Card connector having means for detecting insertion of a card

An IC card connector achieves a stable loaded state of an IC card, and excellent operation reliability. The IC card connector includes a card detecting device that has a fixed terminal and a movable terminal and that detects the insertion of a card by moving the movable terminal in response to the insertion of the card so as to switch a switch between the fixed terminal and the movable terminal. Resilient force of the movable terminal produced by the insertion of the card does not act in the ejecting direction of the card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to a card connector for use in exchanging
 signals with an inserted card, e.g., an IC card, and more particularly, to
 a card connector having a detection switch for sensing that a card has
 been inserted in a card slot.
 2. Description of the Related Art
 An IC card contains an IC chip having calculation and storage functions.
 Information processing equipment for processing information by using this
 IC card as a medium, i.e., a personal computer and a digital camera, is
 equipped with an IC card connector having a plurality of terminals
 corresponding to contact patterns formed on the surface of the IC card.
 An IC card connector has been known hitherto, in which a connector body is
 provided with a normally closed detection switch for sensing that an IC
 card has been inserted in a card slot (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
 4,900,273). FIGS. 34 to 37 show the mechanism of the IC card connector.
 FIGS. 34 and 35 are partial side and partial plan views, respectively,
 showing a state before an IC card is inserted in the card slot, and FIGS.
 36 and 37 are partial side and partial plan views, respectively, showing a
 state in which the IC card is inserted in the card slot.
 As shown in these figures, a card slot 102, in which an IC card 101 (see
 FIG. 36) is inserted, is formed at a predetermined position of a connector
 body 100. Below the card slot 102, a movable terminal 103 and a fixed
 terminal 104 extending along the inserting direction (X-direction) of the
 IC card 101 are mounted to constitute a normally closed detection switch.
 Before the IC card 101 is inserted in the card slot 102, the movable
 terminal 103 is inclined and is in elastic contact with the fixed terminal
 104, and a bent leading end portion 103a thereof is placed inside the card
 slot 102, as shown in FIG. 34. Numeral 105 denotes a space portion for
 allowing pressure deformation of the movable terminal 103.
 When the IC card 101 is inserted in the card slot 102, as shown in FIG. 36,
 the leading end portion 103a of the movable terminal 103 is pressed by the
 leading end portion of the IC card 101. The movable terminal 103 is
 thereby pressed down, and a leading end portion 103a of the fixed terminal
 104 performs self-cleaning in sliding contact with the upper surface of
 the movable terminal 103, while the movable terminal 103 separates from
 the fixed terminal 104, so that the insertion of the IC card 101 is
 electrically detected. Furthermore, the IC card 101 is elastically held by
 repulsive force produced by pressure deformation of the movable terminal
 103, and is kept in the inserted state. In this state, signal exchange
 (information processing) is carried out.
 When the IC card 101 is drawn out of the card slot 102 after the completion
 of information processing, the movable terminal 103 returns to the state
 shown in FIG. 34 by its repulsive force, and makes contact again with the
 fixed terminal 104, whereby the ejection of the IC card 101 is detected.
 In this normally closed detection switch, however, since elastic force
 always acts in the card ejecting direction (the direction of the arrow Y
 in FIG. 36) when the IC card 101 is inserted, the card 101 is liable to
 come out due to vibrations or the like, and it is difficult to hold it
 stably. For this reason, there is a problem with operation reliability in
 information processing.
 When elastic force is reduced due to changes in the movable terminal 103
 over time, the force for holding the inserted IC card 101 is also reduced,
 and the card is liable to come out due to even small vibrations.
 Furthermore, since the detection switch is placed under the card slot 102
 and is directly exposed on the side of the card slot 102, contaminants,
 oil, and the like which have entered with the inserted IC card 101 are
 scraped and collected at the contact portion of the detection switch,
 which may cause contact failure.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 An object of the present invention is to solve such problems of the
 conventional art, and to provide a card connector having a simple
 structure and excellent operation reliability in which the loaded state of
 a card is stable.
 In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present
 invention, there is provided a card connector including a card detecting
 means, having a fixed terminal and a movable terminal, for detecting the
 insertion of a card, e.g., an IC card, by moving the movable terminal in
 response to the insertion of the card so as to switch a switch between the
 fixed terminal and the movable terminal, wherein resilient force of the
 movable terminal produced by the insertion of the card does not act in the
 ejecting direction of the card.
 Since the acting direction of resilient force of the movable terminal
 differs from the ejecting direction of the card in this way, even when
 vibration is given while the card is inserted, the loaded state of the
 card is stabilized, and therefore, operation reliability can be improved.
 Preferably, the acting direction of the resilient force of the movable
 terminal produced by the insertion of the card is orthogonal to the
 ejecting direction of the card. This further stabilizes the loaded state
 of the card, and improves operation reliability.
