JP4197455B2 - IC card connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an IC card connector for handling an IC card used as an external storage device, particularly an IC card called an SD card.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a removable IC card has been used as an external storage device for mobile devices such as thin laptop computers, information home appliances such as digital cameras, AV devices such as MP3 players, and information terminal devices such as mobile phones and PDAs. There is something.
In particular, as such an IC card, the SD card (SD Card Association standard IC card) is not only thin and small, but also has a relatively large storage capacity. There is a tendency to be frequently used as an external storage device for thin electronic devices such as cameras and mobile phones.
[0003]
An IC card connector (hereinafter simply referred to as “connector”) that handles an SD card (hereinafter simply referred to as “card”), which is one of the above-described IC cards, is inserted into the IC card connector through the card insertion slot. A connector that can be positioned and mounted, and when the card that has been positioned and mounted is pushed further back, the card is guided back to the card insertion slot side and can be pulled out (hereinafter referred to as a “push-in push-out connector”). .) (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)
FIG. 4 is a conceptual perspective view of this conventional push-in push-out connector, showing a state in which a card is mounted.
A conventional push-in push-out type connector 31 shown in FIG. 4 is usually composed of a metal shell 3 and a housing 2 (not shown) in which the metal shell is fitted (not shown).
[0004]
Among these, the metal shell 3 is formed with a hole 3a for exposing a part of the upper surface of the mounted card 101 and an elastic tongue piece 3b for constantly urging the inserted card 101 toward the housing 2 (described later).
[0005]
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the connector 31 of FIG. 4 and shows a state where the metal shell of FIG. 4 is removed.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the housing 2, a card 101 is positioned and mounted on the housing 2, and a plurality of terminals 81 (FIG. 5) are connected to the housing 2 by connection terminals (not shown) formed on the back surface of the card 101. 6), and a lock means 11 for electrically connecting the connection terminal and the terminal 81.
[0006]
This locking means 11 is slidable with respect to the housing 2 and also has a slider 12 for guiding the card 101 inserted from the direction of arrow A through the card insertion slot 4, and a predetermined position shown in FIG. (Hereinafter referred to as “card mounting position”) is provided with positioning means 13 for positioning the card 101 with respect to the housing 2 via the slider 12.
[0007]
Of these, the positioning means 13 includes a coil spring 15 that constantly urges the slider 12 toward the card insertion slot 4 (FIG. 6). One end of the coil spring 15 is connected to the protrusion 12 b of the slider 12, and the other end is connected to the protrusion 2 b of the housing 2.
[0008]
The positioning means 13 further includes a leaf spring (not shown) for positioning the card 101 on the slider 12, and a heart-type cam mechanism 16 interposed between the housing 2 and the slider. For the detailed structure and operation of the positioning means 13 having such a configuration, refer to Patent Document 1 described later.
[0009]
FIG. 6 is a conceptual perspective view showing an initial state of the connector of FIG. 4 and shows a state in which the metal shell is removed.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the initial state, the slider 12 is slid toward the card insertion slot 4 by the biasing force of the coil spring 15 and is arranged at the slide start end (initial position). In addition, the code | symbol 81 of FIG. 6 has shown the some terminal 81 supported by the housing 2. As shown in FIG.
[0010]
In the initial state of FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 7, the card 101 is inserted from the card insertion slot 4 so as to be pushed into the terminal 81 side (direction of arrow A) of the housing 2. Then, the notch 101c formed at the tip of the card 101 contacts the substantially triangular contact 12e of the slider 12, and the engagement recess 101a formed on one side of the card 101 is connected to the leaf spring. Thus, the card 101 is engaged and held by the slider 12. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the connector of FIG. 4 and shows a state immediately after the card is engaged and held by the slider at the initial position.
