JPH10302888A - Ic card connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IC card connector suited for miniaturization and thinning and capable of achieving a smooth feeling in the insertion and removal of an IC card and certain holding action. SOLUTION: Stopper parts are formed on both side edges of an elastic plate 5, a stopper piece is formed at the end of the elastic plate 5, slots with tapered lower parts are bored in both side plates of a holder 2 the tapered parts are forced to abut to projections 1a on both sides of a housing 1, and the holder 2 is guided diagonally longitudinally relative to the housing 1. An engaging hole having engaging parts and relief parts is bored in the front plate of the holder 2, the free end of the elastic plate 5 is passed through the engaging hole and projected out of the holder 2, and when an IC card 3 is not inserted the stopper part is locked to the first engaging part of the engaging hole to lock the holder 2 in a retreated position; during insertion of the IC card 3, the elastic plate 5 is pressed to unlock the holder 2 at the retreated position, and at the completion of insertion of the IC card 3 the stopper piece is locked to the second engaging part of the engaging hole to lock the holder 2 in an advanced position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card connector used for exchanging signals with an inserted IC card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An IC card has an operation / storage function.
C is a card in which an external device that performs information processing using the IC card as a medium, such as a personal computer or a digital camera, has an IC card connector having terminals corresponding to respective contacts of the IC card. Provided.

Conventionally, as an example of such an IC card connector, as described in US Pat. No. 4,976,630, each contact of the IC card and each terminal on the connector side almost slide. A landing type that contacts without contact has been proposed. The IC card connector disclosed in the above specification includes a slider provided with a plurality of terminals on the back surface, a fixed frame for guiding the slider in an oblique direction, a return spring for urging the slider toward the retreat position, The IC card is generally constituted by a pair of clips provided on a frame, and the IC card is guided in a forward and backward direction by a fixed frame.

In the IC card connector configured as described above, when the IC card is ejected, the slider is at the rear upward position, and when the IC card is inserted horizontally along the fixed frame, the slider is inserted into the inserted IC card.
The card advances forward in an oblique direction, and during the movement, each terminal of the slider comes into contact with a corresponding contact on the IC card.
When the IC card is further inserted, the clip is held at the loading position by the clip. At this time, the slider moves to the forward descending position, so that the contact state between the terminal and the contact is reliably maintained. On the other hand, when the IC card is pulled out of the fixed frame against the elastic force of the clip member, the slider is returned to the rear ascending position by the return spring, and the terminal is separated from the contact during the moving process.

[0005]

In the above-described conventional IC card connector, an IC which is inserted and removed in a horizontal direction is provided.
Since the slider moves up or down in an oblique direction with respect to the card, the terminals provided on the slider can be brought into and out of contact with the contacts of the IC card almost without sliding. There is an advantage that the feeling of insertion / removal and the reliability of the connection can be improved as compared with the friction type that comes and goes.

However, since two types of spring members, a return spring for returning the slider to the initial position and a clip for holding the IC card at the loading position, are required, the space for installing these spring members is small. Not only is it difficult to reduce the thickness and thickness, but if the mutual elastic force of the return spring and the clip is not set properly,
There is a problem that one of the returning operation of the slider and the holding operation of the IC card cannot be reliably performed. Further, since the IC card is held at the loading position by being clamped by the clip, the spring piece of the clip may be dislodged by repeated insertion / removal operations, and the IC card may not be reliably held, or the clip may damage the IC card. There is also a problem.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a housing for guiding a holder obliquely back and forth with respect to a fixed housing provided with terminals, and an elastic plate pressed and driven by an IC card into the housing. The holder is fixed in a beam shape, and the holder is locked by the elastic plate at two positions, a forward position and a reverse position. With this configuration, since only the elastic plate needs to be installed as a spring member for locking the holder in the forward position and the reverse position, the structure of the IC card connector is simplified, and the miniaturization and thinning are promoted. As a result, it is possible to realize a smooth insertion / extraction feeling of the IC card and a reliable holding operation.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In an IC card connector according to the present invention, a fixed housing provided with a plurality of terminals,
A holder that moves forward and backward while being guided obliquely by the housing as the C card is inserted and withdrawn, an engagement hole provided at a tip end of the holder in the forward direction, and a cantilever fixed to the housing. An elastic plate having a free end movable within the engagement hole, and the elastic plate locks with the first engagement portion of the engagement hole by its own elasticity when the IC card is not inserted. By locking the holder at the backward position, the IC card presses the elastic plate and moves into the engagement hole during the insertion of the IC card, thereby locking the holder at the backward position. The state is released, and when the insertion of the IC card is completed, the IC card further presses the elastic plate and locks with the second engagement portion of the engagement hole, thereby locking the holder at the forward position. It was configured to be.