 Preferably, the movable terminal has an inclined portion formed of, e.g.,
 an actuator portion, which will be described later, and a part of the card
 runs onto the inclined portion so that the resilient force of the movable
 terminal does not act in the ejecting direction of the card. Such a simple
 structure in which only an inclined portion is formed in the movable
 terminal can stabilize the loaded state of the card.
 Preferably, the movable terminal has an inclined portion, the fixed
 terminal and the movable terminal are in contact with each other when the
 card is not inserted, the movable terminal moves in contact with the fixed
 terminal when a part of the card impinges on the inclined portion, and the
 movable terminal separates from the fixed terminal when the card is
 inserted further and the part of the card runs onto the inclined portion.
 In this case, while the movable terminal moves in contact with the fixed
 terminal, the effect of cleaning the contact portion therebetween is
 obtained. In addition, it is possible to simplify the structure, to
 further stabilize the loaded state of the card, and to improve operation
 reliability.
 A stopper means formed of, e.g., a projection, which will be described
 later, may be provided to limit the distance over which the movable
 terminal moves in contact with the fixed terminal. This stopper means
 allows the moving distance of the movable terminal to be reduced, and
 therefore, the movement of the movable terminal does not have an adverse
 effect on switching accuracy.
 Preferably, the movable terminal and the inclined portion are formed in one
 piece. This simplifies the structure, and reduces the costs.
 Preferably, a mounting portion for the fixed terminal and the movable
 terminal is provided adjacent to a card slot, a partition is formed
 between the mounting portion and the card slot, and the inclined portion
 of the movable terminal protrudes toward the card slot through a cutout
 portion formed in the partition. By forming the partition and moving the
 movable terminal via the inclined portion in this way, it is possible to
 prevent the detection switch from being contaminated by dust or the like,
 and to precisely detect the insertion and ejection of a card over a long
 service life.
 Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will
 become apparent from the following description of the preferred
 embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Next, an IC card connector according to a first embodiment of the present
 invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. FIGS.
 1 to 4 are plan, left side, right side, and front views, respectively, of
 a housing before contact terminals are mounted therein in the IC card
 connector, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the housing after the
 contact terminals are mounted. FIGS. 6 to 9 are plan, left side, right
 side, and front views of a cover in the IC card connector, respectively.
 The IC card connector of this embodiment mainly comprises a housing 1 and a
 cover 2, both of which are formed of a mold of synthetic resin. The
 housing 1 has a plurality of terminal insertion holes 3 arranged in a row
 on both sides thereof, as shown in FIG. 1, and also has, on its lower
 surface, a predetermined number of mounting feet 4 and bosses 5 for
 attaching the connector to information processing equipment (e.g., a
 personal computer or a digital camera). The housing 1 also has an inclined
 face 7 for guiding an IC card 6 during insertion, at the right side end
 thereof, two pins 8 projecting from the top face thereof, and retaining
 claws 9 on the left side thereof.
 As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of contact terminals 11, each having an
 angular contact portion 10 at its free end, are press-fitted in the
 terminal insertion holes 3, and are fixed in a cantilevered manner. The
 angular contact portions 10 slightly project from the upper surface of the
 housing 1. A detection switch mounting portion 17 having a concave shape
 is formed near the left side face of the housing 1. as shown in FIG. 1.
 The cover 2 is provided with an inclined face 12 formed at its right side
 end so as to guide the IC card 6 that is being inserted, two holes 13 on
 its upper surface, and retaining frames 14 projecting from its left side.
 A projection 15 is formed adjacent to one of the retaining frames 14. As
 shown in FIG. 6, a receiving portion 16 having a flat lower surface is
 provided at the position opposed to the contact portions 10 of the contact
 terminals 11 .
 FIGS. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views of the IC card connector. FIG. 10
 shows a state before the IC card 6 is inserted, and FIG. 11 shows a state
 when the insertion of the IC card 6 has been completed. The cover 2 is
 placed on the housing 1, the pins 8 of the housing 1 are inserted in the
 holes 13 of the cover 2, and the retaining frames 14 of the cover 2 are
 engaged with the retaining claws 9 of the housing 1, whereby the housing 1
 and the cover 2 are combined into one, as shown in FIG. 10.
 By this combination, a card slot 19 having a card insertion opening 18 is
 formed between the housing 1 and the cover 2, the inclined faces 7 and 12
 are placed to face each other at the card insertion opening 18, and the
 contact portions 10 of the contact terminals 11 are brought into elastic
 contact with the lower surface of the receiving portion 16.
