KR100414848B1 - Card connector for receiving pc card - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved card connector 2 for accommodating at least one PC card 1 is disclosed. The card connector includes a card connector section (3) and a board connector section (4), wherein the card connector portion is pin terminal (6) to mate with the ground terminal (9) and the corresponding receptacle of the card to contact the outer casing of the card. It comprises an insulating housing (5) with a lateral array (7) of. The insulating housing further includes a rearwardly extending extension portion 28 having a downwardly extending leg portion 29. The pin terminals comprise connecting tails 8 arranged in a single row along the legs 29 of the alignment extension 28. The board connector section 4 has a coupling tail 22a having a “C” shaped contact cross section for receiving the individual connection tails of the pin terminals of the card connector section along the adjacent leg 29 of the alignment section 28. Equipped with a signal terminal 22. This arrangement significantly reduces the longitudinal size of the card connector.

Description

Card connector for accepting PC cards {CARD CONNECTOR FOR RECEIVING PC CARD}

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a card connector for accommodating one or more PC cards.

Conventional card connectors have a pin terminal array and parallel arranged ground terminals configured to receive one or more PC or other memory cards. These pin terminals are arranged in line to mate with corresponding female receptacles of the cards correspondingly arranged in line in the card (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-54898), and the ground terminals are brought into contact with the conductive outer housing of the card. have. Such a card connector may be provided with a card ejection mechanism for removing the card from the card or the card connector.

In such a card connector, the ground terminal must be connected to the ground circuit of a given circuit board on which the card connector is mounted. To achieve this connection in a known card connector configured to accept a single card, the ground terminal extends rearward from the rear section of the terminal covering the tail of the pin terminal, as shown from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-54898. Likewise, it is connected to the ground circuit of the circuit board through an extension of the ground terminal or associated shield plate.

In the case of a card connector with two or more pin terminal arrays at two or more levels, grounding cannot be achieved by relying on a simple shield as in the single pin terminal array described above. Instead, it is known to position the relay circuit board on the rear side of the card connector, thereby connecting the tail terminals and the tail terminals of the ground terminal to the corresponding conductors of the relay circuit board, and then the relay circuit board is connected to the card connector. Is connected to a circuit board to be mounted by using a board-to-board connector or a card edge connector.

The use of such relay circuit boards and board-to-board connectors has made it difficult to reduce the size of the card connector. This is because the relay circuit board and the board-to-board connector extend substantially from the rear side of the card connector. Moreover, in this prior art connector, the number of parts and processes is increased and thus the manufacturing cost is also increased.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a card connector having a ground terminal with a minimum reduced size.

To achieve this purpose, a card connector is provided for receiving two PC cards, which are to be matched with the corresponding receptacle of the PC card with two parallel ground terminals extending over each array configured to contact the card's outer casing. It has an insulated housing that mounts two parallel lateral arrays of configured pin terminals. The card connector further includes a ground terminal rod vertically traversing the lateral array of pin terminals to connect the ground terminals together, allowing all ground terminals to be connected to the ground circuit of a given circuit board via the connecting terminal rod.

In this arrangement, the ground terminal is connected to the ground circuit of a given printed circuit board via a ground terminal rod, thereby eliminating the use of a relay circuit board that extends the size of the card connector on the rear side of the insulating housing in the known connector. Thus, the longitudinal size of the card connector of the present invention is reduced.

The card connector of the present invention further includes a board connector section connected to the card connector section and a card connector section for receiving a PC card. The card connector section includes an insulated housing that includes two laterally extending alignment extensions having downwardly extending L-shaped legs and which mounts two lateral arrays of pin terminals. The pin terminals of the two sets of lateral arrays are mounted in an insulating housing so that their L-shaped connecting tails are arranged in a single row along the legs of the alignment extension of the housing. The board connector section includes a signal terminal for contacting the pin terminal when the two sections are connected, that is, the connection tail of the pin terminal exposed on the rear side of the insulating housing of the card connector section is connected to the card connector section. When connected to the board connector section, it contacts the mating tail of the signal terminal on the front side of the insulating housing of the board connector section. The engagement tails of the signal terminals of the board connector section are configured such that each includes a C-shaped contact section for receiving each connection tail of the pin terminal of the card connector section along the adjacent leg of the alignment extension.

