JPH10289754A - Card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card connector provided with a lock mechanism properly accepting a card, having no engaging shoulder, constituted in comparatively small size. SOLUTION: A card connector 10 is equipped with a lock mechanism 60 interlocking with an ejection mechanism 30. The lock mechanism 60 is equipped with a first and a second members 70, 80 which are formed slidably by folding metal plates and are mounted on a frame 20 and a lock member 90 turnably fitted to the frame 20. The first member 70 is combined directly with the card ejection mechanism 30, and the second member 80 is superimposedly arranged on the first member 70 and is combined with the first member 70 via a spring member. The second member 80 is equipped with an engage portion which engages with the lock member 90. When the card connector 10 accepts a card having a lock shoulder, the lock member 90 is turned so as to prevent the falling-off of the accepted card. When the card connector 10 accepts a card having no lock shoulder, the turn of the lock member 90 is blocked by a card side face, but the card can be inserted to a complete accepted position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card connector for receiving a card, and more particularly to a card connector with a lock mechanism having a lock member for retaining the received card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of this type of connector is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-32.
No. 0918. This connector is PCMCIA
It is designed to accept and connect to a PC card based on the standard. In particular, to prevent the card from coming off, a lock member for card lock is provided so as to engage with an operation button operated when ejecting the card. Provided. When the card is fully received in the connector, the locking member slides across the width of the card and engages the shoulder at the outer edge of the card to prevent the card from slipping out. The operation button is moved to the normal position where the card can be ejected only when the card is completely received and the locking of the lock member is completed.

[0003]

However, depending on the type of the PC card, the outer dimensions of the PC card are elongated in the length direction, and the PC card protrudes from the card connector when the card is received. This card is called an extended card. Usually, the card may have a shoulder formed to allow engagement with the above-mentioned locking member, but there are extended cards without the shoulder formed.

[0004] Many PC cards include a fitting portion with another connector or a wire lead-out portion on the outside of the card for interfacing with other external devices. According to a certain type of PC card, an engaging shoulder cannot be provided due to the presence of these fitting portions or wire lead-out portions.

When the card connector disclosed in the above-mentioned publication accepts a card without these locking shoulders, the card is received but the lock member does not slide, so that the operation button is not operated. Is not moved to the proper position, and there is a possibility that the discharge mechanism may be damaged. Also, the disclosed locking mechanism has relatively large dimensions and requires a large area or space for mounting or housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a card connector having a relatively small locking mechanism as a locking mechanism for properly receiving a card having no engaging shoulder.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a locking member which operates so as to overlap with a shoulder at an outer end position of the card after receiving the card to prevent the card from slipping is interlocked with the ejection mechanism of the card. The lock member is rotatably supported in the vicinity of a card receiving end of the card connector, and first and second sliding members formed of a metal plate are provided on the card connector. Are arranged so as to be slidable in a direction substantially parallel to a receiving or discharging direction of the card at a side position of the card, the first member is directly connected to the card discharging mechanism,
The member includes an engagement portion that engages with the lock member so as to rotate the lock member, and is connected to the first member via a spring member.

Preferably, the lock member has first and second protrusions juxtaposed to engage with the second member. An inclined or curved cam surface is formed at a facing portion of the first and second protrusions facing each other. At this time, the engagement portion of the second member has a wall including a plate surface substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the lock member. In the first state in which the card is not received, the wall is located on the back surface of the first projection to stop the rotation of the lock member. In the second state in which the card is received, the wall is located on the back surface of the second projection to stop the rotation of the lock member. The first
In the process of transition between the second state and the second state, the wall is engaged with each of the opposing cam surfaces to rotate the lock member in a desired direction. The wall may include a front wall and a rear wall that extend in a substantially right angle direction so as to be further curved at the front and rear positions and face front and rear, respectively.

Preferably, each of the first and second members receives the rotation axis of the lock member and has a length enabling relative movement of the first and second members with respect to the rotation axis. A slot extending in the vertical direction.

Preferably, a spring member connecting the first and second members is disposed outside the first and second members along a sliding direction.

[0011] Preferably, the card ejection mechanism is electrically driven.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A card connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic structure of a card connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing only a card ejection mechanism used in the card connector of FIG. 1 and a card lock mechanism associated therewith. FIG. 3 is a side view showing both mechanisms of FIG. 2 without an eject arm described later.

