JPH054225Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] This invention is used to electrically connect a circuit board such as an IC card that stores keywords, computer programs, etc. to a device equipped with a computer. Regarding connectors.

[Conventional technology]

An IC card has a contact on one side of a circuit board that integrates an IC.
By inserting the IC card into the connector, the IC
The contacts on the card are in contact with the contacts on the connector, and the circuit board of the IC card is electrically connected to the main printed wiring board on the main body of the device. Connectors that perform this function are
ROM used in conventional television game machines, etc.
It is generally known as an IC that supports cards, but in recent years, ICs that are equipped with contacts that come in contact with the device body, such as credit cards, etc.
cards have appeared, and the connectors described above are increasingly being used in such IC cards as well. FIGS. 7 and 8 show conventional connectors used in this manner.

The connector shown in FIG.
A curved contact 6 formed on the contact piece portion 5 of
is pushed outward as shown by the arrow while rubbing against the ROM card 3, and when the ROM card 3 is inserted into the set position and comes into contact with the positioning part 7 formed in the housing 1, the contacts 6
is configured to make elastic contact with the contacts of the ROM card 3.

Further, in another conventional connector shown in FIG. 8, a conductive piece 4 held in the housing 1 is rotated by a predetermined angle (for example, 90 degrees) in one direction by an expanding member 8 provided on the housing 1. If the ROM card is pushed outward against its elasticity, the contacts of the ROM card 3 will not rub against the contacts 6 of the conductive piece 5 when the ROM card is inserted from the insertion slot 2.
After inserting the ROM card 3 into the set position, the expansion member 8 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the opposite direction as shown by the imaginary line in the same figure, and the elasticity of the contact portion 5 of the conductive piece 4 makes contact. When the contacts 6 are returned to their original positions, the contacts 6 come into elastic contact with the contacts of the ROM card 3.
Also, in the conventional example shown in Fig. 8,
To stop the ROM card 3 at the set position,
This is due to the ROM card 3 coming into contact with a positioning portion 7 formed in the housing 1.

Although the above-mentioned conventional examples are all shown as contacts for ROM cards, similar contacts are also used for other IC cards equipped with contacts, such as RAM cards.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in the connector shown in FIG. 7, if you try to make sure conduction by bringing the contacts 6 of the conductive piece 4 into strong elastic contact with the contacts of the ROM card 3,
A large insertion force is required when inserting the ROM card 3. For this reason, not only does it become difficult to insert the ROM card 3, but when the ROM card 3 is inserted or removed, the contacts of the ROM card 3 and the contacts 6 of the conductive piece 4 rub against each other, and one or both of the contacts may be worn out. performance is likely to deteriorate. Moreover, since a large insertion force is required, there is a possibility that the insertion may be stopped before the ROM card comes into contact with the positioning member, resulting in the problem that the ROM card may not be stopped accurately at the set position. It was hot.

On the other hand, in the connector shown in FIG. 8, if the contact piece portion 5 of the conductive piece 4 is pushed outward by the expanding member 8, the contact will be connected to the contact 6 of the conductive piece 4 when the ROM card 3 is inserted or removed. Since the contacts do not rub against each other, even if the contact force of the conductive piece 4 is increased to ensure reliable conduction, quality deterioration due to contact scraping as described above is suppressed. However, in this connector, by operating the expansion member 8, the conductive piece 4
The set position was once reached before the contacts 6 of the ROM card were brought into contact with the contacts of the ROM card 3.
There was a possibility that the ROM card 3 would shift from this set position, which caused reliability problems.

The problems mentioned above can be solved by using these connectors.
This naturally occurs when used with other cards equipped with contacts, such as IC cards, and in particular with IC cards used in credit cards that have been miniaturized to the size of business cards, more reliable quality is required. Simplification of maintenance and operability is required.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it not only suppresses quality deterioration due to contact abrasion, but also allows the IC card to always come into contact with the contacts of the connector while being accurately stopped at the set position. The purpose is to provide a connector that can.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the connector of the present invention is constructed as follows. In addition,( )
In order to make it easier to understand, the reference numerals inside are added with the reference numerals in the drawings of the embodiments.