As means for guiding the holder into the housing, any one of the two may be provided with an inclination, and the projection which moves along this inclination may be provided on the other.
It is preferable that protrusions are provided on both side surfaces of the housing, and a window hole having one side tapered is provided in the holder, and the holder is guided obliquely by engagement of the tapered surface and the protrusion.

Further, first and second flat surfaces which are continuous with an inclined surface are formed on the elastic plate, and these flat surfaces are formed by I
If the elastic plate is configured to be pressed by the C card, it is easy to move the elastic plate from the first engaging portion of the engaging hole to the second engaging portion, and the elastic plate can be locked and unlocked. Can be performed reliably.

In the case where a notch for detecting incorrect insertion is formed in the IC card, if a bent portion corresponding to the notch is formed in the holder, when the IC card is inserted in an incorrect posture, Since the IC card cannot be inserted any more when the front surface of the IC card comes into contact with the bent portion, the elastic plate is not pressed by the IC card, and the holder can be maintained at the initial position.

[0012]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a plan view of an IC card connector, FIG. 2 is a side view of the connector, FIG. 3 is a front view of the connector, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a housing, FIG. 5 is a side view of the housing, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the housing, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the holder, FIG. 9 is a side view of the holder, FIG.
Is a front view of the holder, FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state where the IC card is completely inserted into the connector of FIG. 1, FIG. 12 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing locking and unlocking operations of the elastic plate. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a contact state between the IC card and the terminal.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
The C card connector includes a fixed housing 1 and a movable holder 2 held reciprocally by the housing 1.
The IC card 3 is inserted and removed between the housing 1 and the holder 2.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a plurality of terminals 4 are fixed to a synthetic resin housing 1 by insertion (press-fitting), insert molding, or the like.
The cards 3 are arranged in two rows in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1). One end of each terminal 4 is fixed to the housing 1, the other end extends obliquely upward with respect to the inner bottom surface of the housing 1, and the tip is locked to the housing 1. That is, the free end of each terminal 4 projects obliquely upward from the inner bottom surface of the housing 1, but the amount of upward movement is restricted. Also, two projections 1a are formed on one side on both side walls protruding upward from the inner bottom surface of the housing 1, and the lower surfaces of these projections 1a are inclined toward the front of the housing 1 (to the right in FIG. 5). ing.

