JP2007141794A - Connector for ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector for IC card having an incorrect insertion preventing movable plate of sliding type which can avoid inclination in width direction of the posture of the movable plate, even in the case of incorrect attachment and removal of an IC card. <P>SOLUTION: The incorrect insertion preventing movable plate 14 is made in nearly T-shape and is inserted movably in a slit 10F of rectangular shape of a cover member 10. Thereby, it is not inclined in an undesired manner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an IC card connector that has a slide-type movable plate for preventing erroneous insertion and can selectively mount one of two types of IC cards having different sizes.

  In an IC card connector for mounting any one of a plurality of IC cards having different shapes into one electronic device, for example, as shown also in Patent Document 1, each IC card A composite type card housing part having a common card slot to which a card is attached and detached is arranged in parallel on a common plane, or a plurality of card housing parts are stacked in a vertically overlapping state. Things have been proposed.

  Such an IC card connector is formed such that the first card housing portion in which the smaller first IC card of the first and second IC cards is housed is located near the card slot. In this case, the second card accommodating portion is formed at a position farther from the card slot than the first card accommodating portion. Further, the first and second IC cards are provided with the first and second IC cards that prevent the first IC card from entering the second card housing portion and guide the first IC card to the first card housing portion. It is possible to move along the attaching / detaching direction and to be movable up and down.

  Such an erroneous insertion preventing movable plate is controlled by a pair of lock / unlock mechanisms provided at both ends of the card slot. At this time, the pair of lock / unlock mechanisms are arranged at a mutual interval which is larger than the width of the first IC card and smaller than the width of the second IC card. As the card passes through the card slot, the pair of lock / unlock mechanisms are kept locked. Therefore, the first IC card has an intrusion path to the second card housing portion blocked by the erroneous insertion preventing movable plate, and the first IC card is located in the first card housing portion located below the erroneous insertion preventing movable plate. Will be guided.

  On the other hand, when the second IC card is inserted into the second card accommodating portion through the card slot, both end portions on the traveling direction side of the second IC card are respectively locked by a pair of lock / unlock mechanisms. By engaging the member and bringing the lock member into the unlocked state, the misinsertion-preventing movable plate is moved away from the card slot and raised. As a result, the entry path to the second card housing portion is opened, and the second IC card is inserted into the second card housing portion through the lower side of the erroneous insertion prevention movable plate.

JP 2004-31416 A

  In the IC card connector including the slide type movable plate for preventing erroneous insertion as described above, the end portion on the traveling direction side of the first IC card inserted into the common card slot is mistakenly described above. By engaging one lock member of the unlock mechanism, one lock member of the pair of lock / unlock mechanisms described above may be unlocked.

  When only one lock member is unlocked in this way, only one side of both sides of the misinsertion-preventing movable plate is pressed and moved by the end of the first IC card. The posture of the prevention movable plate is inclined in the lateral width direction of the first IC card, and accordingly, the sliding portion of the erroneous insertion prevention movable plate may interfere with other parts and cause a failure.

  In consideration of the above problems, there is an IC card connector that has a sliding-type movable plate for preventing erroneous insertion and can selectively mount one of two types of IC cards having different sizes, An object of the present invention is to provide an IC card connector capable of avoiding the inclination of the misinsertion-preventing movable plate in the width direction even when the IC card is erroneously attached or detached.

  To achieve the above object, an IC card connector according to the present invention has a card slot through which one of the first and second IC cards having different shapes can selectively pass. , Having a plurality of contact terminal groups for electrically connecting the electrode portions of the first and second IC cards, an IC card housing portion for housing the first or second IC card, and an IC card housing portion, When the first IC card is mounted in the IC card housing portion through the card slot, the advancing end of the first IC card is one of the contacts. When the second IC card is mounted in the IC card housing portion through the card slot, the first position for guiding the advancing end of the IC card toward the terminal group is taken. A mis-insertion-preventing movable member that takes a second position state in which the leading end of the IC card is directed toward the other contact terminal group, and mis-insertion according to the attachment and detachment of the first and second IC cards A position control mechanism for causing the movable member for prevention to take the first position or the second position, and the movable member for preventing erroneous insertion moves the movable member for preventing erroneous insertion along the width direction of the IC card. It is characterized by having a guide portion that is inserted and guided in an opening formed at the periphery of the IC card housing portion so as to regulate the above.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the IC card connector of the present invention, the erroneous insertion preventing movable member regulates the movement of the erroneous insertion preventing movable member along the width direction of the IC card. Since there is a guide portion that is inserted and guided in an opening formed at the periphery of the IC card housing portion, the posture of the movable plate for preventing erroneous insertion is inclined in the width direction even when the IC card is erroneously attached or detached. Can be avoided.