That is, the connector of the present invention has contacts 17 that come into contact with and separate from contacts 102 and 203 of cards 101 and 201 in the set position.
The contact piece 17a formed with the shape b, the locking portion 18aa that fits into the notch 105, 205 of the card 101, 201 in the set position, and the locking portion 18aa are moved backward so as to come out of the notch 105, 205. A stopper spring 18 having an operating portion 18b, a first cam 20a, a second cam 20b interlocking with the first cam 20a, and the first and second cams 20.
The first cam 20a and the second cam 20b each have three cams, first, second, and third, which are switched by operating the operating portion 20c. Surface 20aa, 20
It has ab, 20ac, 20ba, 20bb, 20bc,
The first cam 20a engages with the movable end side of the contact piece 17a, thereby moving the contact 17b of the contact piece 17a to the card 101, 201 in the set position.
The second cam 20b has second and third cam surfaces 20ab, 20ac that are spaced apart from the contacts 102, 203, and a first cam surface 20aa that brings the contacts 17b, 102, 203 into contact. By engaging with the operating portion 18b of the spring 18, the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 is moved to the card 101, 2 in the set position.
The first to be fitted into the notches 105, 205 of 01,
The second cam surfaces 20ba, 20bb and the locking portion 1
The contact 17b of the contact piece 17a is moved to the set position of the contact 102, 203 of the card 101, 201 by the operation of the operation part 20c. When the second cam 20b is switched to the second cam surface 20ab of the first cam 20a so as to be separated from the first cam 20a, the second cam 20b also moves in conjunction with the first cam 20a to engage the locking portion 18 of the stopper spring 18.
The second cam 2
0b, and the first cam surface 20bb of the first cam 20a is switched to the second cam surface 20bb of the first cam 20bb so that the contacts 17b of the contact piece 17a are brought into contact with the contacts 102, 203 of the cards 101, 201 in the set position by operating the operating section 20c. When switching to the cam surface 20aa, the second cam 20b also moves in conjunction with the first cam 20a, so that the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 moves to the notch 10 of the card 101, 201 in the set position.
5, 205, and the contact 17b of the contact piece 17a is switched to the first cam surface 20ba of the second cam 20b by operating the operating portion 20c, and the contact 17b of the contact piece 17a is switched to the contact 102, 203 of the card 101, 201 in the set position. When the second cam 20b is switched to the third cam surface 20ac of the first cam 20a so as to be separated from the first cam 20a, the second cam 20b also moves in conjunction with the first cam 20a, so that the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 moves to the card 101 in the set position. Notch 10 of 201
5, 205, the cam device 20 is switched to the third cam surface 20bc of the second cam 20b so as to be released by retreating from the cam device 20.

(Function) According to the present invention, the operating portion 20c of the cam device 20
to move the first cam 20a to the second cam surface 20.
When switching to ab, contact 1 of contact piece 17a
Contact 10 of 7b and cards 101 and 201
Cards 101, 2, 203 should not touch each other.
201 can be inserted, thereby making it possible to easily insert the cards 101, 201 in which the insertion force of the cards 101, 201 has been greatly reduced, and also the contact 17b of the contact piece 17a and the cards 101, 201. There is no rubbing between the contacts 102 and 203, and it is possible to prevent the contacts 17b, 102 and 203 from being damaged when the cards 101 and 201 are inserted. Furthermore, when the first cam 20a is switched to the second cam surface 20ab, the second cam 2
0b also moves to the second cam surface 20 in conjunction with the first cam 20a.
bb, the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 is fitted into the notch 105, 205 of the card 101, 201 by the second cam surface 20bb of the second cam 20b, and the card 101, 2
01 can be held accurately and reliably.

