JP2003243074A - Socket for card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a socket for a card capable of meeting such a request that one wants to insert the card from the side free of the terminal part when mounted on any electronic apparatus, i.e., in the direction approximately perpendicular to the conventional arrangement. <P>SOLUTION: The socket 1 for card is equipped with a base board 2, a contact 3 which has a stationary part 3a, terminal part 3b and elastically deformable part 3c and in which the stationary part 3a is fixed to the other side surface 2B of the base board 2 so that the elastically deformable part 3c protrudes from one side surface 2A of the base board 2 upon penetrating a through hole 2a, and a card supporting member installed confronting the surface 2A of the base board 2 at a certain spacing, and when the card is inserted, the card and elastically deformable part 3c are connected electrically upon receiving an elastic pressing force from the elastically deformable part 3c and card supporting member, wherein the contact 3 is furnished in its deformable part 3c with a card guide 3d having a slope 3d in the direction approximately perpendicular to the extending direction of the contact 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card socket in which a card in which information is stored can be attached and detached and which is electrically connected to the card when the card is mounted to relay the information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a card socket of this type.
There is one that is mounted in a small electronic device such as a mobile phone as shown in FIG. A card which is an information storage medium used here is, for example, a SIM (Subscriber Identitit) mounted on a European standard digital mobile phone GSM.
y Module; subscriber identification module), which can store (write) information such as telephone numbers and subscriber IDs. Therefore, in this electronic device, when the card is mounted in the card socket, the card information is relayed by the card socket, and the W-CD
Various services such as MA can be used.

The card socket 100 is constructed as follows. The card socket 100 includes a substantially flat plate-shaped substrate 2 made of an insulating material, an elongated contact 3 made of a conductive metal plate, and a card support member (not shown). That is, the substrate 2 is provided with required through holes (two rectangular holes in the illustrated example, six through holes) 2a, 2a, ... The contact 3 has a fixed portion 3a in the middle, a terminal portion 3b continuously provided on one side thereof, and an elastically deformable portion 3c continuously provided on the other side thereof and capable of elastically deforming in the through hole 2a. The fixing portion 3a is fixed to the other surface 2B of the substrate 2 so as to project from the one surface 2A of the substrate 2 through the through hole 2a. Also,
Although not shown, it has a card supporting member which is arranged to face one surface 2A of the substrate 2 at a predetermined interval.

The card socket 100 is
The card 4 is mounted on an electronic device so that it can be attached and detached, and the terminal portion 3b is connected to a predetermined circuit of the electronic device. In this case, the card support member can also serve as an appropriate member that constitutes the electronic device. Then, a card insertion opening is provided on the outer shell of the electronic device or on the card socket on the side where the terminal 3b of the contact 3 is located.

Thus, when the card 4 is inserted through the card insertion slot, the tip side of the card 4 advances while pushing down the elastically deformable portion 3c against its spring force, and when the card 4 reaches the mounting position, the elastically deformable portion 3c elastically moves. While receiving the pressing force, the output terminal of the card and the pressed portion of the elastically deformable portion 3c become the electrical connection portion. Then, the information of the card 4 is relayed from the output terminal to the card socket and sent to the electronic device.

[0006]

In the card socket 100 described above, the elastic deformation portion 3c of the contact 3 is appropriately elastically deformed when the card 4 is attached or detached, so that the card 4 can be smoothly mounted. There is. by the way,
Depending on how the shape of the electronic device is diversified or when the electronic device is portable, the card 4 can be attached / detached from the side where the terminal portion 3b does not exist, that is, from the direction substantially orthogonal to the conventional one. The convenience may be improved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to allow a card to be inserted from a side where a terminal portion does not exist when mounted on an electronic device, that is, a direction substantially orthogonal to a conventional one. The purpose is to provide a card socket that can meet the demands you want.

[0008]

A card socket of the invention according to claim 1 is a board having a substantially flat plate shape and having a required through hole, a fixing portion in the middle, and a terminal connected to one side thereof. And the other side of the substrate has an elastically deformable portion that is elastically deformable in the through hole, and the fixing portion is the other surface of the substrate so that the elastically deformable portion projects from one surface of the substrate through the through hole. A contact fixed to the card supporting member, and a card supporting member arranged to face one surface of the substrate at a predetermined interval,
In the card socket in which the elastic deformation portion and the card support member receive an elastic pressing force to electrically connect the card and the elastic deformation portion when the card is inserted, the contacts are substantially orthogonal to the extending direction. It is characterized in that the elastically deformable portion is provided with a card guide having an inclined surface in the direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the card socket of the first aspect, the card guide is integrally connected from the tip of the elastically deformable portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the card socket of the second aspect, the card guide has a predetermined length in the extending direction of the contact, and the tip of the elastically deformable portion within the predetermined length. A connecting portion is provided on a part of the side, and a predetermined space is present in a portion where the connecting portion does not exist.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the card socket of the first aspect, the elastically deformable portion is on the side opposite to the card guide in the extending direction of the contact.
It is assumed that the contact portion for electrically connecting to the card is projected.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the portions whose basic functions are substantially the same as those described in the related art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a card socket, and FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b) and 3 are a top view, a side view and a perspective view of the contact, respectively.

