Card connector including ejecting lever for ejecting card

A card connector includes a rotatable ejecting lever having a first end and a second end and supported by a fixed journal, the second end moving in the direction of ejecting a card to eject the card when the first end is pushed in the direction of inserting the card; and distance varying means increasing the distance from the journal to the contact point between the ejecting lever and the card during ejection of the card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a card connector for a card such as a small size memory card having an information storage function, the connector having an ejecting lever for ejecting the card in place.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is known a card connector in which an ejecting lever is supported rotatably and a push rod is connected to the ejecting lever. In this card connector, the push rod is pushed to turn the ejecting lever. The card in place is pushed out by the ejecting lever in the direction of ejecting.

In this type of card connector, in the starting stage of card ejection, that is to say, when the card in place starts to be ejected, it is necessary to give the ejecting lever the pushing force to overcome the great connecting force between a contact of the card used for signal processing and a terminal of the card connector. Therefore, in the starting stage of card ejection, it is desirable to push out the card with a comparatively great force. After the contact of the card is released from the terminal of the card connector, it is desirable that the card moves through a comparatively great distance.

To meet this requirement, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-82411 discloses a card connector in which the position of the fulcrum of an arm bar, that is to say, an ejecting lever is variable. This card connector uses a first fulcrum in the ejection starting stage in which the card is released from the terminal. The distance between the first fulcrum and the card pushing portion is small. After the card is released from the terminal, this card connector uses a second fulcrum. The distance between the second fulcrum and the card pushing portion is great.

In this card connector, when the card is released from the terminal, that is to say, when the ejecting lever starts to be turned to push out the card, it is possible to give the ejecting lever a comparatively great force to push the card because the distance between the fulcrum and the card pushing portion is small. Therefore, the card starts to be ejected smoothly. After the card is released from the terminal, although the force of the ejecting lever pushing the card becomes smaller than that in the starting stage of card ejection, the ejected distance becomes great because the distance between the fulcrum and the card pushing portion becomes great. Therefore, the card is ejected quickly.

In order to obtain great force pushing the card in the ejection starting stage, and to obtain great ejected distance of the card after the card is released from the terminal, the card connector described above has the structure in which the position of the fulcrum is shifted during the turning of the ejecting lever. That is to say, in this card connector, the ejecting lever is turned around a plurality of fulcrums. Therefore, turning of the ejecting lever tends to be unstable and the ejecting performance tends to be degraded. There is concern that the reliability of the card connector is thereby lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Considering the above-described situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a card connector in which an ejecting lever turns stably as well as pushes out a card with a comparatively great force in the starting stage of card ejection and then ejects the card through a comparatively great ejected distance.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a card connector including a rotatable ejecting lever having a first end and a second end and journaled at a fixed fulcrum, the second end moving in the direction of ejecting a card to push out the card when the first end is pushed in the direction of inserting the card; and a distance varying unit increasing the distance from the fulcrum to the contact point between the ejecting lever and the card during ejection of the card.

In the starting stage of card ejection, the distance from the fulcrum to the contact point between the ejecting lever and the card is comparatively small. Therefore, by turning the ejecting lever, it is possible to apply a comparatively great force to the card so as to push out the card. After that, the distance from the fulcrum to the contact point between the ejecting lever and the card is increased by the distance varying unit. Therefore, the ejected distance of the card ejected with the turning of the ejecting lever becomes great so that the card can be ejected quickly. In addition, the position of the fulcrum of the ejecting lever is fixed. Therefore, the ejecting lever turns around only a single fulcrum during ejection of the card. Thus, the stability of turning of the ejecting lever is achieved.

The ejecting lever may be disposed in the back of the connector.

The portion in the back of the connector is provided with a terminal. It is possible to make use of the portion for disposing the ejecting lever.

The fulcrum may be a journal integrated with a header having a terminal coming into contact with a contact of the card used for signal processing.

In this case, the journal of the ejecting lever can be formed at the same time as the header.

The fulcrum may be a journal integrated with a cover covering a housing forming a main body.

In this case, the journal of the ejecting lever can be formed at the same time as the cover.

The distance varying unit may include a first pushing portion and a second pushing portion disposed at the second end of the ejecting lever, the first pushing portion pushing the card in the starting stage of card ejection, the second pushing portion being farther than the first pushing portion from the fulcrum and pushing the card after the starting stage of card ejection.

The first pushing portion of the ejecting lever pushes the card in the starting stage of card ejection, and then the second pushing portion of the ejecting lever pushes the card. While the distance between the first pushing portion and the fulcrum is comparatively small, the distance between the second pushing portion and the fulcrum is great. Therefore, in the starting stage of card ejection, by using the first pushing portion which is a small distance from the fulcrum, it is possible to apply a comparatively great force to the card so as to push out the card. Then, by using the second pushing portion which is a great distance from the fulcrum, it is possible to increase the ejected distance of the card so as to eject the card quickly.

