of the case 30 therebetween. As a result, the card accommodating portion 6 for accommodating the compatible memory card 10 is formed. That is, the memory card connected to the memory card connector 1 is a compatible memory card 10 shown in FIG. 16, and the width and depth in the left-right direction and the height in the vertical direction of the card housing portion 6 are the same as those of the compatible memory card 10. It is a size that fits loosely.

  The case main body 2 is molded from an insulating synthetic resin, and when the case main body 2 is molded, the front wall 2F is inserted and a large number of contacts 5 are integrally attached in the front-rear direction by insert molding. The contact portion behind each contact 5 protrudes into the card housing portion 6 and contacts the conductive pad 12 of the compatible memory card 10 inserted into the card housing portion 6. As shown in FIG. 16, of the contacts 5, the contact 5 a that contacts the conductive pad 12 a exposed to the rear of the inclined surface 10 a of the compatible memory card 10 is slightly behind the other contacts 5, and the contact portion is a contact portion. It is attached so as to face the accommodating portion 6.

  Between the left and right side walls 2L, 2R in front of the case body 2, a discharge plate 13 is slidable before and after the contact portion of the contact 5, and the discharge plate 13 is placed in the right frame portion of the case body 2. A well-known push-push is provided by a link that is urged rearward by the attached compression spring 14 and that is pivotably connected to a heart cam groove formed in the front right frame portion. A mold ejection mechanism is configured. That is, when the compatible memory card 10 to be inserted forward of the card accommodating portion 6 abuts against the discharge plate 13 and is inserted further forward against the compression spring 14, the link engages with the lock position of the heart cam groove and is discharged. The plate 13 is positioned at the lock position, and the compatible memory card 10 is held even when the insertion force is released in a state of being connected to the contact 5. Further, when the compatible memory card 10 is further pushed in from this state, the link is released from the lock position of the heart cam groove, and is urged by the compression spring 14, so that the compatible memory card 10 is discharged from the card accommodating portion 6 by the discharge plate 13.

  In the vicinity of the opening of the card accommodating portion 6 further rearward between the left and right side walls 2L, 2R of the case main body 2, a shutter 4 is rotatably spanned. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the shutter 4 is integrated with a blocking plate 4 a formed in an elongated strip shape that blocks the card accommodating portion 6, and a position slightly deviated downward from both longitudinal ends of the blocking plate 4 a. Corresponding to each of the pivot shafts 4b and 4b having a U-shaped cross-section provided continuously to each other and each of the engagement holes 8a of two leaf spring pieces 8 to be described later, the portions of the blocking plate 4a below the engagement holes 8a And a pair of engaging plate portions 4c and 4c which are erected.

  The right pivot 4b of the shutter 4 is inserted through the spiral winding portion 7a of the torsion coil spring 7. The outer end portion 7b of the torsion coil spring 7 projects linearly along the radial direction of the spiral winding portion 7a. The other end 7c on the inner side is bent into a crank shape and is in contact with the front surface of the blocking plate 4a.

  Bearing holes 9 for pivotally supporting the pivot shafts 4b and 4b are formed through the side walls 2L and 2R in the left and right side walls 2L and 2R around which the shutter 4 is stretched. Among these, as shown in FIG. 6, a pivot 4b to which a torsion coil spring 7 is attached is inserted into the bearing hole 9 formed in the side wall 2R, and the spiral winding portion 7a and the bearing hole 9 are inserted into the bearing hole 9. The pivot 4b is loosely inserted, and one end portion 7b of the torsion coil spring 7 to which torque is applied at the time of assembly in the narrow groove 9a communicating from the bearing hole 9 to the upper surface of the side wall 2R is positioned and accommodated. As a result, the shutter 4 is supported by the case body 2 so as to be rotatable about pivots 4b and 4b, and is rotated clockwise by the torsion coil spring 7 (hereinafter, this direction is called clockwise). Energized as follows.

