JPH11224724A - Card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a locking condition of a cover to a base in a single operation only by pushing the cover in a closing direction in place of a conventional snap engagement system, and to form a lock-releasing condition of the cover from the base in a single operation of re-pushing an upper surface of the cover. SOLUTION: A base 1 to constitute a connector housing is provided with a contact 5 in contact with an external contact 8 of an IC card 4 stored in the housing. In addition, a locking mechanism to keep a cover 2 closed to the base 1 comprises a cam element 13 provided on the base 1 side and a locking piece 14 to be guided to the locking position and the lock-releasing position by the cam element 13 provided on the cover 2, and in a card connector, the locking piece 14 is guided to the locking position to the cam element 13 through the pushing operation of the cover 2, and the locking piece 14 is guided to the lock-releasing position from the cam element 13 through the re-pushing operation in the locked condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an automatic cash withdrawal machine,
The present invention relates to a connector for an IC card that is used by being loaded into an electronic device such as a personal computer, a camera, and a telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-185973 discloses a connector housing comprising a base and a cover which is opened and closed with respect to the base. The base comes into contact with external contacts of an IC card housed in the connector housing. There is disclosed a card connector provided with a contact arranged so as to have a locking mechanism for holding the cover closed with respect to the base.

In the lock mechanism, when a locking claw is cut out from a side plate of a cover and the cover is closed to a base, the locking claw is snapped into a locking hole of an elastic locking piece provided on the base. It adopts a structure that matches.

[0004]

However, in the above-described card connector, it is necessary to hold the cover with fingers and pull up in the opening direction to release the snap engagement. The operability when inserting and removing the card is deteriorated.

[0005] Further, when the locking claw or the locking piece is snap-engaged or disengaged, there is a problem that the locking claw may be permanently deformed or missing, resulting in lock failure.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates the snap engagement method and locks and unlocks the cover with respect to the base by simply pushing the cover in the closing direction.
That is, the present invention provides a card connector which can be opened and closed. Therefore, it contributes to solving the problem of poor operability of opening and closing the cover typified by the conventional example and the problem of lock failure.

In brief, in the card connector according to the present invention, the mechanism for locking the cover from closing with respect to the base includes a cam element provided on one of the base side and the cover side holding the contact, and the other. And a locking piece guided to a locked position and an unlocked position by the cam element provided in the lock member.

The first push operation of the cover in the closing direction with respect to the base guides the locking piece to the locked position with respect to the cam element, and in the locked state the second time in the closing direction. The push operation allows the locking piece to be guided to the unlock position with respect to the cam element, and the adoption of a so-called known heart cam mechanism has the advantage that the lock and release can be performed by the push and push operation of the heart cam mechanism. Utilization, thereby contributing to improvement of the open / close operability of the cover, which is a concern in the card connector.

Suitably, the cover has one end pivotally connected to one end of the base so as to be openable and closable, and the lock mechanism is provided between the other end of the cover and the other end of the base. That is, one of the cam element or the locking piece is provided at the free end of the cover, and the other is provided at the end of the base corresponding to the free end of the cover.

The contact can be used also as a means for maintaining the locked state. That is, by the first push operation given to the cover, the contact is displaced against its elasticity, and the reaction force of the contact forms a pressure contact state with the external contact of the IC card. Thus, the locking state of the locking piece with respect to the cam element is maintained.

[0011] Further, the locking piece has a structure capable of elastic displacement,
The guide to the lock position and the unlock position by the cam element is performed while accompanied by the elastic displacement of the locking piece,
Therefore, while the locking piece is fixed at a fixed position of the base or the cover, the locking and unlocking can be achieved by utilizing its elasticity, and the structure is simplified.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card connector comprises a base 1 made of an insulating material and a cover 2 made of an insulating material or metal. One end of the cover 2 is pivotally connected to one end of the base 1 with a shaft 3, and the cover 2 rotates about the shaft 3 and is opened and closed with respect to the base 1.

Although not shown, the present invention can also be implemented when the cover 2 is separated from the base 1 without pivoting and is opened and closed.

The base 1 and the cover 2 form a flat and rectangular connector housing for accommodating the IC card 4. The base 1 forming the connector housing holds the contacts 5. The contact 5 is made of a conductive strip punched and bent from a metal plate.
The contacts are arranged in parallel in correspondence with the external contacts 8, and the rows of the contact group are arranged in two rows, for example, as shown in FIGS.