With the arrangement of the coupling tails of the signal terminals on the front side of the insulated housing of the board connector section, the pin terminals of the card connector section and the signal terminals of the board connector section are confined in a reduced space, thereby reducing the longitudinal size of the card connector. Contributes more.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description of the card connector according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a card connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the main part of the card connector of Fig. 1;

3 is a plan view of a card connector partially cut away to show additional detail.

4 is a plan view of a card connector.

5 is a rear view of the card connector.

6 is a front view of the card connector.

Figure 7 is a side view of the card connector.

8 is a bottom view of the card connector.

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the card connector showing how the ground terminal rod traverses different levels of pin and ground terminal arrangements.

10 is a perspective view of a ground terminal rod.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view of a stamped and formed sheet with a plurality of ground terminals connected in parallel to a carrier strip and arranged in parallel.

Figure 12 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the board connector section of the card connector.

Figure 13 is an enlarged plan view of a board connector section.

Figure 14 is an enlarged view of a portion of a stamped and formed sheet of ground connection terminal.

Figure 15 is a stamped and formed side view of the ground connection terminal of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the card connector having a single lateral array of pin terminals according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 17 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the main part of the card connector of Figure 16;

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: PC Card

2: card connector

3: card connector section

4: board connector section

5: insulated housing

6: pin terminal

8: connection end

9: ground terminal

10: Ground terminal rod

22: signal terminal

22a: mating ends

28: alignment extension

29 leg part

Features of the invention that are believed to be novel are characteristically described in the following claims. The present invention, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood by reference to the following description set forth in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements.

1 to 3, the card connector 2 for receiving a PC card 1 comprises a card connector section 3 and a board connector section 4 integrally connected thereto.

4 to 8, the card connector section 3 includes two rows of ground terminals 9 and corresponding receptacles of two matching PC cards 1 configured to contact the outer casing of each card 1; An insulating housing 5 for mounting two lateral arrays of mating pin terminals 6. The insulating housing 5 comprises two rearwardly extending extension portions 28 (corresponding to two lateral arrays of terminals) with downwardly extending L-shaped legs 29. The lateral arrays 7 of pin terminals 6 are arranged perpendicularly parallel to one another at upper and lower spaced levels, each array comprising an upper and lower row of pin terminals 6 to match each card. do. The ground terminals 9 are similarly arranged at two levels, with each row of ground terminals 9 extending over each upper row of pin terminals in each lateral array. Two sets of lateral array pin terminals 6 are mounted in the insulating housing 5 so that their L-shaped connecting tails 8 are each leg portion of the alignment extension 28 on the rear side of the insulating housing 5. It is aligned within a single column along 29 (shown in FIG. 2). The space between the connecting tails 8 of these in-lines is half the distance between the pin terminals 6.

The ground terminal 9 extends vertically over each upper row of pin terminals 6 when it is inserted into the card connector and is vertically aligned so as to contact the outer surface of each PC casing.

A ground terminal rod 10 in the shape of a “U” (FIG. 10) connects adjacent ground terminals 9 to each other and connects all ground terminals 9 to the ground circuit of the substrate circuit board through the ground terminal rod 10. FIG. The pin-to-pin spacing of the lateral array 7 of the upper and lower pin terminals is mounted in the vertically traversing insulating housing 5. 3 and 9 to 11, each ground terminal rod 10 bridges two adjacent ground terminals 9. 8, each ground terminal rod 10 projects from the bottom 5a of the insulating housing 5 to provide two ground ends 10a.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, two card ejection mechanisms 12 each assigned to one lateral array 7 of pin terminals 6 are provided on one longitudinal side 5b of the insulating housing 5. do. Each card ejection mechanism 12 has an ejecting rod 13, a push rod 14 with a push button at one end, and a gap gear between the ejecting rod 13 and the push rod 14. 15). The ejecting rod 13 has a hook 18 at one end to capture and eject the front end of each PC card. When the button 16 is pressed, the push rod 14 is pushed backward to drive the discharge rod 13 forward to release the card.

