JPH10228964A - Ic card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a lock mechanism so as to lower the cost by inserting an IC card into an IC card insertion port, and moving a card loading plate and a cover member backward with the inserted card, and connecting the inserted card to a contact of a connector without sliding it, and holding the connection with the elasticity of an elastic member. SOLUTION: When an IC card, which is inserted from an IC card insertion port 22a of a connector main body, is sufficiently pushed, a card loading plate 24, which is pushed by the IC card, is raised at the predetermined quantity, and thereafter, it is moved backward, and a cover member 23, which is pushed by the IC card 1, is moved backward with the card loading plate 24. Plural contacts formed in the IC card contact with a connecting part 25a of a corresponding contact at the predetermined contact pressure, and the IC card is pushed to the card loafing plate 24 by the elasticity generated by the compression of the elastic member 27. Pushing force of the card loading plate 24 is transmitted to a connector main body 22, and works as the force for preventing loose-out of the IC card 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a magnetic card type IC.
An IC card connector for connecting / disconnecting a card, for example, an IC card generally called a money card,
The present invention relates to an IC card connector having a contact for connecting a connection electrode formed on a card to a predetermined device, and holding the IC card in a state where the connection electrode and the contact are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of an IC card, and FIG.
It is explanatory drawing of the IC card lock mechanism of a card connector.

FIG. 6 shows a standardized IC card 1
Houses the IC element 2, and the eight external connection electrodes (connection electrodes) 3 of the IC element 2 are aligned and exposed on the surface of a predetermined position of the card body made of resin.

[0004] Such an IC card 1 is used by being inserted into an insertable and removable IC card connector. Generally, a connection electrode 3 of the IC card 1 and a contact of the IC card connector connected to each of the plurality of connection electrodes 3 are used. The contact pressure is given by the spring elasticity of the contact, and its value is about 50 g / piece.

Accordingly, when the number of the connection electrodes 3 is eight, the contact pressure between all the connection electrodes 3 and the contacts is about 400 g, and the contact between the connection electrodes 3 of the inserted IC card 1 and the contacts of the IC card connector is reduced. In order to maintain, the IC card connector generally has a mechanical locking mechanism.

[0006] In FIG. 7, there is shown a conventional I which shows only necessary parts.
The C card connector 5 has a lock mechanism including members 7 to 10 incorporated in a housing member 6. The members 7 to 9 are movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the IC card insertion slot 6a in front of the housing member 6, and the member 10 has an end closer to the IC card insertion slot 6a as the member 9 moves back and forth. It rotates in a direction to close the IC card insertion slot 6a.

The member 7 has a projection 7a pressed by the insertion leading edge of the inserted IC card 1, a projection 7b and an elongated hole 7c linked to the member 8, and the elongated hole 7c
A pin 11 implanted in the vicinity of one end is slidably fitted.

In the vicinity of the other end of the member 8, a member 9 is connected by a pin 12, and the member 9 is formed with a groove 9a inclined at an appropriate angle with respect to the IC card insertion slot 6a. .

In the inclined groove 9a of the member 8, the pin 1
The pin 14 implanted in the member 10 supported by the third member 3 is fitted. Then, when the IC card 1 is inserted into the IC card connector 5 from the IC card insertion slot 6a and the tip of the IC card 1 pushes the projection 7a of the member 7, the retreat operation of the member 7 is performed via the members 8 and 9. The pin 14 of the member 10 is moved to the left in the drawing.

Then, the front end portion of the member 10 rotates in a direction to close the IC card insertion slot 6a of the IC card connector 5, and a curved side 10a formed inside at the front end portion has an IC.
The insertion end of the card 1 is suppressed, whereby the IC card 1 is fixed in the IC card connector 5, and the electrical connection between the IC card 1 and the IC card connector 5 is maintained.

The arrows shown in FIG. 7 indicate the operating directions of the movable parts of the members 7 to 9 or 10 when the IC card 1 is inserted, and guides necessary for the operations of the members 7 to 9 are shown. Is omitted.