[0011]
As described above, when the card 101 is pressed toward the terminal 81 of the housing 2, the slider 12 (FIG. 7) that engages and holds the card 101 slides toward the terminal 81 of the housing 2 against the biasing force of the coil spring 15. When the slider 12 reaches the mounting position of the card 101 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 4, the slider 12 is positioned and engaged with the housing 2 by the heart-type cam mechanism 16, and this engagement causes the card 101 to move to the slider 12. It is positioned and mounted on the housing 2 via
[0012]
5 and 4, when the slider 12 is positioned and mounted on the housing 2, the connection terminal (not shown) of the card 101 and the terminal 81 (FIG. 6) of the housing 2 come into contact with each other. Since the terminal 81 is previously reflowed and soldered to a conductive pattern of a printed wiring board (not shown), when the connection terminal of the card 101 comes into contact with the conductive pattern, the connection terminal of the card 101 is connected to the housing 2. Are electrically connected to the conductive pattern via the terminal 81.
[0013]
On the other hand, in order to remove the card 101 (FIGS. 4 and 5) attached to the housing 2, first, the attached card 101 is pressed toward the terminal 81 side (arrow A direction) of the housing 2.
Then, the slider 12 moves to the terminal 81 side of the housing 2 against the urging force of the coil spring 15, thereby releasing the engagement between the slider 12 and the housing 2 by the heart-type cam mechanism 16. 7, the slider 12 slides toward the card insertion slot 4 (in the direction opposite to the arrow A) by the urging force of the coil spring 15 and returns to the initial position.
Next, when the card 101 shown in FIG. 7 is pulled in the direction opposite to the arrow A, the engagement between the card 101 and the slider 12 is released, whereby the card 101 can be detached from the connector 31.
[0014]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-343468 A (pages 4 to 5, FIGS. 1 to 3, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7)
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional push-in push-out type connector 31 (FIGS. 4 and 6), the coil spring 15 is usually composed of a metal coil spring 15.
[0015]
Further, in the conventional push-in push-out type connector 31, the slider 12 is disposed in the initial position shown in FIG. 6, that is, the stress is not applied to the coil spring 15 from the slider 12 or the housing 2. 2 is reflow-soldered to the conductive pattern of the printed wiring board, whereby when the card 101 is inserted and the card 101 is positioned and mounted on the housing 2, the connection terminal of the card 101 is moved to the housing. Electrical connection is made to the conductive pattern of the printed wiring board via two terminals 81.
[0016]
However, in the conventional connector 31, as shown in FIG. 8 which is a conceptual plan view, the entire upper surface of the slider 12 (FIG. 6) is covered with the metal shell 3, so that the reflow soldering operation is performed. When the appearance of the connector 31 is observed, it cannot be confirmed whether the slider 12 is in the initial position or whether the slider 12 is in the card 101 mounting position (card mounting position).
Therefore, the reflow / soldering operation may be mistakenly performed in a state where the slider 12 is arranged at the mounting position of the card 101 (a state where the card 101 in FIG. 5 is removed).
[0017]
If reflow soldering is performed by mistake, reflow soldering work is performed on the metal coil spring 15 while stress is applied from the slider 12 and the housing 2. From the characteristics of the material of the coil spring 15, the posture (deformation posture shown in FIG. 5) in which the coil spring 15 is subjected to the stress under the influence of heat (hereinafter referred to as “reflow heat”) in the reflow / soldering process. There was a tendency to maintain. When the coil spring 15 is maintained in the stressed posture (deformed posture), the slider 12 cannot return to the initial position. Therefore, even if the card 101 is inserted, the engagement recess 101a of the card 101 and the slider 12 are inserted. Are not engaged with each other via the leaf springs, which causes a problem that the connector 31 itself becomes a defective product.
[0018]
In view of the circumstances described above, the present invention provides an IC card connector that prevents the production of defective products as much as possible by preventing the deformation of components (coil springs) due to reflow heat during reflow and soldering operations of the connector. The purpose is to provide.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention includes a housing for supporting a terminal, a metal shell fitted to the housing, and an IC card inserted from a card insertion slot with respect to the housing through a slider. Lock means for bringing the connection terminal of the IC card into contact with the terminal for electrical connection, and the lock means includes a coil spring that constantly biases the slider toward the card insertion slot. In the connector, the slider is exposed to the metal shell when the slider is slid to the card insertion slot side by the biasing force of the coil spring and disposed at the initial position, and the slider is biased by the biasing force of the coil spring. When the IC card is placed at the mounting position by sliding to the terminal side against the above, Forming a hole in the slider position confirmation exposing the Ujingu, a portion of the slider is exposed from the hole for confirmation the slider position, the portion of the housing which is exposed from the hole for confirmation the slider position is different colors It is characterized by being colored .
