U.S. patent application number 15/683168 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-28 for card holding member and card connector.
This patent application is currently assigned to Molex, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Molex, LLC. Invention is credited to Teruki NAGASE, Akihiro SHIMOTSU.
Application Number | 20170373711 15/683168 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55742093 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20170373711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAGASE; Teruki ; et
al. |
December 28, 2017 |
CARD HOLDING MEMBER AND CARD CONNECTOR
Abstract
The card holding member is able to hold a card including
terminal members and is able to be inserted into a card connector,
and comprises a frame portion opposing the side surfaces of the
card, and a movable lock portion arranged in the frame portion
which is able to engage and disengage from a lock portion of the
card connector, the movable lock portion being a spring member made
of a metal plate and including at least one corner portion, and the
movable lock portion also being elastically deformable in the width
direction of the card holding member.
Inventors: |
NAGASE; Teruki; (Yamato,
JP) ; SHIMOTSU; Akihiro; (Ebina, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Molex, LLC |
Lisle |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Molex, LLC
Lisle
IL
|
Family ID: |
55742093 |
Appl. No.: |
15/683168 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14950077 |
Nov 24, 2015 |
9774359 |
|
|
15683168 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 1/3816
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/3816 20060101
H04B001/3816 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 3, 2014 |
JP |
2014-244791 |
Claims
1. A card holding member able to hold a card including terminal
members and able to be inserted into a card connector, the card
holding member comprising: a frame portion which surrounds all
sides of a space serving as a card accommodating space for
accommodating the card; and a movable lock portion arranged in the
frame portion which is configured to engage and disengage from a
lock portion of a housing of the card connector, the movable lock
portion being a spring member made of a metal plate, the movable
lock portion being elastically deformable in a width direction of
the card holding member, the movable lock portion having an
engaging portion which is configured to engage the lock portion of
the housing of the card connector, the engaging portion including a
front inclined surface and a rear inclined surface formed in front
of and behind an apex point.
2. The card holding member according to claim 1, wherein the
movable lock portion is a band-like member fixed to the frame
portion at both ends and including a main body portion extending
linearly, the engaging portion being formed in a middle of the main
body portion.
3. The card holding member according to claim 2, wherein a rear end
of the main body portion is secured to the frame portion.
4. The card holding member according to claim 1, wherein the
engaging portion is a protruding portion bulging outwardly in a
transverse direction of the card holding member.
5. A card holding member able to hold a card having terminal
members and able to be inserted into a card connector, the card
holding member comprising: a frame portion which surrounds all
sides of a space serving as a card accommodating space for
accommodating the card, the frame portion having a rear frame
portion, a front frame portion and a pair of side frame portions,
the rear frame portion and the front frame portion extending
parallel to each other in a transverse direction, the side frame
portions extending in a longitudinal direction and being connected
to ends of the rear and front frame portions, at least one of the
side frame portions having a non-metal portion and a metal portion,
the metal portion having a movable lock portion, the movable lock
portion being elastically deformable in the transverse direction,
the movable lock portion having first and second end portions and a
main body portion extending linearly between the first and second
end portions, the first and second end portions being fixed to the
non-metal portion, the movable lock portion having an engaging
portion formed in a middle thereof, the engaging portion being
configured to engage and disengage from a lock portion of a housing
of the card connector, the engaging portion including a front
inclined surface and a rear inclined surface formed in front of and
behind an apex point; and a rear panel portion connected to a rear
of the rear frame portion.
6. The card holding member according to claim 5, wherein the
engaging portion is a protruding portion bulging outwardly in the
transverse direction of the card holding member.
7. A combination comprising: a card connector having a housing
having a lock portion; and a card holding member, the card holding
member being configured to hold a card having terminal members and
being configured to be inserted into the card connector, the card
holding member having a frame portion which surrounds all sides of
a space serving as a card accommodating space for accommodating the
card, and a movable lock portion arranged in the frame portion
which is configured to engage and disengage from the lock portion
of the housing of the card connector, the movable lock portion
being a spring member made of a metal plate, the movable lock
portion being elastically deformable in a width direction of the
card holding member, the movable lock portion having an engaging
portion which is configured to engage the lock portion of the
housing of the card connector, the engaging portion including a
front inclined surface and a rear inclined surface formed in front
of and behind an apex point.