The card socket 1 has a substrate 2, a plurality of contacts 3 and a card supporting member as main constituent members.

The substrate 2 is made of an insulating thin plate such as resin,
It has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape and has a required through hole 2a.
Specifically, the through holes 2a have a substantially L-shape composed of a long side portion 2b and a short side portion 2c, and the short side portions 2c are located on the center side, and three through holes are formed in two rows, one row for each. They are provided at approximately equal intervals.

The contact 3 is made of, for example, a conductive metal plate such as phosphor bronze, and has a generally elongated shape with steps.
It is formed by punching and bending. Specifically, the middle portion in the longitudinal direction is the fixing portion 3a, and the terminal portion 3b parallel to the fixing portion 3a via the inclined portion is continuously provided on one side thereof. Further, on the other side of the fixed portion 3a, an elastically deformable portion 3c that extends while being inclined with a width sufficiently smaller than the width of the long side portion 2b of the through hole 2a is continuously provided. The tip of the elastically deformable portion 3c is again parallel to the fixed portion 3a.

The elastically deformable portion 3c is provided with a card guide 3d having an inclined surface in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction. More specifically, the card guide 3d has a predetermined length in the extending direction of the contact 3 (elastically deformable portion 3c), for example, about half the elastically deformable portion 3c. The connecting portion 3e is provided on a part of the distal end side of the deformable portion 3c.
Is provided, and a portion where the connecting portion 3e does not exist has a shape in which a predetermined space 3f exists. Also, card guide 3
The length d in the direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the elastically deformable portion 3c is about the same as the width of the elastically deformable portion 3c, and the inclination is about 30 ° with the surface of the elastically deformable portion 3c as a reference. Has a face. The width of the long side portion 2b of the through hole 2a described above is determined by the elastic deformation portion 3c and the space 3f in plan view.
And larger than the sum of the above-mentioned lengths of the card guide 3d.

Further, the elastically deforming portion 3c is provided with a contact portion 3g for electrically connecting to the card from its tip portion on the side opposite to the card guide 3d in the direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction. . More specifically, the contact portion 3g is the contact 3 (the elastically deformable portion 3) in plan view.
The length in the direction orthogonal to the stretching direction of c) is the elastic deformation portion 3c.
The width is approximately the same as the width of the, and is bent so that the central portion of the length is convex.

The same number of the contacts 3 as the through holes 2a are prepared, and the elastically deformable portion 3c passes through the through holes 2a and the substrate 2 is formed.
The fixing portion 3a is provided on the substrate 2 so as to project from the one side surface 2A.
Is fixed to the other surface 2B on the other side. As a result, the terminal portion 3
b is in a state of protruding from the end surface of the substrate 2.

The card supporting member is a surface 2 on one side of the substrate 2.
It is arranged to face A at a predetermined interval. in this case,
The card supporting member can also serve as an appropriate member that constitutes an electronic device. Further, it is desirable that this card support member is provided with a card stopper for positioning when the card is inserted.

The card socket 1 is mounted on an electronic device so that the card 4 can be attached and detached, and the terminal portion 3b is connected to a predetermined circuit of the electronic device so as to be used as an outer shell of the electronic device or a card socket. , A card insertion opening is provided on the side of the contact 3 where the terminal portion 3b does not exist.

Thus, when the card 4 is inserted from the card insertion slot, the tip side of the card 4 comes into contact with the card guide 3d and advances while pushing down the elastic deformation portion 3c against its spring force to reach the mounting position. And the elastic deformation portion 3c receives elastic pressing force, and the output terminal of the card and the contact portion 3
The pressing portion of g serves as an electrical connection portion. Then, the information of the card 4 is relayed from the output terminal to the card socket and sent to the electronic device.