The rectangular metal shell 19 is mounted on the upper surface of the insulating housing 5. At least one longitudinal sidewall of the rectangular cell has a slot 11 that cooperates with the longitudinal arm 5b of the housing to guide the PC card 1, and the rear wall 26 of the rectangular shell 19 The back side of the board connector section 4 is covered. The insulating housing 5 has an opening 20 on its front side to accommodate the insertion of the PC card.

As shown in Fig. 9, the ground terminal rod 10 is mounted to the insulating housing 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow "A" and passes through both levels of the ground terminal 9. As shown in Fig. 11, the ground terminal 9 is fabricated by stamping and forming a long thin metal thin film. Each ground terminal has a coupling hole 9a offset relative to the longitudinal center axis to allow one leg of the ground terminal rod 10 to pass through. The engagement hole 9a has two cantilever-like contacts 9b formed therein to contact the ground terminal rod 10.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the board connector section 4 comprises a signal terminal 22 and a ground connection terminal 23 mounted in an insulating housing 21, which is typically in the "L" shape. One row of signal terminals 22 is inserted from the bottom of the insulating housing 21 and extends along the upstanding wall 21a of the insulating housing 21. Similarly, another row of signal terminals 22 is inserted from the bottom of the insulating housing and spaced vertically from the upstanding wall 21a. The signal terminals 22 are arranged at equal intervals, i.e., at equal spacing spaces, as the connecting tails of the pin terminals 6, and the coupling tails 22a of the signal terminals 22 extend in front of the card connector. As shown in FIG. 12, the two rows of signal terminals 22 have different levels allowing their coupling tails 22a to be positioned to contact the upper and lower connection tails of the terminal array 7. In addition, the signal terminals 22 extend below the bottom surface of the insulating housing 21, one row of terminals 22 extends forward and the other row of terminals extends rearward from the bottom surface of the housing. Referring to FIG. 12 and referring to FIG. 2, the coupling tails 22a of the signal terminals 22 of the board connector section 4 align each connection tail 8 of the pin terminals 6 of the card connector section. It is configured to each include a contact section which is typically "C" shaped for receiving along the adjacent leg portion 29 of the extension 28.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, each ground connection terminal 23 has two sections integrally connected by a central engagement piece 27, each of which is two parallel to the ground terminal rod 10. It has a coupling hole 24 for contacting with one leg. Each coupling hole 24 has a contact 24a similar to a "U" shaped cantilever formed in itself for contacting one leg of the ground terminal rod. The ground connection terminal 23 is assembled by stamping and forming a long thin metal thin film. The ground connection terminal is inserted into the housing 21 by being inserted into the horizontal wall of the housing 21. Each ground connection terminal 23 has a solder tail 23a extending forward from the bottom surface of the insulating housing 21. The horizontal wall 21b of the insulating housing 21 includes a through hole 25 for receiving an end of the leg 10a of the ground terminal rod 10.

The board connector section 4 thus configured provides a card connector with a coupling tail 22a of the signal terminal 22 in contact with the corresponding connection tail 8 of the pin terminal 6, and the adjacent upper and lower ground terminals 9 And a ground terminal rod 10 passing through ground connection terminal 23.

The card connector 2 thus provided is soldered to the signal transfer circuit conductor of the circuit board by soldering the solder tail 22b of the signal terminal 22, and the solder tail 23a of the ground connection terminal 23 is grounded on the circuit board. It can be mounted on a bottom mounted circuit board (not shown) by soldering to the circuit. Thus, the pin terminal 6 is connected to the signal transfer circuit of the circuit board via the signal terminal 22 and the ground terminal 9 is grounded through the ground terminal rod 10 and the ground connection terminal 23. Connected to the circuit.

As described above, the two rows of ground terminals 9 are connected together by a ground terminal rod 10 and are connected to the ground circuit of a given circuit board via the ground connection terminal 23. In other words, the ground terminal rod 10 is connected to the ground circuit of the circuit board under the insulating housing 5. This arrangement makes it unnecessary to use a relay circuit board on the rear side of the card connector 2, thereby providing a substantial reduction in the longitudinal size of the card connector 2, and on the circuit board instead of the relay circuit board and the connector. Allow mounting of additional electronic components. Thus, additional electronic components can be mounted adjacent to the insulating housing 5 on the circuit board to increase the density of component mounting on the circuit board.