8. A combination comprising: a card connector having a housing
having a lock portion; and a card holding member, the card holding
member being configured to hold a card having terminal members and
being configured to be inserted into the card connector, the card
holding member having a frame portion and a rear panel portion, the
frame portion surrounding all sides of a space serving as a card
accommodating space for accommodating the card, the frame portion
having a rear frame portion, a front frame portion and a pair of
side frame portions, the rear frame portion and the front frame
portion extending parallel to each other in a transverse direction,
the side frame portions extending in a longitudinal direction and
being connected to ends of the rear and front frame portions, at
least one of the side frame portions having a non-metal portion and
a metal portion, the metal portion having a movable lock portion,
the movable lock portion being elastically deformable in the
transverse direction, the movable lock portion having first and
second end portions and a main body portion extending linearly
between the first and second end portions, the first and second end
portions being fixed to the non-metal portion, the main body
portion having an engaging portion formed in a middle thereof, the
engaging portion being configured to engage and disengage from the
lock portion of the housing of the card connector, the engaging
portion including a front inclined surface and a rear inclined
surface formed in front of and behind an apex point, the rear panel
portion connected to a rear of the rear frame portion.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/950,077, filed Nov. 24, 2015, which, in
turn, claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2014-244791,
filed Dec. 3, 2014. Each of these applications are incorporated
herein by reference in their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a card holding member and
to a card connector.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Electronic devices such as mobile phones include a card
connector enabling the use of various types of cards such as SIM
(Subscriber Identity Module) cards.
[0004] Electronic devices have become significantly smaller in
recent years, and so have cards and card connectors. As a result,
it can be difficult for users to grasp a card with the fingers and
insert the card properly into a card connector. Therefore, card
connectors have been proposed in which a card is set inside a card
holder and the card holder is inserted into the card connector
(see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0005] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a card tray of the prior
art.
[0006] In this drawing, 967 denotes a bottom panel of a card tray
made of a resin material, 964 denotes the pair of side walls, and
965 denotes the front wall. The card tray is moved in the direction
indicated by arrow A with a card (not shown) housed inside the
recessed portion defined by the bottom panel 967, the side walls
964, and the front wall 965.
[0007] A contact piece 968 is formed in the middle of each side
wall 964 which bulges to form a semicircular profile, and a
protrusion-shaped engaging portion 969 is formed near the front end
of each side wall portion 964. When the card tray is inserted into
the card connector, the contact pieces 968 make elastic contact
with and slide along left and right guide walls inside the card
connector to keep the card tray stable in the transverse direction.
The engaging portions 969 are prevented from passing the inner lock
portions on the guide walls.
[0008] [Patent Document 1] Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
2006-059660
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] However, the card tray of the prior art is only held inside
the card connector by the engaging portions 969 preventing the card
tray from passing the inner lock portions on the guide walls in the
card connector. As a result, the retention force is weak and the
card tray may become detached from the card connector during use.
Also, because the contact pieces 968 only make elastic contact with
the guide walls in the card connector, they do not reliably hold
the card tray inside the card connector.
[0010] It is an object of the present disclosure to solve this
problem by providing a highly reliable card holding member that can
be easily inserted into a card connector and reliably held by the
card connector, and a card connector for the card holding
member.
[0011] The present disclosure is a card holding member able to hold
a card including terminal members and able to be inserted into a
card connector, the card holding member comprising a frame portion
opposing the side surfaces of the card, and a movable lock portion
arranged in the frame portion able to engage and disengage from a
lock portion of the card connector, the movable lock portion being
a spring member made of a metal plate and including at least one
corner portion, and the movable lock portion also being elastically
deformable in the width direction of the card holding member.
[0012] In another aspect of the card holding member of the present
disclosure, the movable lock portion is a band-like member fixed to
the frame portion at both ends and including a main body portion
extending linearly, and an engaging portion formed in the middle of
the main body portion and able to engage the lock portion, the
corner portion being connected to at least one end of the main body
portion.
[0013] In another aspect of the card holding member of the present
disclosure, the corner portion is a portion of a metal plate bent
from the longitudinal direction of the card holding member to a
direction intersecting the longitudinal direction.
[0014] In another aspect of the card holding member of the present
disclosure, the engaging portion includes a front inclined surface
and a rear inclined surface formed in front of and behind an apex
point, the engaging portion being a protruding portion bulging
outwardly in the transverse direction of the card holding member,
and the lock portion being a recessed portion including a front
inclined surface and a rear inclined surface.
[0015] In another aspect of the card holding member of the present
disclosure, the corner portion is connected only to the front end
of the main body portion, the rear end of the main body portion
being secured to the frame portion.
[0016] The present disclosure is also a card connector able to
receive any one of the inserted card holding members described
above, the card connector including a lock portion able to engage
and disengage from the movable lock portion.
[0017] In another aspect of the card connector of the present
disclosure, the card connector may include an ejection mechanism
for ejecting the card holding member.
[0018] The present disclosure is able to provide a highly reliable
card holding member that can be easily inserted into a card
connector and reliably held by the card connector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of a card tray inserted into
a card connector according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, in which the shell is attached.
[0020] FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of the card tray of FIG.
1(a) with the shell removed.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the card tray according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 3(a) is a front view of the card tray according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 3(b) is a top view of the card tray of FIG. 3(a).
[0024] FIG. 3(c) is a rear view of the card tray of FIG. 3(a).