With the cards 101, 201 held in the set position, operate the operating section 20c to open the first cam 20.
When a is switched to the first cam surface 20aa, the first cam surface 20aa allows the contacts 17b of the contact piece 17a to reliably come into contact with the contacts 102, 203 of the cards 101, 201 in the set position. Furthermore, when the first cam 20a is switched to the first cam surface 20aa, the second cam 20b is also switched to the first cam surface 20ba in conjunction with the first cam 20a, and the first cam surface 20a of the second cam 20b is switched to the first cam surface 20ba.
By ba, the locking part 1 of the stopper spring 18
8aa remains fitted into the notches 105, 205 of the cards 101, 201 at the set position, and securely holds the cards 101, 201.

Operate the operation part 20c to move the first cam 20a to the third
When switching to the cam surface 20ac, the second cam 20b
The third cam surface 20bc also interlocks with the first cam 20a.
The third cam surface 20bc of the second cam 20b causes the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 to lock the cards 101, 201 in the set position.
The locking portion 18 is retracted from the notches 105 and 205 of the
The inserted state of aa is released, and cards 101 and 20
1 can be extracted. By switching the first cam 20a to the third cam surface 20ac, the contact 17b of the contact piece 17a is connected to the contact 10 of the card 101, 201 in the set position.
2, 203, the contact 17b of the contact piece 17a and the contacts 102, 203 of the card 101, 201 do not rub against each other.
1,201 can be extracted. Therefore, even when the cards 101 and 201 are removed, the removal force is greatly reduced and the card 10
1, 201 can be easily removed, and damage to both contacts 17b, 102, 203 can also be prevented.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

In the figure, 10 is a synthetic resin housing of this connector, and this housing 10 is formed by combining an upper housing 11 and a lower housing 12. The upper housing 11 has a card insertion part 13 having a C-shaped cross section, and a box part upper plate 14a that is connected to the upper plate of the insertion part 13 is integrally formed at the rear of the card insertion part 13. Further, the lower housing 12 forms a box portion 14 at the rear of the card insertion portion 13 by being combined with the box portion upper plate 14a. 15 is an elastically deformable engaging claw formed on the side of the box upper plate 14a, and 16 is a tapered protrusion protruding from the side of the lower housing 12. A plurality of protrusions are provided around the box portion 14, and the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 are connected to each other by fitting each protrusion 16 into an engagement hole 15a formed in the center of each engagement claw 15. combined.

Inside the box part 14, a plurality of conductive pieces 17 made of a springy member are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction below the passage for an IC card inserted through the insertion slot 13a of the card insertion part 13. There is. Contact pieces 17a are formed on the movable end sides of these conductive pieces 17, and are bent upward in a dogleg shape. Contacts 17b are formed that come into contact with and separate from the contacts of the reached IC card. Further, the contact pieces 17a are given a preload that urges the movable ends downward.

Here, the IC card 101 shown in FIG. 5 that is connected to the connector of this embodiment will be explained. This IC card 101 is used as an external memory for a personal computer, for example, and has a rear end. A plurality of contacts 102 are arranged in parallel to be electrically connected to the main printed wiring board on the device main body side. These contacts 102... are always
It is covered by a shutter 103 provided for ESD countermeasures, and this shutter 103 has a knob 104 provided on the side that is biased by a spring (not shown). Arrow Z in the diagram
By moving the contacts 102 in the direction, the contacts 102 are opened to be exposed.
Furthermore, notches 105 are formed on both sides of the front end of the IC card 101.

Therefore, the plurality of conductive pieces 17..., that is, the contacts 17b... are connected to the IC card 101.
They are provided at the same spacing as the contacts 102 of.

Both side parts of the box part 14 of the housing 10 protrude to both sides beyond the card insertion part 13, and a stopper spring 1 is inserted into the protrusion part 14b.
8 (only one side shown) is installed inside. This stopper spring 18 is provided with a locking portion 18aa at the top of a triangular main body portion 18a, and this locking portion 18aa protrudes into the insertion path of the IC card 101.
An operating portion 18b extends continuously from the free end of 8a. Reference numeral 19 denotes a guide member of the operating portion 18b, which regulates the amount of protrusion of the locking portion 18aa into the card insertion path. This stopper spring 18
The locking portion 18aa fits into the notch 105 formed in the IC card 101 described above, and is therefore provided at a position corresponding to the notch 105 of the IC card 101 in the set position. .

