JP5547513B2 - Card connectors and contacts - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card connector and a contact. In particular, the present invention relates to a connector and a contact structure that are electrically connected to a memory card such as a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card.

  A memory card, which is a card-type storage device, employs a flash memory as a storage medium. A memory card is very small and consumes little electric power for reading and writing data. For example, it is widely used as a recording medium for portable information devices represented by mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance).

  In recent years, a mobile phone is equipped with a memory card for information management and a memory card for recording. The former information management memory card is, for example, a SIM card, and the latter recording memory card is, for example, an SD (Secure Digital) card.

  In the SIM card, contractor information contracted with a mobile phone company is recorded. The user can be identified by inserting the SIM card into the mobile phone. In other words, by replacing the SIM card, it is possible to use mobile phones of different models that are handled by the same contractor.

  In general, a plurality of connection terminals are exposed on one surface of the SIM card. Then, the bellows-type contact provided in the SIM card connector urges these connection terminals, whereby the SIM card and the SIM card connector are electrically connected.

  The card connector described above is a connector in which the lead portion of the bellows-shaped contact is housed in a housing in a plan view, and is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board. A card connector that can reduce the size of the device is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The card connector according to Patent Document 1 includes a plate-shaped housing having a window portion opened, and a plurality of contacts that are arranged corresponding to the window portion and have base ends fixed to the housing. The contact includes a contact portion that can be elastically deformed in the thickness direction of the housing near the upper surface of the window portion, and a lead portion provided inside the window portion in plan view. The lead portion is branched from the fixed end of the contact so as to be displaced laterally with respect to the contact portion in plan view.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-195466

  However, in the card connector according to Patent Document 1, the contact portion (contact point) of the contact is in elastic contact with the connection terminal of the card when the card is inserted. Therefore, if the cellular phone with the built-in card connector is carelessly dropped, the contact portion of the contact is displaced and the connection between the card and the contact is momentarily disconnected, so-called instantaneous disconnection occurs. there were. For this reason, writing to the memory inside the card is interrupted, and it is inconvenient that the power must be turned on again in order to continue using the mobile phone.

  If a card connector capable of preventing a momentary disconnection between a contact and a card due to an impact or the like can be realized, it is convenient that a mobile phone or the like can be continuously used without interrupting writing to a memory inside the card. The above can be said to be the subject of the present invention.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card connector and a contact that can prevent instantaneous disconnection with a connection terminal of the card.

  The present inventors have found that the contact pressure to the connection terminal of the card is ensured, and the contact structure with the card is prevented by improving the contact structure so that it is not easily displaced by an impact or the like. Based on the above, the inventors have invented the following new card connector and contact.

  (1) A flat housing having a concave portion into which a card is inserted and a window portion opened in the concave portion and mounted on a printed circuit board, and one surface of the card is a predetermined gap from the bottom surface of the concave portion And a plurality of contacts arranged in the housing and connected to the card, and the contacts are fixed to the housing. A fixed piece, an elastic piece that extends from the fixed piece to the window portion so as to incline, and has a contact point that contacts the connection terminal of the card. A card connector having an extending piece toward the window portion, the leading edge of the extending piece being stopped, and the contact applying a predetermined contact pressure to the connection terminal of the card.

  The card connector according to the invention of (1) includes a flat housing, a regulating member, and a plurality of contacts. The housing has a concave portion into which the card is inserted and a window portion opened in the concave portion, and is mounted on the printed circuit board. The restricting member restricts movement of the card in the plate thickness direction so that one surface of the card maintains a predetermined gap from the bottom surface of the recess. The plurality of contacts are arranged in the housing and can be connected to the card.

  The contact includes a fixed piece, an elastic piece that can be elastically deformed, and an extended piece. The fixed piece is fixed to the housing. The elastic piece extends to the window portion so as to incline from the fixed piece. Further, the elastic piece is provided with a contact point that contacts the connection terminal of the card. The extending piece is directed from the flange of the elastic piece toward the window. Then, the leading edge of the extended piece is stopped, and the contact applies a predetermined contact pressure to the connection terminal of the card.

  The housing has an insulating property. The insulating housing may be a housing made of a non-conductive material, and a synthetic resin can be molded to obtain an insulating housing having a desired shape.

  The housing may be provided with a pair of side walls that guide both end edges of the card, and a space surrounded by these side walls can be a recess. A stop wall that abuts the leading edge of the card and stops the card may be provided in the recess. The insertion of the card into the recess may include a form in which the card is directly inserted into the recess, and a form in which the card is placed on the tray and the tray is inserted into the recess together with the card.