According to FIG. 1, the card connector 10 has a metal frame 20, a connector portion 15 located at the rear end of the frame 20, a card ejection mechanism 30, and a lock mechanism 60 for retaining the card. The connector section 15 is shown virtually. Card connector 1 according to the preferred embodiment
Numeral 0 is for connection with a PC card of the PCMCIA standard, and the frame 20 is formed to have an appropriate size so as to receive the PC card from the direction of arrow P. The card ejection mechanism 30 is provided at a position behind the frame 20, and a lock mechanism 60 cooperating with the card ejection mechanism 30 is arranged on a side portion of the frame 20 as described later.

Referring to FIG. 2, the card ejection mechanism 30 includes an eject lever 31 slid along the frame 20 at a position rearward of the side of the frame 20 and a pivot shaft 21 with respect to the frame 20. Eject arm 3 pivotally supported and engaged with eject lever 31
And 2.

As can be understood from FIG. 3, the card connector 10 includes a card ejection mechanism 30 and a lock mechanism 60.
Are configured symmetrically with the back to back in the height direction. The following description is based on the shapes of both mechanisms on the top side. It should be noted that the card ejection mechanism 30 and the lock mechanism 60 operate independently on the top side and the bottom side, respectively.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the eject arm 32 has a card push-out portion 33 and a fork-shaped engaging portion 34 which engages with the eject lever 31. Referring to FIG. 3 together, the eject lever 31 is connected to the eject arm 32.
And a substantially T-shaped engaging piece 35a that engages with the engaging piece 35a. Further, the eject lever 31 includes a protruding piece 35b that is bent at a right angle so as to engage with a first member 70 of the lock mechanism 60 described later and protrudes outward, and a lever portion 36 that extends forward substantially parallel to the side surface of the frame 20. Have. The card connector 10 according to the present preferred embodiment has an electric mechanism for ejecting the card, and the end 36a of the lever portion 36 is bent so as to be inclined inward and is engaged with a drive mechanism such as a motor and cam parts (not shown). It is configured to be combined.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are views showing a state in which the card connector receives a card having a locking shoulder.
4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a side view similar to FIG. FIG. 4 virtually shows the received card.

According to FIG. 4, it is understood that the received card C1 is prevented from coming off because the lock member 90 constituting a part of the lock mechanism 60 is overlapped with the shoulder 150 at the outer end thereof. Is done. As can be understood from FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, when the card C1 is received, the end of the card C1 comes into contact with the card push-out portion 33 of the eject arm 32 to rotate the eject arm 32 (see FIG. 1). Then, the eject lever 31 engaging with this is slid (see arrow Q in FIG. 2). Although not shown, the drive mechanism of the electric card ejection mechanism 30 is configured to enable manual reception of the card C1. As a result, the first member 70 configured to engage with the eject lever 31 slides (see the arrow T in FIG. 2), and the lock member 90 rotates in cooperation with the first member 70 by a cooperative action described later. (See arrow S in FIG. 2). Note that the lock member 90 is simply rotatable with respect to the frame 20 without being slid, and the lock member 90 is moved from the state shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 to the state shown in FIGS. It will be appreciated that end 71 is slid to a position beyond locking member 90. The configuration and operation of the lock mechanism 60 will be described in detail below.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing the shapes of the components constituting the lock mechanism. 7A and 7B are views showing a lock member, wherein FIG. 7A is a plan view and FIG. 7B is a front view. 8A and 8B are views showing the first member, wherein FIG. 8A is a plan view, and FIG. 8B is a view seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 9A and 9B are views showing the second member, wherein FIG. 9A is a plan view and FIG. 9B is a view as seen from the direction of arrow D in FIG. 9A.

