JP4860135B2 - PC card - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device that is mounted on an electronic device such as a personal computer and exhibits a card type for expanding the functions of the electronic device, and in particular, PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association), Japan Electronics Industry Promotion Association. The present invention relates to a PC card conforming to “PC Card Standard” standardized by (JEIDA).

  In the present invention, the PC card is a structure similar to a PC card in a narrow sense, such as a smart card (trademark), a small PC card (trademark), and a CF (Compact Flash (trademark)) in addition to a PC card in a narrow sense. This card is also included.

  This type of PC card includes an electronic circuit board, a connector that is connected to the electronic circuit board and that can be attached to and detached from the equipment connector provided in the electronic equipment, and a card that houses the electronic circuit board and a part of the connector. And a casing having a shape. The housing includes a resin frame having a substantially rectangular frame shape, and sheet metal lower and upper cover plates that cover the lower surface and the upper surface of the frame, respectively.

  Such a PC card conventionally has the following assembly structures 1-6.

  (1) The lower and upper cover plates are assembled by bonding to the frame with a thermal adhesive tape. At the time of bonding, a jig having a heat bonding tape and / or a heating means and a cooling means at the periphery thereof is used.

  (2) The lower and upper cover plates are assembled to the frame using a double-sided tape and screwing together.

  (3) The lower and upper cover plates are bonded to the frame with double-sided tape.

  (4) The lower or upper cover plate is assembled to the frame by using both the double-sided tape and the engagement relationship between the frame and the lower or upper cover plate. This engagement relationship is configured by an engagement groove formed in the thickness direction of the frame and a sawtooth engagement piece formed on the lower or upper cover plate. Such an assembly structure is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  (5) The lower or upper cover plate is assembled to the frame by the engagement relationship between the frame and the lower and upper cover plates. This engagement relationship is constituted by an engagement groove formed on the outer periphery of the frame and a U-shaped piece formed inwardly on the outer edge of the lower and upper cover plates. Such an assembly structure is disclosed in Patent Document 2.

  (6) The lower and upper cover plates are assembled to the frame together using the engagement relationship between the lower and upper cover plates. This engagement relationship is such that the engagement hole formed in one outer edge of the lower and upper cover plates in the thickness direction and the other outer edge of the lower and upper cover plates in the thickness direction. And an engaging claw formed on the surface. Such an assembly structure is disclosed in Patent Document 3.

JP 2000-057297 A JP 2000-222548 A JP 2001-101373 A

  Each of the assembly structures 1 to 6 described above has the following problems.

  (1) Although the assembly strength is strong, an assembly process using a large jig (two types of heating means and cooling means) is required, so that the number of assembly steps is large and the assembly including such a jig is required. The equipment is expensive.

  (2) Although the assembly strength is strong, the number of assembly parts increases, so the number of assembly steps increases. Since the cover plates are not common to the upper and lower sides, it is necessary to create two types of cover plate mold facilities, which increases costs.

  (3) Although the number of assembly steps is small, the strength of assembly is low because only the double-sided tape is fixed.

  (4) Although the assembly strength is relatively strong, the saw blades formed on the metal cover plate bite into the grooves formed on the resin frame, so the resin cutting and friction during the assembly process etc. And the reliability of the assembly strength is inferior. In addition, since the cover plates are not common to the upper and lower sides, it is necessary to create two types of cover plate mold facilities, which increases costs.

  (5) Although the assembly strength is relatively strong, the U-shaped piece formed on the metal cover plate covers the groove formed on the resin frame, so the resin is cut during the assembly process. There is a risk of friction and / or deformation of the U-shaped piece, and the reliability of the assembly strength is poor.

  (6) Although the assembly strength is strong, the cover plates are not common to the upper and lower sides, so it is necessary to create two types of cover plate mold facilities, resulting in an increase in cost.

  Therefore, the problems of the present invention are that the assembly strength is high, the reliability of the assembly strength is excellent, the number of parts is small, the number of assembly steps is small, the assembly is easy, the assembly equipment is simple, and the manufacturing cost is low. To provide a low PC card.