  There may be one window portion, or a plurality of windows may be divided in accordance with the number of contacts. The opening of the window portion into the recess includes a form penetrating from one bottom surface (mounting surface) of the printed circuit board from the bottom surface of the recess, and can include a form recessed from the bottom surface of the recess.

  The printed board includes a hard rigid board and may include a soft flexible board. The printed circuit board may include a single-sided board having a pattern only on one side, may include a double-sided board having a pattern on both sides, and may include a multilayer board in which an insulator and a pattern are stacked.

  The regulating member may be a conductive cover plate that covers the recess, or may be a conductive shell that covers the recess and constitutes the outer shell of the card connector. One surface of the card is a surface where a partitioned pattern serving as a connection terminal is exposed, and the card urged by the contact is restricted from moving in the thickness direction so that the contact has a predetermined contact pressure. Can be obtained.

  The contact has conductivity, and a conductive contact having a desired shape can be obtained by punching or bending a conductive metal plate. In consideration of easiness of processing, spring characteristics, conductivity, and the like, for example, a copper alloy is preferably used for the contact, but the contact is not limited to the copper alloy.

  The contact is preferably a cantilever leaf spring called a bellows contact or a cantilever contact. The fixing of the fixed piece to the housing includes a form in which the fixed piece is press-fitted into the housing, and may include an integrally formed form in which the fixed piece is molded into the housing. The fixed piece is preferably formed with a lead portion soldered to the printed circuit board.

  Stopping the leading edge of the extended piece can include a form in which the leading edge of the contact abuts against the leading edge of the branch piece branched from the fixed piece, and the leading edge of the contact is a resist on the printed circuit board. It can include a form that stops by abutting against the part (insulating coating part), and a form where the tip edge of the contact abuts against the bottom surface of the recess (the bottom surface of the window).

  The card connector according to the invention of (1) is configured such that when the card is inserted, the tip edge of the contact is stopped and the contact of the contact applies a predetermined contact pressure to the connection terminal of the card. . Therefore, even if acceleration is applied to the contact by an impact force such as dropping, the contact is not easily displaced (deformed). That is, it is possible to prevent a momentary disconnection between the contact and the card due to an impact or the like.

  (2) A concave portion into which a card is inserted, and a flat housing that is mounted on a printed circuit board and has a window portion opened in the concave portion, and one surface of the card is a predetermined gap from the bottom surface of the concave portion. And a plurality of contacts arranged in the housing and connected to the card, the regulating member for regulating movement of the card in the thickness direction of the card, A fixed piece that is fixed to the card, an elastic piece that extends from the fixed piece to the window portion so as to incline and is provided with a contact point that contacts the connection terminal of the card and is elastically deformable, and the elastic piece An extending piece from the ridge portion toward the window portion, and a first branch piece branched from the fixed piece and extending to the window portion substantially in parallel with a direction in which the elastic piece extends. The branch piece extends The leading edge of stop, the contact with the restriction piece the contact applies a predetermined contact pressure to the connection terminals of the card to the tip.

  (3) A flat housing having a concave portion into which the card is inserted and a window portion opened in the concave portion and mounted on a printed circuit board, and one surface of the card is a predetermined gap from the bottom surface of the concave portion And a plurality of contacts arranged in the housing and connected to the card, the regulating member for regulating movement of the card in the thickness direction of the card, A fixed piece that is fixed to the card, an elastic piece that extends from the fixed piece to the window portion so as to incline and is provided with a contact point that contacts the connection terminal of the card and is elastically deformable, and the elastic piece An extending piece from the ridge portion toward the window portion, and a second branch piece branched from the fixed piece and extending to the window portion so as to intersect the extending direction of the elastic piece. The bifurcated piece is the front Leading edge of the extending pieces is stopped, the contact having a projection which the contact applies a predetermined contact pressure to the connection terminals of the card to the tip.

  The card connector according to the present invention is configured such that when the card is inserted, the leading edge of the contact is stopped and the contact of the contact applies a predetermined contact pressure to the connection terminal of the card. Therefore, even if acceleration is applied to the contact by an impact force such as dropping, the contact is not easily displaced (deformed). That is, it is possible to prevent a momentary disconnection between the contact and the card due to an impact or the like.

