Abstract:
A card connector into and from which a memory card is detachably inserted and removed, includes contacts each adapted to contact a connection portion of the memory card, and a housing for arranging and holding the contacts and having an inserting opening for inserting the memory card. The housing includes two side walls, a rear wall, and a lower wall contiguous to these side and rear walls to form the inserting opening for the memory card by these walls. A shell is arranged on the side of the housing opposite from the lower wall, and an elastically deformable tray is arranged on the lower wall so as to be slidable with the aid of a tray restraining plate. The card connector is miniaturized and lighter, more compact and simple in construction and is easy to remove a memory card.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a card connector for use in a various electric and electronic appliances such as mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), printers, card readers and the like for inputting and outputting signals into and from memory cards inserted into the card connector, and more particularly to a card connector having a structure for easily removing the memory card, while maintaining a reduced overall height of the card connector. 
         [0002]    In recent years, with the wide spread use of digital cameras and the like, memory cards having a large memory capacity and a compact shape have been used. A wide variety of memory cards have also been used depending upon characteristics and the like of appliances with which the memory cards are used, for example, SD card (Secure Digital memory card, registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “SD card”), Memory Stick card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “MS card”), SmartMedia card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “SM card”), CompactFlash card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “CF card”), xD card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “xD card”), Multimedia card (registered trademark, referred to hereinafter just as “MM card”), and the like. Accordingly as devices for writing and reading onto and from these various memory cards, memory card reader writers are increasingly being used in computers themselves or as peripheral devices. 
         [0003]    Examples of card connectors are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2003-45,562 (push-push type card connector, Patent Literature 1) and Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-123,252 (card connector using a tray, Patent Literature 2). 
         [0004]    Patent Literature 1 
         [0005]    According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2003-45,562, this invention has an object to provide an IC card inserting and removing device into which an IC card is detachably inserted. Disclosed is an IC card inserting and removing device adapted to be incorporated in an electronic appliance, including a housing  100  and a cover  200  covering the housing  100  consisting of a frame portion  110  in the form of a substantially U-shape and a bottom surface  120  closing one side of the frame portion  110  whose opposed lengthwise frame portions  111   a  and  111   b  are formed in their inside surfaces with guide grooves  113 , and contacts  130  for IC card arranged in a bottom frame portion  111   c , wherein a locking and ejecting mechanism  300  for IC cards is incorporated in one of the lengthwise frame portions  111   a  and  111   b , thereby providing a superior card inserting and removing device which achieves miniaturization and simplification of used parts and enables an IC card to be stably held. 
         [0006]    Incidentally, claim  1  of claims recites an IC card inserting and removing device to be incorporated in an electronic appliance, including a housing and a cover for covering the housing consisting of a frame portion in the form of a substantially U-shape and a bottom portion for reinforcing the frame portion, said frame portion having opposed lengthwise frame portions formed in their inner surfaces with guide grooves for the IC card, and contacts for IC cards arranged in a bottom frame portion perpendicularly crossing said lengthwise frame portions, wherein said device incorporates therein an IC card locking and ejecting mechanism comprising a slider provided on at least one of said lengthwise frame portions and advancing and retracting in the same directions of the movements of said IC card upon its insertion and removal, pushing means for always pushing said slider toward the card inserting opening of said guide grooves for the IC card, a cam groove provided in said slider and being in the form of a substantially heart-shape, and a rockable spring pin having a free end engaging in said cam groove and the other end fixed to said bottom frame portion. Claim  2  recites the IC card inserting and removing device as claimed in claim  1 , whose slider has an inclined surface portion against which a corner oblique portion of an IC card abuts. Claim  3  recites the IC card inserting and removing device as claimed in claim  1  or  2 , whose slider is adapted to slidably moved along guide rods provided on said lengthwise frame portions. Claim  4  recites the IC card inserting and removing device as claimed in claim  1 ,  2  or  3 , whose lengthwise frame portion not incorporating said IC card locking and ejecting mechanism is provided with a metal fitting having an elastic pressing piece elastically extending in the guide groove for the IC card so as to press the side face of the IC card. Claim  5  recites the IC card inserting and removing device as claimed in claim  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , whose part of said cover is provided with an elastic pressing piece for pressing the surface of the IC card. 