  According to the present invention, an electronic circuit board, a connector connected to the electronic circuit board and attachable to and detachable from an equipment connector provided in the electronic equipment, a card shape, and the electronic circuit board and the electronic circuit board are provided. A housing that houses a part of the connector, and the housing is made of a resin frame that has a substantially rectangular frame shape, and a sheet metal that has a substantially square plate shape that covers the lower surface and the upper surface of the frame, respectively. In the PC card comprising the lower and upper cover plates, the lower and upper cover plates are symmetrical with respect to the width direction with a symmetrical line extending in the length direction, and have the same shape as each other. And are attached to the frame by engaging each other so that the inner plate surfaces face each other, and the engagement structure between the lower and upper cover plates. Are one of a tongue with a recess and a tongue with a protrusion formed on the lower cover plate so as to extend inwardly, and the recess formed on the upper cover plate so as to extend inwardly with respect to the lower cover plate. A PC card comprising: a tongue piece with a tongue and a pair with the other of the tongue pieces with the convex portion, wherein the tongue piece with the convex portion and the tongue piece with the concave portion have flexibility. can get.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of tongues with recesses are formed in parallel on a side located at an end of the one line-symmetric region of each of the lower and upper cover plates, The PC card according to the above, in which a plurality of tongue pieces with convex portions are formed in parallel on sides located at the ends of the other line-symmetric regions of the lower and upper cover plates, respectively. .

  Further, according to the present invention, the tongue pieces with the concave portions and the tongue pieces with the convex portions are alternately arranged in order on the side located at the end of the one line-symmetrical region of each of the lower and upper cover plates. The tongue pieces with the convex portions and the tongue pieces with the concave portions are alternately arranged on the side located at the end of the other line-symmetrical area of each of the lower and upper cover plates. Thus, the PC card formed in parallel is obtained.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the lower and upper cover plates can be engaged with each other, and the PC card attached to the frame by a double-sided tape can be obtained.

  Further, according to the present invention, the lower cover plate and the upper cover plate are engaged with each other, and one end or the other end of each length direction enters the recess formed in the frame. Can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, when the lower and upper cover plates are attached to the frame, the engagement structure of the lower and upper cover plates is arranged in the frame in the thickness direction of the frame. The PC card located in the hole formed so as to penetrate is obtained.

  The PC card according to the present invention has high assembling strength, excellent reliability in assembling strength, a small number of parts, a small number of assembling steps, easy assembling, simple assembling equipment, and low manufacturing cost.

  Hereinafter, a PC card according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A to 2D, the PC card according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to the electronic circuit board 10 and the electronic circuit board 10 in the same manner as the conventional PC card. A connector 20 that can be attached to and detached from a device connector provided in an electronic device (not shown) and a card-like housing that houses an electronic circuit board and a part of the connector. .

  The housing includes a resin-made frame 30 having a substantially square frame shape, sheet metal lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 each having a substantially square plate shape covering the lower surface and the upper surface of the frame 30, and an extension portion 40. It has. The extended portion 40 is usually made of resin, and is formed separately from the frame 30 or partly integrated with the frame 30. A connector other than the connector 20, an electronic circuit board other than the electronic circuit board 10, Or it is a resin-made member which covers an antenna etc.

  In the present PC card, the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 are symmetrical with respect to the width direction W across a symmetry line (not shown) extending in the length direction L, and have the same shape as each other. Presents. That is, in this embodiment, the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 are described with different names and part numbers, but the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 have the same shape obtained in the same manufacturing process. Are two cover plate parts.

  The lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 are attached to the frame 30 by engaging each other so that the inner plate surfaces face each other.

  The engagement structure between the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 has a recessed tongue formed on the lower cover plate so as to extend inwardly as shown in FIGS. 2 (b) and 2 (c). A pair of a tongue 56b with a convex portion formed on the upper cover plate so as to extend in the inner direction thereof, and a tongue piece 56b with a convex portion formed so as to extend in the inner direction with respect to the lower cover plate; The upper cover plate is constituted by a pair with a recessed tongue piece 66a formed so as to extend in the inner direction.

  Incidentally, regarding the shape of the unevenness formed on the tongue piece, in the present embodiment, the convex portion has a substantially hemispherical shape and the concave portion is a hole. Is not limited to this example. For example, a wedge-shaped convex portion and a hole-shaped concave portion may be used. Further, the number of tongue pieces and the formation positions are not limited to this example as long as the lower and upper cover plates can be covered with the same parts.

  These tongue pieces with convex portions and tongue portions with concave portions are formed integrally with the lower cover plate 50 and the upper cover plate 60 by pressing or the like, and have flexibility.

  On the side (the right side in FIG. 1) located at the end of one line-symmetric region of the lower cover plate 50, the tongue pieces 56a with concave portions and the tongue pieces 56b with convex portions are alternately arranged in parallel. Is formed. On the other hand, on the side (the right side in FIG. 1) located at the end of the other line-symmetrical region of the upper cover plate 60, the tongue pieces 66b with convex portions and the tongue pieces 66a with concave portions are alternately arranged in parallel. Is formed.

  The lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 are attached to the frame 30 by double-sided tape 70 in addition to engaging each other.

  By using the double-sided tape in combination, the assembly strength of the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 to the frame 30 is improved.