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an IC card connector according to the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of an IC card connector (hereinafter simply referred to as “connector”) according to the present invention that handles an IC card, particularly an IC card called an SD card (hereinafter referred to as “card”). In particular, FIG.
This connector 1 is the above-described push-in push-out type connector. 1 to FIG. 3 described later, the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0021]
Further, the connector 1 of FIG. 1 includes a metal shell 3 and the housing 2 (not shown) into which the metal shell 3 is fitted.
[0022]
Among these, a hole 21 for confirming the slider position is formed in the metal shell 3. Further, the entire upper surface 2a (see FIG. 6) of the housing 2 is colored black, and the entire upper surface 12a (see FIG. 6) of the slider 12 is colored white.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual plan view of the connector of FIG. 1, and in particular, the slider is arranged at the slide start end (initial position) before the reflow soldering operation between the terminal of the housing and the conductive pattern of the printed wiring board. It is a figure which shows the mode of the made connector.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the slider 12 is slid to the card insertion slot 4 side by the urging force of the spring 15 and arranged at the initial position (the same position as the conventional initial position shown in FIG. 6), A portion B which is a part of the upper surface 12 a of the slider 12 is exposed from the hole 21 for confirming the slider position.
In FIG. 2, the portion B of the slider 12 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 is indicated by hatching (hatched portion). Further, the exposed portion B is a portion colored in white. Further, in FIG. 2, illustration of the black coloring that is colored on the entire upper surface 2 a of the housing 2 is omitted.
[0024]
On the other hand, FIG. 3 is a conceptual perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1, and particularly shows a state in which the slider is arranged at the card mounting position before the reflow soldering operation.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the slider 12 at the initial position slides toward the terminal 81 and is placed at the mounting position of the card 101 (the same position as the conventional card mounting position shown in FIG. 5), A portion C that is a part of the upper surface 2 a of the housing 2 is exposed through the hole 21.
In FIG. 3, the portion C of the housing 2 is indicated by hatching (shaded portion) from the slider position confirmation hole 21. Further, the exposed portion C is a portion colored in black. Moreover, in FIG. 3, illustration of a mode that the whole upper surface 2a whole of the housing 2 other than the said part is colored black is abbreviate | omitted.
[0025]
Thus, in the connector of the present invention, when the slider 12 is slid to the card insertion slot 4 side by the biasing force of the coil spring 15 and is placed at the initial position on the metal shell 3, the slider 12 is exposed and the slider is exposed. When the slider 12 is slid toward the terminal 81 against the urging force of the coil spring 15 and is placed at the mounting position of the card 101, the slider position confirmation hole 21 for exposing the housing 2 is formed. When the appearance of the connector 1 is observed before reflow soldering, if the slider 12 is exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21, it can be confirmed that the slider 12 is at the initial position or the slider position confirmation. If the housing 2 is exposed through the hole 21, the slider 12 is confirmed to be placed at the card mounting position. It can be.
[0026]
Further, in the connector 1 according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a portion B of the slider 12 (shaded portion in FIG. 2) exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 and a slider position confirmation hole 21 are provided. Since the portion C of the housing 2 (shaded portion in FIG. 3) exposed from each other is colored in a different color from each other, when the connector 1 is observed before the reflow soldering process, the slider position confirmation hole 21 is observed. Whether the slider 12 is exposed or the housing 2 is exposed can be easily and accurately confirmed by the difference in the color of the exposed portion. Accordingly, it is possible to easily and accurately confirm whether the slider position of the slider 12 is at the initial position or the card mounting position (hereinafter referred to as “slider position confirmation”).
[0027]
Furthermore, in the connector of the present invention, the portion B (shaded portion in FIG. 2) of the slider 12 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 is colored white and the housing 2 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 is colored. Since the portion C (shaded portion in FIG. 3) is colored black, when the appearance of the connector 1 is observed before the reflow soldering process, the slider 12 is exposed from the hole 21 for confirming the slider position, or the housing Whether or not 2 is exposed can be more easily and accurately determined by the color difference that can be clearly distinguished between white and black. Therefore, the slider position confirmation operation can be performed more easily and easily.