[0012]

As described above,
In order to prevent the IC card inserted into the conventional IC card connector from falling off, a lock mechanism including a plurality of mechanical components and a space for accommodating the lock mechanism are required.
Removing the C card also requires a means (an eject mechanism) for releasing the lock. Therefore, it has been difficult to reduce the size and cost of the conventional IC card connector.

Also, some users have requested that the inserted IC card be pulled out without requiring any special operation. In response to such a request, the conventional IC card connector has a lock. The configuration could not be adapted because an operation to release was required.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for an IC card lock mechanism required for a conventional IC card connector, thereby reducing the size and cost and inserting an IC without eject operation. This is to make it possible to pull out the card.

[0015] An IC card connector of the present invention that achieves the above object has a connector body having an IC card insertion slot,
A card mounting plate that receives the back surface of the inserted IC card and moves in the IC card insertion direction together with the IC card;
A cover member that has a contact with which a connection electrode exposed on the surface of the card comes into contact and moves in the IC card insertion direction together with the inserted IC card, and the connector body and the cover member include the cover member; The card mounting plate has a plurality of protrusions having a slope rising upward from the front side to the back side, and the connector main body has a plurality of protrusions movably interposed in the IC card insertion direction. The side portion has a guide groove having an inclined surface on which the projection of the card mounting plate fits and guides the projection upward, and a flat surface for guiding the projection in the horizontal direction,
The cover member is formed by attaching an elastic member that is compressed on the surface of the IC card supported by the card mounting plate when the card mounting plate is lifted. I inserted into the card slot
A part of the C card has a notch to be exposed.

In the IC card connector of the present invention, the inserted IC card and the contact of the connector are connected without sliding, and the connection is held by the repulsive force of the elastic member generated by the operation of inserting the IC card. You.

Therefore, the material and thickness of the elastic member are selected so that the repulsive force is, for example, about 2 kg. That is, when a pressing force of 2 kg is generated between the inserted card and the elastic member. The card can be held in the inserted state without the conventional lock mechanism, and when the card is provided with a withdrawal force superior to the pressing force of the elastic member, for example, a withdrawal force of about 5 kg, the card can be removed without a special eject mechanism. Become.

Further, by providing a cutout in the IC card insertion slot of the connector main body to expose a part of the inserted IC card, a part of the IC card inserted into the connector main body over the entire width can be used. It becomes exposed in the notch of the insertion slot. Therefore, the inserted IC card held by the repulsive force of the elastic member is pulled out of the connector with an ejecting mechanism of, for example, about 5 kg without an eject mechanism by gripping a portion exposed in the notch of the IC card insertion slot with a finger. It is possible.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a schematic configuration of an IC card connector according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a card mounting plate of the IC card connector of FIG. 1, and FIG. Explanatory drawing of the connector body, FIG. 4 is an IC of FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a cover member of a card connector.
It is explanatory drawing of the card mounting plate operation | movement of a C card connector.

In FIG. 1, (a) is an external perspective view of the whole, (b) is an explanatory view of an elastic member and a contact connecting portion in an IC card connector, and (c) is a contact connection between the elastic member and the IC card when the IC card is inserted. It is explanatory drawing of a part.

In FIG. 1A, an IC card connector 21 into which an IC card 1 is inserted includes a connector body 22 having an IC card insertion opening 22a opened in front, a card mounting plate (not shown), a cover member 23, Cover member 23
And a flexible wiring board 26 connected to a plurality of contacts (not shown) provided on the cover member 23 and the like.

A plurality of long holes 23a are formed in the left and right side walls of the cover member 23. Each of the long holes 23a is provided with a projection 22b provided at a side end of the connector main body 22 so as to be able to move back and forth. Mated. Therefore, the connector body 22
On the other hand, the cover member 23 is slidable by a predetermined amount in the length direction (front-back direction) of the elongated hole 23a.