[0025] FIG. 3(d) is a side view of the card tray of FIG. 3(a).
[0026] FIG. 3(e) is a bottom view of the card tray of FIG.
3(a).
[0027] FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view of the metal portion of the
entire card tray in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 4(b) is a perspective view of an enlarged view of a
portion of the metal portion of the entire card tray of FIG.
4(a).
[0029] FIG. 5(a) is a perspective view of a card connector
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the
shell is attached.
[0030] FIG. 5(b) is a perspective view of the card connector of
FIG. 5(a) with the shell removed.
[0031] FIG. 6(a) is a perspective view of a card tray being
inserted into a card connector according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, in which the shell is attached.
[0032] FIG. 6(b) is a perspective view of the card tray of FIG.
6(a) with the shell removed.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a card tray of the prior
art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] The following is a detailed explanation of an embodiment of
the present disclosure with reference to the drawings.
[0035] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are a pair of perspective views of a
card tray inserted into a card connector according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the card
tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS.
3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e) are a set of five views of the card
tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGS.
4(a) and 4(b) are a pair of perspective views of the metal portion
of the card tray in an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS.
5(a) and 5(b) are a pair of perspective views of a card connector
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0036] In the drawings, 160 is the card tray serving as the card
holding member in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1(a),
the card tray 160 is inserted into a card connector 1 mounted in an
electronic device (not shown) while housing a card 101. In other
words, a card 101 is accommodated inside the card tray 160 with
both side surfaces 112 surrounded by the frame portion 161 facing
the side surfaces 112, and is mounted in an electronic device via a
card connector 1. The electronic device may be any type of device,
including a personal computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a
communication modem, a tablet, a digital camera, a video camera, a
music player, a gaming console, or a car navigation system.
[0037] However, when a card connector other than card connector 1
is mounted in an electronic device, the user sometimes does not use
the card connector 1. In this case, the user can insert the empty
card tray 160, that is, the card tray 160 not housing a card 101,
into the card connector 1 for storage.
[0038] The card 101 can be any type of card such as a SIM card,
microSIM card, nanoSIM card, MMC.RTM. (Multi Media) card, SD.RTM.
(Secure Digital) card, miniSD.RTM. card, xD-Picture.RTM. card,
Memory Stick.RTM., Memory Stick Duo.RTM., Smart Media.RTM., or
TransFlash.RTM. memory card. In the present embodiment, the card is
a microSD.RTM. card.
[0039] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1(b), the card
101 has a substantially rectangular band-like shape, and electrode
pads serving as the terminal members (not shown) are arranged in
rows along the front end 111f on one surface (the lower surface in
the example shown in the drawing). Electrode pads are not provided
on the other surface, that is, on the upper surface 111b opposite
the lower surface. A notched portion 111c is formed in one of the
corners connecting the left and right ends of the front end 111f to
the side ends 111s. More specifically, this notched portion is
formed in the front right corner of the upper surface 111b. The
notched portion 111c is formed by cutting away one of the corners
where the front end 111f of the card 101 is connected to a side end
111s so as to form a truncated triangle.
[0040] In the present embodiment, the expressions indicating
direction, such as upper, lower, left, right, front and rear, which
are used to explain the configuration and operation of each portion
of the card connector 1, card tray 160, and card 101, are relative
and not absolute. They depend on the orientation of the connector
1, card tray 160, and card 101, and their constituent components
shown in the drawings. When the orientation of the connector 1,
card tray 160, and card 101 or their constituent components
changes, the interpretation changes in response to the change in
orientation.
[0041] Here, the card tray 160 includes a metal portion 151
integrally formed by stamping and bending a metal plate, and a
resin portion 169 made of an insulating resin covering and becoming
integrated with a portion of the metal portion 151 using a molding
technique such as insert molding or overmolding.
[0042] The frame portion 161 of the card tray 160 is a rectangular
frame member surrounding all four sides of a space 166 serving as
the card accommodating space for accommodating a card 101. The
frame portion 161 has a rear frame portion 162 and a front frame
portion 165 extending parallel to each other in the transverse
direction. The frame portion 161 also has a pair of side frame
portions 164 extending in the longitudinal direction and connected
to both ends of the rear frame portion 162 and the front frame
portion 165.
[0043] A protruding portion 164c is formed in a corner, more
specifically, the front right corner, where one of the side frame
portions 164 is connected to the front frame portion 165. The
protruding portion 164c functions as a card orientation restricting
portion. As shown in the drawing, when the card 101 has the proper
orientation, the card 101 is allowed to be housed inside the card
tray 160. However, when the card 101 does not have the proper
orientation, the card 101 is not allowed to be housed inside the
card tray 160. In other words, the card 101 cannot be housed inside
the space 166. More specifically, the protruding portion 164c has a
truncated triangle profile and is formed in a way to correspond to
the notched portion 111c of the card 101 housed inside the space
166 in the proper orientation. As a result, a card 101 cannot be
inserted into and housed in the space 166 inside the card tray 160
when oriented improperly, that is, when inserted upside-down or
backwards.