A pair of elastic plates 5 are provided on the inner bottom surface of the housing 1.
Are fixed in a cantilever shape, and the free ends of these elastic plates 5 project obliquely forward of the housing 1. On the fixed end side of the elastic plate 5, a claw piece 5a to be locked to the housing 1 is formed, and on the free end side, a first flat surface 5c and a second flat surface continuous via an inclined surface 5b. The surface 5d is formed. Wide portions forming stopper portions 5e are formed on both side edges of the first flat surface 5c.
The tip of c is a stopper piece 5f. The second flat surface 5d extends obliquely upward on both sides of the stopper piece 5f,
The tip protrudes from the stopper piece 5f.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the metal plate holder 2 is formed by bending both sides and the front side of the top plate at right angles, and the two side plates have two window holes 6 on one side.
Are drilled. The holder 2 is attached from above the housing 1, and each window hole 6 has a corresponding projection 1 a of the housing 1.
It is fitted to. The lower side of each window hole 6 is in front of the holder 2 (FIG. 9).
The tapered portions 6a are inclined toward the right side of the housing 1). That is, the holder 2 can reciprocate obliquely forward and backward with respect to the housing 1 using the projection 1a and the tapered portion 6a as guides.
A pair of engagement holes 7 are formed in the front plate of the holder 2, and the free end side of the elastic plate 5 is inserted through the engagement holes 7 and protrudes outward from the holder 2. This engagement hole 7
Is formed in a stepped shape, and has a first engaging portion 7a which can be disengaged from the stopper portion 5e of the elastic plate 5, a relief portion 7b wider than the second flat surface 5d of the elastic plate 5, 5 has a second engaging portion 7c that can be engaged and disengaged with the stopper piece 5f, and a reinforcing tongue 7d is formed in the second engaging portion 7c by bending.
Further, a bent portion 2 a is formed to be bent downward at a right angle on the top plate of the holder 2, and the bent portion 2 a is located near one of the engagement holes 7.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. In the ejected state of the IC card 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lowermost portion of the tapered portion 6a of the holder 2 is in contact with the projection 1a. The holder 2 is in the rear raised position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13A, the elastic plate 5 is urged upward by its own elasticity, and its stopper portion 5e is provided.
Is locked in the first engagement portion 7a of the engagement hole 7,
The holder 2 is locked in the eject position and cannot move forward.

When the IC card 3 is inserted between the inner bottom surface of the housing 1 and the top plate of the holder 2 and is pushed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. And the back surface thereof contacts the free end of each terminal 4. At this time, as shown in FIG.
Since the position of the uppermost part of each terminal 4 is restricted to substantially the same height as the back surface of the IC card 3, the IC card 3 and each terminal 4 are maintained in a lightly contacted state with little wear during such insertion. . Immediately before the tip of the IC card 3 contacts the front plate of the holder 2, the back surface of the IC card 3 contacts the first flat surface 5 c of the elastic plate 5 and presses it downward. As shown in b), the stopper 5e of the elastic plate 5 moves to the escape portion 7b of the engagement hole 7, and the lock at the retracted position of the holder 2 is released. As a result, the pushing force of the IC card 3 is transmitted to the holder 2, and the holder 2 advances obliquely with the protrusion 1a and the tapered portion 6a as guides. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14B, the IC card 3 approaches the inner bottom surface of the housing 1 together with the holder 2 and the back surface of the IC card 3 presses each terminal 4. The contact pressure gradually increases.

When the IC card is further inserted, the back surface of the IC card 3 rides over the inclined surface 5b of the elastic plate 5 and presses the second flat surface 5d downward. As shown in FIG. The stopper piece 5f of the plate 5 faces the second engagement portion 7c of the engagement hole 7. As a result, the holder 2 is locked at the forward lowered position and cannot be retracted, and the IC card 3 is held in the loading state as shown in FIGS. In this loading state, the IC card 3
A plurality of contacts (not shown) provided on the back surface of each of the contacts make contact with the corresponding terminals 4 at a high contact pressure, and signals are exchanged with these contacts via the terminals 4.

On the other hand, when the IC card 3 is pulled out from the loading position shown in FIG. 11, the elastic plate 5 rises inside the engaging hole 7 by its own elasticity, so that the lock of the holder 2 at the advanced position is released. You. As a result, the component force of the pulling force of the IC card 3 is transmitted to the holder 2, and the holder 2 retreats obliquely with the protrusion 1a and the tapered portion 6a as guides. Then, when the IC card 3 is completely removed,
The stopper 5e of the elastic plate 5 is connected to the first engaging portion 7 of the engaging hole 7.
a, the holder 2 is again locked at the retracted position and returns to the ejected state shown in FIG.

A notch 3a for detecting erroneous insertion is formed in one corner of the front surface of the IC card 3, and when the IC card 3 is inserted in a correct posture, as shown in FIG. The portion 2a is located in the notch 3a and does not come into contact with the IC card 3, and the above-described loading operation is allowed. On the other hand, if the IC card 3 is erroneously inserted upside down or upside down, the front surface of the IC card 3 comes into contact with the bent portion 2a and cannot be inserted any more. Is prohibited, the holder 2 remains locked at the eject position.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where two elastic plates 5 are disposed on the left and right has been described. However, the number and the installation place of the elastic plates 5 are not limited to this embodiment.
May be omitted.