  The contact according to the present invention has an advantage that wear on the contact stop side is suppressed because the contact edge of the contact comes into contact with the tip of the branch piece made of metal and stops.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connector for cards by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connector for cards by 1st Embodiment, and is a state figure which attached the cover. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connector for cards by 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the card connector by 1st Embodiment, and is looking at the card connector from a different direction from FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the connector for cards by 1st Embodiment, FIG. 5 (A) is a top view of the connector for cards, FIG.5 (B) is a front view of the connector for cards, FIG.5 (C) is FIG. FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow X1-X1 in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow X2-X2 in FIG. 5A. FIG. 5F is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow X3-X3 in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the contact with which the connector for cards by 1st Embodiment is equipped. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the contact with which the connector for cards by 1st Embodiment is equipped, and is looking at the contact from the direction different from FIG. FIGS. 8A and 8B are longitudinal sectional views for explaining the action of contacts provided in the card connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8A is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of a conventional contact, and FIG. FIG. 8C is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the contact according to the first modification of the first embodiment, and FIG. 8D is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the contact according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the contact according to the second modification of the above, and in each figure, the upper part is a state diagram before the card is inserted, and the lower part is a state diagram when the card is inserted. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connector for cards by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connector for cards by 2nd Embodiment, and is looking at the connector for cards from the direction different from FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the contact of one row | line | column with which the connector for cards by 2nd Embodiment is equipped. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the contact of the other row | line | column with which the connector for cards by 2nd Embodiment is equipped.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
(Configuration of card connector)
First, the configuration of the card connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the card connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the card connector according to the first embodiment, and is a state diagram with a cover attached.

  Referring to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, a card connector (hereinafter abbreviated as a connector) 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a flat housing 1 and a cover 2 serving as a regulating member. The connector 10 also includes four contacts 31 arranged in the front row and four contacts 32 arranged in the rear row.

  Referring to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the housing 1 is mounted on a printed circuit board 1p. The housing 1 has a recess 11 into which the card 1c is inserted. Eight window portions 12 are opened in the recess 11.

  Referring to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the cover 2 can regulate the movement of the card 1c in the plate thickness direction so that one surface of the card 1c maintains a predetermined gap with the bottom surface of the recess 11. The housing 1 is provided with a pair of side walls 11a and 11b for guiding both end edges of the card 1c. Then, the card 1c can be inserted from the opening (slot) surrounded by the cover 2. The card 1c may be placed on a tray (not shown) and the tray may be inserted into the recess 11 together with the card 1c.

  In FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, a partitioned pattern (not shown) serving as a connection terminal is exposed on the back surface of the card 1c. When the card 1c is inserted into the connector 10, the plurality of contacts 31 and 32 can be connected (contacted) to the connection terminals of the card 1c. The connector 10 according to the embodiment has eight contacts, but is configured to be applicable to a card having a six-pole connection terminal.

  Next, the configuration of the connector 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the card connector according to the first embodiment. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the card connector according to the first embodiment, and the card connector is viewed from a different direction from FIG.

  5A and 5B are diagrams showing the configuration of the card connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the card connector, FIG. 5B is a front view of the card connector, and FIG. 5C is a right side view of the card connector, FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5E is X2-X2 in FIG. An arrow sectional view and FIG. 5 (F) are X3-X3 arrow sectional views of FIG. 5 (A).

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a contact provided in the card connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a contact provided in the card connector according to the first embodiment, and the contact is viewed from a different direction from FIG.

  3 or 4, the contact 31 includes a fixed piece 3a, an elastic piece 3b that can be elastically deformed, and an extending piece 3c. Similarly, the contact 32 includes a fixed piece 3a, an elastic piece 3b that can be elastically deformed, and an extending piece 3c. The contact 31 has a first branch piece 3d and a restriction piece 3e. Similarly, the contact 32 has a first branch piece 3d and a restriction piece 3e.

  3 to 5, the fixing piece 3 a of the contact 31 is fixed to the housing 1. A part of the fixed piece 3a of the contact 31 protrudes forward of the housing 1 to form a lead portion 31f that is soldered to the printed circuit board 1p. A part of the fixed piece 3a of the contact 31 protrudes rearward of the housing 1 to form a lead portion 31r to be soldered to the printed circuit board 1p.

  3 to 5, the fixing piece 3 a of the contact 32 is fixed to the housing 1. A part of the fixed piece 3a of the contact 32 protrudes rearward of the housing 1 to form a lead portion 32r that is soldered to the printed circuit board 1p. The lead portions 31r and the lead portions 32r are alternately arranged in a line.

