JP4564201B2 - IC card connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector for an IC card used as an external storage device, particularly an IC card called an SD card, and is intended to reduce the height thereof.
[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.
[0003]
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.
[0004]
FIG. 6 is a conceptual perspective view of an essential part of an IC card connector 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as a connector) using the SD card 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a card) as the above-described conventional IC card.
[0005]
This connector 2 is formed of a box having a substantially rectangular shape in which a card insertion hole 3a for removably inserting the card 1 is formed on the front surface, and a cover portion 3b and a bottom portion 3c are formed on the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively. The housing 3 is configured, and a plurality of connection terminals 4 are planted at a predetermined pitch at the inner rear end 3d thereof.
[0006]
The housing 3 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin such as plastic, and the cover portion 3a and the bottom portion 3b described above are formed in order to ensure the mechanical strength.
[0007]
According to such a connector 2, when the card 1 is inserted into the card insertion hole 3a as shown by the arrow A from the position shown in FIG. 6, the card 1 is connected to the pair of side walls 3e, 3f of the connector 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the electrode pads 1a (FIG. 6) disposed at the tip of the card 1 at a predetermined pitch and the corresponding connection terminals 4 of the connector 2 are respectively connected to each other as shown in FIG. By sliding contact, the memory area of the card 1 can be electrically connected and accessed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the connector 2 of the card 1 described above is disposed on a printed wiring board or the like inside a thin and small electronic device, but in recent years, the thinning of the electronic device has been strongly demanded in millimeters. Accordingly, the present situation is that there is a strong demand for lowering the height of the connector 2 accordingly.
[0009]
However, the connector 2 integrally formed of the conventional synthetic resin has a thickness on each of the upper surface and the lower surface in order to ensure the necessary mechanical strength as shown in FIG. 8 which is an enlarged sectional view of the BB in FIG. The resin cover portion 3b and the bottom portion 3c must be integrally formed. Therefore, the height H1 is relatively high, and it is difficult to reduce the height.
[0010]
In order to solve this problem, the cover 3b is replaced with a U-shaped metal shell 5 having a high mechanical strength and a thin plate as shown in FIG. Although it is conceivable to make the high H2 low (H2 <H1) by this, there is a difficulty that does not lead to the fundamental solution.
[0011]
8 and 9, reference numeral 6 denotes a printed wiring board on which the connector 2 is mounted.
[0012]
In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card connector that is as low as possible without lowering mechanical strength.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to the present invention, in an IC card connector to which an IC card is detachably attached, a substantially U-shaped housing in a plane and a concave portion to which the U-shaped housing is fitted are formed on the periphery. A U-shaped metal shell having a substantially U-shaped cross-section , and the U-shaped housing is integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and a pair of arm portions facing each other and between the end portions of the arm portions. The metal shell includes a first recess for fitting and supporting one arm portion of the housing, a second recess for fitting and supporting the connecting portion of the housing, and the housing A guide groove for slidably guiding the IC card in each of the outer walls of the first recess and the third recess of the metal shell. Characterized in that it is formed.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an IC card connector according to the present invention will be described in detail.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an IC card connector 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as a connector) according to the present invention.
[0016]
The connector 10 is roughly divided into a planar substantially U-shaped housing 11 and a metal shell 12 having a substantially U-shaped cross section.
[0017]
Among these, the U-shaped housing 11 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin such as plastic, and a pair of arm portions 11a and 11b facing each other, and a connecting portion 11c for connecting between the terminal ends of the arm portions 11a and 11b, It is comprised by.
[0018]
Among these, the connection part 11c is formed with a plurality of holes 11d for planting connection terminals described later at a predetermined pitch.
[0019]
Further, of the pair of arm portions 11a and 11b, one arm portion 11a is formed with a concave portion 11e in which a slider 14 of a lock means 13 for preventing a later-described SD card from being detached is slidably mounted.
[0020]
The plate thickness S of the U-shaped housing 11 described above is set to be substantially the same as the plate thickness of an SD card described later.
[0021]
On the other hand, the metal shell 12 formed by processing a thin metal plate has a substantially U-shaped cross section as a whole, and one arm of the housing 11 including the slider 14 on the periphery thereof. A first concave portion 12a for fitting and supporting the portion 11a, a second concave portion 12b for fitting and supporting the connecting portion 11c, and a third concave portion 12c for fitting and supporting the other arm portion 11b are formed. . Each of the recesses 12a, 12b, and 12c has a substantially U-shaped cross section.
[0022]
In addition, a pair of holes 12e and 12e are formed in the bottom plate 12d of the metal shell 12, and elastic tongue pieces 12f are integrally formed on the inner sides thereof.
[0023]
The elastic tongue 12f is inserted into a guide groove 12g, 12h formed in each outer wall of the first recess 12a and the third recess 12c when an SD card, which will be described later, is guided and inserted. The side of the SD card is pressed against the upper edge of the guide grooves 12g and 12h.
[0024]
Further, a plurality of connection terminal exposing slits 12 i are formed at a predetermined pitch in the second recess 12 b of the metal shell 12 to expose a connection terminal, which will be described later, implanted in the connecting portion 11 c of the housing 11. .
[0025]