  Further, the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 are engaged with each other, and as shown in FIG. 2D, one end side in each length direction L (the front end side in FIG. 1). The front end pieces 58 and 68 formed so as to extend outward after being bent inwardly into the frame 30 are respectively attached to the frame 30 by entering into the recesses 38 formed in the inner peripheral surface of the frame 30. .

  With this structure, the assembly strength of the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 with respect to the frame 30, particularly the assembly strength between the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 at the end where there is no engagement structure is improved. When the card falls from the front end, the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 are prevented from floating from the frame 30.

  Further, when the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 are attached to the frame 30, the engagement structure of the lower and upper cover plates 50 and 60 penetrates the frame 30 in the thickness direction t of the frame 30. It is located in the hole 36 formed in the.

  For this reason, even if a user carelessly touches the engaging structure part after assembly, it does not easily come off. On the contrary, in the case of inspection, repair, maintenance, etc., by inserting a jig into the gap in the hole 36 and making the tongue with a convex part or the tongue with a concave part bent, When necessary, the engagement relationship can be easily released.

  As a modification of the present embodiment, although not shown, a plurality of tongues with recesses are formed in parallel on the side located at the end of one line-symmetrical area of each of the lower and upper cover plates. Further, a structure in which a plurality of tongues with convex portions are formed in parallel on the side located at the end of the other line-symmetrical region of each upper cover plate is conceivable.

  Again, the lower and upper cover plates can be covered with the same parts.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that those skilled in the art can apply and modify the present invention to various PC cards and the like. Nor.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a PC card according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a plan view of the PC card shown in FIG. 1, (b) is a partial cross-sectional view along the cutting line X1-X2 in (a), and (c) is along the cutting line Y1-Y2 in (a). (D) is a partial cross-sectional view along the cutting line Z1-Z2 of (a).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic circuit board 20 Connector 30 Frame 36 Hole part 38 Groove part 40 Expansion part 50 Lower cover plate 56a Tongue piece with a recessed part 56b Tongue piece with a convex part 58 Tip piece 60 Upper cover plate 66a Tongue piece with a recessed part 66b Tongue piece with a convex part 68 Tip piece 70 Double-sided tape

Claims (6)

An electronic circuit board, a connector connected to the electronic circuit board and attachable to and detachable from an equipment connector provided in the electronic equipment, a card shape, and the electronic circuit board and a part of the connector A housing for housing,
In the PC card, the housing includes a resin frame having a substantially square frame shape, and a sheet metal lower and upper cover plate having a substantially square plate shape covering the lower surface and the upper surface of the frame, respectively.
The lower and upper cover plates are symmetrical with respect to each other with a symmetrical line extending in the length direction, and have the same shape, and are engaged with each other so that the inner plate surfaces face each other. Is attached to the frame,
The engagement structure between the lower and upper cover plates is formed on one of a tongue with a recess and a tongue with a protrusion formed on the lower cover plate so as to extend inward of the lower cover plate. It is comprised by the pair with the other of this tongue piece with a recessed part and this tongue part with a convex part formed so that it may extend in the inner direction, While the said recessed part is a hole, the said convex part is substantially hemispherical A protrusion,
Tongue and the recessed tongue with the convex portion is to have a flexible,
The engagement structure between the lower and upper cover plates is further located in a hole formed in the frame so as to penetrate in the thickness direction, and the protrusion is formed by a jig inserted into a gap in the hole. A PC card configured to be able to release the engaging relationship by bending the tongue with a portion or the tongue with a recess . A plurality of tongue pieces with recesses are formed in parallel on the side located at the end of one line-symmetrical region of each of the lower and upper cover plates,
2. The PC card according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of tongues with projections are formed in parallel on a side located at an end of the other line-symmetric region of each of the lower and upper cover plates. . The tongues with concave portions and the tongue pieces with convex portions are formed alternately in parallel on the side located at the end of one of the line-symmetrical regions of the lower and upper cover plates. ,
The tongues with projections and the tongues with recesses are formed alternately and in parallel on the side located at the end of the other line-symmetric region of each of the lower and upper cover plates. The PC card according to claim 1.   4. The PC card according to claim 1, wherein the lower and upper cover plates are attached to the frame by double-sided tape in addition to engaging with each other.   The lower and upper cover plates are attached to the frame by engaging one another or by having one end or the other end in the length direction entering a recess formed in the frame, respectively. The PC card according to any one of 1 to 4.   When the lower and upper cover plates are attached to the frame, the engagement structure of the lower and upper cover plates is a hole formed so as to penetrate the frame in the thickness direction of the frame. The PC card according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is located in the unit.

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