Each of the contacts 5 is formed of a conductive strip as described above, and a part of the conductive strip forms an elastic contact piece 6 extending from an implanted portion with respect to the base 1. Has a contact portion 7 protruding from the inner surface of the base.

The conductive strip forming the contact 5 forms a terminal 11 extending from the planted portion to the side opposite to the elastic contact piece 6, and the contact 5 is connected to the terminal 11 by the terminal 11. It is connected to the circuit board 12 in the electronic device.

On the other hand, the IC card 4 has a flat and substantially rectangular shape, and has an IC chip for recording or reading information in the card. External contacts 8 of the IC chip are provided on the surface of the IC card 4. The contacts 5 are provided in parallel with the contact portions 7 of the contacts 5.

The IC card 4 is connected to an information processing circuit in the electronic device via a card connector, and gives the information held by the IC card 4 to the electronic device, or loads the information held by the electronic device into the IC card 4. .

The IC card 4 is inserted into the cover 2 as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The cover 2 has a card insertion space 9 which opens at a free end opposite to the pivot. The IC card 4 has the opening 10
The card is inserted into or removed from the card insertion space 9 through the card.

The cover 2 is turned around the shaft 3 as a fulcrum,
By closing the base 1, the IC card 4
The external contact 8 of the contact 5 is pressed against the contact portion 7 of the contact 5, and the elastic contact piece 6 of the contact 5 is displaced against the elasticity by this pressing, and the contact portion 7 is pressed against the external contact 8 by the reaction force. Let me know.

In addition to inserting the IC card 4 into the cover 2, the IC card 4 is loaded on the base 1, and the cover 2 is closed to the base 1, thereby pressing the IC card 4 and connecting the external contacts 8 to the contact portions of the contacts 5. 7.

In this case, the cover 2 functions as means for pressing the IC card 4 and pressing the external contact 8 against the contact portion 7 or simply for protecting the IC card 4 housed in the base 1.

The cover 2 is formed of a conductive metal plate.
When the IC card 4 is covered and the conductive cover 2 is closed,
The shield structure can be formed by connecting to a ground line of the circuit board 12 through a shield contact element provided on the base 1 at a local portion of the cover 2.

For example, the contact element 15 is provided at an end of a locking piece 14 described later, and is connected to an earth line of the circuit board 12 to shield noise.

A cover 2 is provided between the base 1 and the cover 2.
Is provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining the lock of the base 1 with respect to the base 1. Contact 5 of the card connector and IC card 4
Is held by this lock mechanism.

Alternatively, the above-mentioned lock mechanism is necessary to keep the IC card 4 protected by the cover 2.

The lock mechanism includes a cam element 13 provided on one of the base 1 and the cover 2 and a locking piece 14 guided to a lock position and an unlock position by the cam element provided on the other. Consists of

By the first push operation of the cover 2 in the closing direction with respect to the base 1, the locking piece 14 is guided to the locked position with respect to the cam element 13 in the locked state. The second push operation guides the locking piece 14 to the unlocked position with respect to the cam element 13.

As one example, one end of the cover 2 is connected to the base 1
Is openably and closably connected to one end of the cover 2, and the lock mechanism is provided between the other end of the cover 2 and the other end of the base 1. That is, one of the cam element 13 or the locking piece 14 is provided at the free end of the cover 2, and the other is provided at the end of the base 1 corresponding to the free end of the cover 2.

The cam element 13 is, for example, a cam called a heart cam. The drawing shows a case where the cam element 13 is provided at an end of the cover 2 and the locking piece 14 is provided at an end of the base 1. ing.

A pair of locking pieces 14 are provided at both ends of the edge of the base 1, and the cam element 13 is
A pair is provided at both ends of the edge of the cover 2, and the two cooperate to open and close the cover 2 with respect to the base 1 to form a locked and unlocked state.

The locking piece 14 is configured to be elastically displaceable, and the cam element 1 is elastically displaced.
The guide to the lock position and the unlock position by 3 is performed.

The operation of the lock mechanism when the cover 2 is opened and closed will now be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 show a case where the lock state of the lock mechanism is formed by giving the first push operation to the cover 2 in order of operation, and FIG. 10 to FIG. The case of giving the unlocked state of the lock mechanism by giving the order is shown in the order of operation.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the cover 2 is in an open state, and the IC card 4 is inserted into the cover 2 in this state.