[0044] A rear panel portion 163 is connected to the rear of the
rear frame portion 162. A through-hole 163a is formed at one end of
the rear panel portion 163 and passes through the rear panel
portion 163 in the thickness direction. The through-hole 163a
allows an auxiliary member such as a pin or rod to be inserted in
order to apply pressure and operate the operating portion 22a of
the push rod 22 in the card connector 1.
[0045] The upper surfaces of the rear frame portion 162, the side
frame portion 164, and the front frame portion 165, excluding the
rear side portion 163, are flush. However, the lower surface of the
front frame portion 165 is preferably higher than the lower surface
of the side frame portions 164. The lower surface of the front
frame portion 165 is also preferably higher than the lower surface
of a card 101 held inside the space 166. In this way, the front
frame portion 165 does not make contact with the primary terminals
51 and secondary terminals 61 when the card tray 160 is inserted
into the card connector 1.
[0046] Eaves portions 167 extend into the space 166 from the inner
lower ends of the rear frame portion 162 and the left and right
side frame portions 164. The eaves portions 167 function as card
support portions for supporting at least some of the lower surface
of the card 101 held inside the space 166, for example, near the
side ends.
[0047] The side surfaces of the front frame portion 165, the rear
frame portion 162, and the side frame portions 164 facing the space
166, that is, the inside surfaces, are all coated with an
insulating resin so that the metal portion 151 is not exposed.
Therefore, even though the peripheral edges of the electrode pads
arranged on the lower surface of the card 101 housed inside the
space 166 are exposed on the side surfaces 112 of the card 101,
they do not come into contact with the metal portion 151.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the metal portion 151 is a frame
member with a substantially rectangular profile, and includes a
rear metal frame portion 152 and a front metal frame portion 155
extending in the transverse direction substantially parallel to
each other, and a pair of metal side frame portions 154 extending
on the longitudinal direction and connecting both ends of the rear
metal frame portion 152 to both ends of the front metal frame
portion 155. In the example shown in the drawing, the rear metal
frame portion 152 includes a cutaway portion 152a in the middle
dividing the section to the right and left. However, the section
without the cutaway portion 152a is a single continuous body.
[0049] In the present embodiment, each metal side frame portion 154
includes a lock spring portion 175 in the middle, which is a
movable lock portion for holding the card tray 160 inserted into
the card connector 1. The lock spring portions 175 function as
plate springs elastically displaced in the transverse direction of
the card tray 160. Therefore, these plate-like members extend in
the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the card tray 160.
As in the case of the rear metal frame portion 152 and the front
metal frame portion 155, the other portions of the metal side frame
portions 154 are plate-like members extending parallel to the upper
surface or the lower surface of the card tray 160. As a result, the
longitudinal ends of the lock spring portions 175 are connected to
the other portions of the metal side frame portions 154. In the
explanation of the present embodiment, the front bent portion 154a1
and the rear bent portion 154a2 are sometimes referred to
collectively as the bent portions 154a.
[0050] The lock spring portions 175 are slender band-like members
with spring action extending in the thickness direction of the card
tray 160 and extending in the longitudinal direction of the card
tray 160. They include a plate-like main body portion 175d exposed
to the outside of the side frame portion 164, extending linearly in
the longitudinal direction of the card tray 160, and fixed at both
ends to the side frame portion 164 to function as a beam. Before
the metal portion 151 has been integrated with the resin portion
169, the lock spring portions 175, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), include
a front corner portion 175b1 connected to the front end of the main
body portion 175d and a rear corner portion 175b2 connected to the
rear end of the main body portion 175d. The front corner portion
175b1 and the rear corner portion 175b2 are preferably bent from
the longitudinal direction of the card tray 160 to a direction
intersecting the longitudinal direction, preferably at a 90-degree
angle. In the following explanation, these components are sometimes
referred to collectively as the corner portions 175b. The lock
spring portions 175 functioning as beam-like plate springs include
a front corner portion 175b1 and a rear corner portion 175b2
connected at both ends to the main body portion 175d. This
increases the flexibility and amount of elastic displacement. In
order to adjust the amount of elastic displacement, either the
front corner portion 175b1 or the rear corner portion 175b2 can be
omitted.
[0051] In the example shown in the drawings, the rear corner
portion 175b2 is embedded in the resin portion 169 near the rear
end of the side frame portion 164. Therefore, in the lock spring
portions 175 of the example shown in the drawings, the front fixed
portion 175c1 fixed to the side frame portion 164 is the front end
and the rear fixed portion 175c2 fixed to the side frame portion
164 is the rear end. In other words, the lock spring portions 175
only include the front corner portion 175b1 in the section exposed
to the outside of the side frame portion 164 from the front fixed
portion 175c1 to the rear fixed portion 175c2. FIG. 4(b) shows the
lock spring portion 175 from the front fixed portion 175c1 at the
front end to the rear fixed portion 175c2 at the rear end. The rear
fixed portion 175c2 is the main body portion 175d.
