JPH0426155B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a reading/writing device for a card-shaped storage medium incorporating a semiconductor storage circuit.

(Prior art) As shown in Fig. 1, an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory (EEPROM) and a CPU that controls its operation are embedded in a card-like substrate (c).
Read on the surface. A card-shaped storage medium provided with contacts for connection with a writing device is called an IC card, and is attracting attention as a next-generation data storage means.

By the way, this IC card has a thin substrate for easy portability, so it is prone to warping and bending, and the contact points are small, making it difficult to connect to external devices.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, the present applicant forms an IC card storage body c on the back side of a lid b that rotates vertically around one side of the base body a, and also In some cases, the contact head d is placed in the center to link the opening and closing of the lid b and the setting of the IC card, and as shown in Figure B, the contact head d is placed above the base f to which the contact head e is attached. proposed an IC card reading/writing device in which a card storage body g is movable up and down.

Although these devices have the advantage of being able to form contacts regardless of warpage or bending of the IC card board, they have the disadvantage that the card may rattle within the storage barrel, causing contact failure.

(Objective) In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reading/writing device that can immediately and reliably position an IC card by inserting it.

(Structure) Therefore, details of the present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments.

2 and 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and the reference numeral 2 in the figures indicates a flat portion 2a on one half.
is a frame in which the other half is formed into a U-shaped cross section and an overhang part 2b is provided, and a compression spring 4b is interposed in the overhang part 2b with contact pins 4a, 4a, . . . facing downward. A card attachment detection switch 6 is provided for detecting attachment of an IC card by forming an electric path with a contact head 4 and a conductive member 14 attached to a card receiving member 10, which will be described later. It is constructed by attaching a locking tool 8 biased toward the distal end by a locking member 8a. Reference numeral 10 designates the aforementioned card receiving member, which has a plate spring 12 interposed between a flat plate having a U-shaped cross section at the tip and a stopper 10a provided thereon, and a plate spring 12 interposed between it and the frame member 2, and the stopper 10a is normally lowered. It is rotatably attached to the frame member 2 so as to be on the side.

In this embodiment, the tip of the IC card is placed on the card receiving member 10 with the contacts of the IC card facing upward.
, and insert it until it abuts against the stopper 10a. In this situation, if you press the back end of the IC card downward with your finger,
The IC card rotates together with the card member 10, and its rear end abuts against the locking tool 8. When further pushed downward against the reaction force of the locking tool 8, the rear end is locked as shown in FIG. 4, and at the same time, the contact pins 4a, 4a... contact the contacts of the IC card, It is detected that the conductive member 14 has come into contact with the contact formation detection switch 6 and that the card mounting has been completed;
Information is exchanged with a computer (not shown).
At this time, since the IC card is pressed against the stopper of the receiving member 10 by the reaction force of the locking tool 3,
The positional relationship between the terminal 2 and the contact pins 4a, 4a is maintained constant, and at the same time, no positional shift or instantaneous contact failure occurs due to vibrations or the like.

In this way, when the locking tool 8 is released when the information exchange between the IC card and the computer is completed, the receiving member 10 is rotated in the direction of the front mark A by the spring 12, and the rear end of the card is lifted. It stands still in the state (Fig. 3), and the card can be easily taken out.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and reference numeral 16 in the figure is an IC base having a recess corresponding to the size of the IC card, which also serves to position the IC card. A card accommodating portion 18 is formed, a contact head 20 is attached with the contact pins 20a, 20a, . . . facing upward, and a locking tool 22 is attached to one side.
It is configured with the following. Reference numeral 24 denotes a lid member which is rotatably attached to the other side of the base 16 by a hinge and has a hole 26 formed on the opening side to engage with the locking tool 22, and a plurality of springs 28 at the center of the back side. The press plate 30 is attached via the .

Note that the reference numeral 32 in the figure indicates a limit switch that detects the loading of an IC card.

In this embodiment, when the IC card is placed in the accommodating portion 18 of the base 16 with the contacts of the card facing downward, the IC card is positioned at a specified position.
Contact point 2 (Fig. 1) is contact pin 20a, 20
It comes into contact with a... In this state, when the lid 24 is closed, the pressing plate 30 presses against the top surface of the card and is locked by the locking tool 22. This turns on the limit switch 32, making it possible to exchange information with a computer (not shown). When the engagement of the locking tool 22 is released when the information exchange is completed, the lid 24 opens and the IC card can be removed.

(Effects) As explained above, in the present invention, the IC card is accommodated with at least the contacts provided on the surface of the IC card facing upward, and the rotation biased by the spring so that the tip side is always facing downward. A special card accommodating portion, a contact means provided to oppose the contacts of the IC card, and a locking means for fixing the other end of the IC card with the contacts pressed against the contact means are provided. The contacts can be brought into elastic contact with the contact member without the need for a motion direction changing mechanism, which not only allows for miniaturization, but also actively utilizes the elasticity of the card itself to bring the contacts into contact with each other. The members can be brought into elastic contact and a reliable electrical connection can be ensured.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an IC card, FIGS. 2 and 3 are a plan view and a sectional view of a device showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an operation of the same device. FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view of an apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing A and B.
1 and 2 are cross-sectional views showing an example of a conventional IC card reading/writing device. 2... Frame member, 4... Contact head, 8... Locking tool, 10... Receiving member, 12...
Leaf spring, 18... card accommodating section, 20... contact head, 22... locking tool, 30... pressing plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotatable card accommodating part that accommodates the IC card with at least the contacts provided on the surface of the IC card facing upward, and is biased by a spring so that the tip side always faces downward; and the contacts of the IC card. An IC card reading/writing device comprising a contact means provided to face the contact means, and a locking means for fixing the other end of the IC card with the contact point pressed against the contact means.