[0023]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

A fixed housing provided with a plurality of terminals, a holder which moves forward and backward while being obliquely guided by the housing as the IC card is inserted and withdrawn, and a holder which is provided on the tip side of the holder in the forward direction. Engagement hole,
An elastic plate fixed to the housing in a cantilever shape and having a free end movable in the engagement hole;
When the card is not inserted, the elastic plate locks the holder to the reverse position by being locked by the elasticity of the elastic plate with the first engagement portion of the engagement hole. When the card pushes the elastic plate and moves into the engagement hole, the locked state at the backward position of the holder is released, and when the insertion of the IC card is completed, the IC card further moves the elastic plate. When the holder is locked to the forward position by pressing and locking the second engaging portion of the engaging hole, only the elastic plate is used as a spring member for locking the holder to the forward position and the reverse position. The structure of the IC card connector can be simplified, the size and thickness can be promoted, and the smooth insertion and removal feeling of the IC card and a reliable holding operation can be realized.

Further, first and second flat surfaces which are continuous with each other through an inclined surface are formed on the elastic plate.
If the elastic plate is configured to be pressed by the C card, it is easy to move the elastic plate from the first engaging portion of the engaging hole to the second engaging portion, and the elastic plate can be locked and unlocked. Can be performed reliably.

When a notch for detecting erroneous insertion is formed in the IC card, if a bent portion corresponding to the notch is formed in the holder, when the IC card is inserted in an incorrect posture, Since the IC card cannot be inserted any more when the front surface of the IC card comes into contact with the bent portion, the elastic plate is not pressed by the IC card, and the holder can be maintained at the initial position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an IC card connector according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the connector.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the connector.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a housing.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the housing.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the housing.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the housing.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the holder.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the holder.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the holder.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state where an IC card has been completely inserted into the connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing lock and unlock operations of an elastic plate.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a contact state between an IC card and a terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 housing 1a protrusion 2 holder 2a bent portion 3 IC card 3a cutout 4 terminal 5 elastic plate 5b inclined surface 5c first flat surface 5d second flat surface 5e stopper portion 5f stopper piece 6 window hole 6a taper portion 7 engagement Hole 7a First engaging portion 7b Escape portion 7c Second engaging portion

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A fixed-side housing provided with a plurality of terminals, a holder that moves forward and backward while being obliquely guided by the housing as the IC card is inserted and withdrawn, and a front end in the forward direction of the holder. An engaging hole provided, and an elastic plate fixed to the housing in a cantilever shape and having a free end movable in the engaging hole, wherein the elastic plate is not inserted when the IC card is not inserted. The holder is locked to the reverse position by being locked to the first engagement portion of the engagement hole with its own elasticity. During the insertion of the IC card, the IC card presses the elastic plate to insert the IC card. By moving into the engagement hole, the locked state of the holder at the backward movement position is released, and when the insertion of the IC card is completed, the IC card further presses the elastic plate and the second position of the engagement hole is reduced. With the engaging part of Wherein the holder is locked at the forward position. 2. The holder according to claim 1, wherein projections are provided on both side surfaces of the housing, and a window hole having one side tapered is provided in the holder, and the holder is formed by engagement of the tapered surface with the projection. Is guided in an oblique direction. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first and a second flat surface are formed on the elastic plate via an inclined surface, and the IC card is in contact with the first flat surface. Moving the elastic plate into the engagement hole,
A connector for an IC card, wherein a card abuts on the second flat surface to lock the elastic plate with a second engagement portion of the engagement hole. 4. A bent portion corresponding to a notch for detecting an erroneous insertion of the IC card is formed in the holder, and the elastic plate by the IC card is provided when the bent portion is inside the notch. Wherein the pressing operation of the elastic plate by the IC card is prohibited when the front surface of the IC card comes into contact with the bent portion.