In FIG. 1B, an elastic member 27 is adhered to the inner surface of the top plate of the cover member 23 from which the connection portions 25a of the plurality of contacts protrude inward. Between the plates 24, a cavity 28 into which the IC card 1 can be easily inserted is formed.

A protrusion 23b or 24a is formed at the rear end of the cover member 23 and the card mounting plate 24 with which the inserted end of the inserted IC card comes into contact.
When the IC card 1 inserted from the card insertion slot 22a comes into contact with the protrusions 23b and 24a, the IC card 1 is not in contact with the contact connection portion 25a and the elastic member 27.

Then, when the IC card 1 inserted from the IC card insertion slot 22a is sufficiently pushed in, the IC card 1
The card mounting plate 24 pressed by the IC card 1 moves up after moving up by a predetermined amount, and the cover member 23 pressed by the IC card 1 retreats together with the card mounting plate 24, as shown in FIG. The plurality of connection electrodes 3 formed at 1 contact the connection portions 25a of the corresponding contacts with a predetermined contact pressure, and the elastic member 27 is pressed against the surface (upper surface) of the IC card 1 to be compressed.

As a result, the connection between the connection electrode 3 of the IC card 1 and the connection portion 25a of the contact is made by a repulsive force generated by the compression of the elastic member 27, for example, a circular silicon rubber having a thickness of 1 mm and a diameter of 8 mm. I with elastic member 27 attached
In the C card connector 21, a repulsion force of about 2 kg is generated, and the repulsion force presses the IC card 1 against the card mounting plate 24, receives the pressing force of the card mounting plate 24 on the connector body 22, and Acts as a pull-out prevention force.

Since the IC card insertion slot 22a of the connector body 22 has a notch 22e at the center in the width direction, a part of the IC card 1 completely inserted is exposed at the notch 22e. I have.

Therefore, the exposed portion of the IC card 1 can be picked with fingers, and when the repulsive force of the elastic member 27 holding the IC card 1 is about 2 kg, the IC card 1 is pulled with a force of about 5 kg. The IC card 1 can be pulled out from the IC card connector 21.

In FIG. 2, a card mounting plate 24 formed by molding a resin has a pair of protrusions 24a protruding from the rear end, a pair of protrusions 24b protruding from the left and right side ends, and a flat plate surface 24c. Receives the back side of the IC card 1.

Each of the projections 24b is inclined so as to retreat upward from the lower portion. In the IC card connector 21, the projection 24b fits into the guide groove 22c of the connector main body 22 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). .

Referring to FIG. 3, a connector body 22 formed by molding a resin has a square frame shape as a whole, an IC card insertion opening 22a opened at a front portion, and three IC card insertion holes are provided on both sides of the left and right side members. The protrusions 22b project from the card mounting plate 24 at two locations inside the both side members, respectively.
A guide groove 22c in which the rear surface of the card mounting plate 4b is fitted is provided on both left and right sides of the rear member.

A notch 22e for exposing a part of the inserted end of the inserted IC card 1 is formed in the IC card insertion slot 22a, and a guide groove 22c in which the projection 24b of the card mounting plate 24 fits and slides is formed. , The inclined portion 22 retreating upward
c- ₁ and a rectilinear portion 22c- ₂ extending rearward.

A part of the IC card 1 inserted into the connector main body 22 over the entire width is exposed to the notch 22e forming portion. Therefore, if the notch 22e is formed so that the exposed portion of the IC card 1 can be picked up with a finger, the IC card 1 held by the repulsive force of the elastic member 27 can be pulled out by picking up the exposed portion with a finger.

In FIG. 4, (a) is a plan view, (b) is an enlarged plan view of a contact disposition portion, (c) is a cross-sectional view, and a cover member 23 formed by molding resin is a top plate. A plurality of (in the figure, eight) contacts 25 and elastic members 27 for connecting the connection electrodes 3 of the IC card 1 to the portion,
On the both sides in the vertical direction in the plan view of (a), there are formed long holes 23a into which the protrusions 22b (see FIG. 1) of the connector main body 22 are fitted and slidable.