[0028]
Further, in the connector 1 of the present invention, since the slider position confirmation work can be performed by the slider position confirmation hole 21 formed in the metal shell 3 as described above, in the slider position confirmation work, as shown in FIG. Only when it is determined that is in the initial position, the process proceeds to reflow soldering.
Then, the reflow soldering operation is performed with the slider 12 placed in the initial position as much as possible. In this state, the coil spring 15 is not applied with stress from the slider 12 or the housing 2. The reflow soldering operation is performed in a state in which the stress is not applied to 15. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the coil spring 15 from being in a posture (deformed posture) in which stress is applied from the slider 12 or the housing 2 due to reflow heat.
[0029]
On the other hand, when it is determined that the slider 12 is not disposed at the initial position, the reflow soldering operation is not performed immediately, but the slider 12 is returned to the initial position and then the reflow soldering operation is performed. What should I do?
In this way, the reflow soldering operation is performed with the slider 12 placed in the initial position as much as possible. In this state, the coil spring 15 is not stressed from the slider 12 or the housing 2. Therefore, the coil spring 15 is reflowed and soldered in a state where the stress is not applied.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the coil spring 15 from being in a posture (deformed posture) in which stress is applied from the slider 12 or the housing 2 due to reflow heat.
[0030]
Further, in this connector 1, as described above, it is possible to prevent the coil spring 15 from being deformed in a stressed state by reflow / soldering as much as possible, so that the slider 12 can be reliably disposed at the initial position. . Therefore, when the card 101 is inserted from the card insertion slot 4 after the reflow soldering process, the engaging recess 101a of the card 101 and the slider 12 at the initial position are securely engaged via the leaf spring. Therefore, the possibility that a defective product of the connector 31 is generated due to the deformed posture of the coil spring 15 as in the past is prevented as much as possible.
[0031]
As a means for returning the slider 12 arranged at the card mounting position to the initial position, for example, the card 101 is first inserted from the card insertion slot 4 toward the terminal 81 (in the direction of arrow A). The engagement of the slider 12 and the housing 2 is released by the operation of the heart-type cam mechanism 16, and the slider 12 is slid back to the initial position by the biasing force of the coil spring 15. Next, the inserted card 101 is pulled out from the connector 1. Then, the engagement holding between the slider 12 and the card 101 is released, and the card 101 can be detached from the connector 1.
[0032]
Further, in order to confirm whether or not the slider 12 has returned to the initial position (FIG. 2) by this card insertion, the appearance of the connector 12 is again observed, and the slider 12 is exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21. This may be confirmed by the slider position confirmation operation.
The detailed structure and operation of the heart cam type cam mechanism 16 and the coil spring 15 should be referred to the above-mentioned Patent Document 1.
[0033]
Further, in the above embodiment, the entire upper surface 2a of the housing 2 and the entire upper surface 12a of the slider 12 are colored different from each other so that the slider position checking operation can be performed easily and accurately. The connector 1 of the invention is not limited to the case where the entire upper surface 2a of the housing 2 and the entire upper surface 12a of the slider 12 are colored, but the portion B of the slider 12 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 (see FIG. 2) and the portion C of the housing 2 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 (shaded portion in FIG. 3) are colored in different colors, the slider position confirmation operation is easy and accurate. Can be.
[0034]
In the above embodiment, the portion B of the slider 12 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 (the hatched portion in FIG. 2) and the portion C of the housing 2 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 (in FIG. 3). The hatched portion is colored in different colors, thereby making it easy and accurate to confirm the slider position. The connector 1 of the present invention capable of confirming the slider position is provided with a metal shell 3 and a slider. The hole 21 for position confirmation should just be formed, and it is not necessarily required that these exposed parts are colored in mutually different colors.
