WO2001089041A1

WO2001089041A1 - Ic card connector with card lock

Info

Publication number: WO2001089041A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/015653
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shinsuke Kunishi; Hideki Iijima
Original assignee: Molex LLC
Current assignee: Molex LLC
Priority date: 2000-05-16
Filing date: 2001-05-15
Publication date: 2001-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2002-11-16
Also published as: JP2001326028A; JP4365989B2; TW507956U; AU2001264606A1

Abstract

A card connector for connecting an IC card includes a housing for receiving the card for movement between a preload position and a latched position. A slider is movably mounted on the housing and is engageable with the card for movement therewith between the preload and latched positions. A latch is operatively associated between the slider and the housing for latching the slider and card in the latched position. A lock is operatively associated between the slider and the card for locking the IC card in the latched position and for unlocking the card in the preload position.

Description

IC CARD CONNECTORWITHCARD LOCK

Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an IC card connector assembly for connecting an IC card, such as a memory card, in some form of IC card reader system.

Background of the Invention

IC (integrated circuit cards) are known in the art and contain intelligence in the form of a memory circuit or other electronic program. Some form of card reader reads the information or memory stored on the card. IC cards are used in countless applications in today's electronic society, including video cameras, smartphones, music players, ATMs, cable television decoders, toys, games, pc adapters and other electronic applications.

Typically, an IC card includes a terminal array for connection through an electrical connector to a card reader system and then to external equipment. The connector readily accommodates insertion and removal of the card to provide quick access to the information and program on the card. The card connector includes contacts for yieldably engaging the terminal array of the card.

Various IC card connectors include some form of card ejector mechanism whereby an IC card is simply inserted into the connector, and the ejector mechanism is used to facilitate removal of the card from the connector. Some connectors include slider members which engage the IC card for movement therewith into and out of the connector. Latches, ejector mechanisms and other operative functions then are operatively associated with the slider member rather than the IC card itself. Various types of connectors for IC cards are shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Hei 1-75983, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Hei, 1-150387, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 11-135192, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63-241887.

A problem with most IC card connectors is the ability to easily pull a card out of the connector after it is fully inserted into its reading position. For instance, the card may be held in the connector solely by the frictional forces between the contacts of the connector and the terminal array of the card. If the card is pulled out while the data or information on the card is being read, not only the data but also the memory on the card might be destroyed. The invention herein is directed to solving this problem by providing a card connector which locks the card in an inserted latched position but easily allows removal of the card in an outer preload position.

Summary of the Invention

An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved card connector of the character described, for connecting an IC card such as a memory card.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the card connector includes a housing for receiving the IC card for movement between a preload position and a latched position. A slider is movably mounted on the housing and is engageable with the IC card for movement therewith between the preload and latched positions. Latch means are operatively associated between the slider and the housing for latching the slider and IC card in the latched position. Lock means are operatively associated between the slider and the IC card for locking the card in the latched position and for unlocking the card in the preload position. In the preferred embodiment, biasing means are operatively associated between the slider and the housing for moving the slider and IC card back to the preload position automatically in response to releasing the latch means.

According to one aspect of the invention, the lock means includes a lock member mounted on the slider for movement into and out of locking engagement with the IC card. The housing includes a wall portion blocking movement of the lock member out of locking engagement with the card when the slider and card are in the latched position. The housing includes a recessed portion allowing movement of the lock member out of locking engagement with the card when the slider and card are in the preload position.

As disclosed herein, the lock member is provided by a spring metal member having a proximal end fixed to the slider and a free distal end movable into and out of locking engagement with the IC card. The card includes a notch lockingly engageable by the lock member. As is known, the IC card is generally planar. The lock member herein is mounted on the slider for movement generally in the plane of the IC card, and the notch in the card is formed in an edge thereof. This maintains a low profile for the card connector.

