ELECTRIC CONNECTOR

Abstract: An electric connector (100) for establishing electric contact with a card-like medium having an electric connection terminal comprises a case (101) including a flat surface (102b) having first and second sides and a slope surface (102a) having third and fourth sides opposing each other, the fourth side being connected to the first side of the flat surface (102b), this slope surface (102a) inclining from the fourth side towards the third side; support means (152) so disposed as to oppose the slope surface (102a), for supporting a contact (104) disposed on the side of the slope surface (102a); and fixing means (109, 110) for fixing the card-like medium inserted between the slope surface and the contact (104) under the state where the electric connection terminal and the contact (104) are in contact with each other.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electric connector, particularly to a structure of an electric connector adapted for use in a card medium such as an IC card, etc. having connecting terminals for electrically connecting to an external device. BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY A card medium such as an IC card, etc. having connecting terminals for electrically connecting to an external device can write data in or read the data written in the IC card. Data is written and read using a card reader/writer. The card reader/writer has an electric connector for electrically connecting to connecting terminals of the card medium. It is possible to electrically writing data in the card medium or read the data from the card medium when the card medium is inserted into the card reader/writer so as to permit contacts of the electric connector to contact the connecting terminals of the card medium. The card medium employs spring contacts as contacts so as to be fit for the frequent attachment and detachment thereof. An electric connector of this type is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-3234. A structure of this electric connector is shown in Fig. 1. In this prior art electric connector, denoted at 1 is a card medium having electric connecting terminals 2, 3 is a case having an insertion slot 3a through which the card medium 1 is inserted, 4 is a clamping portion movably accommodated in the case 3 and 5 is a contact attached to the clamping portion 4. when the card medium 1 is inserted through the insertion slot 3a of the electric connector and it is pushed toward the clamping portion 4, the clamping portion 4 is moved to the left and turned clockwise. When the clamping portion 4 is turned, the contacts 5 are lowered and connected to the connecting terminals 2 provided on the card medium 1. Fig. 2 shows a state where the contacts 5 of the electric connector contact the corresponding connecting terminals 2 of the card medium. Since the contacts 5 have resiliency, they surely contact the connecting terminals 2 of the card medium 1 in a given pressure. However, since the clamping portion 4 having the contacts 5 is movable in the prior art electric connector having the aforementioned arrangement, there are following problems. (A) The card medium 1 can not be smoothly inserted into or pulled out due to the friction which is generated when the clamping portion 4 is moved inside the case 3, (B) since the case 3 requires a space in which the clamping portion 4 is moved, it becomes large in a direction of inserting the card medium 1 and thick in a vertical direction, (C) since the contacts 5 are moved, it becomes complex to design the clamping portion 4 where the contacts 5 contact the corresponding connecting terminals 2 with assurance and the space where the clamping portion 4 is moved inside the case 3, (D) since the contacts 5 are moved, a method to electrically connect between the contacts 5 and an internal circuit of the card reader/writer which is provided outside the case 3 becomes complex. Further, there is a problem in that (E) since the card medium 1 is inserted and pulled out in a state where the contacts 5 contact the connecting terminals 2 of the card medium 1 in a given pressure, the connecting terminals 2 of the card medium 1 are damaged. FR-A-2587549 discloses an electric connector for making contact with an electronic payment card or similar. The card is supported on a ridge about which it pivots between a first position in which it is in contact with a plurality of fixed contacts and a second position in which it is not so connected. Means are provided for latching the card in the first position, and a spring acting on the back of the card is used to move the card from the first position to the second position to enable removal. The present invention seeks to provide an electric connector wherein a card medium can be easily inserted and pulled out and a case can be thinned. It is another object of the invention to provide an electric connector wherein electric connection between connecting terminals of a card medium, contacts and an internal circuit of a card reader/writer can be surely performed with a simple design. It is still another object of the invention to provide an electric connector wherein the connecting terminals of the card medium are not damaged. According to the invention, there is provided an electric connector which electrically contacts a card medium (170) having a plurality of electric connecting terminals, said electric connector comprising:- a case (101) having means for supporting said card medium (170) in a first position in which the electric connecting terminals are in contact with a plurality of electric contacts (104) supported on a supporting means by means of respective elastic members (106), and a second position in which they are not so connected, and a fixing means which fixes said card medium in said first position; said connector being characterised in that: (a) said means for supporting said card medium in a first position comprises a horizontal surface (102b) of said case, and said means for supporting said card medium in a second position comprises an inclined surface (102a) of said case, said surfaces being arranged in such a way that said card medium (170) makes an acute angle with said horizontal surface (102b) when said card medium is in contact with said inclined surface (102a); (b) said supporting means being positioned opposite to said inclined surface (102a) at a position higher than said horizontal surface (102b) by an amount at least equal to the thickness of the card medium (170); (c) said elastic members (106) being disposed on said supporting means so as to urge said electric contacts (104) toward said inclined surface (102a) such that said electric contacts (104) are brought into contact with said corresponding electric connecting terminals of said card medium (170) when said card medium is shifted from said second position to said first position; (d) said fixing means fixes said card medium (170) onto said horizontal surface (102b) with said electric contacts (104) in contact with said electric connecting terminals of said card medium, wherein said fixing means includes a fixing member (109) disposed adjacent to said horizontal surface (102b), wherein said fixing member is movable between a position in which it keeps a part of said card medium in contact with said horizontal surface and a position in which it releases said card medium from contact with said horizontal surface. (e) wherein, when said card medium is released by said fixing means, the card medium is urged from said first position to said second position by means of said electric contacts (104). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a structure of a prior art electric connector; Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the structure of the prior art electric connector showing a state where a card medium is inserted; Figure 3 is a plan view of an electric connector according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electric connector taken along lines A1-A2 of Figure 3; Figures 5(A) to (D) are views for explaining inserting and pulling out operations of the card medium as viewed from the cross-sectional view of the electric connector taken along lines A1-A2 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a plan view of an electric connector according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of an electric connector according to a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 8 is a plan view of an electric connector according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 3 is a plan view of an electric connector 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electric connector 100 taken along lines A1-A2 of Figure 3. Denoted at 101 is a case for fixing and holding a card medium. The case 101 is rectangular as viewed from the plan view of Figure 3 and comprises an electric connecting portion A for electrically connecting to connecting terminals of the card medium, a medium placing portion B for placing the card medium in a horizontal condition, and a medium fixing portion C for fixing the card medium placed on the medium placing portion B. The case 101 becomes larger than the card medium by about the size of the medium fixing portion C provided at the right or left side thereof in Figs. 3 and 4. A structure of the electric connecting portion A will be first described. The electric connecting portion A has a substantially inverse U-shape as viewed from the side cross-sectional view of Fig. 4. The substantially inverse U-shape comprises a bottom portion 150 including an inclined surface 102a, a side portion 151 including a vertical wall 103 serving as a stopper of the inserted card medium, and an upper portion 152 for supporting contacts 104. The bottom portion 150, side portion 151 and the upper portion 152 are integrally formed with the case 101. The distance between a lower end portion 152a of the upper portion 152 and the bottom portion 150 at the side of the medium placing portion B is slightly greater than the thickness of the card medium, thereby forming an insertion slot 105. An inner space of the electric connecting portion A is gradually widened from the insertion slot 105 toward the vertical wall 103 of the side portion 151 in the vertical direction in Fig. 4 due to the inclined surface 102a provided on the bottom portion 150. The contacts 104 formed on the upper portion 152 are made of a conductive material and they have given resiliency by springs 106 and project toward the inclined surface 102a. The resiliency is set to such an extent that an end portion of the card medium is slightly permitted to float at the medium fixing portion C when the card medium is turned about a ridgeline 102c which is a boundary between the inclined surface 102a and the horizontal surface 102b and serves as a fulcrum. A stage 102 is formed by the inclined surface 102a and the horizontal surface 102b for turning the card medium 170. There are provided plural contacts 104 (eight in Fig. 3) in correspondence with the terminals of the card medium 170. These plural contacts 104 are substantially the same in the amount of projection thereof to such an extent that they do not contact the connecting terminals of the card medium 170 when the card medium 170 are inserted into the electric connecting portion A along the inclined surface 102a. A contact corresponding to a ground potential terminal for protecting the internal circuit of the card reader/writer is provided adjacent to the medium placing portion B. The amount of projection of the contact alone corresponding to the ground potential terminal may be greater than that of the other contacts. The medium placing portion B will be now described. The medium placing