The lock mechanism 60 includes the lock member 90, the first member 70, and the second member 80 shown in FIGS. The position of each part is indicated by a reference numeral in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 7, the lock member 90 is connected to the base 91.
And a cylindrical shaft portion 92. The shaft portion 92 is formed in a hollow shape so as to receive therein a pin-shaped rotation shaft fixed to a tongue (not shown) that extends integrally to the side of the frame 20. That is, the lock member 90 is disposed so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft. One side of the base 91 has a recess 95 defined by first and second projections 93 and 94 formed separately. The recess 95 includes inclined or curved cam surfaces 95a, 95b that define a portion of the first and second protrusions 93,94. Also, the second protrusion 9 of the base 91
A claw 96 is formed at a position substantially opposite to the position 4. A rib 97 is formed between the claw 96 and the shaft 92 so as to protrude from the base 91 in the thickness direction. Further, protrusions 98 and 99 are formed near the shaft portion 92 and substantially opposite to the first protrusion 93.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first member 70 is formed by stamping and bending a metal plate, and includes a flat plate base 72 extending in the front-rear direction and a wall 73 extending in the height direction. The flat plate base 72 has wide portions 7 at its front end and rear end, respectively.
2a and 72b. The wide portion 72a on the front end side has a spring mounting structure 74 at a position outside the front end. Spring mounting structure 7
4 includes a mounting claw 74a and a protection piece 74b extending in a direction perpendicular to the mounting claw 74a. The wide portion 72a has a slot 75 extending in the front-rear direction in the plate surface, and a protrusion 76 is formed at an outer edge position thereof. The shoulder 76a included in the protrusion 76 and the shoulder 7 formed near the spring mounting structure 74
4c and the side edge of the wide portion 72a define a concave portion 72d. A slot 79 extending in the front-rear direction is formed at a substantially intermediate portion of the narrow portion 72c extending in the front-rear direction between the wide portions 72a, 72b of the flat plate base 72. Wider part 7
2b has a slot 77 extending in the width direction. Wide part 7
2b is a first portion 78a and a second portion 7 deviated in the height direction.
8b, but the slot 77 is provided in the first and second portions 7
It extends continuously between 8a and 78b.

According to FIG. 9, the second member 80 is also formed by punching and bending a metal plate, and the wide portion 81 is formed.
And a narrow strip 82 is formed continuously in the length direction.
At the rear end of the strip 82, a protruding piece 83 is formed which is bent and extended in a substantially right angle direction. Although not shown, the projection 83 is substantially L
Make a shape. The wide portion 81 has a slot 84 extending in the front-rear direction in the plate surface, and a mounting claw 85 serving as a spring mounting structure is provided near the rear end of the outer edge of the wide portion 81. Further, a wall 86 that is bent at a substantially right angle from the plate surface is provided at a position near the outer edge of the wide portion 81. The wall 86 is bent at a substantially right angle while being bent further at the front and rear positions near the front end thereof and is extended so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, thereby defining a front wall 87a and a rear wall 87b facing the front and rear directions, respectively. . A relatively narrow neck portion 86a is provided at a position near the plate surface of the wide portion 81 of the wall 86, and a shoulder 86b extending in a substantially vertical direction is formed at the front end thereof.

The operation of each member will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a card receiving preparation state. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a state in which a card C1 having a locking shoulder is received. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a state where the extended card C2 including the locking shoulder is received, and FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged plan view thereof. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state where the extended card C3 not including the locking shoulder is received, and FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged plan view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the same state as shown in FIG. 1 but before receiving a card. As can be understood with reference to FIG. 3, the first member 70 is located inside the second member 80 and is slidably disposed in the front-rear direction with respect to the side surface 23 of the frame 20. As can be understood with reference to FIG. 1, the slot 77 of the wide portion 72 b on the rear end side of the first member 70 engages with the protrusion 35 b of the eject lever 31. Therefore, it is understood that the first member 70 also slides in the front-rear direction in conjunction with the movement of the eject lever 31 and the eject arm 32. As shown, the first member 70 receives the rotation shaft 25 of the lock member 90 in the slot 75.

The second member 80 has its wide portion 81 positioned so as to substantially overlap the wide portion 72a of the first member 70, and the slot 84 is also arranged to receive the rotating shaft 25. The projecting piece 83 at the rear end of the second member 70 is received in the slot 79 of the narrow portion 72c of the first member 70 so as not to come off (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The wall 86 of the second member 80
The neck portion 86a of the first member 70 has a wide portion 7 in the concave portion 72d of the first member 70.
2a is placed along the side edge. Thereby, the second member 80
Is slidable in the front-rear direction relative to the first member 70. That is, when sliding, the projecting piece 83 of the second member 80 is used.
Moves longitudinally in the slot 79 and the neck 8 of the wall 86
6a moves in the recess 72d in the longitudinal direction. Second member 8
0 relative to the first member 70 is the second member 80
Is limited by the positional relationship between the neck 86a and the shoulders 76a and 74c (see FIG. 8).

A spring member 19 composed of a coil spring is mounted between the mounting claw 74a of the first member 70 and the mounting claw 85 of the second member 80. Thereby, the second member 80 is configured to be pulled forward with respect to the first member 70. Therefore, the second member 80 can normally move forward following the movement of the first member 70. However, the shoulder 86b of the neck 86a of the second member 80 located in the recess 72d of the first member 70 substantially abuts against the shoulder 74c, so that the relative movement of the second member 80 forward with respect to the first member 70 is prevented. It has been suspended. The protection piece 74b functions to prevent the spring from coming off.