According to another aspect of the invention, the latch means include a cam mechanism defining the movement of the slider on the connector housing. The cam mechanism includes a first cam groove on the slider defining movement of the slider to its latched position. A second cam groove on the slider defines movement thereof back to the preload position. A cam follower pin on the housing rides in the cam grooves.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a card connector according to the invention, with an IC card inserted into the connector to a preload position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the connector, with the IC card removed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the connector;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the connector;

FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged perspective view of the latch/release or slider member of the connector;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the slider, looking at the back side thereof as viewed in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section through the connector housing, with the IC card inserted to its initial preload position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8, with the IC card and slider moved to their final latched and locked position;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the connector showing the slider and cam mechanism corresponding to the operational condition of FIG. 8; and,

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10, with the slider and cam mechanism in the operational condition of FIG. 9. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 1-5, the invention is embodied in an IC card connector, generally designated 12, for connecting an IC card 14. As is known in the art, the card has a terminal array generally at an insertion end 14a of the card. The terminal array is not visible in FIG. 1, because the terminal array is on the underside of the card. IC card 14 is generally planar and, according to the invention, the card has a locking notch 16 in an edge thereof.

Connector 12 includes a housing 18 (Fig. 2) comprised of a dielectric body 20 substantially surrounded by a sheet metal shell 22. The housing defines a receptacle 24 into which card 14 is inserted in the direction of arrow "A" (Fig. 2).

Specifically, dielectric body 20 of housing 18 may be molded of plastic material and includes a bottom plate 26 (Fig. 5) and a pair of forward projecting side arms 28 to form a generally U-shaped structure defining receptacle 24. A plurality of terminals 30 are mounted in terminal-receiving grooves 32 (Fig. 5) of bottom plate portion 26. The terminals include spring contact portions 30a (Fig. 5) projecting upwardly into receptacle 24 for engaging the terminal array on the bottom of card 14 when the card is fully inserted into the connector. Metal shell 22 includes a top plate portion 34 and side plate portions 36.

A latch/release member in the form of a slider, generally designated 38, is slidably or movably mounted on dielectric body 20 of housing 18. As will be seen hereinafter, the slider is engageable with IC card 14 for movement therewith between preload and latched positions. The initial preload position of the slider and card are shown somewhat schematically at 40 in FIG. 1. The fully inserted and latched positions of the slider and card are shown at 42. As will be seen hereinafter, the card is locked in the latched position of the slider and is unlocked in the preload position of the slider and card.

Slider 38 is free to be pushed inwardly with IC card 14 in the direction of arrow "A" (Fig. 2). However, the slider is biased back opposite the direction of arrow "A" by a pair of springs shown best in FIGS. 8 and 9. Specifically, a first compression coil spring 44 is sandwiched between a back wall 46 of the housing and within a hole 48 in slider 38. A second, tension coil spring 48 is fixed at one end to a post 50 on the slider and at an opposite end to a pin 52 fixed to the housing.

Referring to FIG. 6, slider 38 may be molded of plastic material and includes a body 54 slidably mounted in a channel 56 (Fig. 8) of the housing. A spring metal lock member, generally designated 58, is mounted within a lateral hole 60 of the body. The lateral hole opens between opposite sides 62 of an arm extension 64 of the body. Referring to FIG. 8 in conjunction with FIG. 6, spring metal lock member 58 includes a proximal end 66 fixed to slider 38, as by insert molding. The lock member has a free distal end 68 which is aligned with a recessed portion or opening 70 in side wall 28 of the housing when the slider is in its initial or preload position. In other words, distal end 68 of the lock member is free to move into opening 70 in the direction of arrow "B" (Fig. 8) when the slider is in its initial preload position which corresponds to the unlocked position of IC card 14. Still referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, lock member 58 on slider 38 includes a locking portion 72 which is engageable within notch 16 in IC card 14. Locking portion 72 includes an inwardly or rearwardly facing stop surface 72a and an outwardly or forwardly facing oblique surface 72b. Therefore, when IC card 14 is inserted into the connector, its leading edge engages oblique surface 72b and biases free end 68 of the locking member into opening 70 in the housing until locking portion 72 of the lock member resiliently snaps back into notch 16 of the card whereupon stop surface 72a of the lock member maintains this engaged condition.