portion B includes the horizontal surface 102b joined to the inclined surface 102a. The medium placing portion B places the card medium 170 on the horizontal surface 102b while permitting the former to be in surface contact with the latter when the connecting terminals of the card medium 170 contacts the contacts 104. The medium fixing portion C will be now described. The medium fixing portion C has a hole portion 107 which is open to the medium placing portion B. The hole portion 107 is positioned at a portion higher than the horizontal surface 102b by a distance which is slightly larger than the thickness of the card medium 170. As viewed from the side cross-sectional view of Fig. 4, an opening 108 which joined to the hole portion 107 is formed on the upper portion of the case 101. There are provided in the hole 107 a medium fixing member 109 comprising a tapered retaining portion 109a which retains the card medium 170, and a projection 109b which is engaged with the opening 108 and projects therefrom. The medium fixing member 109 is urged by the spring 110 toward the medium placing portion B. Since the projection 109b of the medium fixing member 109 is formed laterally more slender than the opening 108 in Fig. 4, the medium fixing member 109 is movable by the difference of the size between the opening 108 and the projection 109b in the left- and rightward directions in Fig. 4. This difference may be set to such an extent that the card medium 170 can be fixed on the horizontal surface 102b of the medium placing portion B while the former is in surface contact with the latter and it can be released from being fixed on the horizontal surface 102b. An operation to insert the card medium 170 into or pulling it out from the electric connector 100 will be now described. Figs. 5 (A) to (D) are views for explaining inserting and pulling out operations of the card medium as viewed from the cross-sectional view of the electric connector taken along lines A1-A2 of Fig. 3. First, the card medium 170 is inserted from the short side thereof through the insertion slot 105. At this time, a surface on which the connecting terminals 171 of the card medium 170 are provided is directed upward and then the card medium 170 is inserted so that the connecting terminals 171 do not contact the contacts 104. The card medium 170 is further inserted until it strikes against the vertical wall 103 along the inclined surface 102a. The card medium 170 is prevented from further being inserted, when it strikes against the vertical wall 103. This state is illustrated in Fig. 5(A). Another short side of the card medium 170 which is not inserted is positioned over the horizontal surface 102b and above an end of the medium fixing member 109. At this time, the connecting terminals 171 do not contact the contacts 104 in a state where the card medium 170 is placed along the inclined surface 102a (namely, in a state where the card medium 170 is supported by a hand). When the card medium 170 is completely inserted and it is released from the hand, it is turned clockwise about the ridgeline 102c serving as a fulcrum. The turning of the card medium 170 stops when it is brought into contact with the upper portion of the retaining portion 109a of the medium fixing member 109. This state is illustrated in Fig. 5 (B). At this time, the connecting terminals 171 do not yet contact the contacts 104. Successively, when the end of the card medium 170 at the side of the medium fixing member 109 is pressed downward, the medium fixing member 109 is moved rightward against the spring 110 along a tapered portion of the retaining portion 109a, namely, it is moved rightward in Fig. 5 (B) as the card medium 170 is turned along the tapered portion of the retaining portion 109a. The inserted short side of the card medium 170 is moved upward as the card medium 170 is turned along the tapered portion of the retaining portion 109a. The connecting terminals 171 of the card medium 170 are moved and finally contact the contacts 104 as the inserted short side of the card medium 170 is moved upward. During the contact of the connecting terminals 171 with the contacts 104, the right positioned contact 104 in Fig. 5 (B) contacts the connecting terminal 171 earlier than the left positioned contact 104 in Fig. 5 (B). The right positioned contact 104 corresponds to the ground potential connecting terminal. If the ground potential connecting terminal of the card medium 170 is positioned at the left in Fig. 5 (B), it is enough to set the amount of projection of the left positioned contact 104 in Fig. 5 (B) to be greater than that of the right positioned contact 104 so that the left positioned contact 104 first contact the ground potential connecting terminal of the card medium 170. When the left positioned contact 104 contacts the ground potential connecting terminal, the other contacts 104 successively contact corresponding power supply connecting terminal, read/write connecting terminal, etc. The card medium 170 is turned until it is in surface contact with the horizontal surface 102b. In a state where the card medium 170 is in surface contact with the horizontal surface 102b, the connecting terminals 171 contact the corresponding contacts 104 in a given pressure force. This state is illustrated in Fig. 5 (C). The card medium 170, which is in surface contact with the horizontal surface 102b, is released from being retained by the medium fixing member 109 and is positioned under the position in Fig. 5 (C) where the medium fixing member 109 is provided. Accordingly, the medium fixing member 109 is moved to the left in Fig. 5 (C) by the resiliency of the spring 110 and then returned to a given position. At this time, the retaining portion 109a of the medium fixing member 109 which projects over the horizontal surface 102b covers a part of the right short side of the