 When the IC card 6 is inserted through the card insertion opening 18 with
 contact patterns (not shown) facing down, the contact terminals 11 are
 pressed down by the leading end portion of the IC card 6, and make contact
 with the contact patterns of the IC card 6 at an inserted position of the
 IC card 6 (see FIG. 11), whereby signal exchange is made possible, and the
 IC card 6 is elastically clamped between the contact terminals 11 and the
 receiving portion 16. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a round or inclined
 guide portion 20 is formed at the end of the receiving portion 16 on the
 side of the card insertion opening 18 in order to achieve smooth insertion
 of the IC card 6.
 Next, a description will be given of the structure of a normally closed
 detection switch for detecting the insertion and ejection of the IC card
 6. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a part of the housing having a normally
 closed detection switch, and a part of the cover for covering the housing,
 FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view showing a state before the cover is
 mounted, FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view showing a state in which the
 cover has been mounted, FIG. 15 is a side view of a fixed terminal, and
 FIG. 16 is a side view showing the positional relationship between the
 fixed terminal and a movable terminal before the cover is mounted.
 The concave detection switch mounting portion 17 is provided at the
 position of the housing 1 adjacent to the card slot 19, in which a fixed
 terminal mounting hole 21 and a movable terminal mounting hole 22 are
 formed side by side. A fixed terminal 23 and a movable terminal 24 are
 fixed in parallel in the mounting holes 21 and 22, respectively, in a
 cantilevered manner to constitute a normally closed detection switch.
 The fixed terminal 23 includes a fixed portion 25 that is press-fitted in
 the mounting hole 21 and projects from the lower surface of the housing 1,
 a middle portion 26 having a stepped bent portion at the midpoint thereof
 so as to extend from the fixed portion 25 and to be slightly inclined
 upward from the bent portion toward the leading end, and a contact portion
 27 provided at the leading end of the middle portion 26 so as to extend
 toward the movable terminal 24, as shown in FIG. 12.
 The movable terminal 24 includes a fixed portion 28 that is press-fitted in
 the mounting hole 22 and projects from the lower surface of the housing 1,
 a middle portion 30 extending from the fixed portion 28 and having at the
 midpoint thereof an actuator portion 29 extending toward the card slot 19,
 and a contact portion 31 provided at the leading end of the middle portion
 30 so as to be in contact with the contact portion 27 of the fixed
 terminal 23, as shown in FIG. 12. In this embodiment, the actuator portion
 29 is integrally formed of a thin plate forming the movable terminal 24,
 and has a pressing face 32 that is slightly inclined down toward the card
 slot 19. An appropriate angle of inclination of the pressing face 32 is
 within the range of 30.degree. to 60.degree..
 As shown in FIG. 12, first, the fixed portion 28 of the movable terminal 24
 is press-fitted in the mounting hole 22, thereby fixing the movable
 terminal 24. The detection switch mounting portion 17 is provided at the
 position adjacent to the card slot 19, and is isolated from the card slot
 19 by a partition 36 formed therebetween. The partition 36 has a cutout
 portion 37, from which only the actuator portion 29 of the movable
 terminal 24 protrudes toward the card slot 19.
 Next, the fixed portion 25 of the fixed terminal 23 is press-fitted in the
 mounting hole 21 at a short distance from the movable terminal 24, and the
 fixed terminal 23 is fixed in parallel with the movable terminal 24. In
 this state, the contact portion 27 of the fixed terminal 23 is placed
 above the contact portion 31 of the movable terminal 24, and is separate
 from the contact portion 31, as shown in FIG. 16.
 The projection 15 formed in the cover 2 is positioned opposed to the middle
 portion 26 of the fixed terminal 23, as shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 17.
 When the cover 2 is mounted on the housing 1, the fixed terminal 23 is
 pressed down by the projection 15, and the contact portion 27 of the fixed
 terminal 23 is brought into elastic contact with the contact portion 31 of
 the movable terminal 24, whereby the normally closed switch is placed into
 a standby state (on-state) (see FIGS. 18 and 20A). The movable terminal 24
 is not shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 in order to prevent the figures from being
 complicated.
 Next, the operation of the normally closed detection switch will be
 described.
 As described above, FIGS. 18 and 20A show the state before the IC card 6 is
 inserted. In this state, when the IC card 6 is inserted into the card slot
 19 of the connector (see FIG. 20A), a leading end portion 34 of the IC
 card 6 impinges on the pressing face 32 of the actuator portion 29 of the
 movable terminal 24. Since the movable terminal 24 is turnable about the
 fixed portion 28 in the direction of the arrow Z. as shown in FIG. 17,
 when the IC card 6 is inserted further with the leading end portion 34
 thereof in contact with the pressing face 32 of the actuator portion 29,
 the movable terminal 24 turns about the fixed portion 28 by a distance L
 (corresponding to a space 33) toward the projection 15 (in the card
 inserting direction, i.e., the X-direction), and impinges on the
 projection 15 (see FIG. 20B).