The distance varying unit may include a curved portion disposed at the second end of the ejecting lever, the curved portion pushing the card and being convex toward the front end of the card, the front end of the card being in the back of the connector when the card is in place.

With respect to the convex curved portion of the ejecting lever, a predetermined segment that is a small distance from the fulcrum serves as a contact point with the card in the ejection starting stage, and another predetermined segment that is a great distance from the fulcrum serves as another contact point with the card after that.

In the starting stage of card ejection, the nearer segment of the curved portion pushes the card. After that, the farther segment of the curved portion pushes the card. According to the convexity of the curved portion, the farther segment of the curved portion is displaced away from the fulcrum continuously with the turning of the ejecting lever. That is to say, the farther segment moves with the turning of the ejecting lever along the front end of the card. Thus, in the ejection starting stage, the distance from the fulcrum to the nearer segment of the curved portion is small. After that, the distance from the fulcrum to the farther segment of the curved portion increases gradually.

Therefore, in the starting stage of card ejection, it is possible to apply a comparatively great force to the card via the nearer segment of the curved portion so as to push out the card. After that, it is possible to increase the ejected distance of the card continuously via the farther segment of the curved portion so as to push out the card quickly. Thus, smooth ejection of the card is achieved.

The card may have a recess accommodating at least part of the second end of the ejecting lever, the recess being at the front end of the card in the back of the connector when the card is in place, and the ejecting lever may be disposed so that the second end pushes the wall of the recess when the card is ejected.

In this case, at least part of the second end of the ejecting lever is accommodated by the recess formed in the card. Therefore, the card connector can be downsized with respect to the depth.

The card may have an upper wall covering the recess.

Since the upper wall restricts the vertical movement of the ejecting lever, smooth turning of the ejecting lever is achieved. In addition, since the ejecting lever is not located on the upper surface of the card, the upper surface of the card is protected from being scraped by the ejecting lever.

The ejecting lever may be disposed such that the second end of the ejecting lever pushes the front end of the card when the card is ejected, the card being in the back of the connector when the card is in place.

In this case, with turning of the ejecting lever, the second end of the ejecting lever pushes the front end of the card so as to eject the card.

The card connector may further include a push rod pushing the first end of the ejecting lever in the direction of inserting the card.

By pushing the push rod, the first end of the ejecting lever moves and the ejecting lever turns around the fulcrum. Thus a predetermined card ejecting operation is achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1to3are illustrations of a first embodiment of the present invention, including sectional views of a card.FIG. 1is a plan view showing the starting stage of card ejection.FIG. 2is a plan view showing the middle stage of card ejection.FIG. 3is a plan view showing the ending stage of card ejection.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bshow the relation among the card, an ejecting lever, and a header included in the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 4Ais a cross-sectional view showing the relevant part before the card is placed.FIG. 4Bis a cross-sectional view showing the relevant part when the card is placed.

[The Card Used in the First Embodiment]

The card1used in the first embodiment of the present invention is a small size memory card having an information storage function. As shown inFIG. 1, the card1has a recess2at the front end1alocated in the back of the connector when the card1is in place. As shown inFIG. 4A, the recess2has an opening2a, and the upper part of the recess2is covered by the upper wall4. The portion facing the opening2aforms the wall5. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the card1has a contact3used for signal processing. The front end of the contact3is exposed in the recess2.

[The Structure of the Relevant Part of the First Embodiment]

As shown inFIG. 1, the first embodiment of the present invention includes a housing6forming a main body. The inside of the housing6accommodates the card1. As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the housing6has the header7in the back of the card connector. As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the header7has a terminal8coming into contact with the contact3of the card1. The header7has a groove9, and part of the terminal8is exposed in the groove9. The upper wall7acovering the groove9of the header7can be inserted into the recess2of the card1. In addition, as shown inFIG. 4B, the lower wall4band part of the contact3forming the lower portion of the recess2of the card1can be inserted into the groove9of the header7.

A journal11is formed on the header7. The journal11is integrated with the header7. The ejecting lever10is disposed on the header7. The ejecting lever10is supported by the journal11as the fulcrum and pushes out the card1in the direction of ejecting the card1. That is to say, the journal11functioning as the fulcrum of the ejecting lever10is fixed on the header7.

As shown inFIG. 1, a push rod13is connected to a first end12of the ejecting lever10. The end of the push rod13is provided with a knob14for pushing the push rod13.

As shown inFIG. 1, a second end15of the ejecting lever10is provided with a first pushing portion16pushing the wall5of the recess2of the card1in the starting stage of card ejection. In addition, there is formed a second pushing portion17which is farther than the first pushing portion16from the journal11and pushes the wall5of the recess2of the card1after the starting stage of card ejection.