[0052] The lock spring portion 175 includes a lock protruding
portion 175a in the middle, which is an engaging portion
elastically displaced inward in the transverse direction of the
card tray 160. The lock protruding portion 175a is a protruding
portion bulging outward in the transverse direction of the card
tray 160, and includes a gently sloping front inclined surface
175a1 and a sharply sloping rear inclined surface 175a2 near the
apex. When the card tray 160 has been completely inserted into the
card connector 1, the lock protruding portions 175a are engaged in
the lock recessed portions 75 serving as the lock portions on the
card connector 1.
[0053] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the card
connector 1 has a housing 11 integrally molded from an insulating
material such as a synthetic resin, and a shell 65 or cover member
formed integrally by punching and bending a conductive metal sheet
which is attached to the upper side of the housing 11. The shell 65
has a substantially rectangular ceiling panel portion 62 and side
panel portions 63 erected on the side edges of the ceiling panel
portion 62, and covers the housing 11 and at least some of the
upper portion of the card tray 160 inserted into the housing 11 and
the card connector 1. The card connector 1 has a substantially
parallelepiped shape, and is mounted on the surface of a board such
as a printed circuit board in the electronic device. A card tray
160 is inserted into the insertion slot 18 in the rear (below right
in FIG. 5(a)). More specifically, the card tray 160 is inserted
into the card insertion space between the housing 11 and the shell
65.
[0054] The housing 11 includes primary terminals 51, secondary
terminals 61, and a lower shell 12 integrally formed by stamping
and bending a metal plate. This substantially plate-like member is
integrally molded using a molding technique such as insert molding
or overmolding with an insulating resin which covers and becomes
integrated with at least a portion of the primary terminals 51,
secondary terminals 61, and lower shell 12. The lower shell 12 is a
frame member for reinforcing the housing 11, and is preferably
formed from the same material as the primary terminals 51 and/or
secondary terminals 61, but is electrically insulated from the
primary terminals 51 and the secondary terminals 61.
[0055] The housing 11 also includes a bottom wall portion 11b
serving as the substantially rectangular, plate-like terminal
holding portion, an inner wall portion 11a thicker than the bottom
wall portion 11b which extends in the transverse direction of the
housing 11 along the front end portion 11f in the insertion
direction (longitudinal direction) of the card tray 160, and a pair
of side wall portions 11e thicker than the bottom wall portion 11b
extending in the insertion direction of the housing 11 along both
side edges. The lower surfaces of the inner wall portion 11a and
the side wall portions 11e are flush with the lower surface of the
bottom wall portion 11b, and the upper surfaces are above the upper
surface of the bottom wall portion 11b. The end portion of the
housing 11 in the insertion direction of the card tray 160 is
referred to as the rear end portion 11r.
[0056] Here, the bottom wall portion 11b includes a primary
terminal holding recessed portion 11c and secondary terminal
holding recessed portions 11g for holding the exposed portions of
the primary terminals 51 and the secondary terminals 61, as well as
a primary terminal solder tail opening 11d and secondary terminal
solder tail openings 11h. The primary terminal holding recessed
portion 11c, secondary terminal holding recessed portions 11g,
primary terminal solder tail opening 11d, and secondary terminal
solder tail openings 11h are openings which pass through the bottom
wall portion 11b in the thickness direction.
[0057] There is a single primary terminal holding recessed portion
11c and primary terminal solder tail opening 11d, and a single row
of primary terminals 51 extending in the transverse direction of
the housing 11 is arranged inside. At least a portion of the
primary terminals 51 is embedded in the bottom wall portion 11b,
and at least the contact portion 51a is exposed inside the primary
terminal holding recessed portion 11c. The solder tail portion 51d
of each terminal to be soldered is also exposed inside the primary
terminal solder tail opening 11d. The contact portion 51a of each
primary terminal 51 is biased upwards by the spring action of the
arm portion, and comes into contact with the corresponding
electrode pad on the card 101 inside the card tray 160 held inside
the card connector 1. Each solder tail portion 51d is connected
electrically by solder to a signal line, contact pad, or terminal
formed on a printed circuit board.
[0058] The secondary terminal holding recessed portions 11g and the
secondary terminal solder tail openings 11h are arranged side by
side to form rows extending in the longitudinal direction of the
housing 11. In the example shown in the drawing, there are two rows
of three. At least a portion of each secondary terminal 61 is
embedded in the bottom wall portion 11b, and at least a contact
portion 61a is exposed inside each secondary terminal holding
recessed portion 11g. A solder tail portion 61d to be soldered is
exposed in each secondary terminal solder tail opening 11h.