  Here, since the contact 31 and the contact 32 have the same main body composed of the fixed piece 3a, the elastic piece 3b, the extending piece 3c, the first branch piece 3d, and the regulating piece 3e, hereinafter, the contact 32 will be described. This will be described as a representative.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, the elastic piece 3b extends to the window portion 12 so as to be inclined upward from the fixed piece 3a. The elastic piece 3b is provided with a contact 3p that contacts the connection terminal of the card 1c. The extending piece 3c is directed toward the window portion 12 from the top of the elastic piece 3b.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, the first branch piece 3d is branched from the fixed piece 3a. The first branch piece 3d extends to the window portion 12 substantially parallel to the direction in which the elastic piece 3b extends. Further, the first branch piece 3d has a restriction piece 3e at the tip.

  Referring to FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the restriction piece 3e is inverted in a U shape toward the base end portion of the elastic piece 3b, with the distal end portion of the first branch piece 3d being bent. The bottom surface of the regulating piece 3e is in contact with the mounting surface of the printed circuit board 1p. And the front-end edge of the extension piece 3c can contact | abut to the front-end | tip part of the control piece 3e.

(Operation of card connector)
Next, the operation and action of the connector 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the action of the contact provided in the card connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8A is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the conventional contact, and FIG. ) Is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the contact of the first embodiment, FIG. 8C is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the contact according to the first modification of the first embodiment, and FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the operation | movement of the contact by the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment, In each figure, an upper stage is a state figure before a card | curd is inserted, and a lower stage is a state figure in which the card | curd was inserted. is there.

  Referring to FIG. 8A, when the card 1c is inserted into the housing 1, the elastic piece 30b of the conventional contact is bent, and a predetermined contact pressure can be applied to the connection terminal of the card 1c as a reaction.

  However, referring to FIG. 8A, since the leading edge of the extended piece 30c is separated from the mounting surface of the printed circuit board 1p through the window 12, the elastic piece 30b is affected by the impact of dropping the connector. Acceleration acts, that is, a force that separates from the connection terminal of the card 1c acts, and there is a possibility that instantaneous interruption may occur.

  On the other hand, referring to FIG. 8B, when the card 1c is inserted into the housing 1, the elastic piece 3b according to the embodiment bends, and a predetermined contact pressure can be applied to the connection terminal of the card 1c as a reaction. And the front-end edge of the extension piece 3c contact | abuts on the control piece 3e, and is stopped.

  In the state shown in the lower part of FIG. 8B, even if acceleration acts on the elastic piece 3b by an impact force such as dropping, the elastic piece 3b is not easily displaced (deformed). That is, it is possible to prevent a momentary disconnection between the contact and the card due to an impact or the like.

  FIG. 8C shows a modification in which the leading edge of the elastic piece 3b abuts against the mounting surface of the printed circuit board 1p and stops instead of the elastic piece 3b according to the embodiment. FIG. 8D shows a modified example in which the distal end edge of the elastic piece 3b abuts on the bottom surface of the window portion 12 in which the elastic piece 3b is formed and stops instead of the elastic piece 3b according to the embodiment. As described above, the card connector according to the present invention can be variously modified.

[Second Embodiment]
(Configuration of card connector)
Next, the configuration of the connector 20 according to the second embodiment will be described. Note that components having the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment have the same operation, and may be omitted in the following description.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the card connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the card connector according to the second embodiment, and the card connector is viewed from a different direction from FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an appearance of one row of contacts provided in the card connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the contacts in the other row provided in the card connector according to the second embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, the connector 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a flat housing 1 and a cover 2 (see FIG. 2) that serves as a restricting member. The connector 20 includes four contacts 41 arranged in the front row and four contacts 42 arranged in the rear row.

  9 to 12, the contact 41 includes a fixed piece 4a, an elastic piece 4b that can be elastically deformed, and an extending piece 3c. Similarly, the contact 42 includes a fixed piece 4a, an elastic piece 4b that can be elastically deformed, and an extending piece 4c. The contact 41 has a second branch piece 4d and a protrusion 4e. Similarly, the contact 42 includes a second branch piece 4d and a protrusion 4e.

  With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, the fixing piece 4 a of the contact 41 is fixed to the housing 1. A part of the fixed piece 4a of the contact 41 protrudes forward of the housing 1 to form a lead portion 41f that is soldered to the printed circuit board 1p. A part of the fixed piece 4a of the contact 41 protrudes rearward of the housing 1 to form a lead portion 41r that is soldered to the printed circuit board 1p.

  With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, the fixing piece 4 a of the contact 42 is fixed to the housing 1. A part of the fixed piece 4a of the contact 42 protrudes rearward of the housing 1 to form a lead portion 42r that is soldered to the printed circuit board 1p. The lead portions 41r and the lead portions 42r are alternately arranged in a line.

