IC CARD CONNECTING MECHANISM

Abstract: An IC card connecting mechanism for connecting an IC card (30) having a terminal array(32), and a connector (46) for connecting the IC card (30) to an external equipment. The IC card connecting mechanism comprises the frame (35) of the IC card (30), having a peripheral rim (38) provided with recesses (39) respectively at the opposite ends of the front portion thereof, the terminal protecting member (41) of the IC card (30), having a terminal protecting part (41a) for protectively covering the terminal array (32), and legs (41b) extending from the opposite longitudinal sides of the terminal protecting part (41a) and held at the respective free ends thereof on the frame (35) of the IC card (30), the body (55) of the connector (46) having guide legs (53) for guiding the IC card (30) in inserting the IC card (30) in the connector (46), and lifting means (50) provided in the body (55) of the connector (46) so as to enter the recesses (39) of the frame (35) to lift up the terminal protecting part (41a) of the terminal protecting member (41) when the IC card (30) is inserted in the connector (46). Thus, the terminal protecting part (41a) of the terminal protecting member (41) is lifted up automatically to expose the terminal array (32) for electrical connection with the conductors (51, 52) of the connector (46) when the IC card (30) is inserted in the connector (46).

Description: The present invention relates to an IC card connecting mechanism for connecting an IC card and a connector. From DE-A-2 822 968 an IC card connecting mechanism is known wherein the IC card is provided with a terminal array covered by a terminal protecting member which is spring biased and slidable horizontally backward to expose the terminal array when the IC card is inserted into a connector. Recently, there has been developed an IC card containing ICs (integrated circuits) comprising memory elements, such as RAMs (random access memories), and control elements, such as CPUs (central processing units), and having a terminal array including connection terminals connected to the terminals of the ICs, for electrically connecting the ICs to an external equipment. In the incipient IC card, the terminal array including connection terminals for electrically connecting the ICs to an external equipment is exposed. Accordingly, the terminal array is soiled to entail incomplete contact of the connection terminals with those of the external equipment, and in some cases, the ICs are destructed by static electricity because the terminal array can come in touch with the hand. To obviate such accidental troubles, recently, an IC card having a terminal array covered with a housing, namely, a so-called connector, (Type A IC card) and an IC card having a terminal array covered with a terminal protecting member which slides horizontally backward to expose the terminal array when the IC card is inserted in an external equipment (Type B IC card) have been developed. However, it is difficult to form the type A IC card in a compact and thin construction, because the terminal array is covered with a thick housing to form a connector. The type B IC card needs additional parts, such as a coil spring and parts for holding the coil spring, to hold the terminal protecting member horizontally slidably at the closed position, and an additional time necessary for assembling the additional parts increases the cost of the IC card. Furthermore, since only a narrow space is available in the IC card for the terminal protecting member of the type B IC card to slide, guide grooves along which the terminal protecting member slides is liable to be clogged with dust to hinder the smooth sliding movement of the terminal protecting member. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an IC card connecting mechanism having a simple, inexpensive construction and capable of surely connecting an IC card to a connector for connecting the IC card to an external equipment. It is another object of the present invention to provide an IC card connecting mechanism having an inexpensive, compact, thin IC card capable of being easily and surely connected to a connector. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an IC card connecting mechanism having an IC card provided with a terminal protecting member capable of functioning properly without fail. It is still a further object of the present invention to prevent soiling and damaging the terminal array of an IC card and to prevent the destruction of the ICs of the IC card by static electricity. It is an even further object of the present invention to provide an IC card connecting mechanism having a connector optimum for use in combination with an IC card. An IC card connecting mechanism of the present invention for connecting an IC card to a connector comprises said IC card, having a terminal array in the front end thereof, and said connector for connecting the IC card to an external equipment, the connector having contacts to be electrically connected respectively to the connection terminals of