  The right end of the blocking plate 4a of the shutter 4 is a stopper piece 4d bent at a right angle to the rear. 4 d of stopper pieces contact | abut to the inner wall face 2a (refer FIG. 6) which faces ahead in the hole 9 vicinity, and the rotation is controlled. In the shutter 4 in which the stopper piece 4d is in contact with the inner wall surface 2a, the blocking plate 4a rises along the vertical surface and blocks the card accommodating portion 6. In this state, the height of the engagement plate portion 4 c of the shutter 4 from the inner bottom surface of the card housing portion 6 is a height h lower than the thickness of the compatible memory card 10. When a pressing force is applied to the blocking plate 4a standing along the vertical surface in the forward direction against the torque of the coil spring 7, the shutter 4 rotates counterclockwise around the bearing holes 9 and 9. Accordingly, when the compatible memory card 10 to be inserted in front of the card housing portion 6 comes into contact with the blocking plate 4a of the shutter 4, the blocking plate 4a rotates counterclockwise, gets over the blocking plate 4a and further passes through the card storing portion 6a. It can be inserted forward.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the metal cover 3 is formed by bending the left and right sides of a rectangular conductive metal plate so as to surround the left and right side walls 2L, 2R of the case body 2 from the outside. It is attached so as to cover the concave portion, and the front plane thereof is located at two locations of the erroneous insertion prevention piece 15 formed by being cut out in a U shape toward the right side and the plane near the rear opening. Are integrally provided with two leaf spring pieces 8, 8 formed by being cut and raised in an inverted V shape toward the front.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 is cantilevered integrally with the center side of the metal cover 3 plane toward the right as a base end 15a, and its rear side 15b as viewed in the vertical direction is left and right. It is parallel to the direction and orthogonal to the insertion direction of the compatible memory card 10. Further, the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 is bent obliquely downward near the center, and the free end side from the center inclined obliquely downward is within the card accommodating portion 6, and the inclined surface 10 a of the compatible memory card 10 is the card accommodating portion 6. It faces the trajectory that moves inside. Thus, in the compatible memory card 10 inserted in a normal posture, the upper end of the inclined surface 10 a comes into contact with the lower end of the rear side surface of the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15.

  While the erroneous insertion prevention piece 15 is inclined downward toward the right side, the inclined surface 10a of the compatible memory card 10 is inclined rearward toward the right side. With the movement, the contact position moves to the free end side (right side) along the rear side surface of the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15. Since the height from the inner bottom surface of the inclined surface 10a that contacts the erroneous insertion prevention piece 15 does not change, the height of the contact position does not change, and the erroneous insertion prevention piece 15 is pushed upward to retreat from the card storage portion 6. It is done. On the other hand, the compatible memory card 10 that is inserted in an incorrect posture in which the inclined surface 10a is not on the right front has a contact surface with the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 parallel to the rear side surface of the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15. The forward insertion is restricted by the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 which does not change the contact position and does not retract upward.

  Incidentally, the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 whose free end is bent obliquely downward faces the card accommodating portion 6 at the lowest position, but here, at least the inner bottom surface of the card accommodating portion 6 at the free end Is less than the height h of the engagement plate 4c of the shutter 4. As a result, the suitable memory card 10 having a thickness of h or more inserted by rotating the shutter 4 is surely brought into contact with the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 regardless of the insertion posture, and the suitable memory card 10 having the correct insertion posture is provided. Only can be inserted further.

  The leaf spring piece 8 cut and raised from the metal cover 3 is formed in an inverted V shape toward the front by branching the branch pieces 8b and 8b diagonally rearward from the front end portion. The surrounding metal cover 3 along the contour is cut out leaving the rear ends of the branch pieces 8b, 8b, and cantilevered forward with the rear ends of the branch pieces 8b, 8b as the base ends. The leaf spring piece 8 is bent obliquely downward toward the front at the base end, and as shown in FIG. 8, the engagement plate portion 4 c of the shutter 4 is inserted into the front end portion which becomes the lowermost end when bent. An engagement hole 8a is formed for engagement. That is, the engagement plate portion 4c of the shutter 4 is erected at a position below the engagement hole 8a of the leaf spring piece 8, and external force is applied to the leaf spring piece 8 bent obliquely downward from the base end toward the front. As shown in FIG. 8, the engaging plate portion 4c is configured to be inserted into the engaging hole 8a at the front end portion of the leaf spring piece 8 inclined downward as shown in FIG.