As shown in the arrow C, the connector 10 is assembled by first mounting the slider 14 of the locking means 13 in the recess 11e formed in one arm portion 11a of the housing 11, and then indicating the arrow D. As described above, the first concave portion 12a of the metal shell 12 is disposed on the one arm portion 11a of the housing 11, the second concave portion 12b of the metal shell 12 is disposed on the connecting portion 11c of the housing 11, and the second concave portion 12a of the metal shell 12 is formed. 3 is fitted and supported on the other arm portion 11b of the housing 11.
[0026]
Then, as shown in the conceptual perspective view of FIG. 2, the metal shell 12 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is fitted and supported on the substantially U-shaped housing 11.
[0027]
Thereafter, the connection terminals 13 are implanted in the holes 11d formed in the connecting portion 11c to complete.
[0028]
On the other hand, in order to attach the SD card 1 to the connector 10, the step portions 1b and 1c formed on both sides of the SD card 1 are inserted into the guide grooves 12g and 12h of the metal shell 12 as shown by the arrow E in FIG. To be inserted.
[0029]
Then, the SD card 1 is guided into the connector 10 along the guide grooves 12g and 12h, and then corresponds to the electrode pads 1a arranged at a predetermined pitch at the tip of the card 1 as shown in FIG. The respective connection terminals 13 of the connector 10 are in sliding contact with each other, whereby the memory area of the card 1 is electrically connected and accessed.
[0030]
On the other hand, in this connector 10, as shown in FIG. 4 shown in the FF conceptual enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the bottom is high in mechanical strength and is only covered with the bottom 12 d of the metal shell 12 formed of a thin plate. Since there is no cover portion covering the upper surface of the SD card 1, the height H3 can be set smaller (H3 <H2 <H1) than the conventional one.
[0031]
Further, the metal shell 12 has a U-shaped first concave portion 12a, a second concave portion 12b, and a third concave portion 12c having a large section modulus at the periphery thereof (FIG. 1), and the housing 11 has an inside thereof. Since the arm portions 11a and 11b and the connecting portion 11c are fitted and supported, the overall mechanical strength is high.
[0032]
In addition, although the said Example explained in full detail about the case where SD card 1 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.
[0033]
Moreover, in the said Example, although the plate | board thickness of the U-shaped housing 11 was set substantially the same as the plate | board thickness of the SD card 1, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A U-shaped housing 11 can be set to be thinner than the SD card 1, and the height of the recesses 12a, 12b, and 12c of the metal shell 12 can be set to be smaller than the thickness of the SD card 1. In this case, the height H3 ′ of the connector 10 can be set smaller than the plate thickness of the SD card 1, as shown in FIG.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the IC card connector includes the planar U-shaped housing having a thickness substantially the same as the thickness of the IC card, and the U-shaped housing along the periphery. A U-shaped metal shell having a substantially U-shaped cross section formed with a concave portion to be covered , and the U-shaped housing is integrally formed of a synthetic resin and has a pair of arm portions opposed to each other and each of the arm portions. The metal shell includes a first concave portion that fits and supports one arm portion of the housing, and a second concave portion that fits and supports the connecting portion of the housing. The IC card is slidably guided to outer walls of the first recess and the third recess of the metal shell, and includes a third recess for fitting and supporting the other arm of the housing. Guide groove Because was characterized by being made, while still ensuring the mechanical strength of the whole connector and its height can be set as low as possible and determined stronger Therefore thinner in millimeters Further reduction in the thickness of the electronic device can be achieved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual assembly exploded perspective view of an IC card connector according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual perspective view showing the operation of the IC card connector according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual perspective view showing the operation of the IC card connector according to the present invention.
4 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of the FF in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual perspective view of a conventional IC card connector;
FIG. 7 is a conceptual perspective view of a conventional IC card connector;
8 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of BB in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a conventional IC card connector.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... IC card 10 ... IC card connector 11 ... Housing 11a, 11b ... Arm part 11c ... Connection part 12 ... Metal shell 12a, 12b, 12c ... Recess 12g, 12h ... Guide groove 12i ... Connection terminal exposure slit

Claims (5)

In an IC card connector for detachably mounting an IC card,
A plane substantially U-shaped housing;
A concave portion for fitting the U-shaped housing, and a metal shell having a substantially U-shaped cross section formed along the periphery ,
The U-shaped housing is integrally formed of synthetic resin, and includes a pair of arm portions facing each other and a connecting portion that connects between the terminal ends of the arm portions,
The metal shell has a first recess for fitting and supporting one arm portion of the housing, a second recess for fitting and supporting the connecting portion of the housing, and the other arm portion of the housing. Consisting of a third recess to be supported,
A connector for an IC card , wherein a guide groove for slidably guiding the IC card is formed in each outer wall of the first recess and the third recess of the metal shell . 2. The IC card connector according to claim 1, wherein the height of the housing and the metal shell is set to be substantially the same as the thickness of the IC card. 2. The IC card connector according to claim 1, wherein heights of the housing and the metal shell are set to be smaller than a plate thickness of the IC card. Wherein the second recess, the IC card connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the connection terminals exposed slit is characterized in that it is formed in plural at a predetermined pitch. The IC card connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the IC card is an SD card.

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