card medium 170 in Fig. 5 (C). This state is illustrated in Fig. (D). When the card medium 170 is pulled out from the electric connector 100, the projection 109b of the medium fixing member 109 is moved to the right in Fig. 5 (D) by the hand, thereby moving the medium fixing member 109 to the right. When the medium fixing member 109 is moved to the right, the retaining portion 109a is released from covering the part of the card medium 170. Accordingly, the right short side of the card medium 170 in Fig. 5 (D) is released from being fixed by the retaining portion 109a so that the left short side of the card medium 170 is pressed downward by the pressure force of the contacts 104. Since the card medium 170 is turned counterclockwise about the ridgeline 102c serving as the fulcrum, the right short side of the card medium 170 floats upward. In this state, the card medium 170 can be easily pulled out from the electric connector 100. Accordingly, in the first embodiment of the invention, the card medium 170 can be smoothly inserted into and pulled out from the electric connector 100 and the electric connector 100 can be relatively small in size since it requires only a space where the medium fixing member 109 can be provided in addition to the card medium 170 and a thickness which permits the card medium 170 to be slightly turned in the case. Further, since the contacts 104 are supported by the case 101 and there is no moving mechanism in the electric connector 100 other than the medium fixing member 109, the electric connector 100 can be easily designed and the contacts 104 and the internal circuit of the card reader/writer can be easily electrically connected. Still further, since the card medium 170 can be inserted into or pulled out from the electric connector 100 in a state where the connecting terminals 171 of the card medium 170 and the contacts 104 do not receive any pressure force, the connecting terminals 171 are prevented from being damaged. More still further, since the electric connector 100 has a simple structure and less parts, it is hardly damaged and there is no likelihood that the card medium 170 is prevented from being pulled out therefrom due to trouble, etc. of the card reader/writer. An electric connector 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention will be now described. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the electric connector 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, an upper portion 250 corresponding to the upper portion 152 of the first embodiment has an inclined shape 201 at the side of an insertion slot and a ridgeline 202 is also inclined in conformity with the inclined shape 201. Inserting and pulling out operations of the card medium and a contacting operation between the connecting terminals of the card medium and the contacts are the same as those of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the electric connector 200 of the second embodiment can reduce the material of the case 101. An electric connector 300 according to a third embodiment of the invention will be now described. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the electric connector 300 according to the third embodiment of the invention. In the third embodiment, an upper portion 350 corresponding to the upper portion 152 of the first embodiment is provided only at the portion where contacts 106 are supported thereby. Inserting and pulling out operations of the card medium and a contacting operation between the connecting terminals of the card medium and the contacts 106 are the same as those of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the electric connector 300 of the third embodiment can more reduce the material of the case 101 compared with the second embodiment and can always confirm data as indicated on the surface of the card medium. An electric connector 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention will be now described. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the electric connector 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the invention. In the fourth embodiment, a long side of the card medium can be inserted into the electric connector 400. Inserting and pulling out operations of the card medium and a contacting operation between the connecting terminals of the card medium and the contacts 106 are the same as those of the first embodiment. Accordingly, since the rectangular shape of the electric connector 400 is made more approximate to a square shape, the electric connector 400 is hardly bent. The electric connector of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments. For example, a spring is provided on the horizontal surface and the card medium is permitted to float by this spring. The ridgeline may not be positioned at the position as described in the aforementioned embodiments if it is positioned at a position where the card medium is inserted through the insertion slot and the inserted card medium is turned about the ridgeline serving as the fulcrum. Further, the amount of projection of the contacts may be differentiated from one another. Still further, the upper portion of the electric connecting portion may have an embossing notched portion for discriminating two surfaces of the card medium. INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the electric connector wherein the card medium can be easily inserted and pulled out and the case can be thinned. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the electric connector wherein electric connection between connecting terminals of the card medium, contacts and the internal circuit of the card reader/writer can be surely performed with a simple design. Still further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the electric connector wherein the connecting terminals of the card medium is not damaged.