Therefore, in the card socket 1 of this embodiment, the card guide 3d having the inclined surface in the direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the contact 3 has the elastically deformable portion 3c.
The card 4 can be mounted without difficulty from the direction in which the card guide 3d is provided. Also,
Since the card guide 3d is integrally connected from the tip of the elastically deformable portion 3c, the card guide 3d
Even if d is provided, the number of parts does not increase. Further, the contact 3 has a predetermined length in the extending direction, and the connecting portion 3 is provided at a part of the predetermined length on the tip side of the elastically deformable portion 3c.
e is provided, and a portion where the connecting portion 3e does not exist is a predetermined space 3
Since f is assumed to exist, the card guide 3d is easily elastically deformed at the connecting portion 3e, and it becomes difficult for an excessive pressing force to be applied to the tip side of the card 4 when the card 4 is mounted. Since the elastically deformable portion 3c is provided with a contact portion 3g for electrically connecting to the card 4 on the side opposite to the card guide 3d in the extending direction of the contact 3,
The electrical resistance between the contact portion 3g and the card 4 is reduced,
The information of the card 4 relayed to the card socket 1 is more reliably transmitted to the electronic device.

Although the embodiment of the card socket 1 has been described above, the contact 3 can be variously modified.
For example, the shape shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be used. In each figure, (a) and (b) are a top view and a side view showing the contact 3, respectively.

The contact 3 shown in FIG. 4 differs from that of the above-described embodiment in that it does not have a contact portion 3g. When the card is mounted in the card socket provided with this contact, the output terminal of the card and the pressing portion of the elastically deformable portion 3c serve as an electrical connection portion, and the information of the card is relayed and sent to the electronic device. It will be.
According to this structure, since the contact 3 has a relatively simple shape, the number of steps such as punching and bending in manufacturing is reduced, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

The contact 3 shown in FIG. 5 is different from that of the above-described embodiment in that the contact portion 3g and the predetermined space 3f.
The difference is that does not exist. Specifically, the card guide 3d is connected by the connecting portion 3e over the entire elastic deformation portion 3c in the extending direction. According to this structure, since the contact 3 has a simpler shape, the manufacturing process is further simplified.

[0027]

In the card socket of the invention according to claim 1, since the card guide having the inclined surface in the direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the contact is provided in the elastically deformable portion,
The card can be easily installed from the direction in which the card guide is provided.

In the card socket of the invention according to claim 2, in the structure of claim 1, since the card guide is integrally connected from the tip of the elastically deformable portion, the card guide is provided. However, the number of parts does not increase.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the card socket according to the second aspect, the card guide has a predetermined length in the extending direction of the contact, and the tip of the elastically deformable portion within the predetermined length. Since the connecting part is provided on a part of the side and a predetermined space exists in the part where the connecting part does not exist, the card guide is easily elastically deformed at the connecting part, and when the card is mounted, its tip side It becomes difficult to apply an excessive pressing force to.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the card socket according to the first to third aspects, the elastically deformable portion is on the side opposite to the card guide in the extending direction of the contact,
Since the contact portion that electrically connects with the card is provided so as to project, the electrical resistance between the contact portion and the card is reduced, and the information of the card relayed to the card socket is more reliably stored in the electronic device. Will be sent to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of essential parts showing an embodiment of a card socket according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view and a side view of a contact of the card socket of the above.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the above contact.

FIG. 4 is a top view and a side view showing a contact according to another embodiment of the above.

FIG. 5 is a top view and a side view showing a contact of still another embodiment of the same.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of a conventional card socket.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 card socket 2 substrates 2A Substrate one side surface The other side surface of the 2B substrate 3 contacts 3a Fixed part 3b terminal part 3c Elastic deformation part 3d card guide 3e Connection part 3f Predetermined space existing in the part where the connecting part does not exist Contact part for electrical connection with 3g card 4 cards

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A substrate having a substantially flat plate shape and having a required through hole, a fixed portion in the middle, and a terminal portion continuously provided on one side thereof.
The fixed part is fixed to the other surface of the substrate so that the elastically deformed part is connected to the other side and is elastically deformable in the through hole, and the elastic deformed part protrudes from one surface of the substrate through the through hole. And a card support member that is arranged to face one surface of the substrate at a predetermined interval, and receives elastic pressing force by the elastic deformation portion and the card support member when the card is inserted. A card socket in which a card and an elastically deformable portion are electrically connected, wherein the contact is provided with a card guide having an inclined surface in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction in the elastically deformable portion. socket. 2. The card socket according to claim 1, wherein the card guide is integrally provided continuously from a tip of the elastically deformable portion. 3. The card guide has a predetermined length in the extension direction of the contact, and a connecting portion is provided at a part of the predetermined length on the tip side of the elastically deformable portion, and the connecting portion does not exist. The card socket according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined space exists. 4. The elastically deformable portion is provided with a contact portion projecting on the opposite side of the contact guide from the card guide in the extending direction of the contact, the contact portion electrically connecting to the card. The card socket described.