The first pushing portion16and the second pushing portion17are included in distance varying means increasing the distance from the journal11to the contact point between the ejecting lever10and the card1during ejection of the card1. The journal11functions as the fulcrum. In the starting stage of card ejection of the first embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, the distance from the journal11to the first pushing portion16, that is to say, the contact point between the ejecting lever10and the card1is a comparatively small distance L1. After that, as shown inFIG. 3, the distance from the journal11to the second pushing portion17, that is to say, the contact point between the ejecting lever10and the card1is a greater distance L2than the above distance L1.

[Placing of the Card]

The card1inserted into the housing6as shown inFIG. 4Ais pushed to be in place as shown in FIG.4B. When the card1is in place, the recess2of the card1accommodates the upper wall7aand at least part of the ejecting lever10, and the first pushing portion16of the ejecting lever10is in contact with the wall5of the recess2of the card1. In addition, the groove9of the header7accommodates the lower wall4bof the card1and part of the contact3. Thus, the contact3of the card1and the terminal8of the header7come into contact, thereby enabling the signal transmitting and receiving between the card1and the header7.

[Ejection of the Card]

FIG. 1corresponds to FIG.4B. In order to eject the card1in place as shown in FIG.1andFIG. 4B, the knob14shown inFIG. 1is pushed. Thus, the push rod13is pushed in the direction of inserting the card1, and the first end12of the ejecting lever10moves in the direction of inserting the card1. Thus, the ejecting lever10starts turning around the journal11counterclockwise in FIG.1. At this moment, the pushing force of the first pushing portion16of the ejecting lever10on the card1is a comparatively great pushing force F1as indicated by the following formula.
F1·L1=F·L

The ejected distance of the card1in the starting stage of ejection is a comparatively small distance S1according to the comparatively small distance L1.

As described above, in the starting stage of card ejection, the comparatively great pushing force F1is obtained. Therefore, the ejecting lever10can push out the card1in the ejecting direction, overcoming a comparatively great connecting force between the contact3of the card1and the terminal8of the header7.

By further turning of the ejecting lever10, as shown inFIG. 2, the second pushing portion17of the ejecting lever10also comes into contact with the wall5of the recess2of the card1.

By more further turning of the ejecting lever10, the first pushing portion16goes out of contact with the card1. After that, only the second pushing portion17is in contact with the card1as shown in FIG.3. At this moment, the ejected distance of the card1by the second pushing portion17is a great distance S2according to the greater distance L2than the distance L1.

At this moment, the pushing force of the second pushing portion17on the card1is a comparatively small pushing force F2as indicated by the following formula.
F2·L2=F·L

Although the pushing force on the card1is the comparatively small force F2, the card1is ejected smoothly because the card1is no longer under the connecting force between the contact3of the card1and the terminal8of the header7.

FIG. 5is a characteristics diagram showing the relation between pushed distance of the knob and ejected distance of the card in the first embodiment.

InFIG. 5, the line segment A shows the characteristics when the first pushing portion16of the ejecting lever10pushes the card1, and the line segment B shows the characteristics when the second pushing portion17pushes the card1.

In the starting stage of card ejection, the distance from the journal11of the ejecting lever10to the first pushing portion16of the ejecting lever10in contact with the card1is comparatively small. Therefore, by turning the ejecting lever10, it is possible to apply a comparatively great force F1to the card1so as to push out the card1. After that, the second pushing portion17comes into contact with the card1, thereby increasing the distance from the journal11of the ejecting lever10to the contact point between the ejecting lever10and the card1. Therefore, the ejected distance S2of the card1ejected with the turning of the ejecting lever10becomes great so that the card1can be ejected quickly.

More particularly, the position of the journal11functioning as the fulcrum of the ejecting lever10is fixed. Therefore, the ejecting lever10turns around only a single fulcrum during ejection of the card1. Thus, the stability of turning of the ejecting lever10is achieved, and the reliability of the card connector is increased.

In the first embodiment, the ejecting lever10is disposed in the back of the connector. There is the header7in which the terminal8is provided. It is possible to make use of the header7for disposing the ejecting lever10, thereby achieving a compact structure.

In the first embodiment, since the journal11of the ejecting lever10is integrated with a header7, the journal11can be formed at the same time as the header7. Therefore, because of the small number of parts, the production cost can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, since the first pushing portion16and the second pushing portion17is integrated with the ejecting lever10, the first pushing portion16and the second pushing portion17can be formed at the same time as the ejecting lever10. Therefore, because of the small number of parts, the production cost can be reduced.

The card1has the recess2accommodating at least part of the ejecting lever10. Therefore, the card connector can be downsized with respect to the depth.