FIG. 6 also shows that body 54 of slider 38 is formed with an inside arcuate or curved surface 74. As seen in FIG. 8, one leading corner 76 of IC card 14 also is arcuate or curved similar to surface 74. Therefore, when the card is inserted into the connector to a position whereat locking portion 72 of lock member 58 engages within notch 16 of the card, arcuate corner 76 of the card engages arcuate surface 74 of the slider so that the card and slider move together from a preload position shown in FIG. 8 to a latched position shown in FIG. 9.

When IC card 14 and slider 38 are pushed into connector 12 to their final or latched position shown in FIG. 9, it can be seen that free end 68 of lock member 58 no longer is aligned with recessed portion or opening 70 in side wall 28 of the housing. Instead, free end 68 now is aligned with an interior blocking surface or wall portion 78 of side wall 28. Therefore, locking portion 72 of the lock member cannot come out of notch 16 of the IC card and the card, thereby, is locked in the latched position of slider 38. In summation, locking and unlocking of lock member 58 with IC card 14 depends on the alignment of free end 68 of the lock member with either opening 70 or blocking surface 78 in side wall 28.

A cam mechanism, generally designated 80, defines the movement of slider 38 on housing 18 of connector 12. Specifically, referring back to FIG. 7, a first cam groove 82 defines movement of the slider inwardly from its preload position (Fig. 8) to its latched position (Fig. 9). A second cam groove 84 defines movement of the slider back from its latched position to the preload position. Before describing the specifics of the cam grooves, reference is made to FIGS. 10 and 11 wherein it can be seen that a spring portion 86 of side plate portion 36 of metal shell 22 is in a belt shape and biases a pin member 88 toward the cam grooves (Fig. 7) in the slide member. The pin member is mounted on the housing. Pin member 88 has an engagement shaft 90 which engages within the cam grooves and a pivot shaft 92 fixed to the housing. Therefore, engagement shaft 90 of pin member 88 is free to swing or pivot about pivot shaft 92.

With that understanding, reference is made back to FIG. 7 wherein an insertion path 94 of engagement shaft 90 of pin member 88 is shown for first cam groove 82, and a return path of the engagement shaft within second cam groove 84 is shown at 96. During a cycle of operation, engagement shaft 90 starts at a starting end 82a of first cam groove 82. This represents the initial or preload position of IC card 14 and slider 38 shown in FIG. 8. When the card and slider are pushed inwardly from the preload position, engagement pin 90 moves along first cam groove 82 through stepped surfaces 82b and 82c of the first cam groove. Further movement of the engagement shaft with the slider and card causes the shaft to engage a stop surface 97 at the end of first cam groove 82. Since the card and slider cannot be pushed any further, an operator releases the card, whereupon coil springs 44 and 48 force the slider in the opposite direction until engagement pin 90 is deflected by stepped surface 82c past a stepped surface 82d and against a latch surface 98. At this point, engagement of shaft 90 against latch surface 98 holds the slider and the IC card in their latched position shown in FIG. 9. Contacts 30 of the connector are in engagement with the terminal array of the card. As stated above, card 14 is positively locked by lock member x58 in this latched position of FIG. 9 and cannot be pulled out of the connector. In this position, considerable energy is stored in first and second coil springs 44 and 48, respectively.

When it is desired to remove IC card 14 from connector 12, the card and slider again are pushed in the direction of arrow "A" which causes engagement pin 90 to move off of latch surface 98 and stepped surface 82d causes the engagement pin to move over a stepped surface 84a and against a stop surface 99. Complete release of the card allows springs 44 and 48 to move engagement pin 90 into second cam groove 84 as deflected by stepped surface 84a. The engagement shaft moves over stepped surfaces 84b along return path 96 defined by second cam groove 84 and back to the initial position shown in FIG. 7. This corresponds to the initial or preload position of IC card 14 and slider 38 in FIG. 8.