In addition, the connection tail 8 of the pin terminal 6 of the card connector section 3 and the coupling tail 22a of the signal terminal 22 of the board connector section 2 are provided with an insulating housing ( The back side of 5) is contacted in a minimized space in the front side of the insulated housing 21 of the board connector section 4, thereby contributing to the reduction in the longitudinal size of the card connector.

In another embodiment of the present invention, referring to Figures 16 and 17, card connector 102 has pin terminals 106 arranged in-line at one level, whereby pin terminals ( And form a single lateral arrangement of 106. In particular, the card connector section 103 has a single arrangement of upper and lower rows of pin terminals 106 mounted in its insulating housing 105, and its connecting tail 108 extends to the rear side of the insulating housing 105. . The ground terminal is not used in this embodiment.

The signal terminals 122 are arranged at equal intervals with the connecting tails 108 of the pin terminals 106, the coupling tails 122a extending from the front of the insulating housing 121, and the solder tails 122b being the insulating housing 122. It is mounted in an insulating housing 121 of the board connector section 104 extending forward along the bottom surface of the 121.

In this embodiment, the pin terminal 106 and the facing signal terminal 122 contact in a minimal space, reducing the longitudinal size of the card connector 102. In addition, the solder tail 122b soldered to the signal transfer circuit of the circuit board remains in an area where the insulating housing 105 of the card connector section 102 and the insulating housing 121 of the board connector section are mated.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. Therefore, this embodiment may be considered in all respects as shown and is not restrictive, and the present invention is not limited to the details given herein.

Claims (8)

A card connector for mounting on a bottom mounted printed circuit board and for receiving at least one PC card, the card connector comprising: A card connector section having an insulated housing for mounting a lateral array of pin terminals configured to mate with corresponding receptacles of a PC card, a rear extension alignment extension with a lower extension leg; A board connector section for connecting to the card connector section and having an insulating housing for mounting a plurality of signal terminals, each having a coupling tail configured to contact a corresponding connection tail of the pin terminal when the card connector section is connected to the board connector section; Include, Wherein each pin terminal comprises a connecting tail arranged along the leg of the alignment extension, the engaging tail each having a C-type contact section for receiving the corresponding connecting tail of the pin terminal along the adjacent leg of the alignment extension. Card connector. The card connector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ground terminals arranged on and parallel to the lateral array of pin terminals and configured to contact the outer casing of the card. 3. The card connector of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of U-shaped ground terminal rods configured to traverse a lateral array of pin terminals and connect two adjacent ground terminals. A card connector for mounting on a bottom mounted printed circuit board and for receiving at least two PC cards, the card connector comprising: An insulated housing for mounting two lateral arrays of pin terminals configured to mate with corresponding receptacles of the PC card, a card connector section having two rear extension alignment extensions each having a lower extension leg portion; Board connector with insulating housing for mounting a plurality of signal terminals, each for coupling to a card connector section and each having a coupling tail configured to contact the corresponding connection tail of the pin terminal when the card connector section is integrally connected to the board connector section. Section, Wherein each pin terminal has a connecting tail, and each lateral array is mounted in an insulating housing such that each connecting tail is arranged along a corresponding leg of the alignment extension, and each of the coupling tails is adjacent the leg of the alignment extension. And a C-type contact section for receiving the corresponding connecting tail of the pin terminal. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of ground terminals arranged on and parallel to the lateral array of pin terminals and configured to contact the outer casing of the card, the two lateral arrays of pin terminals and two adjacent ground terminals; And a plurality of U-shaped ground terminal rods configured to connect. 5. The card connector of claim 4, wherein the board connector section mounts a plurality of ground connection terminals to receive the ends of the ground terminal rod. 7. A connector according to claim 6, wherein each ground connection terminal forms a coupling hole in itself to allow insertion of the connecting ends of the connecting terminal rod, and each of the coupling holes has a contact configured to contact the connecting end. Card connector. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the ground terminals forms a coupling hole in itself through which the ground terminal rod passes, and each coupling hole forms two contacts in itself so as to contact the ground terminal rod. Card connector.