Therefore, the secondary terminals 61 held in each secondary
terminal holding recessed portion 11g are arranged in two rows
extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 11. At least
a portion of each secondary terminal 61 is embedded in the bottom
wall portion 11b, and at least the contact portion 61a is exposed
inside a secondary terminal holding recessed portion 11g. The
contact portion 61a of each secondary terminal 61 is biased upwards
by the spring action of the arm portion, and comes into contact
with the corresponding electrode pad on the card 101 inside the
card tray 160 held inside the card connector 1. Each solder tail
portion 61d is connected electrically by solder to a signal line,
contact pad, or terminal formed on a printed circuit board.
[0059] The primary terminals 51 are arranged so as to match the
electrode pads on a microSD.RTM. card, and the secondary terminals
61 are arranged so as to match the electrode pads on a nanoSIM.RTM.
card. In other words, the card connector 1 can accommodate
different types of cards 101 housed in the card tray 160. For
example, it can accommodate a card 101 that is a microSD.RTM. card
or a nanoSIM.RTM. card. The number and arrangement of primary
terminals 51 and secondary terminals 61 can be changed if necessary
to conform to the number and arrangement of electrode pads on a
card 101. When the card tray 160 can only accommodate a single type
of card 101, either the primary terminals 51 or the secondary
terminals 61 can be omitted.
[0060] The lower shell 12 is exposed between the bottom wall
portion 11b and the left and right side wall portions 11e. A lock
recessed portion 75 is formed on the inner side surface of each
side wall portion 11e to engage a lock protruding portion 175a
formed in the lock spring portion 175 of the card tray 160 and to
hold and secure the card tray 160. Each lock recessed portion 75 is
a recessed portion including a gradually sloping front inclined
surface 75a1 and a sharply sloping rear inclined surface 75a2.
[0061] A push rod 22 is slidably mounted in the longitudinal
direction on the inside surface of one of the side wall portions
11e. This serves as the tray ejection operation member in the tray
ejection mechanism for ejecting the card tray 160 inserted into the
card connector 1. The push rod 22 is a linear rod-shaped or
band-shaped member, and a bent operating portion 22a is integrally
connected to the rear end portion. An engaging portion 22b is
formed in the front end portion of the push rod 22 to engage the
force input portion 21b of the ejection lever 21. The ejection
lever 21 is a lever-shaped member arranged near the inner wall
portion 11a, and functions as the tray ejection lever of the tray
ejection mechanism. As a result, the ejection lever 21 is pivotally
mounted on the bottom wall portion 11b at the fulcrum portion 21c.
The end on the other side of the fulcrum portion 21c from the force
input portion 21b functions as the force output portion 21a which
comes into contact with the front frame portion 165 of the card
tray 160 inserted into the card connector 1 and applies force to
the card tray 160 in the direction of ejection.
[0062] The shell 65 has side panel portions 63 extending from the
side edges of a ceiling panel portion 62. A plurality of locking
openings 63a are formed on the side panel portions 63. When the
shell 65 is mounted on the upper side of the housing 11, the
locking openings 63a are engaged by locking protrusions 13 formed
on the outside surfaces of the side wall portions 11e of the
housing 11, and the shell 65 is secured on the housing 11. Also,
solder tail portions 64 are formed at any location on the lower end
of the side panel portions 63. These serve as board-connectors and
stand erect from the side panel portions 63 and extend outward in
the transverse direction of the shell 65. The solder tail portions
64 are secured by soldering to anchoring pads formed on the surface
of the board.
[0063] The housing 11 includes a movable member 17 and a fixed
member 16 for a detection switch used to detect whether a card tray
160 inserted into the card connector 1 has reached a predetermined
position inside the card connector 1 (the position at which the
inserted card tray 160 is locked). When the card tray 160 has not
reached the predetermined position, the movable member 17 and the
fixed member 16 are separate, and the detection switch is not
electrified or turned OFF. However, when the card tray 160 reaches
the predetermined position, the movable member 17 presses against
the front frame portion 165 of the card tray 160, and the movable
member 17 is displaced and comes into contact with the fixed member
16. Because this electrifies or turns the detection switch ON, it
is determined that the card tray 160 has reached the predetermined
position.
[0064] The following is an explanation of the operations performed
by a card connector 1 with the configuration described above.
First, the operations performed to insert the card tray 160 will be
explained.
[0065] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are a pair of perspective views of a
card tray being inserted into a card connector according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0066] The user manually inserts a card tray 160 housing a card 101
into the insertion slot 18 in the rear of the card connector 1.