  Referring to FIGS. 9 to 12, the elastic piece 4b extends to the window portion 12 so as to incline upward from the fixed piece 4a. The elastic piece 4b is provided with a contact 4p that contacts the connection terminal of the card 1c. The extending piece 4c faces the window 12 from the top of the elastic piece 4b.

  Referring to FIGS. 9 to 12, the second branch piece 4d is branched from the fixed piece 3a. The second branch piece 4d extends to the window portion 12 so as to intersect the direction in which the elastic piece 3b extends. The second branch piece 4d has a protrusion 4e at the tip.

  Referring to FIGS. 9 to 12, the second branch piece 4 d is refracted at the base end, and the tip end is directed directly below the tip edge of the extension piece 4 c. Further, the second branch piece 4d forms a step from the middle. The bottom surface of the step including the tip of the second branch piece 4d is in contact with the mounting surface of the printed circuit board 1p. And the front-end edge of the extension piece 3c can contact | abut to the processus | protrusion 4e.

(Operation of card connector)
Next, the operation and action of the connector 20 according to the second embodiment will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, when the card 1 c is inserted into the housing 1, the elastic piece 4 b according to the embodiment bends, and a predetermined contact pressure can be applied to the connection terminal of the card 1 c as a reaction. And the front-end edge of the extension piece 4c contact | abuts on the processus | protrusion 4e, and is stopped.

  In the connector 20 according to the second embodiment, even if acceleration acts on the elastic piece 4b by an impact force such as dropping, the elastic piece 4b does not easily displace (deform). That is, it is possible to prevent a momentary disconnection between the contact and the card due to an impact or the like.

  Instead of the elastic piece 4b according to the embodiment, the connector 20 according to the second embodiment may be configured such that the leading edge of the elastic piece 4b abuts against the mounting surface of the printed circuit board 1p and stops. Moreover, it may replace with the elastic piece 4b by embodiment, and you may comprise so that the front-end edge of the elastic piece 4b may contact | abut on the bottom face of the window part 12 drilled, and may stop. As described above, the card connector according to the present invention can be variously modified.

1 Housing 1c Card 1p Printed Circuit Board 2 Cover (Regulating Member)
3a Fixed piece 3b Elastic piece 3c Extension piece 3p Contact 10 Connector (card connector)
11 Recess 12 Window 31 ・ 32 Contact

Claims (2)

A flat housing having a concave portion into which the card is inserted and a window portion opened in the concave portion and mounted on a printed circuit board;
A regulating member that regulates movement of the card in the thickness direction so that one surface of the card maintains a predetermined gap with the bottom surface of the recess;
A plurality of first contacts arranged in the housing and connected to the card,
The first contact is
A fixing piece fixed to the housing;
An elastic piece capable of elastic deformation that extends from the fixed piece to the window portion so as to incline and is provided with a contact point that contacts the connection terminal of the card.
An extending piece from the top of the elastic piece toward the window,
A first branch piece branched from the fixed piece and extending to the window portion substantially parallel to a direction in which the elastic piece extends ;
A regulation piece in which a distal end portion of the first branch piece is bent and inverted in a U shape toward a base end portion of the elastic piece, and a bottom surface is in contact with a mounting surface of the printed circuit board; , has a,
In a state where the card is inserted into the housing, the leading edge of the extended piece is stopped by contacting the regulating piece, and the contact applies a predetermined contact pressure to the connection terminal of the card. connector. A flat housing having a concave portion into which the card is inserted and a window portion opened in the concave portion and mounted on a printed circuit board;
A regulating member that regulates movement of the card in the thickness direction so that one surface of the card maintains a predetermined gap with the bottom surface of the recess;
A plurality of second contacts arranged in the housing and connected to the card ,
The second contact is
A fixing piece fixed to the housing;
An elastic piece capable of elastic deformation that extends from the fixed piece to the window portion so as to incline and is provided with a contact point that contacts the connection terminal of the card.
An extending piece from the top of the elastic piece toward the window,
A second branch piece branched from the fixed piece and extending to the window portion so as to intersect the direction in which the elastic piece extends;
A protrusion whose bottom end is in contact with the mounting surface of the printed circuit board while being refracted at the base end portion of the second branch piece and formed at the tip end portion of the second branch piece going directly below the extension piece. And having
In the state where the card is inserted into the housing, the leading edge of the extended piece is stopped by contacting the projection, and the contact applies a predetermined contact pressure to the connection terminal of the card. .

Images