the terminal array, a frame of the IC card having a peripheral rim provided with recesses respectively at the opposite ends of a front portion thereof, terminal protecting means of the IC card being placed in the frame at a fixed position so as to cover the terminal array protectively, to cover the recesses of the frame and to be lifted up away from the terminal array when connecting the IC card to the connector, a top cover of the IC card being fixedly placed on top of the frame so as to hold the terminal protecting member in place on the frame, a body of the connector having guide legs extending respectively from opposite longitudinal sides of the body and provided respectively with guide grooves formed in the respective inner surfaces thereof so as to receive said front portion at opposite longitudinal side edges of the frame for guiding the IC card when connecting the IC card to the connector, and lifting means being provided in the body of the connector so as to enter the recesses of the frame to lift up the terminal protecting means so that the terminal array is exposed for connection with the contacts of the connector when the IC card is inserted in the connector. The IC card of the IC card connecting mechanism according to the present invention does not need special parts, such as a coil spring and the associated parts, and time for assembling the same, and hence the IC card is compact and inexpensive. Furthermore, since the terminal protecting member is arranged so as to swing open instead of sliding horizontally, the terminal protecting arrangement is simple in construction, and hence the terminal protecting arrangement functions without fail. Still further, the IC card can be constructed in a thin, compact construction because the terminal protecting member may be a thin plate and the terminal array is not covered with an insulating housing in the form of a connector. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a partly cutaway perspective view of an IC card in a first embodiment of an IC card connecting mechanism according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the IC card of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the IC card of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connector to be used in combination with the IC card of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line A-A′ in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line B-B′ in Fig. 4; Figs. 7A, 7B and 7C are sectional views of assistance in explaining the steps of connection of the IC card of Fig. 1 and the connector of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a partly cutaway perspective view of an IC card in a second embodiment of an IC card connecting mechanism according to the present invention; Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the IC card of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional side elevation of a connector to be used in combination with the IC card of Fig. 8; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of assistance in explaining the action of the connector of Fig. 10 in relation with an IC card in a third embodiment of an IC card connecting mechanism according to the present invention. First Embodiment (Figs. 1 to 5): Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a printed wiring board 31 is mounted on one surface thereof with circuit elements 33 such as IC chips, and a terminal array 32 is formed at the front end (namely, the left end as viewed in Fig. 1) of the printed wiring board 31. An insulating film 34 covers the upper surface of the printed wiring board 31 to isolate the printed wiring board 31 from other parts. A frame 35 has openings 36 at positions corresponding to the circuit elements 33. The frame 35 has a rim 38 of a predetermined height and a predetermined width (ℓ) formed along the periphery thereof so as to surround the printed wiring board 31, a bottom cover 37 and a top cover 42. Recesses 39 are formed respectively in the opposite front corners of the frame 35. Cylindrical posts 40 are formed substantially in the middle part of the opposite sides of the frame 35, respectively. The respective front end of the opposite lower side edges of the frame 35 are chamfered to form chamfers 35a. Indicated at 41 is a terminal protecting member for protecting the terminal array 32 of the printed wiring board 31. The terminal protecting member 41 is formed of an elastic metallic plate or an elastic plastic plate and has a terminal protecting part 41a formed in a size capable of covering the terminal array 32, and legs 41b projecting backward respectively from the opposite sides of the terminal protecting part 41a. The opposite corners of the front end of the terminal protecting part 41a are bent upward to form guide slopes 41c, which engage the lifting fingers of a connector, which will be described afterwards, when the connector is connected to the IC card. A through hole 45 is formed in the rear end of each leg 41b of the terminal protecting member 41 at a position corresponding to the post 40 provided