The connecting portions 25a of the contacts 25 protrude inside the cover member 23, and a pair of connecting portions 25a are disposed so as to be arranged back and forth in the insertion direction of the IC card 1. The rear end of each contact 25 is exposed in a square hole 23c provided in the cover member 23 for connection to the flexible wiring board 26.

In FIG. 5, (a) shows the connector main body 22.
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the card mounting plate 24 in an initial state, FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an intermediate operation state in which the card mounting plate 24 is retracted while being raised, and FIG. .

In FIG. 5A, the projection 24b of the card mounting plate 24 is fitted into the inclined portion 22c- ₁ of the guide groove 22c of the connector main body 22, and the flat surface 2 of the card mounting plate 24 is fitted.
4 c substantially coincides with the lower surface of the IC card insertion slot 22 a of the connector main body 22 and the surfaces of the left and right side members of the connector main body 22.

In FIG. 5B, the IC card 1 (not shown) is inserted through the IC card insertion slot 22a, and the card mounting plate 24 is retracted to a certain extent, and the card mounting plate 24 is
The projection 24b is pushed up by the inclined portion 22c- ₁ of the guide groove 22c to be fitted. As a result, the connection electrode 3 of the IC card 1 is connected to the connection portion 25a of the contact 25 at a predetermined pressure, and the surface of the IC card 1 compresses the elastic member 27.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the insertion of the IC card 1 is continued, and the rear corner portion of the card mounting plate 24 is completely inserted into the IC card 1 in contact with the contact surface 22d of the connector body 22. The card mounting plate 24 is in a state of being supported by the connector main body 22, and the compressed repulsive force of the elastic member 27 is not affected by a normal external force, that is, even when external force such as vibration is applied to the IC card connector 21 from the outside. The IC card 1 is not removed, and the connection between the connection electrode 3 and the contact 25 is secured.

[0040]

As described above, the method for holding an inserted card and the IC card connector according to the present invention enable the holding of a card without providing a conventional lock mechanism, thereby reducing the size of the IC card connector. In addition, it is possible to respond to a request from some users who wants to pull out a connected IC card without special operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of an IC card connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a card mounting plate of the IC card connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a connector main body of the IC card connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a cover member of the IC card connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the operation of the card mounting plate of the IC card connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an IC card.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an IC card lock mechanism of an IC card connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC card 3 Connection electrode of IC card 21 IC card connector 22 Connector body 22a IC card insertion slot of connector body 22b Projection of connector body 22c Guide groove of connector body 22e Notch of IC card insertion slot 23 Cover member 23a Slot 24 Card Mounting plate 24b Inclined projection (first projection) of card mounting plate 24c Surface of flat plate portion of IC card mounting plate (IC card receiving surface) 25 Contact 25a Connecting portion 27 Elastic member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connector body having an IC card insertion slot, a card mounting plate that receives a back surface of the inserted IC card and moves together with the IC card in the IC card insertion direction.
A cover member that has a contact for contacting a connection electrode exposed on the surface of the IC card, and that moves in the IC card insertion direction together with the inserted IC card, wherein the connector body and the cover member The I
The card mounting plate has an engaging means movably interposed in a C card insertion direction, the card mounting plate has a projection on a side portion having a slope rising upward from the near side, and the connector main body has a side portion. A guide groove having an inclined surface on which the projection of the card mounting plate fits and guides the projection upward, and a flat surface for guiding the projection in the horizontal direction, wherein the cover member operates to lift the card mounting plate. An IC card connector characterized in that an elastic member compressed on the surface of the IC card supported on the card mounting plate is adhered to the IC card connector. 2. The IC card connector according to claim 3, wherein the connector main body has a cutout in the IC card insertion slot, in which a part of the inserted IC card is exposed.