         [0007]    Patent Literature 2 
         [0008]    According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-123,252, the object of this invention is to provide a card connector  10  enabling a reduced overall height of the connector with a simple construction, and this object can be achieved by a card connector  10  adapted to be connected to at least two cards  60  and including contacts  14  corresponding to the number of the cards  60 , a tray  16  in which at least two cards  60  can be located, and a housing having a fitting opening  20  for receiving the tray  16  and arranging and holding said contacts  14 . As a card connector  10  adapted to be connected to four cards  60 , disclosed is a card connector including contacts  14  of four kinds, a tray  16  having a card mounted or loading portion  22  into which the four cards  60  can be worn or loaded, and a housing  12  for arranging and holding the contacts  14  of four kinds and having a fitting opening  20  for receiving the tray  16 . 
         [0009]    Incidentally, claim  1  recites a card connector being connected to at least two cards, comprising contacts corresponding to the number of said cards, a tray into which at least two cards can be loaded, and a housing having a fitting opening for receiving said tray and arranging and holding said contacts. Claim  2  recites a card connector being connected to four card, comprising contacts of four kinds, a tray having a card loading portion into which the four cards can be loaded, and a housing for arranging and holding said contacts of four kinds and having a fitting opening for receiving said tray. Claim  3  recites the card connector as claimed in claim  1  or  2 , wherein said tray is provided with the card loading portion having one part overlapping in relation to kinds of card other than one kind of card intended to be loaded in the card loading section so as to allow the intended one kind of card only to be loaded in the card loading portion. Claim  4  recites the card connector as claimed in claim  1  or  2 , wherein said tray is provided with the card loading portion not having a part overlapping in relation to at least two kinds of cards so as to allow at least two kinds of cards to be loaded in the card loading portion and said tray is further provided with a card identification mechanism for identifying the cards to be used. Claim  5  recites the card connector as claimed in claim  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein said housing is provided with stopper means on the side of the fitting opening for preventing the tray from extending from the housing. Claim  6  recites the card connector as claimed in any one of claims  1  to  5 , further comprising a mechanism for drawing said tray to some extent relative to the housing by pushing said tray in the state that said tray has been inserted. 
         [0010]    Recently, with the miniaturization of appliances, the need for connectors to be more miniaturized has become stronger. On the other hand, as the connector becomes lighter and more compact, it becomes difficult to insert and remove a memory card into and from the connector. Under such circumstances, the connector constructed as disclosed in the Patent Literature 1 could not realize the miniaturization of the connector. On the other hand, the card connector of the tray type as disclosed in the Patent Literature 2 has a problem that removal of a memory card from the tray would be difficult after the tray has been drawn from the connector. 
         [0011]    As a general trend of the technical field, a requirement for preventing erroneous fitting of memory cards has become stronger. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In view of these problems of the prior art, the invention has an object to provided a card connector which is simple, and lighter and more compact in construction, and is easy to remove a memory card. 
         [0013]    The above object can be achieved by a card connector  10  into and from which a memory card  60  is detachably inserted and removed, including contacts  14  each adapted to contact a connection portion of the memory card  60 , and a housing  12  for arranging and holding said contacts  14  and having an inserting opening  22  for inserting the memory card  60 , in that according to the invention said housing  12  comprises two side walls  24 , a rear wall  26 , and a lower wall  28  contiguous to these side and rear walls  24  and  26  to form said inserting opening  22  for said memory card by said two side walls  24 , said rear wall  26 , and said lower wall  28 , and that a shell  16  is arranged on the side of said housing  12  opposite from said lower wall  28 , and an elastically deformable tray  18  is arranged on said lower wall  28  so as to be slidable with the aid of a tray restraining plate  20 . 
         [0014]    According to the card connector  10  as claimed in claim  2 , said tray  18  is made of a metal having an elasticity in the form of a plate and comprises at one free end an operating portion  36  extending from the end face of said lower wall when said memory card has been worn so that said tray  18  is slidably moved by drawing said operating portion  36 . 
         [0015]    According to the card connector  10  as claimed in claim  3 , moreover, said tray  18  comprises erroneous fitting preventing means and positioning means for said memory card. 
         [0016]    According to the card connector  10  as claimed in claim  4 , said tray  18  is formed as a plate-shaped piece so that a space is provided below the lower surface of said memory card  60  when said tray  18  has been drawn from the housing. 
         [0017]    As can be seen from the above description, the card connector  10  according to the invention has the following significant functions and effects. 