on the frame 35. Indicated at 42 is a top cover covering the entire upper surface of the printed wiring board 31 other than an area covered with the terminal protecting member 41. Referring to Fig. 3, the printed wiring board 31 is placed fixedly on the upper surface of the frame 35. In this state, the circuit elements 33 provided on the printed wiring board 31 are received respectively in the openings 36 formed in the frame 35. An insulating film 34 is attached adhesively to the printed wiring board 31 so as to cover the entire area of the upper surface of the printed wiring board 31 except an area in which the terminal array 32 is formed. The terminal protecting member 41 is placed on the frame 35 so that the through holes 45 formed in the legs 41b thereof receive the corresponding posts 40 of the frame 35 therein. The top cover 42 holds the respective ends provided with the through holes 45 of the legs 41b of the terminal protecting member 41 to hold the terminal protecting member 41 on the frame 35 so that the terminal protecting part 41a of the terminal protecting member 41 covers the terminal array 32 of the printed wiring board 31. The top cover 42 is attached adhesively to the insulating film 34 and a part of the frame 35. A bottom cover 37 is attached adhesively to the lower surface of the frame 35. When the IC card 30 is thus assembled, a part of the insulating film 34 extends below the terminal protecting part 41a of the terminal protecting member 41 to prevent electrically conductive foreign matters from coming into contact with the printed wiring board 31 through the gap between the terminal protecting part 41a and the top cover 42. A bend 41d is formed in a portion of each elastic leg 41b of the terminal protecting member 41 to bias the terminal protecting part 41a so that the terminal protecting part 41a is held in close contact with the terminal array 32 of the printed wiring board 31. An insulating film of the same material as that of the insulating film 34 is applied to the inner surface, namely, the surface in contact with the terminal array 32, of the terminal protecting part 41a as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. However, when the terminal protecting member 41 is formed of an insulating material, the terminal protecting part 41a need not be provided with any insulating film. A connector 46 to be used in combination with the IC card 30 will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the connector 46 has conductors each integrally comprising a contact 51 to be brought into contact with the connection terminals of the terminal array 32 of the IC card 30, and a connection terminal 52 to be soldered to a connection terminal of a printed wiring board of an external equipment. The connector 46 also has a housing 54 covering the contacts 51 and isolating the same from each other. Guide legs 53 for guiding the IC card 30 are formed integrally with a connector body 55. Guide grooves 47 are formed respectively in the inner surfaces of the guide legs 53. When the IC card 30 is inserted in the connector 46, the guide grooves 47 guide the IC card 30 so that the connection terminals of the terminal array 32 of the IC card are brought into contact with the corresponding contacts 51 of the connector 46. Lifting fingers 50 each having a guide slope 50a are provided respectively at the roots of the guide legs 53. When the IC card 30 is inserted in the connector 46 along the guide grooves 47, the guide slopes 50a of the lifting fingers 50 engage the guide slopes 41c formed at the opposite corners of the front end of the terminal protecting part 41a to push up the terminal protecting part 41a against the resilience of the legs 41b of the terminal protecting member 41. The lifting fingers 50 are formed of an electrically conductive material integrally with grounding terminals 58. Although the lifting fingers 50 are formed of an electrically conductive material in this embodiment to ground the connector 46, the lifting fingers 50 need not be formed of an electrically conductive material and the grounding terminals 58 need not be provided, when the connector 46 need not be grounded. In such a case, the lifting fingers 50 may be formed integrally with the connector body 55. Functions of the functional parts of the IC card 30 and the connector 46 in inserting the IC card 30 in the connector 46 will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 1 through 5, 6, 7A, 7B, and 7C. Referring to Fig. 6, the guide grooves 47 have a predetermined height and a predetermined width respectively slightly greater than the height and the width (ℓ) of the rim 38 of the frame 35 of the IC card 30 so that the IC card 30 can smoothly be inserted in the connector 46 along the guide grooves 47. The lower portion of the bottom surface of each guide groove 47 is formed in an inclined surface 48 corresponding to the chamfer 35a of the frame 35 as shown in Fig. 6 to prevent the wrong insertion of the IC card 30. When the IC card 30 is inserted upside down in the connector 46, the chamfers 35a do not coincide