According to FIG. 10, the first member 70 is the frame 2
0 is located slightly behind the front end 20a. At this time, it should be noted that the rotation shaft 25 is located at a substantially front end position in the slots 75 and 84. In this state, the lock member 90
The protrusion 98 substantially abuts the side surface 23 of the frame 20,
On the back side, the wall 86 of the second member 80 is in contact with the first projection 93. Therefore, the lock member 90 is in a state where rotation is prevented at the first position. It should be noted that the claw 96 of the lock member 90 is out of the card receiving path in this state.

Considering the transition from the state of FIG. 10 to the state of FIG. 11, the locking action of the card can be understood.
As described above, the first member 70 is configured to interlock with the eject lever 31 and the eject arm 32. Therefore, when the connector section 15 receives the card C1, the first member 70 is slid forward like the eject lever 31. At this time, as described above, the second member 80 moves forward following the first member 70. Sliding of the first member 70 and the second member 80 is guided by the engagement between the slots 75 and 84 and the rotating shaft 25 in the vicinity of the front end, so that the sliding can be performed smoothly with little play. When the second member 80 moves in the forward direction, the wall 86 including the front wall 87a and the rear wall 87b crosses the inside of the concave portion 95 of the lock member 90 and reaches the cam surface 95b inside the second protrusion 94 (FIG. 7). Further, the first member 7
When the sliding of the second member 80 proceeds, the wall 86 or the front wall 87a presses the cam surface 95b of the locking member 90 to give a turning moment, whereby the locking member 90 The pawl 96 is rotated so as to overlap the card receiving path. Rotation is stopped by the protrusion 99 substantially abutting the side surface 23 of the frame 20. The wall 86 has a projection 9
4 and is positioned substantially in contact with the protrusion 94. In this manner, the lock member 90 is prevented from rotating at the position shown in FIG. 11, and the claw 96 is received by the shoulder 15 of the card C1.
Since it overlaps 0, the card C1 is prevented from falling out. As shown in the figure, the rotating shaft 25 is located near the rear ends of the slots 75 and 84 at this time.

Conversely, the operation at the time of card ejection can be understood by considering the transition from the state of FIG. 11 to the state of FIG. When the card C1 is ejected, the eject lever 31 receiving the force from the electric power source is moved rearward to rotate the eject arm 32, and the card C1 is pushed out. At this time, as the eject lever 31 moves rearward, the first member 70 slides rearward, and the shoulder 74c (see FIG. 8) of the wide portion 72a of the first member 70 (see FIG. 8) moves the shoulder 86b of the second member 80 (see FIG. 8). (See FIG. 9) to move the second member 80 backward. As will be understood with reference to FIG. 7, the wall 86 having the front wall 87a and the rear wall 87b again crosses the recess 95 of the locking member 90 backward, reaches the protrusion 93, and the cam surface 95a Abut.
Further, the sliding of the first member 70 proceeds, and the second member 8
0, the wall 86 or the rear wall 87b moves to the cam surface 95.
b to give a rotational moment to the lock member 90,
As a result, the lock member 90 is rotated so that the claw 96 is disengaged from the position of the shoulder 150 of the card C1. Further, when the eject lever 31 slides, the eject arm 31 pushes out the card C1, and the card C1 can be ejected. In particular, it should be noted that the shoulder 86b of the second member 80 and the shoulder 74c of the first member 70 are always in a substantially abutting state during a series of operations for receiving and discharging the card C1.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a state in which the extended card C2 having a locking shoulder is received.
It can be seen that the locking member 90 is engaged with the shoulder 250 located in the recess 201 of the card C2, thereby preventing the card C2 from coming off. As can be understood by comparing FIGS. 11 and 13, when the card C2 is received, that is, when the card C2 is shifted from the state of FIG. 10 to the state of FIG.
The operation of the lock mechanism 60 for locking is the same as that for receiving the card C1 described above. Since the discharging operation is the same, the description thereof is omitted.