Here, the card tray 160 is inserted properly with the upper surface
facing upwards towards the ceiling panel portion 62 of the shell
65, the lower surface facing downwards towards the bottom wall
portion 11b of the housing 11, and the front frame portion 165
facing the front end portion 11f of the housing 11. As a result,
the upper surface 111b of the card 101 housed inside the space 166
which does not include any electrode pads faces upwards, and the
lower surface including electrode pads and exposed on the lower
surface of the card tray 160 is facing downwards. The card tray 160
can be inserted into the card connector 1 and ejected from the card
connector 1 whether the tray is housing a card 101 or not housing a
card 101. In the following explanation, the tray is housing a card
101. As mentioned above, the card 101 is a microSD.RTM. card.
[0067] When the card tray 160 is inserted from the insertion slot
18 into the card insertion space formed between the housing 11 and
the shell 65, the card tray 160 advances into the card insertion
space with the lower surfaces of the side frame portions 164
approaching or making contact with the upper surface of the lower
shell 12. Next, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the lock protruding portions
175a of the lock spring portions 175 exposed on the outside of the
side frame portions 164 of the card tray 160 make contact with the
inner surface of the side wall portions 11e of the housing 11, and
are elastically displaced inward in the transverse direction of the
card tray 160.
[0068] Because the lock protruding portions 175a begin to be
deformed when the front inclined surfaces 175a1 come into contact
with the rear end portion 11r of the side wall portions 11e, the
portion of the lock spring portions 175 in front of the lock
protruding portions 175a, that is, the front half, is elastically
deformed. Because the lock spring portions 175 include front corner
portions 175b1 formed near the front end, the front half is very
flexible (not too rigid). Therefore, when the lock protruding
portions 175a come into contact with the inside surfaces of the
side wall portions 11e and begin to be displaced, the rebound force
of the spring action of the lock spring portions 175 is not too
great, and the user can insert the card tray 160 smoothly without
having to push in the card tray 160 with great force. When the card
tray 160 advances towards the front end portion 11f, the lock
protruding portions 175a slide over the inner surfaces of the side
wall portions 11e.
[0069] Next, when the user pushes in the card tray 160, as shown in
FIG. 1(a), the card tray 160 reaches the predetermined position
inside the card connector 1. At this time, the movable portion 17
is pushed by the front frame portion 165 and comes into contact
with the fixed member 16, turning the detection switch ON to
indicate that the card tray 160 has reached the predetermined
position inside the card connector 1.
[0070] As the card tray 160 advances to the predetermined position
inside the card connector 1, the force output portion 21a of the
ejection lever 21 is pushed by the front frame portion 165 and
displaced further in the direction of the front end portion 11f. As
a result, the force input portion 21b of the ejection lever 21 is
displaced farther in the direction of the rear end portion 11r, and
the push rod 22 slides to the position protruding farthest to the
rear.
[0071] When the card tray 160 reaches the predetermined position
inside the card connector 1, the force output portion 21a of the
ejection lever 21 is interfered with by the inner wall portion 11a
of the housing 11 and cannot be displaced any further in the
direction of the front end portion 11f. As a result, the card tray
160 cannot advance any further.
[0072] When the card tray 160 has reached the predetermined
position inside the card connector 1, the lock protruding portions
175a on the left and right lock spring portions 175 are biased by
the spring action of the lock spring portions 175, are elastically
displaced outward in the transverse direction of the card tray 160,
and engage the lock recessed portions 75 formed on the inner
surfaces of the side wall portions 11e. Here, front inclined
surfaces 175a1 face front inclined surfaces 75a1, and rear inclined
surfaces 175a2 face rear inclined surfaces 75a2. As a result, the
card tray 160 is stably held and locked at the predetermined
position, and is kept from becoming displaced from the
predetermined position to the rear.
[0073] The card 101 housed inside the card tray 160 can exchange
data along with the card tray 160 at the predetermined position
using an arithmetic processing means in the electronic device
mounted in the card connector 1. When the card 101 is held in the
predetermined position, the contact portions 51a of the primary
terminals 51 make contact with the electrode pads on the card 101
and establish an electrical connection.
[0074] The following is an explanation of the operations performed
to eject a card tray 160 from the card connector 1.
[0075] First, the user manually inserts an auxiliary member such as
a pin or rod into the through-hole 163a formed in the rear panel
portion 163 from the rear of the card tray 160, and the tip of the
auxiliary member is brought into contact with the operating portion
22a of the push rod 22. When the user pushes in the push rod 22 via
the auxiliary member, the force input portion 21b of the ejection
lever 21 engaging the engaging portion 22b of the push rod 22 is
displaced forward. As a result, the front frame portion 165 is
pressed against the force output portion 21a of the ejection lever
21, the card tray 160 moves to the rear from the predetermined
position, the detection switch turns OFF, and movement of the card
tray 160 to the rear of the predetermined position is detected. In
addition, the lock protruding portions 175a of the lock spring
portions 175 and the lock recessed portions 75 formed on the inside
surface of the side wall portions 11e become disengaged. At this
time, the lock protruding portions 175a engaging the lock recessed
portions 75 are elastically displaced inward in the transverse
direction of the card tray 160.