[0035]
In this embodiment, the portion B of the slider 12 (shaded portion in FIG. 2) exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 is colored white, and the portion C of the housing 2 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 is colored. The shaded portion in FIG. 3 is colored black, and the slider position confirmation operation of the slider 12 is made easier and more accurate by utilizing the difference between the white and black colors that can be clearly distinguished. The connector 1 according to the present invention, which makes the slider position confirmation work easier and more accurate, is the color of the portion of the housing 2 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21 and the portion of the slider 12 exposed from the slider position confirmation hole 21. The color is not limited to white or black, and these exposed portions may be colored with different colors. Preferably, the exposed portion of the slider 12 and the exposed portion of the housing 2 are colored in colors that can be clearly distinguished from each other, such as white and black used in this embodiment.
[0036]
In the connector of the present invention, the “coloring” described above may be colored after the shape of the slider 12 or the housing 2 itself is molded, or the shape of the slider 12 or the housing 2 When forming, a color may be given simultaneously with the shaping of the form.
[0037]
In this embodiment, the coil spring 15 used in the connector 1 is a tension spring that is stretched by being pulled by the movement of the slider 12. However, in the connector of the present invention, the coil spring 15 is not limited to the tension spring. A compression spring that contracts between the slider 12 and the housing 2 by the movement of the slider 12 may be used.
[0038]
In addition, although the said Example explained in full detail about the case where SD card 101 is used as an IC card, the connector of this invention is not limited to the said Example, If it is a connector which handles a plate-shaped IC card, Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to any type of IC card connector.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the connector of the present invention, when the slider is slid to the card insertion slot side by the biasing force of the coil spring and is placed at the initial position, the slider is exposed and the slider is the coil spring. When the IC card is mounted at the position where it is slid to the terminal side against the biasing force, a hole for confirming the slider position for exposing the housing is formed, so the reflow solder for the IC card connector Reflow soldering work only when the external appearance of the connector is observed before attaching, and it is determined that the slider is in the initial position, that is, no stress is applied to the coil spring from the slider or housing. Can do. Therefore, the deformation of the coil spring due to the reflow heat is prevented as much as possible, thereby preventing the production of defective IC card connectors as much as possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of an IC card connector according to the present invention, particularly showing a state where an IC card is mounted.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual plan view of the connector of FIG. 1. In particular, before the reflow soldering process between the housing terminal and the conductive pattern of the printed wiring board, the slider starts to slide (initial stage). The figure which shows a mode that it has arrange | positioned to (position).
FIG. 3 is a conceptual plan view of the connector of FIG. 1, in particular, before the reflow soldering process between the housing terminals and the conductive pattern of the printed wiring board, the slider is mounted on the IC card. The figure which shows a mode that it has arrange | positioned in the position.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual perspective view of a conventional push-in push-out IC card connector, showing a state where a card is mounted.
5 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the IC card connector in FIG. 4, and shows a state in which a metal shell is removed from the connector in FIG. 4;
6 is a conceptual perspective view showing an initial state of the IC card connector of FIG. 4 and shows a state in which a metal shell is removed. FIG.
7 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the IC card connector of FIG. 4, and shows a state immediately after the card is engaged and held by the slider at the initial position. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual plan view showing the appearance of the connector of FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... IC card connector 2 ... Housing 4 ... Card insertion slot 11 ... Locking means 12 ... Slider 15 ... Coil spring 21 ... Slider position confirmation hole 101 ... IC card B ... Slider part exposed from slider position confirmation hole C: The part of the housing exposed from the hole for checking the slider position

Claims (2)

A housing for supporting a terminal, a metal shell fitted to the housing, an IC card inserted from a card insertion slot is positioned and mounted on the housing via a slider, and a connection terminal of the IC card is brought into contact with the terminal. And a locking means for electrically connecting the IC card connector, the locking means comprising a coil spring that constantly biases the slider toward the card insertion slot.
In the metal shell,
When the slider is slid to the card insertion slot side by the biasing force of the coil spring and is disposed at the initial position, the slider is exposed and the slider moves toward the terminal against the biasing force of the coil spring. When the slide is placed at the IC card mounting position, a slider position confirmation hole for exposing the housing is formed ,
The IC is characterized in that the portion of the slider exposed from the hole for checking the slider position and the portion of the housing exposed from the hole for checking the slider position are colored different from each other. Card connector. The portion of the slider exposed from the slider position confirmation hole is colored in white, and the housing portion exposed from the slider position confirmation hole is colored in black. An IC card connector according to claim 1 .

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