         [0018]    (1) In a card connector  10  into and from which a memory card  60  is detachably inserted and removed, including contacts  14  each adapted to contact a connection portion of the memory card  60 , and a housing  12  for arranging and holding said contacts  14  and having an inserting opening  22  for inserting the memory card  60 , according to the invention said housing  12  comprises two side walls  24 , a rear wall  26 , and a lower wall  28  contiguous to these side and rear walls  24  and  26  to form said inserting opening  22  for said memory card by said two side walls  24 , said rear wall  26 , and said lower wall  28 , and further a shell  16  is arranged on the side of said housing  12  opposite from said lower wall  28 , and an elastically deformable tray  18  is arranged on said lower wall  28  so as to be slidable with the aid of a tray restraining plate  20 . According to the invention, therefore, it is possible to provide a lighter and more compact card connector, for example, having a thickness of less than 1.8 mm, and being capable of easily removing said memory card  60 . 
         [0019]    In the card connector  10  as claimed in claim  2 , according to the invention said tray  18  is made of a metal having an elasticity in the form of a plate and comprises at one free end an operating portion  36  extending from the end face of said lower wall when said memory card has been worn so that said tray  18  is slidably moved by drawing said operating portion  36 . Consequently, it is possible to provide a lighter and more compact card connector and being capable of easily removing said memory card  60  because said tray  18  is made of a metal having an elasticity. 
         [0020]    In the card connector  10  as claimed in claim  3 , according to the invention said tray  18  comprises erroneous fitting preventing means and positioning means for said memory card. Therefore, any erroneous fitting of the memory card  60  can be prevented, and the sliding movement of the said tray  18  can be suitably limited. Moreover, the height of said memory card  60  is held constant so that the memory card can be stably held even during sliding movement of the tray. 
         [0021]    In the card connector  10  as claimed in claim  4 , according to the invention said tray  18  is formed as a plate-shaped piece so that a space is provided below the lower surface of said memory card  60  when said tray  18  has been drawn from the housing. Accordingly, said memory card can be readily removed even with the lighter and more compact card connector. 
         [0022]    The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed specification and claims taken in connection with the appended drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the card connector with a tray drawn, viewed from the fitting side; 
           [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the card connector with a tray completely inserted, viewed from the fitting side; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the card connector with the tray drawn and a card mounted or worn on the tray, viewed from the fitting side; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the card connector with the card mounted and the tray inserted, viewed from the fitting side; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tray; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a tray restraining plate; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a housing with contacts held therein; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a shell; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the card connector with the shell removed. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    One embodiment of the card connector according to the invention will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1A to 7 .  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the card connector with a tray drawn, viewed from the fitting side, and  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the card connector with a tray completely inserted, viewed from the fitting side.  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the card connector with the tray drawn and a card worn on the tray, viewed from the fitting side, while  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the card connector with the card worn and the tray inserted, viewed from the fitting side.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tray, while  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a tray restraining plate.  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a housing with contacts held therein, and  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a shell.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the card connector with the shell removed. 
         [0033]    The card connector  10  of the one embodiment according to the invention mainly comprises the housing  12 , the contacts  14 , the tray  18 , the shell  16 , and the tray restraining plate  20 . 
         [0034]    Before explaining the components of the card connector, the cards will be explained. Said cards are used for printers, card readers and the like. Said cards each mainly comprise contact portions adapted to contact the contact portions  141  of the contacts  14 , patterns connecting from the contact portions of the card to circuits, and connection portions adapted to be connected to integrated circuits and central processing units mounted on the patterns. Cards to be used for the card connector  10  according to the invention include SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module card, registered trademark), Multimedia card (registered trademark), SD card (Secure Digital memory card, registered trademark), Mini-SD card (Mini Secure Digital memory card, registered trademark), Memory Stick card (registered trademark), SmartMedia card (registered trademark), CompactFlash card (registered trademark), xD card (registered trademark), RS-MMC card (Reduce Size MMC card, registered trademark), Transflash card (registered trademark), S card (registered trademark), Memory-stick Duo card (registered trademark) and the like, these being IC cards having built-in CPU or IC for memory. 
         [0035]    The card connector  10  of the illustrated embodiment is so constructed that the SIM card (registered trademark) can be inserted. 
         [0036]    First, the tray  18  will be explained which is a subject matter of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the tray  18  is made of a metal and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique. Preferred metals from which to form said tray  18  include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze, stainless steel and the like which comply with the requirements as to dimensional stability, formability, springiness, and the like. Particularly, the tray  18  must necessarily have an elasticity. 