[0076] Because the lock protruding portions 175a begin to be
deformed when the rear inclined surfaces 75a2 come into contact
with the rear inclined surfaces 75a2 of the lock recessed portions
75 to the rear of the lock protruding portions 175a, that is, the
rear half, is elastically deformed. Because the lock spring
portions 175 include rear corner portions 175b formed near the rear
end, the rear half is not very flexible (very rigid). Therefore,
when the lock protruding portions 175a come into contact with the
rear inclined surfaces 75a2 of the lock recessed portions 75 and
begin to be displaced, the rebound force of the spring action of
the lock spring portions 175 is great. As a result, the push rod 22
experiences resistance primarily from the spring action of the
elastically deformed lock spring portions 175 via the card tray 160
and the ejection lever 21. However, because the resistance is not
as great as the pressing force applied manually by the user, the
rod moves forward against the resistance. Also, because the
ejection lever 21 functions as a tray ejecting lever, great force
can be applied to the card tray 160 in the ejection direction even
when the pressing force applied manually by the user is fairly
light.
[0077] In this way, the rear panel portion 163 of the card tray 160
protrudes sufficiently from the insertion slot 18 of the card
connector 1. This allows the user to grasp the rear panel portion
163 and remove the card tray 160 from the card connector 1.
[0078] In the explanation, the lock spring portions 175 only
included front corner portions 175b1. However, if necessary, the
lock spring portions 175 can include both front corner portions
175b1 and rear corner portions 175b2, or can include only rear
corner portions 175b2.
[0079] In the present embodiment, the card tray 160 was able to
hold a card 101 including electrode pads and was able to be
inserted into a card connector 1. The card tray 160 included a
frame portion 161 opposing the side surfaces 112 of the card 101,
and lock spring portions 175 able to engage and disengage from lock
recessed portions 75 on the card connector 1. The lock spring
portions 175 were metal plate springs including only one corner
portion 175b each and were elastically deformable in the transverse
direction of the card tray 160.
[0080] In this way, the spring action of the lock spring portions
175 is improved, and the card tray 160 can be easily inserted into
the card connector 1 and held securely inside the card connector 1.
As a result, the card tray 160 is not discharged even when the card
connector 1 is subjected to a blow, and external force is applied
to the card tray 160 in the release direction from the card
connector 1. Because the amount of elastic deformation by the lock
spring portions 175 is great due to the corner portions 175b, they
are not plastically deformed or damaged. As a result, higher
reliability is achieved.
[0081] Each lock spring portion 175 is a band-like member secured
to the frame portion 161 at both ends and including a main body
portion 175d extending linearly and an engaging portion 175a able
to engage a lock recessed portion 75. Here, a corner portion 175b
is connected to at least one end of the main body portion 175d.
Because each lock spring portion 175 is a single unit and has a
lock protruding portion 175a that can be significantly displaced,
they can reliably engage and disengage from the lock recessed
portions 75. This also reduces the manufacturing costs of the lock
spring portions 175 and, as a result, lowers the overall
manufacturing costs of the card tray 160.
[0082] The corner portions 175b are metal plates which are bent
from the longitudinal direction of the card tray 160 to a direction
intersecting the longitudinal direction. This increases the amount
of elastic deformation by the corner portions 175b and, as a
result, also increases the overall amount of elastic deformation by
the lock spring portions 175.
[0083] The lock protruding portions 175a include a front inclined
surface 175a1 and a rear inclined surface 175a2 near the apex, and
the protruding portions bulge outward in the transverse direction
of the card tray 160. The lock recessed portions 75 include a front
inclined surface 75a1 and a rear inclined surface 75a2. As a
result, the lock protruding portions 175a are smoothly displaced
when the card tray 160 is inserted into the card connector 1 and
ejected from the card connector 1. In other words, the card
connector 160 can be smoothly inserted and ejected.
[0084] Also, the corner portions 175b are connected only to the
front ends of the main body portion 175d. The rear ends of the main
body portion 175d are secured to the frame portion 161. Because the
lock protruding portions 175a are flexibly displaced when the card
tray 160 is inserted into the card connector 1, the card connector
160 can be easily inserted. When the card tray 160 is ejected from
the card connector 1, the lock protruding portions 175a are not
easily displaced and the lock recessed portions 75 are not easily
disengaged. As a result, the card tray 160 is reliably held inside
the card connector 1, and the card tray 160 is not discharged even
when the card connector 1 is subjected to a blow and external force
is applied to the card tray 160 in the release direction from the
card connector 1.
[0085] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments
described above. Variations based on the spirit of the disclosure
are possible, and these do not depart from the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0086] The present disclosure can be applied to a card holding
member and a card connector.
* * * * *