Claims: An electric connector which electrically contacts a card medium (170) having a plurality of electric connecting terminals, said electric connector comprising:- a case (101) having means for supporting said card medium (170) in a first position in which the electric connecting terminals are in contact with a plurality of electric contacts (104) supported on a supporting means by means of respective elastic members (106), and a second position in which they are not so connected, and a fixing means which fixes said card medium in said first position; said connector being characterised in that: (a) said means for supporting said card medium in said first position comprises a horizontal surface (102b) of said case, and said means for supporting said card medium in said second position comprises an inclined surface (102a) of said case, said surfaces being arranged in such a way that said card medium (170) makes an acute angle with said horizontal surface (102b) when said card medium is in contact with said inclined surface (102a); (b) said supporting means for the electric contatcs being positioned opposite to said inclined surface (102a) at a position higher than said horizontal surface (102b); (c) said elastic members (106) being disposed on said supporting means so as to urge said electric contacts (104) toward said inclined surface (102a) such that said electric contacts (104) are brought into contact with said corresponding electric connecting terminals of said card medium (170) when said card medium is shifted from said second position to said first position; (d) said fixing means fixes said card medium (170) onto said horizontal surface (102b) with said electric contacts (104) in contact with said electric connecting terminals of said card medium, wherein said fixing means includes a fixing member (109) disposed adjacent to said horizontal surface (102b), wherein said fixing member is movable between a position in which it keeps a part of said card medium in contact with said horizontal surface and a position in which it releases said card medium from contact with said horizontal surface. (e) wherein, when said card medium is released by said fixing means, the card medium is urged from said first position to said second position by means of said electric contacts (104). An electric connector according to claim 1, wherein said case further comprises a vertical wall disposed adjacent said inclined surface, said vertical wall being perpendicular to said horizontal surface. An electric connector according to claim 2, wherein said vertical wall supports said supporting means such that said supporting means is substantially parallel to said horizontal surface. An electric connector according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member is conductive. An electric connector according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of electric contacts include ground electric contact and other electric contacts for applying a ground potential, and wherein said ground electric contact projects further toward said inclined surface than do said other electric contacts. An electric connector according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of electric contacts are arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein said plurality of electric contacts include a ground electric contact for applying a ground potential. An electric connector according to claim 1 in combination with a card, wherein said fixing member is disposed at a position higher than said horizontal surface by an amount no less than the thickness of the card medium and is horizontally movable, and wherein said fixing means further includes a spring means for urging said fixing member toward said inclined surface. An electric connector according to claim 7 wherein the fixing member has an inclined portion which faces the card member so that, as the card member is placed onto said horizontal surface, the interaction between the inclined portion and the card medium moves the fixing member against the bias of the spring. An electric connector according to claim 8, wherein said inclined portion of the fixing member is inclined so as to descend toward said horizontal surface in a direction toward said inclined surface, and wherein said fixing member further comprises:- a retaining portion for projecting over said horizontal surface, and a projection which engages a portion of said case to limit horizontal movement of said fixing member. An electric connector according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means overlies the entirety of said inclined surface. An electric connector according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means overlies only a part of said inclined surface.

Inventors: NIIMURA YUUJI, NIIMURA, YUUJI, NIIMURA, YUUJI, OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Applicants: OKI ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R23
IPC codes: G06K7, H01R12, H01R24