 FIGS. 18 and 19 correspond to FIGS. 20A and 20B, respectively. The
 projection 15 functions as a stopper for the movable terminal 24. The
 movable terminal 24 (the contact portion 31) slides with respect to the
 fixed portion 28 (the contact portion 27) until it impinges on the
 projection 15, which provides a cleaning effect on the contact portions 27
 and 31.
 When the IC card 6 is inserted further, the leading end portion 34 thereof
 runs onto the actuator portion 29, and the movable terminal 24 is pressed
 down via the actuator portion 29. When the IC card 6 is completely
 inserted, the leading end portion 34 thereof is placed at the top of the
 actuator portion 29, and the contact portion 31 of the movable terminal 24
 is fully separate from the contact portion 27 of the fixed portion 28,
 whereby the switch is turned off, and the completion of insertion of the
 IC card 6 can be electrically detected. In this state, little force acts
 to press the movable terminal 24 against the projection 15, and therefore,
 the movable terminal 24 is separated from the projection 15 by restitutive
 force. FIGS. 21 and 22 correspond to FIGS. 23A and 23B, respectively. In
 the state in which insertion of the IC card 6 is completed, the movable
 terminal 24 is pressed down by the IC card 6 via the actuator portion 29,
 as shown in FIG. 23B. Resilient force resulting from the press acts in the
 direction of the arrow F, and is orthogonal to the ejecting direction Y of
 the IC card 6. The resilient force of the movable terminal 24 does not act
 in the ejecting direction Y of the IC card 6.
 After signal exchange between the IC card 6 and the information processing
 device is completed, when the IC card 6 is drawn out of the card slot 19,
 the normally closed detection switch is returned to the standby state
 shown in FIGS. 18 and 20A by the restitutive force of the movable terminal
 24.
 Since it is satisfactory as long as the distance L between the movable
 terminal 24 and the projection 15 corresponds to a small sliding distance
 necessary for the cleaning effect, there is no need to form a large
 distance such as to have an effect on position accuracy in changeover of
 the switch from on to off.
 FIGS. 24 to 33 show an IC card connector according to a second embodiment
 of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a partial sectional view showing the
 state before a cover is mounted, FIG. 25 is a partial sectional view
 showing the state in which the cover is mounted, FIG. 26 is a side view of
 a fixed terminal, and FIG. 27 is a side view showing the positional
 relationship between the fixed terminal and a movable terminal before the
 cover is mounted. FIGS. 28 to 33 illustrate the operation of a normally
 closed detection switch. FIGS. 28, 29, 31, and 32 correspond to FIGS. 30A,
 30B, 33A, and 33B, respectively.
 This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that elastic
 force of a fixed terminal 23 is always directed downward, and is designed
 to be sufficiently smaller than that of a movable terminal 24.
 When only the fixed terminal 23 is incorporated in a housing 1, the leading
 end of the fixed terminal 23 on the side of a contact portion 27 is in
 contact with the bottom surface of the housing 1. Since the fixed terminal
 23 is actually incorporated in the housing 1 together with the movable
 terminal 24, however, it is raised by elastic force of the movable
 terminal 24, whereby the normally closed detection switch is placed into a
 standby state shown in FIGS. 28 and 30A. The upper side of the fixed
 terminal 23 raised by the movable terminal 24 is positioned by a
 projection 15 formed in a cover 2. In this embodiment, a support portion
 35 bent downward is provided at the leading end of the fixed terminal 23
 on the side of the contact portion 27.
 In a manner similar to the first embodiment, the movable terminal 24
 horizontally slides with the insertion of an IC card 6 and provides a
 cleaning effect on the contact portions 27 and 31 (see FIG. 30), and the
 contact portion 31 of the movable terminal 24 separates from the contact
 portion 27 of the fixed terminal 23 when the insertion of the card is
 completed, thereby turning off the switch (see FIGS. 32 and 33B). When the
 card insertion is completed, the support portion 35 formed adjacent to the
 contact portion 27 of the fixed terminal 23 impinges on the bottom surface
 of the housing 1, and is positioned, as shown in FIG. 32, and the fixed
 terminal 23 is completely separated from the movable terminal 24.
 While the fixed terminal 23 is positioned by the support portion 35 thereof
 in this embodiment, as described above, it may be positioned by providing
 a support portion (stopper means) in another member such as the housing.
 While the IC card is used in the above embodiments, it is to be understood
 that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and is
 also applicable to cases in which other cards, for example, a magnetic
 card and an optical card, are used.