  FIG. 2 shows the appearance of an example of an IC card connector according to the present invention.

  Such an IC card connector is arranged inside a predetermined electronic device, for example, a mobile phone, a telephone, a PDA, a camera or the like.

  The IC card connector shown in FIG. 2 is, for example, a memory card such as an MMC card that is detachably accommodated in the card accommodating portion along the direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. (Multi media card) (trademark) MC or miniSD card (trademark) MSC, and a connection terminal portion of a substrate for signal input / output, etc. arranged inside a predetermined electronic device It shall be electrically connected.

  For example, the MMC card MC has a thickness of about 1.4 mm and vertical and horizontal dimensions of about 32 mm and about 24 mm, respectively. The miniSD card MSC has a thickness of about 1.4 mm and vertical and horizontal dimensions of about 21.5 mm and about 20 mm, respectively.

  The IC card connector includes a base member 12 on which a plurality of contact terminals and the like for electrical connection to the MMC card MC or miniSD card MSC to be accommodated are arranged, and a composite accommodation of each card in cooperation with the base member 12. And a cover member 10 forming a portion.

  The cover member 10 having a gate-shaped cross-sectional shape is formed of a thin metal material. As shown in FIG. 2, engagement holes 10e, 10f, 10g, and 10h to which the claw portions of the base member 12 described later are engaged respectively correspond to the claw portions on one side surface portion of the cover member 10. Is formed. A plurality of engagement holes (not shown) are formed on the other side surface portion of the cover member 10 to engage with claws of the base member 12 to be described later.

  Therefore, the cover member 10 is fixed to the base member 12 by engaging the respective engagement holes 10 e to 10 h and the like with the respective claw portions of the base member 12.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, an opening 10 a is formed in the central portion of the upper surface portion that connects both side surface portions of the cover member 10. One end of a plate-like elastic piece 10 </ b> D that urges a later-described misinsertion-preventing movable plate downward is connected to the periphery of the opening 10 a. The other end of the elastic piece 10D protrudes into the opening 10a. A plurality of openings 10b and 10c are formed adjacent to the opening 10a with a predetermined interval.

  On one side surface side of the upper surface portion, a pressing spring 10E that movably supports a cam lever in an ejection mechanism 20 described later is provided. The base end portion of the elastic pressing spring 10 </ b> E is formed integrally with the cover member 10. The holding spring 10E is formed, for example, by punching a part of the cover member 10 inward by press working. Accordingly, an opening is formed around the portion of the cover member 10 corresponding to the pressing spring 10E.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the card accommodating portion 25 in the base member 12 is open at the upper end and the end opposite to the contact terminal fixing portion described later. The card accommodating portion 25 is a composite accommodating portion in which the MMC card MC is accommodated in the upper portion thereof, and the miniSD card MSC is accommodated in the lower portion thereof partially overlapping.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 14, the open end has a step-shaped cross section corresponding to the shapes of the inserted MMC card MC and miniSD card MSC. In FIG. 14, the opening end portion has a substantially rectangular cross section and the first guide portion 12Sa through which the miniSD card SMC passes, and the SD card MC passes through a cross section that overlaps the large and small substantially rectangular shapes. And the second guide portion 12Sb.

  The lateral width of the second guide portion 12Sb is set to be larger than the lateral width of the first guide portion 12Sa formed below the both sides of the SD card MC to be inserted so as to form a predetermined gap. Yes. The lateral width of the first guide portion 12Sa is set so as to form a predetermined gap with respect to both side portions of the inserted miniSD card SMC.

  As a result, the end portions on the traveling direction side of the MMC card MC and the miniSD card SMC are guided by the second guide portion 12Sb and the first guide portion 12Sa, respectively, upward or downward. Will be.