         [0037]    Said tray  18  serves to hold said memory card and to insert and remove it into and from the housing  12 . Said tray  18  is a substantially plate-shaped piece and comprises an operating portion  36  at one end for drawing said tray  18  from the housing  12 , an anchoring portion  42  at the other end adapted to engage said tray restraint plate  20  when said try has been completely drawn (the anchoring portion  42  also serves as positioning means), and erroneous fitting preventing means and positioning means (for holding the height of a card constant) at predetermined positions between said anchoring portion  42  and said operating portion  36 . 
         [0038]    Said operating portion  36  at the one end of the tray has a substantially U-shaped cross-section by bending. Said operating portion  36  is grasped by fingers to draw the tray  36  from the housing  12  for the purpose of removing said memory card  60  from the card connector, and the operating portion  36  somewhat extends from the front end of the inserting opening  22  of the housing  12  in the state that said memory card  60  has been inserted or worn in the card connector. The shape and size of the operating portion  36  may be suitably designed in consideration of these functions, strength and workability of the tray and miniaturization of the card connector, 
         [0039]    Said anchoring portion  42  at the other end of the tray  18  is substantially L-shaped by bending. Said anchoring portion  42  slidably engages in a groove  48  of said tray restraining plate  20  and serves to limit the distance of sliding movement of said tray  18  (or serves to position the tray  18 ). In other words, when the memory card  60  has been completely inserted or loaded, the anchoring portion  42  contacts the end of said groove  48  at its rear end to prevent the tray  18  from further advancing inwardly of the housing. On the other hand, when the tray is drawn for removing said memory card from the card connector, the anchoring portion  42  contacts the opposite end of said groove  48  to prevent the tray  18  from further being drawn toward the inserting opening  22  of the housing  12 . The shape and size of said anchoring portion  42  may be suitably designed to fulfill such functions and in consideration of the functions, strength, workability and the like of the anchoring portion  42 . 
         [0040]    As described above, said tray  18  is provided with the erroneous fitting preventing means and the positioning means. As the erroneous fitting preventing means in the illustrated embodiment, an erroneous fitting preventing nail  38  having a substantially triangular cross-section is provided by bending so as to match in size an inclined face of the SIM card (registered trademark)  61  and at a location along the inclined face of the SIM card. The position and the size of the erroneous fitting preventing nail  38  may be suitably designed in consideration of the size of the SIM card (registered trademark)  61  and in a manner not scratching the memory card. Needless to say, said erroneous fitting preventing means will be suitably designed depending upon kinds of memory cards to be worn. The size of the erroneous fitting preventing nail  38  may be suitably designed in consideration of such functions, strength, workability, avoidance of scratching of the memory card, and the like. 
         [0041]    As said positioning means in the illustrated embodiment, there is provided an engaging projection  40  extending from the upper surface of the tray and located on the side of the inserting opening  22  in the proximity of said operating portion  36  and said erroneous fitting preventing nail  38  for the purpose of holding said memory card  60  at a constant height when it has been loaded on said tray  18 . The position, shape and size of said engaging projection  40  may be suitably designed in consideration of the balancing upon insertion of said memory card  60 , and strength, workability and the like of said tray  18 . The extending height of said engaging projection  40  is so determined that the top of said engaging projection  40  is flush with the surface of the lower wall  28  of said housing  12  in consideration of balancing when the tray  18  is in sliding movement. 
         [0042]    As said tray  18  is formed in a plate-shaped piece so that a space is provided below the lower surface of said memory card  60  upon the tray being drawn, thereby enabling said memory card  60  to be readily grasped by fingers. 
         [0043]    The tray restraining plate  20  will then be explained. The tray restraining plate  20  in the illustrated embodiment is made of a metal and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique, Preferred metals from which to form said tray restraining plate  20  generally include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze, stainless steel and the like which comply with the requirements as to dimensional stability, formability, springiness, strength, and the like. However, an electrically insulating plastic material may be used for the tray restraining plate  20  insofar as it comply with the requirements such as the strength and its function described below. 
         [0044]    Said tray restraining plate  20  is of substantially plate-shaped piece and is fixed to said housing  12  by means of press-fitting and the like. Said tray restraining plate  20  is formed with the groove  48  for limiting the sliding movement of said tray  18 . The shape and size of said groove  48  may be suitably designed in consideration of ability of limiting the sliding movement of the tray, miniaturization of the connector, and strength, workability, facility of assembling and the like of the tray restraining plate  20 . Said tray restraining plate  20  is provided with a required number of holding portions  44  for fixing the tray restraining plate  20  to said housing  12 . 