20 is a cam device, and this cam device 20
A plurality of first cams 20a are arranged at positions corresponding to the movable ends of each of the contact pieces 17a, and a second cam 20b is arranged at a position corresponding to the tip of the actuating portion 18b of the snap spring 18. It is equipped with
The first cam 20a and the second cam 20b are provided on the same axis, and are rotated integrally by operating a control lever 20c provided at one end of the cam device 20.

By rotating this operating lever 20c, the first cam 20a and the second cam 20b can be rotated.
, 3 positions: OFF position, operating position, and eject position.
The position can be switched. That is, the operating lever 20c is connected to the first cam 20a and the second cam 2.
0b is in the OFF position when it is upright as shown in Figure 1, in the operating position when it is tilted backwards (arrow X side), and in the operating position when it is tilted forward (arrow Y side). Here, it is set to the eject position. As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the first cam 20a... has three positions: an operating position, an OFF position, and an eject position, which are switched by the operating lever 20c.
three consecutive cam surfaces 20aa corresponding to the positions;
20ab, 20ac, and these cam surfaces 20aa, 20ab, 20ac sequentially engage with the movable end of the contact piece 17a according to the switching position of the operating lever 20c. That is, since the movable end of the contact piece 17a is urged downward by the preload, it comes into contact with the cam surfaces 20aa, 20ab, and 20ac following changes in the height of the cam surfaces.
As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the continuous cam surfaces 20ab and 20ac are approximately equidistant from the rotation center P of the first cam 20a, and the cam surface 20aa is more rotated than the cam surfaces 20ab and 20ac. It is located away from the center P. That is, the operating lever 20
When c is in the OFF position and eject position,
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C, the contact piece 17a
The movable end of is lowered following the cam surfaces 20ab and 20ac, and the contact 17b of the contact piece 17a is connected to the contact 1 of the IC card 101 in the set position.
It is in a position where it does not touch 02. Then, when the operating lever 20c is switched to the operating position, the contact piece 1
The movable end of 7a is pushed up to the cam surface 20aa,
As shown in FIG. 2B, the contact 17b is the contact 10 of the IC card 101 in the set position.
It rises to the position where it touches 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the second cam 20b also has an operating position that can be switched to an OFF position by an operating lever 20c, similar to the first cam 20a.
It has three continuous cam surfaces 20ba, 20bb, and 20bc corresponding to the eject position and eject position,
These cam surfaces 20ba, 20bb, and 20bc sequentially engage with the operating portion 18b of the stopper spring 18 according to the switching position of the operating lever 20c. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the continuous cam surfaces 20ba and 20bb are approximately equidistant from the reference line R corresponding to the side surface of the IC card 101 pushed into the set position, while the cam surface 20bc is It is located further away from the reference line R than the cam surfaces 20ba and 20bb. Then, the stopper spring 1
The operating portion 18b of No. 8 is connected to the cam surfaces 20ba, 20
bb comes into contact with no biasing force. That is, when the operating lever 20c is in the OFF position and the operating position, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the operating portion 18b of the stopper spring 18
are simply in contact with the cam surfaces 20ba and 20bb, and the locking portion 18aa is in contact with the IC in the set position.
It is in a state where it can be inserted into the notch 105 of the card 101. Further, when the operating lever 20c is switched to the eject position, the actuating portion 18b of the stopper spring 18 is pressed against the cam surface 20bc, and the third
As shown in FIG. C, the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 is retracted from the position where it can be fitted into the notch 105.

Note that 21 is a shutter opener integrally formed with the upper housing 11, and is connected to the insertion opening 13a.
Knob 104 of IC card 101 inserted from
and slide the knob 104 to remove the IC.
The shutter 103 is located at a fully open position when the card 101 reaches the set position.