  Accordingly, when the base member 12 is covered by the cover member 10 described above, a common card slot through which one of the MMC card MC and the miniSD card MSC is selectively passed at one end portion of the card housing portion 25. Will be formed.

  The base member 12 is integrally molded with a molded resin material, for example. As shown in FIG. 6, the base member 12 includes side walls 12WR and 12WL that form both side portions of a card accommodating portion 25 in which the MMC card MC and the miniSD card MSC are detachably accommodated, and contacts for the miniSD card MSC. The terminal 16ai (i = 1 to 11) and the contact terminal fixing wall portion 12WF on which the contact terminal 18ai (i = 1 to 13) for the MMC card MC is arranged are configured.

  As shown in FIG. 6, claw portions 12ne, 12nf, 12ng, and 12nh are formed on the outer surface of the side wall 12WL, respectively. Although not shown on the outer surface of the side wall 12WR, similar claw portions are formed at a plurality of locations.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of contact terminals 18 ai are arranged in a portion close to the contact terminal fixing wall portion 12WF in the card accommodating portion 25 so as to be substantially parallel to the side walls 12WR and 12WL at a predetermined mutual interval. ing. Further, the plurality of contact terminals 16ai are arranged at a position close to the card slot in the card accommodating portion 25 substantially parallel to the side walls 12WR and 12WL at a predetermined mutual interval.

  The contact terminal 18ai is elastic and has a contact part that is in contact with and electrically connected to a contact pad of the MMC card MC, and is soldered and fixed to an electrode part of a wiring board (not shown). The terminal portion is configured to include a fixing portion that connects the contact portion and the soldered terminal portion to each other and is fixed to the base member 12. The contact terminal 18ai is made of a thin plate metal material, for example, phosphor bronze for a spring. Although the illustration of the fixing portion of the contact terminal 18ai is omitted, the insertion direction of the memory card 16 is opposite to the groove formed in the contact terminal fixing wall portion 12WF through the through hole formed in the contact terminal fixing wall portion 12WF. The base member 12 is fixed by being press-fitted from the direction side.

  The contact terminal 16ai is elastic and has a contact portion that contacts and is electrically connected to the contact pad of the miniSD card MSC, and a soldered terminal portion that is soldered and fixed to the electrode portion of the wiring board. And a contact portion and a soldered terminal portion connected to each other and a fixed portion fixed to the base member 12. The contact terminal 16ai is made of a sheet metal material, for example, phosphor bronze for a spring. As shown in FIG. 5, the fixed portion of the contact terminal 16 ai is fixed to the base member 12 by being press-fitted from the insertion direction side of the miniSD card MSC into a groove formed in the bottom of the card housing portion 25. Yes.

  Further, the soldered terminal portions of the contact terminals 18ai and 16ai respectively protrude outward through the holes of the contact terminal fixing wall portion 12WF.

  A groove 12R into which the bent portion of the cover member 10 is inserted and engaged is formed with a predetermined width at the substantially central portion of the upper end of the contact terminal fixing wall portion 12WF, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. Yes. A guide portion 14G of a movable plate 14 for preventing incorrect insertion, which will be described later, is movably inserted and protruded into a slit 10F of the bent portion of the cover member 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an ejecting mechanism for holding the MMC card MC in the card storage unit 25 and selectively discharging the MMC card MC from the card storage unit 25 is provided on the inner side of the side wall 12WR. .

  The eject mechanism is movably supported with respect to the base member 12 and is interposed between the ejector member that selectively holds the MMC card MC, and the wall adjacent to the contact terminal fixing wall portion 12WF of the base member 12 and the ejector member. A coil spring that biases the ejector member in the ejection direction of the MMC card MC, and an eject member control unit that performs control to selectively hold or release the ejector member with respect to the base member 12 in accordance with the attaching / detaching operation of the MMC card MC. And.

  The eject member control unit includes a substantially heart-shaped cam element (heart cam) formed on the side wall 12WR side of the ejector member as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-31416, and a plurality of steps formed around the heart cam. A lever-shaped cam lever having one end connected to the hole of the side wall 12WR and the other end slid along the lever guide groove, and the presser spring of the cover member 10 described above 10E (see FIG. 2).