However, the operation is different when receiving an extended card without a locking shoulder. Considering the transition from the state shown in FIG. 10 to the state shown in FIG. 15, the receiving action of the card C3 without such a shoulder for locking can be understood. FIG. 14 also shows a state at the time of reception. When the connector receives the card C3, the eject arm 31 is rotated and the eject lever 32 is slid forward as in the case of receiving the card C1 or C2. As the eject lever 32 slides, the first member 70 moves forward. The second member 8
0 also attempts to move in the forward direction following the first member 70, and the movement further causes the locking member 90 to move as described above.
To rotate. By the way, as shown in the figure, the side edge 310 of the card C3 does not have a shoulder for locking and is substantially flat, so that the rotation of the lock member 90 is at the position where the end of the claw 96 contacts the side surface 310 of the card C3. And a second moment that provides a rotational moment to the lock member 90 accordingly.
The sliding of the member 80 in the forward direction is also restrained. However, since the first member 70 and the second member 80 are connected by the spring member 19, only the first member 70 slides forward due to the elastic displacement of the spring member 19, that is, the extension of the spring member 19. The second member 80 can be stopped at an intermediate position. As a result, the shoulder 74c of the first member 70 is separated from the shoulder 86b of the wall 86 of the second member 80 (see FIG. 9). When the card C3 is completely received, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 15, a spring 86 extends in the front-rear direction, and a wall 86 provided with a front wall 87a and a rear wall 87b.
Are pressed against the cam surface 95b (see FIG. 7) while the lock member 9 is pressed.
0 is located in the middle of the concave portion 95. The rotation shaft 25 is located near the rear end of the slot 75 of the first member 70, but is located at an intermediate position with respect to the slot 84 of the second member 80. With the above operation, the card C3 can be arranged at the complete receiving position although it is not locked by the lock mechanism 60.

The discharging operation of the card C3 can be understood by considering the transition from the state of FIG. 13 to the state of FIG. When ejecting the card C3, the eject lever 32 is also slid rearward to rotate the eject arm 31, thereby pushing out the card C3. At this time, the first member 70 engaged with the eject lever 32 is slid rearward. When the first member 70 is slid backward by an appropriate amount, the shoulder 74c abuts the shoulder 86b of the second member 80. At this time, the slots 75 and 84 are not shown.
Are substantially in a positional relationship with each other. When the first member 70 further moves rearward, the second member 80 moves to the shoulder 74c of the first member 70.
To be moved backward. As a result, the wall 86 or the front wall 87 a of the second member 80 is
5a, and the first member 70 and the second
When the member 80 is moved, the wall 86 or the front wall 87a of the second member 80 applies a turning moment to the lock member 90, and the lock member 9 is moved so that the claw 95 is separated from the side surface of the card C3.
Rotate 0. The following operation is the same as the above-described operation of discharging the card C1. By further moving the first member 70 and the second member 80 rearward and turning the lock member 90,
Each member is returned to the card receiving preparation position shown in FIG.

As described above, the card connector according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, this is merely an example, and various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art to limit the present invention. is not.

[0037]

According to the card connector of the present invention, the lock member is rotatably supported in the vicinity of the card receiving end, and the first and second sliding members formed of a metal plate are located at the side positions. The first member is directly connected to the card ejection mechanism, and the second member rotates the lock member. An engagement portion that engages with the lock member,
A locking mechanism for locking and receiving a card having a shoulder for lock engagement and being able to properly receive a card without a shoulder for lock engagement because the card is connected to the first member via a spring. And a relatively small card connector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic structure of a card connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a card ejection mechanism used in the card connector of FIG. 1 and a card lock mechanism interlocked with the card ejection mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing both mechanisms of FIG. 2 without an arm;

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1, showing a state in which the card connector has received a card having a locking shoulder;

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2, showing a state in which the card connector has received a card having a locking shoulder.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a state in which the card connector has received a card having a locking shoulder.

7A and 7B are views showing a lock member, wherein FIG. 7A is a plan view and FIG.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing a first member, wherein FIG. 8A is a plan view and FIG. 8B is a view as seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG.

9A and 9B are diagrams showing a second member, wherein FIG. 9A is a plan view, and FIG. 9B is a diagram viewed from the direction of arrow D in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a state of a lock mechanism before receiving a card.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a state in which a card having a locking shoulder is received.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a state in which an extended card including a locking shoulder is received.

FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state where an extended card that does not include a locking shoulder is received.

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Card connector 19 Spring member 30 Card ejection mechanism 70 1st member 80 2nd member 86 Wall (engagement part) 87a Front wall (engagement part) 87b Rear wall (engagement part) 90 Lock member 150, 250 Shoulder C1, C2 card C3 Card without shoulder

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A card connector, wherein a lock member which operates so as to overlap a shoulder at an outer end position of the card after receiving the card to prevent the card from being removed is arranged in conjunction with an ejection mechanism of the card. The lock member is rotatably supported in the vicinity of a card receiving end of the card connector, and first and second sliding members formed of a metal plate are arranged in a height direction at a side position of the card connector. The first member is directly connected to the card discharging mechanism, and the second member rotates the lock member. The card connector according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion for engaging with the lock member, wherein the card connector is connected to the first member via a spring.