Next, the operation when connecting the IC card 101 to the connector formed as described above will be explained.

First, the IC card 101 is inserted through the insertion slot 13a with the operation lever 20c in the OFF position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 is connected to the IC card 101.
However, since the locking portion 18aa is the top of the triangular main body portion 18a,
The IC card 101 can be inserted by retracting the locking portion 18aa out of the passageway as shown in FIG. Also, at this time, IC card 101
The knob 104 comes into contact with the shutter opener 21, and as a result, the shutter 103 begins to open when the IC card 101 is inserted. Furthermore, Figure 4 shows
This is a sectional view illustrating the insertion process of the IC card 101 seen from below, and therefore shows the stopper spring 18 and the second cam 20b shown here.
is disposed on the opposite side from that shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. On the other hand, 2nd A
As shown in the figure, the contact 17a of the armature 17a
is located away from the bottom surface of the IC card 101, and this contact 17a and the IC card 101
The contacts 102 do not rub against other parts during insertion.

IC card 101 inserted as above
When the IC reaches the set position, the locking part 18aa fits into the notch 105, as shown in FIG. 3A, and the IC
The card 101 will not be removed from the set position even if the card 101 is released from the hand. If the locking portion 18aa and the cutout portion 105 do not engage, the IC card 101 will fly out from the set position toward the outside of the insertion slot 13a due to the urging force for closing the shutter 103.

Next, when the operation lever 20c is switched to the operating position, as shown in FIG.
02, and the connection between the connector and the IC card 101 is completed. At this time, the stopper spring 18
As shown in FIG. 3B, the operating lever 20c is
The state is the same as when it is in the OFF position, and the locking part 1
8aa remains inserted into the notch 105 of the IC card 101.

Next, the operation when taking out the IC card 101 will be explained.

First, when the operating lever 20c is returned to the OFF position,
The contacts 17b of the contact pieces 17a... are separated from the contacts 102 of the IC card. In this state, however, the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18
remains inserted into the notch 105 of the IC card 101, so the IC card 101 cannot be taken out.

Next, when the operating lever 20c is switched to the eject position, as shown in FIG.
8b is pressed and moved away from the reference line R and escapes from the notch 105. In this way, when the engagement between the locking part 18aa and the notch part 105 is released, the IC card 101 pops out in the opposite direction to the insertion direction due to the reaction force of the urging force that tries to close the shutter 103, and can be removed. becomes. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2C, the contacts 17b of the contact pieces 17a are separated from the contacts 102 of the IC card 101, so even when the IC card 101 is taken out, both contacts 17a and 102 are connected to other parts. There is no friction between the two.

As described above, in the above-mentioned connector, both contacts 17a and 102 do not rub against other parts during insertion and removal, so performance deterioration is suppressed, and the card is automatically fixed at the set position when inserted. Therefore, both contacts 17a and 102 always come into contact at the correct position.

In addition, the position to be switched by the operation part (operation lever) in the present invention corresponds to one contact piece, and when there is a plurality of contact pieces, for example, the contact pieces may be divided into two groups, It is also possible to change the operating position between the contact pieces of one group and the pieces of the other group. Therefore, in that case, there will be two operating positions, but it is essentially the same as the present invention.

Further, in this embodiment, the cam surface is moved by rotating the operating lever, but the cam surface may be moved by sliding.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment is compatible with an IC card with a shutter as shown in FIG.
In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, a connector compatible with an IC card 201 may be formed in which a recess 202 is formed at the tip of one side and contacts 203 are exposed at the bottom of the recess 202.
205 is a notch into which the locking portion is fitted. this
In the case where the IC card 201 is compatible, the shutter opener 21 from the one in the above embodiment is used.
Although the purpose of the present invention can be achieved even if the connector is simply removed, if a means for biasing the inserted card in the opposite direction to the insertion direction is provided, the connection will be prevented as in the embodiment. The card can be made to pop out in the direction opposite to the insertion direction at the same time as the engagement between the stop and the notch is released.