  The presser spring 10E biases the bent tip of the cam lever so as to be in sliding contact with the guide surface of the lever guide groove. As a result, one end of the cam lever follows the operation of the eject member and is sequentially guided through the guide grooves constituting the lever guide groove, and is temporarily held on the cam surface formed on the heart cam. The ejector member with the MMC card MC is held in the card housing portion 25. Then, when one end of the cam lever is separated from the cam surface by further pushing operation of the MMC card MC, the ejector member with the MMC card MC is moved in the card discharge direction by the biasing force of the coil spring.

  Further, a card misinsertion prevention mechanism is provided between the cover member 10 in the card accommodating portion 25 and the contact terminals 18ai and 16ai described above.

  The card misinsertion prevention mechanism is fixed directly below the cover member 10 and moves along the card attachment / detachment direction inside the lock member support 22 having the lock members 22A and 22B and the both side surfaces of the lock member support 22 respectively. A pair of movable plate driving members 26 that are arranged in such a manner that one end is connected to a card erroneous insertion prevention movable plate 14 to be described later, and a card erroneous insertion prevention movable plate that prevents entry into the room above the miniSD card MSC. 14 and a return spring 24 that urges the movable plate driving member 26 to return to the initial position as main elements.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lock member support 22 has an opening 22 a at a substantially central portion. Lock members 22A and 22B are formed at two locations on the periphery of the opening 22a, respectively. One end of the lock member 22A is coupled to the lock member support 22 so as to be elastically displaceable. The other end of the lock member 22A is engaged with a protrusion of a movable plate drive member 26 (not shown).

  One end of the lock member 22B is coupled to the lock member support 22 so as to be elastically displaced, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. The other end of the lock member 22B has a hook-shaped locking portion 22b. The locking portion 22 b is selectively engaged with the protruding piece 26 b of the movable plate driving member 26. Thereby, the movement along the insertion direction of the card in the movable plate driving member 26 is restricted, that is, a locked state is set. Further, when the engaging portion 22b is pushed upward by the end of the inserted MMC card MC, the engaging portion 22b is not engaged with the protruding piece 26b of the movable plate driving member 26, so that the movable plate driving member 26 is engaged. Is released and can move, and is unlocked.

  The plate-like movable plate driving member 26 has a protruding piece 26b protruding toward the locking members 22A and 22B and a spring receiver 26a protruding through a long hole 22d formed on the side surface of the locking member support 22 at one end. Have on the side. Although not shown in the drawings, the other end of the movable plate driving member 26 is formed with an end portion having a long hole into which a protruding piece 14c of a movable plate 14 for preventing erroneous insertion of a card, which will be described later, is inserted and connected. ing. As a result, the movable plate drive member 26 is pressed and moved against the urging force of the return spring 24 by the end of the MMC card MC, whereby the movable plate 14 for preventing erroneous card insertion moves along the card insertion direction. You will be harassed.

  One end of a return spring 24 is engaged with the spring receiver 26a. The other end of the return spring 24 is engaged with a step portion of the side wall 12WL. As a result, when the MMC card MC is ejected, the movable plate driving member 26 is returned to the initial position by the urging force of the return spring 24 together with the card erroneous insertion preventing movable plate 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the erroneous card insertion preventing movable plate 14 is movably disposed at a position directly below the lock member support 22.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the substantially T-shaped movable plate 14 for preventing erroneous card insertion includes a card guiding portion 14D that guides the progress of the miniSD card MSC downward when the movable plate driving member 26 is in a locked state. The guide part 14G is connected to the end of the card guiding part 14D so as to cross substantially perpendicularly and guides the movable card 14 for preventing erroneous card insertion.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, protrusions 14b and 14c respectively engaged with the guide grooves 22G of the lock member support 22 are formed at predetermined intervals on both side portions of the card guiding portion 14D. Yes. In addition, a pair of protrusion pieces 14a are formed substantially parallel to one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the card guiding portion 14D, adjacent to each protrusion piece 14c.

  The flat guide portion 14G is connected to a position biased to one side along the longitudinal direction from the substantially central portion of the card guiding portion 14D. The guide portion 14G has a long hole 14g at the center thereof. As shown in FIG. 8, one end of the guide portion 14 </ b> G is movably inserted into the rectangular slit 10 </ b> F of the cover member 10. As a result, the erroneous card insertion preventing movable plate 14 is moved while being guided by the slit 10F, so there is no possibility that the card is inclined undesirably during the movement.