At this time, the cam element 13 and the locking piece 14 are vertically separated from each other and are in the unlocked state.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the process of closing the cover 2 to the base 1, first, the locking piece 14 is provided on the first guide surface 1 formed on one side of the cam element 13.
Contact 6

At this time, the cover 2 is
Of the IC card 4 against the external contact 8 is started.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the closing operation of the cover 2 proceeds, the locking piece 14 is guided to the first guide surface 16 and elastically moves to one side against its elasticity. It is displaced and separated upward from the cam element 13 at the end of the first guide surface 16, and once comes into contact with the inner surfaces 17 at both ends of the edge of the cover 2, as shown in FIG.

From the state shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the first push of the finger against the upper surface of the cover 2 is maintained.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, when the push on the cover 2 is released, the cover 2
Is slightly pushed up together with the cam element 13 in the opening direction by the reaction force of the elastic contact piece 6 of the cam element 13. It elastically engages with one side of the projection 18. Thus, the closed state of the cover 2 with respect to the base 1 is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the elastic contact piece 6 of the contact 5 is pressed by the cover 2 and is elastically displaced downward against its elasticity to store elasticity. At the same time that the contact portion 7 is brought into contact with the contact portion 8 under pressure, the contact 5 urges the cover 2 and the cam element 13 in the opening direction by the reaction force thereof, and the locked state of the locking piece 14 with respect to the cam element 13 is maintained.

Next, referring to FIG. 10 to FIG.
A case where the lock release state is formed by giving a second push operation to the control unit will be described.

In the locked state shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, when a second push operation is given to the upper surface of the cover 2 by a finger as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the cover 2 is slightly closed together with the cam element 13. As a result, the locking piece 14 comes off the projection 18 and comes into contact with the inner surface of the cover 2.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, when the second push given to the cover 2 is released, the locking piece 14 is elastically displaced to the other side in accordance with the remaining elastic force and protrudes. When the cover 2 is pushed up together with the cam element 13 by the elasticity stored in the contact 5, the locking piece 14 is guided by the second guide surface 19 provided on the other side of the cam element 13. As a result, it is elastically displaced to the other side to store elasticity, and reaches the end of the second guide surface 19.

When the cover 2 is further opened by the pushing force of the contact 5, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B,
The cam element 13 moves upward together with the cover 2, and as a result, the locking piece 14 is restored to one side by the elasticity stored according to FIG.
6 is formed in a state facing and separated from the starting end of the sixth embodiment.

The state shown in FIG. 12 is exactly the same as the state shown in FIG. In this state, replacement of the IC card 4 is performed.

The operations shown in FIGS. 5 to 12 can be obtained not only when the IC card 4 is inserted into the cover 2 but also when the IC card 4 is directly loaded on the base 1.

Even when the cam element 13 is provided on the base 1 side and the locking piece 14 is provided on the cover 2 side, the same locking and unlocking operation as described above can be obtained.

The cam element 13 and the locking piece 14 are provided on the side surfaces of the cover 2 and the base 1 so that the same operation as described above can be obtained.

The locking piece 14 uses a leaf spring piece or an elastic wire as illustrated in the drawing, and also uses the locking piece as the first guide surface 1.
The above operation can be obtained by providing the movable member 6 along the second guide surface 19 and the movable member 6.

[0051]

According to the present invention, the snap engagement method in the conventional example is eliminated, and the lock state of the cover with respect to the base can be formed with one touch simply by pushing the cover in the closing direction, and the upper surface of the cover is further pushed again. The unlocked state of the cover with respect to the base can be formed with a single touch by simply touching, and the cover can be easily opened and closed with respect to the base. Therefore, it contributes to solving the problem of poor operability of opening and closing the cover represented by the conventional example and the problem of lock failure.

The present invention utilizes the so-called heart cam mechanism to take advantage of the advantage that the heart cam mechanism can be locked and released by the push-and-push operation. This contributes to improved operability.

The above-mentioned locking piece has a structure capable of elastic displacement.
By guiding the locking element to the locked position and the unlocked position by the cam element with the elastic displacement of the locking piece, the elasticity of the locking piece is fixed while the locking piece is fixed at the fixed position of the base or the cover. The structure can be simplified by making use of the lock and release described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is a plan view of a card connector, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a lock mechanism provided at a portion surrounded by a broken-line circle in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the card connector.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a base of the card connector,
The figure which shows the amount and direction of elastic displacement of the locking piece from the neutral position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the base.