  In the free state, the height of the engagement hole 8a through which the engagement plate portion 4c of the shutter 4 having a height h from the inner bottom surface of the card housing portion 6 is inserted is at least lower than the height h, so that the compatible memory card is thicker than the height h. If 10 is inserted, it will contact | abut to the lower surface of the branch pieces 8b and 8b branched diagonally to the left and right of the sheet spring piece 8, and will push up the engagement hole 8a in the front-end part. In the present embodiment, since the lower surfaces of the branch pieces 8b, 8b are inclined to the left and right with respect to the insertion direction in the front-rear direction, even if the compatible memory card 10 is inserted obliquely into the card housing portion 6, the insertion The entire leaf spring piece 4 is moved upward by abutting against the lower surface of either the right or left branch piece 8b, 8b approaching in the direction, and the matching memory card 10 is obliquely brought into contact with the leaf spring piece 8 to be twisted and plastically deformed. There is no waking.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the above-described leaf spring pieces 8 are formed such that the two leaf spring pieces 8, 8 are separated from the left and right behind the plane of the metal cover 3. Accordingly, the engagement plate portions 4c are formed at two portions of the shutter 4 below the engagement holes 8a of the plate spring pieces 8, 8. The distance between the two leaf spring pieces 8 and 8 in the left and right direction is such that when the compatible memory card 10 is inserted into the card housing portion 6, the engagement holes 8 a of any of the leaf spring pieces 8 and 8 are retracted upward, The interval is such that the engagement with the corresponding engagement plate portion 4c is released. That is, the distance between the left and right of the branch piece 8b of one leaf spring piece 8 and the branch piece 8b of the other leaf spring piece 8 with which the compatible memory card 10 abuts is at a position that is at least narrower than the width of the compatible memory card 10. Leaf spring pieces 8 and 8 are formed.

  Next, the case where the non-compliant memory card 10 having a shape different from that of the compatible memory card 10 and the compatible memory card 10 is inserted into the thus configured memory card connector 1 will be described. In a standby state in which no memory card is stored in the card storage portion 6, the shutter 4 biased clockwise by the torsion coil spring 7 has the stopper piece 4d abutting against the inner wall surface 2a of the case body 2 and the blocking plate 4a Since the positioning is performed while standing in the vertical direction, the standing blocking plate 4 a covers the vicinity of the opening of the card housing portion 6, thereby preventing dust from entering the card housing portion 6. Further, in this standby state, the plate spring pieces 8 and 8 are in a free state in which no external force is applied, and the engagement plate portions 4c corresponding to the engagement holes 8a of the plate spring pieces 8 are provided as shown in FIG. It is inserted.

  When the compatible memory card 10 is inserted into the card housing portion 6 with the inclined surface 10a on the front right side into the memory card connector 1 in the standby state, the bifurcated piece 8b of the two left and right leaf spring pieces 8 and 8 is inserted. The front end of the compatible memory card 10 comes into contact with the lower surface of the card. By inserting the compatible memory card 10 thicker than the height h of the engagement plate portion 4c into the front, the engagement holes 8a of the left and right leaf spring pieces 8, 8 are retracted upward as shown in FIG. The engagement with the plywood part 4c is released. Since the shutter 4 is disengaged from each of the two engaging plate portions 4c, the shutter 4 is rotatable about the pivot 4b.

  Here, since the conforming memory card 10 has the inclined surface 10a on the front right side, the response of the right leaf spring piece 8 is delayed, but it contacts the upper end of the inclined surface 10a of the compatible memory card 10 and reacts. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, the distance L1 from the front end with which the left leaf spring piece 8 abuts is shorter than L2 which responds on the side surface, and before the front end of the compatible memory card 10 abuts against the shutter 4, the right side The engagement hole 8a of the leaf spring piece 8 and the engagement plate portion 4c are disengaged, and the shutter 4 is rotatable.

  Therefore, the compatible memory card 10 in contact with the shutter 4 can be inserted further forward by rotating the blocking plate 4 a counterclockwise against the torque of the torsion coil spring 7, and the inside of the card storage 6 Over the blocking plate 4a rotated to the bottom, the inclined surface 10a on the right side of the front end is inserted to the contact position shown in FIG.

  When the inclined surface 10a inclined rearward toward the right is brought into contact with the rear side surface of the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15, the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 is pushed upward to be retracted from the card accommodating portion 6. The conductive pad 12 is inserted to the connection position where it contacts the contact 5. In this state, even if the forward insertion force is released, the above-mentioned push-push type eject mechanism holds the compatible memory card 10 at the connection position.

  When the compatible memory card 10 is ejected from the card housing portion 6, when the compatible memory card 10 is further pushed in from the connection position, the conforming memory card 10 is moved to the card housing portion by the ejection plate 13 biased rearward by the compression spring 14. 6 is discharged. When the compatible memory card 10 is ejected, the shutter 4 biased by the torsion coil spring 7 rotates clockwise until the stopper piece 4d comes into contact with the inner wall surface 2a, and the engagement plate portion 4c protrudes upward to shut off. It returns to the standby state in which the plate 4a stands. Thereafter, since the leaf spring pieces 8 and 8 are also in a free state where no external force is applied, the engagement hole 8a at the front end thereof is lowered and engaged with the engagement plate portion 4c, and the rotation of the shutter 4 is locked again. .