with the corresponding inclined surfaces 48 to inhibit the wrong insertion of the IC card 30 in the connector 46, thereby the breakage of the lifting fingers 50 or the IC card 30 resulting from the forcible insertion of the IC card in the connector 46, and the connector 46 being accidentally plugged with the broken IC card 30 are obviated. When the IC card 30 is inserted correctly in the connector 46 with the chamfers 35a of the frame 35 sliding along the corresponding inclined surfaces 48 of the guide groove 47, the respective tips of the lifting fingers 50 of the connector 46 enter the recesses 39 of the frame 35, respectively, upon the arrival of the front edge of the IC card 30 at a position a shown in Fig. 7A, and the respective front ends of the guide slopes 41c of the terminal protecting member 41 engage the lifting fingers 50, respectively, at a position a′ as shown in Fig. 7A. Since the inclination of the guide slope 41c corresponds to that of the guide slopes 50a of the lifting fingers 50, the guide slopes 41c slide smoothly along the guide slopes 50a as the IC card 30 is inserted further in the connector 46 to raise the terminal protecting part 41a away from the terminal array 32 of the printed wiring board 31 elastically bending the elastic legs 41b of the terminal protecting member 41. The front ends of the guide slopes 41c reach a position b′ on the guide surfaces 50a of the lifting fingers 50 when the front edge of the IC card 30 reaches a position b as shown in Fig. 7B. As the IC card 30 is inserted further from the position shown in Fig. 7B, the contacts 51 enter between the terminal array 32 of the printed wiring board 31 and the terminal protecting part 41a to come into contact with the corresponding connection terminals of the terminal array 32. Finally, the IC card 30 is inserted completely in the connector 46. In this state, the front edge of the IC card 30 is located at a position c and the guide slopes 41c are raised to a position c′ as shown in Fig. 7C. Thus, the contacts 51 are electrically connected to the corresponding connection terminals of the terminal array 32. When the IC card 30 is pulled in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion to extract the IC card 30 from the connector 46, the terminal protecting part 41a is returned to the original position by the resilience of the elastic legs 41b, and thereby the guide slopes 41c are received respectively in the recesses 39 of the frame 35, and the terminal protecting part 41a is placed in close contact with the terminal array 32. Second Embodiment (Figs. 8 and 9): An IC card 60 in a second embodiment of an IC card connecting mechanism according to the present invention differs from the IC card 30 in the first embodiment in the following respects. Whereas the terminal protecting member 41 and the top cover 42 of the IC card 30 are separate members, the IC card 60 has an integral covering member comprising a terminal protecting part 41 and a top covering part 42 respectively corresponding to the terminal protecting member 41 and the top cover 42 of the IC card 30. Since the function of the integral covering member corresponds to those of the terminal protecting member 41 and the top cover 42 of the IC card 30, the IC card 60 need not be provided with the posts 40 provided on the frame 35 to hold the terminal protecting member 41, and the through holes 41d formed in the terminal protecting member 41 to receive the posts 40 therein. The IC card 60 in the second embodiment is used in combination with the connector 46 Third Embodiment (Figs. 10 and 11): In the first embodiment, the terminal protecting part 41a of the terminal protecting member 41 is raised by the cooperative action of the lifting fingers 50 of the connector 46 and the guide slopes 41c of the terminal protecting member 41 as the IC card 30 is inserted in the connector 46. A connector 80 for use in combination with an IC card 70 in a third embodiment of an IC card connecting mechanism according to the present invention is provided with L-shaped levers 52 as shown in Fig. 10 instead of the lifting fingers 50. The levers 52 are supported pivotally respectively by pivot pins 52b on a supporting member, not shown, of the connector 80. The IC card 70 is substantially the same in construction as the IC card 30, except that the terminal protecting member 72 of the IC card 70 is not provided with the guide slopes 41c, and that recesses 71 are formed in the frame at positions respectively corresponding to those of the guide slopes 41c of the IC card 30. When the IC card 70 is inserted in the connector 80 shown in Fig. 10, the horizontal arms 52a of the levers 52 enter the recesses 71 of the IC card 70, respectively. When the IC card 70 is inserted further in the connector 80, the front edge of the terminal protecting member 72 pushes the upright arms 52c of the levers 52 to turn the levers 52 respectively on the pivot pins 52b in the direction of arrows E (Fig. 11), and thereby the terminal protecting member 72 is raised by the horizontal arms 52a of the levers 52.