In the first embodiment, the card1has the upper wall4covering the recess2. Since the upper wall4restricts the vertical movement of the ejecting lever10, smooth turning of the ejecting lever10is achieved. Thus, the turning performance of the ejecting lever10is increased. In addition, since the ejecting lever10is not located on the upper surface of the card1, the upper surface of the card1is protected from being scraped by the ejecting lever10. Thus, the reliability of the card connector is increased.

In addition, since the first embodiment includes the push rod13turning the ejecting lever10, and the knob14, the card1can be easily ejected by pushing the knob14.

FIGS. 6to8are illustrations of a second embodiment of the present invention, including sectional views of a card.FIG. 6is a plan view showing the starting stage of card ejection.FIG. 7is a plan view showing the middle stage of card ejection.FIG. 8is a plan view showing the ending stage of card ejection.

[The Structure of the Relevant Part of the Second Embodiment]

The second embodiment has different distance varying means from the first embodiment.

That is to say, in the second embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, the distance varying means include a curved portion18disposed at the second end15of the ejecting lever10, the curved portion18pushing the card1. The curved portion18includes a contact-starting segment19and a contact-ending segment20. The line connecting the contact-starting segment19and the contact-ending segment20is convex toward the front end1aof the card1.

The other structure is the same as in the first embodiment.

[Ejection of the Card]

Also in the second embodiment, in order to eject the card1in place, the knob14shown inFIG. 6is pushed. Thus, the push rod13moves, and the ejecting lever10connected to the push rod13starts turning counterclockwise inFIG. 6around the journal11functioning as the fulcrum. At this moment, the pushing force of the contact-starting segment19of the curved portion18on the card1is a comparatively great pushing force F×1 as indicated by the following formula.
Fx1·L1=F·L
The ejected distance of the card1in the starting stage of ejection is a comparatively small distance S1according to the comparatively small distance L1.

As described above, in the starting stage of card ejection, the comparatively great pushing force F×1 is obtained. Therefore, the ejecting lever10can push out the card1in the ejecting direction, overcoming the comparatively great connecting force between the contact3of the card1and the terminal8of the header7.

As shown inFIG. 7, according to the convexity of the curved portion18, the contact point between the curved portion18and the card1is displaced away from the journal11functioning as the fulcrum continuously with further turning of the ejecting lever10. That is to say, the contact point moves with turning of the ejecting lever10along the wall5of the recess2forming the front end1aof the card1. Thus, in the ejection starting stage, the distance from the journal11to the nearer segment of the curved portion18, that is to say, the contact-starting segment19is small. After that, the distance from the journal11to the contact point between the curved portion18and the card1, that is to say, the farther segment increases gradually.

The ejected distance of the card1in the ending stage of card ejection shown inFIG. 8by the contact-ending segment20of the curved portion18is a great distance S2according to the distance L2greater than the distance L1.

At this moment, the pushing force of the contact-ending segment20on the card1is a comparatively small pushing force F×2 as indicated by the following formula.
F×2·L2=F·L
Although the pushing force on the card1is the comparatively small force F×2, the card1is ejected smoothly because the card1is no longer under the connecting force between the contact3and the terminal8of the header7.

FIG. 9is a characteristics diagram showing the relation between pushed distance of the knob and ejected distance of the card in the second embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 9, in the second embodiment, it is possible to increase the ejected distance of the card1nonlinearly in relation to the pushed distance of the knob14.

In the second embodiment, in the starting stage of card ejection, it is possible to apply a comparatively great force F×1l to the card1via the nearer segment of the curved portion18, that is to say, the contact-starting segment19so as to push out the card1. After that, it is possible to increase the ejected distance of the card1continuously as shown inFIG. 9via the farther segment of the curved portion18, that is to say, the contact point so as to push out the card1quickly. The position of the journal11of the ejecting lever10is fixed as in the first embodiment.

Therefore, the second embodiment also achieves the same advantageous effect as the first embodiment. Especially, in the ejection of the card1, since the ejected distance of the card1is increased continuously with turning of the ejecting lever10, the card1is ejected smoothly, and excellent card-ejection performance is achieved.

FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view showing the relevant part of a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 10, in the third embodiment, a journal22functioning as the fulcrum of an ejecting lever23is integrated with the cover21covering the housing6forming the main body. In addition, the ejecting lever23is disposed so as to be in contact with the front end1aof the card1. Unlike the first and second embodiments, the recess2of the card1accommodates only the upper wall7aincluding the terminal8of the header7. The other structure is the same as in the first embodiment.

Since the second end15of the ejecting lever23pushes the front end1aof the card1with turning of the ejecting lever23, and the position of the journal22formed in the cover21is fixed, the third embodiment also achieves the same advantageous effect as the first embodiment.

Since the journal22of the ejecting lever23is integrated with the cover21, the journal22can be formed at the same time as the cover21. Therefore, because of the small number of parts, the production cost can be reduced.