  Next, a small non-conforming memory card 10 ′ which is of a size that can be inserted into the card housing portion 6 of the memory card connector 1, but whose width is narrower or thinner than that of the compatible memory card 10, is transferred to the card housing portion 6. The case where it is inserted will be described. In the standby state of the memory card connector 1, as described above, the two engaging plate portions 4c of the shutter 4 are engaged with the engaging holes 8a of the left and right leaf spring pieces 8, 8, respectively. The rotation around 4b is locked.

  When an incompatible memory card 10 'thinner than the height h of the engaging plate portion 4c is inserted, the bottom surface of the leaf spring pieces 8, 8 as shown in FIG. Since the engagement hole 8a at the front end cannot be retracted upward, the engagement with the engagement plate portion 4c is not released, and the rotation of the shutter 4 is locked with the blocking plate 4a standing up. ing. Therefore, the incompatible memory card 10 ′ cannot be inserted forward by rotating the shutter 4.

  In addition, when a nonconforming memory card 10 ′ whose width is narrower than that of the conforming memory card 10 is inserted into the card housing portion 6, one leaf spring piece 8 formed so that the lateral width of the nonconforming memory card 10 ′ is separated from the left and right. The distance between the branch piece 8 b and the branch piece 8 b of the other leaf spring piece 8 is less than the distance between the other branch spring pieces 8 and abuts against the branch piece 8 b of one of the leaf spring pieces 8. As a result, the engagement hole 8a of the leaf spring piece 8 on the side where the nonconforming memory card 10 'contacts the branch piece 8b is disengaged from the engagement plate portion 4c of the shutter 4, but the leaf spring piece on the other side. 8, the engagement holes 8a are not disengaged from the corresponding engagement plate portions 4c, and the shutter 4 maintains the locked state in which the rotation is restricted. Accordingly, the non-conforming memory card 10 'having a small width cannot be inserted forward by the standing blocking plate 4a.

  Further, even if the memory card 10 is compatible, if the insertion direction is greatly inclined to the extent orthogonal to any one of the branch pieces 8b, the branch piece 8b of any one of the leaf spring pieces 8 is inserted. Does not touch Therefore, the insertion of the compatible memory card 10 inserted in such an abnormal insertion direction is also restricted by the shutter 4.

  In the locking mechanism using the shutter 4 and the leaf spring piece 8 according to the present invention, the compatible memory card 10 can be inserted from the thickness and the width, so that the wrong insertion posture can be adapted by reversing the front and back or the front and back. Even the memory card 10 can be inserted forward by rotating the shutter 4. Thus, the suitable memory card 10 inserted in the wrong posture by rotating the shutter 4 does not have the inclined surface 10a at the portion where the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 abuts, and the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15 can be retracted upward. Therefore, the insertion to the front is restricted by the erroneous insertion preventing piece 15, and the conductive pads 12 cannot be inserted to the connection positions where they contact the contacts 5.

  In the first embodiment described above, even if the leaf spring piece 8 is bifurcated to be inclined with respect to the insertion direction, and the compatible memory card 10 is inserted obliquely, an excessive torsional stress is generated in the leaf spring piece 8. However, the engagement portion (engagement hole 8a) is not connected to the engagement portion (engagement plate portion 4c) of the shutter 4 by the compatible memory card 10 inserted in the front. Any shape can be used as long as it has an inclined surface from the front to the rear so as to move away from the engagement.

  Further, the leaf spring piece may be formed by adding a branch piece in the left-right direction and continuing the branch piece branching in a V shape toward the front. 12 and 13 show the memory card connector 20 and its cover 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the cover 21 is divided into left and right parts like the leaf spring piece 8. Of the leaf spring pieces 22 provided, a branch piece 22br ′ that is branched in a V shape toward the front is added to the right leaf spring piece 22R. That is, the right branch piece 22br of the left and right bifurcated branch pieces 22bl and 22br formed in an inverted V shape toward the front is used as a left and right bifurcated branch piece bifurcated left and right obliquely in a V shape. The V-shaped branch piece 22br ′ is added to the right side, and it is integrally cut up so as to incline downward toward the front. An engaging hole 22a 'is formed at the front end of the branch piece 22br' similarly to the engaging hole 22a formed at the inverted V-shaped front end. Further, on the shutter 4 side, in addition to the engagement plate portions 4c and 4c erected below the engagement holes 22a and 22a, the engagement hole in the free state of the leaf spring piece 22R below the engagement hole 22a ′. An engaging plate portion 4c that engages with 22a 'is erected. As a result, when the shutter 4 is in the blocking position, the engagement portions on the leaf spring piece 22 side of the shutter 4 and the cover 21 are engaged at three positions, and the rotation of the shutter 4 is more firmly regulated. .