Claims: An IC card connecting mechanism for connecting an IC card (30) to a connector (46), said mechanism comprising said IC card (30), having a terminal array (32) in the front end thereof, and said connector (46) for connecting the IC card (30) to an external equipment, the connector (46) having contacts (51) to be electrically connected respectively to the connection terminals of the terminal array (32), a frame (35) of the IC card (30) having a peripheral rim (38) provided with recesses (39) respectively at the opposite ends of a front portion thereof, terminal protecting means (41) of the IC card (30) being placed in the frame (35) at a fixed position so as to cover the terminal array (32) protectively, to cover the recesses (39) of the frame (35) and to be lifted up away from the terminal array (32) when connecting the IC card (30) to the connector (46), a top cover (42) of the IC card (30) being fixedly placed on top of the frame (35) so as to hold the terminal protecting means (41) in place on the frame (35), a body (55) of the connector (46) having guide legs (53) extending respectively from opposite longitudinal sides of the body (55) and provided respectively with guide grooves (47) formed in the respective inner surfaces thereof so as to receive said front portion at opposite longitudinal side edges of the frame (35) for guiding the IC card (30) when connecting the IC card (30) to the connector (46), and lifting means (50) being provided in the body (55) of the connector (46) so as to enter the recesses (39) of the frame (35) to lift up the terminal protecting means (41) so that the terminal array (32) is exposed for connection with the contacts (51) of the connector (46). An IC card connecting mechanism according to Claim 1, wherein said terminal protecting means (41) is a plate-shaped terminal protecting member (41) formed of an elastic material, having a terminal protecting part (41a) formed in a size capable of covering the terminal array (32), and legs (41b) projecting backward respectively from the opposite longitudinal sides of the terminal protecting part (41a) and provided with through holes (45) in the respective free ends thereof, the opposite corners of the front end of the terminal protecting part (41a) are bent upward to form guide slopes (41c) so as to engage said lifting means (50) of the connector when the IC card (30) is connected to the connector (46), said frame (35) is provided with posts (40) respectively inside opposite longitudinal portions of the rim (38) respectively at positions corresponding to the through holes (45) of the legs (41b) of said terminal protecting member (41) so as to be received respectively in the through holes (45) to locate said terminal protecting member (41) in said frame (35) so that the terminal array (32) is covered with the terminal protecting part (41a) of said terminal protecting member (41), said top cover (42) holds said terminal protecting member (41) in place at the free ends of the same provided with the through holes (45) so that the legs (41b) can be flexed when the terminal protecting part (41a) is lifted up, and said lifting means (50) are lifting fingers (50) respectively having guide slopes (50a), provided respectively at the roots of the legs (53) of said body (55) of the connector (46) so as to enter the recesses (39) of the frame (35) and engage the guide slopes (41c) of said terminal protecting member (41), respectively, to lift up the terminal protecting part (41a) of said terminal protecting member (41) when the IC card (30) is inserted in the connector (46). An IC card connecting mechanism according to Claim 2, wherein said lifting fingers (50) are formed of an electrically conductive material. An IC card connecting mechanism according to Claim 1, wherein said top cover (42) is formed integrally with said terminal protecting means (41). An IC card connecting mechanism according to Claim 1, wherein said lifting means (50) are L-shaped levers (52) each having a vertical arm (52c) and a horizontal arm (52a) and pivotally supported by a pivot pin (52b) at the root and inside the leg (53) of said body (55) of the connector (46) so that the horizontal arm (52a) enters said recess (39) of the rim (38) of said frame (35) and the vertical arm (52c) is pushed by the front edge of the IC card (30), and thereby the lever (52) is turned on the pivot pin (52b) to lift up terminal protecting part (41a) of said terminal protecting means (41) with the horizontal arm (52a) when the IC card (30) is inserted in the connector (46).

Inventors: ASAKA, TOSHIYUKI, ISHIMIZU, HIDEAKI, KIKUCHI, HIROSHI, TANUMA, JIRO, UCHIDA, TAKAO
Applicants: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13, B42D15, G06K17, H01R12, G06K19, G06K7