         [0045]    The housing  12  will then be explained. The housing  12  is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the housing  12  may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC) and the like and combination thereof. 
         [0046]    Said housing  12  comprises two side walls  24 , a rear wall  26  and a lower wall contiguous to these side and rear walls  24  and  26 . The inserting opening  22  for said memory card  60  is formed by the two side walls  24 , the rear wall  26  and the lower wall  28 . 
         [0047]    As described above, said housing  12  is provided with the inserting opening  22  for inserting the memory card  60 . In the illustrated embodiment, the inserting opening is so constructed that the SIM card (registered trademark)  61  can be inserted. Therefore, said inserting opening  22  has the shape and size to match the SIM card (registered trademark). 
         [0048]    Moreover, the contacts  14  corresponding to the card  61  to be inserted are installed in said housing  12  and fixed to the housing  12  by integral molding (molding the housing together with the contacts previously arranged in a mold), press-fitting, hooking (lancing), welding or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacts are fixed to the housing  12  by integral molding. 
         [0049]    Said housing  12  is provided with an engaging groove or recess  30  extending from the side of the inserting opening  22  toward the rear end  26  and contiguous to the rear wall. The engaging groove or recess  30  is formed to have a depth such that a space is provided between said tray restraining plate  20  and said housing  12  when said tray restraining plate  20  is fixed to said housing  12  for enabling said tray  18  to be slidably moved within the formed space. For this purpose, the shape and size of said engaging groove  30  may be suitably designed in consideration of the shape and size and sliding capability of said tray  18 , workability and strength of said housing  12 , and miniaturization and the like of the connector. In the illustrated embodiment, the depth of the formed space is 0.02 mm to 0.1 mm larger than the thickness of said tray  18 . 
         [0050]    In the illustrated embodiment, said housing  12  is formed with a notch in which the connection portions  143  of said contacts  14  extend, in consideration of the miniaturization of the connector. 
         [0051]    The contacts  14  will then be explained. The contacts  14  is made of a metal and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique. Preferred metals from which to form said contacts  14  include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze and the like which to comply with the requirements as to springiness, electric conductivity, and the like. 
         [0052]    Said contacts  14  each mainly comprise a contact portion  141  adapted to contact a connection portion of a memory card, a fixed portion  142  (not shown) to be fixed to said housing  12 , and a connection portion  143  to be connected to a substrate. Said contacts  14  are compatible with the SIM card (registered trademark)  61 . 
         [0053]    The connection portions  143  of the contacts  14  may be suitably designed in consideration of circuit design and occupied area of the substrate, and the size and design of the connector  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the contacts  14  are provided so that their connection portions  143  extend on the side of the inserting opening  22  and the connection portions  143  are of a surface mounting type (SMT) as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         [0054]    Moreover, the contact portions  141  of the contacts  14  extend into said inserting opening  22  so as to contact the inserted memory card  60 . The positions of said contact portions  141  may be suitably designed in consideration of the positions of the connection portions of the memory card  60  to be inserted. The extending distance of the contact portions  141  may be suitably designed in consideration of contact pressure against the memory card  60 . 
         [0055]    Finally, the shell  16  will be explained. The shell  16  is made of a metal and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique. Preferred metals from which to form said shell  16  include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze, stainless steel and the like which comply with the requirements as to workability, soldability, and the like. 
         [0056]    Said shell  16  has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and has functions for holding the memory card, preventing the memory card  60  from floating, ensuring the stability upon the card contacting, and securely fixing said card connector  10  to the substrate. Said shell  16  is formed with holes  34  for identifying the contact portions  141  of said contacts  14 . 
         [0057]    If required, farther, switch structures may be provided for confirming insertion and removal of the card  60 . In more detail, a plurality of terminals are provided to enable the insertion and removal of the cards to be recognized by ON and OFF of the terminals. 
         [0058]    In the illustrated embodiment, the card connector  10  has been shown and explained, having the structure into which the SIM card (registered trademark)  61  can be inserted. Needless to say, constructions similar to that described above according to the invention are also applicable to connectors for memory cards other than the SIM card. 
         [0059]    Examples of applications of the present invention include card connectors being capable of exchanging signals between the connector and a memory card inserted in the connector for use in various electric and electronic appliances such as mobile phone, PDA (personal digital assistant), printers, card readers and the like, and particularly card connectors with a structure being easy to remove a memory card inserted therein while maintaining a reduced overall height of the connector. 
         [0060]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.