FIG. 5A shows an open state of a card connector cover,
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the cam element and the locking piece are unlocked, and FIG. 2B is a transverse sectional view showing the same state along a line AA in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6A is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which pressing of a contact is started and guiding of a locking piece by a cam element is started in an initial process of closing the card connector cover by giving a first push operation to the card connector cover; FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the card connector showing the same state along a line AA in FIG.

7 shows a state in which the closing of the cover proceeds and the locking piece is guided by the first guide surface of the cam element, FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the card connector shown with a cross section taken along line A.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 showing a state in which the closing of the cover is further advanced, the pressing of the contact is advanced, and the locking piece has reached the end of the first guide surface of the cam element. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a card connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 9A is a longitudinal section of the card connector in which the cover is completely closed, the contacts are in pressure contact with the external contacts of the IC card, and the locking pieces are engaged with the cam elements to complete the locked state. FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the card connector showing the same state along a line AA in FIG. 1.

10A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the card connector showing a state in which a second push operation is performed on the cover to separate the locking piece from the cam element in the locked state shown in FIG. 9; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the card connector showing a state along a line AA in FIG. 1.

11A is a longitudinal sectional view of the card connector showing a state in which the cover is started to be opened by releasing the second push and the locking piece is guided by the second guide surface of the cam element; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the card connector showing the same state along a line AA in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12A is a longitudinal sectional view of the card connector showing a state where the lock is completely released and the cover is completely opened;
FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the card connector showing the same state along a line AA in FIG. 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base 2 Cover 3 Axis 4 IC card 5 Contact 6 Elastic contact piece 7 Contact part 8 External contact 9 Card insertion space 10 Opening 11 Terminal 12 Circuit board 13 Cam element 14 Locking piece 15 Ground contact element 16 First guide surface 17 inner surface 18 protrusion 19 second guide surface

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 8, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The contact can be used also as a means for maintaining the locked state. That is, the contact is displaced against the elasticity by the first push operation given to the cover, and when the push is released in the first push operation, the contact force between the contact and the external contact of the IC card is increased by the reaction force of the contact. A pressure contact state is formed, and the locking state of the locking piece with respect to the cam element is maintained by the same reaction force. Then, at the time of releasing the push in the second push operation given to the cover, the cam element or the locking piece provided on the cover side is separated upward together with the opening of the cover by the reaction force of the contact. Also, a pair of cam elements are provided at one of both ends of the cover free end and both ends of the base end, and a pair of the locking pieces are provided at the other, respectively, by the first and second push operations. The spring used for engaging and disengaging the pair of cam elements and the pair of locking pieces is also used as the contact.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0022

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In this case, the cover 2 presses the IC card 4 and presses the external contact 8 against the contact portion 7;
Functions as a means for protecting the IC card 4 stored in the IC card 4.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0033

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The operation of the lock mechanism when the cover 2 is opened and closed will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9 show a case where the first push operation is performed on the cover 2 to form the locked state of the lock mechanism in the order of operation, and FIGS.
The case of giving the second push operation to form the unlocked state of the lock mechanism is shown in the operation order.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A connector housing comprising a base and a cover which is opened and closed with respect to the base, wherein the base has contacts arranged so as to come into contact with external contacts of an IC card housed in the connector housing. In a card connector provided with a lock mechanism for holding the cover closed with respect to the base, the lock mechanism is provided with a cam element provided on one of the base side or the cover side and a lock position provided by the cam element provided on the other side. A locking piece guided to an unlocked position, wherein the first push operation in the closing direction of the cover with respect to the base guides the locking piece to a locked position with respect to the cam element, and the locked state. The lock operation of the locking piece with respect to the cam element is released by the second push operation in the closing direction at Card connector, characterized in that the guidance to the position is made. 2. An end of the cover is pivotally connected to one end of a base so as to be openable and closable, the cam element is provided on one of the other end of the cover and the other end of the base, and the locking piece is provided on the other. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The first push operation applied to the cover displaces the contact against its elasticity, and forms a pressure contact state with the external contact of the IC card by the reaction force of the contact. 3. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking state of the locking piece with respect to the cam element is maintained by the same reaction force. 4. The locking piece has a structure capable of elastic displacement.
4. The card connector according to claim 1, wherein the guide to the locked position and the unlocked position by the cam element is performed with the elastic displacement of the locking piece.