(Effects of the invention) As described above, according to the invention, when inserting a card, by operating the operation part, the card contacts and contacts of the contact piece can be inserted with a light insertion force without rubbing, and The card can be held accurately and reliably at the set position.

Furthermore, after the card is inserted, the contacts of the contact piece can be brought into reliable contact with the contacts of the card by operating the operating section while the card is accurately held at the set position.

Further, when removing the card, the card can be removed with a light removal force by operating the operating section without rubbing the contacts of the card and the contacts of the contact piece.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 2A to 2C are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the first cam, and Figs. 3A to 3C are illustrations of the operation of the second cam. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the process of inserting an IC card, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the IC card,
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another IC card, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional example, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another conventional example. 17a...Touch piece, 17b...Contact, 18
...stopper spring, 18aa...locking part,
18b...actuating section, 20...cam device, 20a...
...First cam, 20aa...Cam surface (first cam surface of first cam), 20ab...cam surface (second cam surface of first cam)
cam surface), 20ac... cam surface (third cam surface of the first cam), 20b... second cam, 20ba... cam surface (first cam surface of the second cam), 20bb... cam surface (third cam surface) (second cam surface of the second cam), 20bc...cam surface (third cam surface of the second cam), 20...operation lever (operation section), 101, 201...card, 102,
203...Card contact, 105,205
...Card notch.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] Contact 17 that comes into contact with and separates from contacts 102 and 203 of cards 101 and 201 in the set position
The contact piece 17a formed with the shape b, the locking portion 18aa that fits into the notch 105, 205 of the card 101, 201 in the set position, and the locking portion 18aa are moved backward so as to come out of the notch 105, 205. A stopper spring 18 having an operating portion 18b, a first cam 20a, a second cam 20b interlocking with the first cam 20a, and the first and second cams 20.
The first cam 20a and the second cam 20b each have three cams, first, second, and third, which are switched by operating the operating portion 20c. Surface 20aa, 20
It has ab, 20ac, 20ba, 20bb, 20bc,
The first cam 20a engages with the movable end side of the contact piece 17a, thereby moving the contact 17b of the contact piece 17a to the card 101, 201 in the set position.
The second cam 20b has second and third cam surfaces 20ab, 20ac that are spaced apart from the contacts 102, 203, and a first cam surface 20aa that brings the contacts 17b, 102, 203 into contact. By engaging with the operating portion 18b of the spring 18, the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 is moved to the card 101, 2 in the set position.
The first to be fitted into the notches 105, 205 of 01,
The second cam surfaces 20ba, 20bb and the locking portion 1
The contact 17b of the contact piece 17a is moved to the set position by the contact 102, 203 of the card 101, 201. When the second cam 20b is switched to the second cam surface 20ab of the first cam 20a so as to be separated from the first cam 20a, the second cam 20b also moves in conjunction with the first cam 20a to engage the locking portion 18 of the stopper spring 18.
The second cam 2
0b, and the first cam surface 20bb of the first cam 20a is switched to the second cam surface 20bb of the first cam 20bb so that the contacts 17b of the contact piece 17a are brought into contact with the contacts 102, 203 of the cards 101, 201 in the set position by operating the operating section 20c. When switching to the cam surface 20aa, the second cam 20b also moves in conjunction with the first cam 20a, so that the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 moves to the notch 10 of the card 101, 201 in the set position.
The contacts 17b of the contact piece 17a are switched to the first cam surface 20ba of the second cam 20b so as to be fitted into the contacts 102, 203 of the card 101, 201 in the set position by the operation of the operating portion 20c. When the second cam 20b is switched to the third cam surface 20ac of the first cam 20a so as to be separated from the first cam 20a, the second cam 20b also moves in conjunction with the first cam 20a so that the locking portion 18aa of the stopper spring 18 moves to the card 101 in the set position. Notch 10 of 201
5, 205, and a cam device that is switched to the third cam surface 20bc of the second cam 20b so as to be released by retreating from the connector.