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the engagement plate portion serving as the engagement convex portion is formed on the shutter 4 side, and the engagement holes 8a and 22a serving as the engagement concave portions are formed on the plate spring pieces 8 and 22 side. As long as the spring pieces 8 and 22 are engaged in a free state and the engagement is released by the displacement of the leaf spring pieces 8 and 22, the engagement convex portion and the engagement concave portion may be provided in either.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the leaf spring pieces 8 and 22 are formed on the cover 3 and 21 side. However, the leaf spring pieces 8 and 22 are inclined upward and obliquely forward from the case body 2 side serving as the inner bottom surface of the card housing portion 6. You may form in. In this case, the engaging plate portion 4c of the shutter 4 that is suspended from the inner top surface of the opposing card housing portion 6 has a length slightly shorter than the thickness of the compatible memory card 10 to the inner top surface.

  Moreover, although the shutter 4 was demonstrated in the example pivoted by the case main body 2, it may be pivoted by the cover 2 and 21 side.

  In addition, the torsion coil spring 7 is used to return the shutter 4 to the blocking position. However, the shutter 4 is suspended and supported so as to block the card housing portion 6 in a free state, and the shutter 4 returns to the blocking position by its own weight. You may do it.

  Suitable for memory card connectors that connect memory cards to electronic devices such as mobile phones.

1 Memory card connector 2 Insulation case body 3 Cover (metal cover)
4 Shutter 4b Pivot (shutter rotation axis)
4c engagement plate part (second engagement part)
5 Contact piece 6 Card receiving portion 8 Leaf spring piece 8a Engagement hole (first engagement portion)
8b Branch piece 10 Compatible memory card 30 Case

Claims (2)

A case in which a card accommodating portion for accommodating a compatible memory card inserted forward from an opening opening on the rear surface is formed;
A plurality of contact pieces that are attached to the case and insulated from each other so as to protrude forward in the card accommodating portion, and connected to a compatible memory card accommodated in the card accommodating portion;
Between a blocking position that is pivotally supported by the case and blocks the insertion of a compatible memory card in the front of the plurality of contact pieces, and an open position that allows the compatible memory card to be inserted forward. A shutter that rotates at
A locking mechanism that locks the rotation of the shutter at the blocking position,
The lock mechanism has an inclined surface inclined toward the inner top surface or the inner bottom surface facing the front from the inner bottom surface or the inner top surface of the card accommodating portion parallel to the shutter rotation axis, near the shutter opening. A leaf spring piece,
A first engagement portion formed in front of the inclined surface of each leaf spring piece;
The shutter is formed at a portion of the shutter on the movement locus of the first engagement portion of each leaf spring piece, and engages with the first engagement portion of each leaf spring piece in a free state when the shutter is in the blocking position. And a second engagement portion that is restricted from rotating,
The inclined surfaces of the two leaf spring pieces disengage the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion of each of the two leaf spring pieces when a compatible memory card is inserted into the card housing portion. When a non-conforming memory card whose width is narrower than that of the compatible memory card is inserted, the engagement between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion of at least one leaf spring piece is not released in the card accommodating portion. Face
The height of the second engaging portion in the card accommodating portion is such that when the compatible memory card is inserted into the card accommodating portion, the engagement with the first engaging portion is released and the non-conforming memory is thinner than the thickness of the compatible memory card. A memory card connector having a height at which engagement with the first engagement portion is not released when a card is inserted ,
The case includes an insulating case body, a cover made of a conductive metal plate that covers the upper surface of the insulating case body, and the card housing portion is formed between the insulating case body,
In the two leaf spring pieces, a part of the cover is notched, and the inside of the notch is inclined downward from the inner top surface of the card accommodating portion to form an inclined surface,
Each of the two leaf spring pieces has a bifurcated bifurcated piece bifurcated in an inverted V shape from the front end portion where the first engaging portion is formed to the diagonally rearward direction. A memory card connector, wherein a lower surface is the inclined surface . One bifurcated piece bifurcated into an inverted V shape is used as one bifurcated piece bifurcated into a V shape left and right diagonally forward, and a V-shaped bifurcated piece bifurcated into an inverted V shape. The other bifurcated bifurcated branch piece is connected in series, and a first engaging portion different from the first engaging portion formed at the front end portion of the inverted V-shape is provided at the front end portion of the provided bifurcated piece. The memory card connector according to claim 1 , wherein the memory card connector is formed.

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