Once the IC card is returned to its preload position, the card can be pulled out of the connector because free end 68 of lock member 58 is aligned with opening 70 in the connector housing as shown in FIG. 8. Basically, the metal spring lock member pivots outwardly about fixed end 66 thereof when the card is removed.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A card connector for connecting an IC card, comprising: a housing for receiving the IC card for movement between a preload position and a latched position; a slider movably mounted on the housing and engageable with the IC card for movement therewith between said preload and latched positions; latch means operatively associated between the slider and the housing for latching the slider and IC card in said latched position; and lock means operatively associated between the slider and the IC card for locking the IC card in said latched position and for unlocking the IC card in said preload position.

2. The card connector of claim 1 , including biasing means operatively associated between the slider and the housing for moving the slider and IC card back to said preload position automatically in response to releasing said latch means.

3. The card connector of claim 1 wherein said lock means comprises a lock member mounted on the slider for movement into and out of locking engagement with the IC card.

4. The card connector of claim 3 wherein said housing includes a wall portion blocking movement of the lock member out of locking engagement with the IC card when the slider and IC card are in said latched position.

5. The card connector of claim 4 wherein said housing includes a recessed portion allowing movement of the lock member out of locking engagement with the IC card when the slider and IC card are in said preload position.

6. The card connector of claim 3 wherein said lock member comprises a spring metal member having a proximal end fixed to the slider and a free distal end movable into and out of locking engagement with the IC card.

7. The card connector of claim 3 wherein said IC card includes a notch lockingly engageable by said lock member.

8. The card connector of claim 7 wherein said IC card is generally planar, said lock member is mounted on the slider for movement generally in the plane of the IC card, and said notch is in an edge of the IC card.

9. The card connector of claim 1 wherein said latch means include a cam mechanism defining the movement of the slider on the housing.

10. The card connector of claim 9 wherein said cam mechanism includes a first cam groove on the slider defining movement of the slider to said latched position, a second cam groove on the slider defining movement of the slider back to said preload position, and a cam follower pin on the housing for riding in the cam grooves.

11. An IC card connector for connecting an IC card having a terminal array, comprising: a housing for receiving the IC card for movement between a preload position and a latched position, the housing including a plurality of electrically conductive contacts for engaging the terminal array of the IC card; a latch/release member movably mounted on the housing and engageable with the IC card for movement therewith between said preload and latched positions; latch means including a cam mechanism operatively associated between the latch/release member and the housing defining movement of the latch/release member on the housing and for latching the latch/release member in said latched position; and a lock member mounted on the latch/release member for movement into and out of locking engagement with the IC card to lock the IC card in said latched position and to unlock the IC card in said preload position.

12. The IC card connector of claim 11 , including biasing means operatively associated between the latch/release member and the housing for moving the latch/release member and IC card back to said preload position automatically in response to releasing said latch means.

13. The IC card connector of claim 12 wherein said housing includes a wall portion blocking movement of the lock member out of locking engagement with the IC card when the latch/release member and IC card are in said latched position.

14. The IC card connector of claim 13 wherein said housing includes a recessed portion allowing movement of the lock member out of locking engagement with the IC card when the latch/release member and IC card are in said preload position.

15. The IC card connector of claim 12 wherein said lock member comprises a spring metal member having a proximal end fixed to the latch/release member and a free distal end movable into and out of locking engagement with the IC card.

16. The IC card connector of claim 12 wherein said IC card includes a notch lockingly engageable by said lock member.

17. The IC card connector of claim 16 wherein said IC card is generally planar, said lock member is mounted on the latch/release member for movement generally in the plane of the IC card, and said notch is in an edge of the IC card.

18. The IC card connector of claim 12 wherein said cam mechanism includes a first cam groove on the latch/release member defining movement of the latch/release member to said latched position, a second cam groove on the latch/release member defining movement of the latch/release member back to said preload position, and a cam follower pin on the housing for riding in the cam grooves.