  In such a configuration, when the MMC card MC is mounted in the card accommodating portion 25, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the engagement of the locking members 22A and 22B is caused by the tip of the MMC card MC passing through the card slot. When the stop piece 22b is pressed and each movable plate driving member 26 is unlocked, each movable plate driving member 26 is moved into the card accommodating portion 25 against the urging force of the return spring 24. . As a result, the card wrong insertion preventing movable plate 14 having the projection piece 14c connected to the elongated hole of the movable plate driving member 26 has its projection piece 14b engaged with the guide groove 22G, and the projection piece 14c has a long length. By engaging with the guide groove 22G through the hole and being lifted after being slid, it comes into contact with the inner surface of the cover member 10, and as shown in FIG. It will be held at a predetermined position by the above-mentioned eject member while passing just below the movable plate 14 for use. On the other hand, when the MMC card MC is taken out from the card accommodating portion 25, the MMC card MC is further pushed in, and the urging force of the coil spring of the ejection mechanism moves the MMC card MC together with the ejection member in the ejection direction. The movable plate 14 for preventing erroneous card insertion starts to descend and is returned to the initial position by the urging force of the return spring 24.

  When the miniSD card MSC is mounted at a regular position in the card housing portion 25, each movable plate driving member 26 is locked, so that the tip of the inserted miniSD card MSC is connected to the movable plate 14 for preventing erroneous card insertion. At the end of the guide portion 14D, it is regulated directly below it, and a regular lower portion is introduced.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, the miniSD card MSC is erroneously inserted into the upper side of the card housing portion 25, and the locking portion 22 b of the lock member 22 </ b> A or 22 </ b> B is pressed, Only one of them is unlocked. In this case, even when the miniSD card MSC is forcibly pushed further so as to press the card misinsertion preventing movable plate 14, the card misinsertion preventing movable plate 14 has a width direction posture thereof. Since it is regulated by the end portion of the portion 14G, it does not tilt in the width direction, and therefore the side surface portion of the card insertion preventing movable plate 14 interferes with the opposite side surface portion of the lock member support 22 and causes failure. There is no fear of becoming.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the movable board for card wrong insertion prevention used in an example of the connector for IC cards which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an example of the connector for IC cards which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the example shown in FIG. 2. It is a side view in the example shown by FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the example shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a cover member is removed in the example shown in FIG. 2. It is a top view which shows the state shown by FIG. It is an expansion perspective view which expands and shows a part in the example shown by FIG. It is an expansion perspective view which expands and shows a part in the state shown by FIG. It is a top view with which operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2 is provided. It is a top view with which operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2 is provided. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the top view shown by FIG. It is a top view with which operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2 is provided. It is a front view in the example shown by FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cover member 10F Slit 12 Base member 14 Movable plate 16ai, 18ai for incorrect insertion prevention Contact terminal 22 Lock member support body 24 Return spring 25 Accommodating part 26 Movable plate drive member

Claims (2)

One of the first and second IC cards having different shapes has a card slot through which the IC card can selectively pass, and electrically connects the electrode portions of the first and second IC cards. An IC card housing portion that has a plurality of contact terminal groups and houses the first or second IC card;
When the first IC card is attached to the IC card accommodating portion through the card slot, the IC card accommodating portion is provided so as to be movable up and down while sliding along the IC card attaching / detaching direction. The IC card is in a first position for guiding the leading edge of the IC card so that the leading edge of the first IC card faces one contact terminal group, and the second IC card passes through the card slot. A mis-insertion-preventing movable member that takes a second position state in which the advancing end of the second IC card is guided toward the other contact terminal group when mounted in the housing;
A position control mechanism that causes the movable member for preventing erroneous insertion to take the first position or the second position in accordance with attachment / detachment for each of the first and second IC cards,
The misinsertion-preventing movable member is inserted and guided into an opening formed at the periphery of the IC card housing portion so as to restrict the movement of the misinsertion-preventing movable member along the width direction of the IC card. An IC card connector characterized by having a guided portion. 2. The IC card connector according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed in a cover member that constitutes a part of the IC card housing portion.

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