Card connector

The present invention relates to a card connector used for electrically connecting a card incorporating a memory and a circuit board.

[0002] In recent years, electronic devices such as mobile phones are equipped with a card connector for mounting a card incorporating a memory. Conventional card connectors of this type include, for example.<u style="single">Fig. 9 ~ Fig. 11</u>There is one shown in. The card connector 1 includes a housing 3 capable of accommodating the card 2, a housing cover 4 provided so as to be fitted in the housing 3, and a plurality of connectors 1 arranged in parallel with the housing 3 (9 in the figure). It is roughly configured with the terminal 5 of.

[0003] The housing 3 is made of synthetic resin and includes a bottom plate 6, a front wall 7 formed at a front end portion of the bottom plate 6, and side walls 8 and 9 formed on both sides of the bottom plate 6. A locking mechanism (not shown) is provided on one side wall 9. Further, the housing cover 4 is made of metal, and both side portions thereof are bent downward to cover the outer surfaces of the side walls 8 and 9. Further, the front end portion 10 of each of the terminals 5 penetrates the front wall 7, projects to the outside of the housing 3, and is soldered onto a predetermined circuit surface of the circuit board 11.

[0004] In such a configuration, when the card 2 is pushed into the housing 3 from the rear end side, the contact point (not shown) of the card 2 comes into contact with the rear end portion 12 of the terminal 5. The contact state is held by the lock mechanism, and the card 2 is in a state of being attached to the card connector 1. Then, when the rear end portion of the card 2 is pressed and the card 2 is further advanced, the lock of the lock mechanism is released, and the card 2 can be pulled out from the rear end side of the housing 3.

However, in the conventional card connector 1 described above, when an electronic device is dropped or the like while the card 2 is attached, the card 2 is placed in the housing 3. When pushed excessively, an excessive force is applied to the front wall 7 or the joint between the terminal 5 and the circuit board 11, and the front wall 7 is damaged or the joint is peeled off. There was a problem.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a highly reliable card connector that enhances the breaking strength of the housing and prevents the joint between the terminal and the circuit board from peeling off. It is a thing.

[0007] [Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, in a card connector for electrically connecting a card and a circuit board, a housing in which the card can be inserted and removed from the rear end side and one end thereof are provided. In the region between the plurality of terminals joined on the surface of the circuit board and provided on the housing so that the other end can contact the contacts of the card, and the terminals arranged on both sides of the housing. On the front wall<u style="single">Perpendicular to the circuit board</u>Provided<u style="single">Fixed to the circuit board</u>With reinforcing members,<u style="single">The plurality of terminals are joined to the circuit board in front of the front wall, and the reinforcing member is fixed to the circuit board between the inner surface of the front wall and the joint portion between the circuit board and the terminal.</u>It is characterized by being.

[0009] Further, a metal housing cover that can be fitted to the housing is further provided, and the reinforcing member is provided so as to be in contact with the housing cover.

[0010] Further, a metal housing cover that can be fitted to the housing is further provided, and the reinforcing member is provided integrally with the housing cover.

[0011] Furthermore,<u style="single">The reinforcing member may be fixed to the circuit board through the vertical hole of the front wall. Further, the reinforcing member may be fixed to the circuit board in a state of penetrating the hole of the circuit board.</u><u style="single">Further, the housing cover may have a portion that covers at least a part of the front surface of the front wall of the housing from the outside, and the covering portion may be provided with a reinforcing member that is vertically fixed to the circuit board.</u><u style="single">Further, according to the present invention, in a card connector for electrically connecting a card and a circuit board, a housing in which the card can be inserted and removed from the rear end side and one end thereof are joined on the surface of the circuit board. In the area between the terminals arranged on both sides, the housing is provided with a plurality of terminals provided on the housing so that the ends can contact the contacts of the card, and a housing cover that can be fitted to the housing. A horizontal hole for mounting the terminal is provided in the front wall of the housing in parallel with the circuit board, and the housing cover covers a part of an area extending over the plurality of horizontal holes on the front surface of the front wall of the housing. It has a portion to be covered from the outside, and a fitting portion extending from the covering portion to the rear end side of the card connector is fitted into the lateral hole.</u>[0012] With such a configuration, since the reinforcing member can receive the forward force acting on the front wall, the electronic device is dropped or the like while the card is attached, and the card is excessively moved into the housing. Even if it is pushed into, there is no risk of damaging the front wall of the housing, and the reliability of the product can be improved.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the operation of the card connector at the time of inserting and removing the card is the same as that in the conventional case, a detailed description of such an operation will be omitted.

[0014] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a card connector 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The card connector 21 includes a housing 23 into which the card 22 can be inserted and removed from the rear end side, a housing cover 24 provided so as to be fitted to the housing 23, and a plurality of connectors (not shown) arranged in the housing 23. (9) terminals 25 and a required number (6 in the figure) of reinforcing metal fittings 27 provided on the front wall 26 formed at the front end of the housing 23 are provided.

[0015] The housing 23 is made of synthetic resin, and is composed of the front wall 26, a U-shaped bottom plate 28, and side walls 29, 30 formed on both sides of the bottom plate 28. .. The front wall 26 is provided with the same number of lateral holes 31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39 as the number of installed terminals 25 (9 in the figure) in the front-rear direction. , The required number of slit-shaped vertical holes 40 (6 in the figure) are vertically formed between the horizontal holes 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 except for the horizontal holes 31 and 39 on both sides. It has been drilled. In addition, two locking projections 41 are projected on the outer surfaces of the side walls 29 and 30.

[0016] The housing cover 24 is made of a metal plate, and both side portions 42 and 43 are bent downward to cover the outer surfaces of the side walls 29 and 30. An opening 44 is formed at a position corresponding to the locking projection 41 of each of the side portions 42, 43, and the opening 44 is locked to the locking projection 41, whereby the housing cover 24 Is fixed to the housing 23. Further, an outwardly bent claw piece 45 is formed at the lower ends of the side portions 42 and 43, and the claw piece 45 is joined to the circuit board 46 so that the housing cover 24 is combined with the housing 23. It is fixed to the circuit board 46.

The terminals 25 are press-fitted into the lateral holes 31 to 39 and arranged in parallel, and the front end portion 47 thereof projects to the outside of the housing 23 and is soldered onto a predetermined circuit surface of the circuit board 46. Has been done. Further, the rear end portion 48 of each of the terminals 25 is bent in a mountain shape and is formed so as to be in contact with a contact point (not shown) of the card 22.

[0018] The reinforcing metal fitting 27 is made of a metal plate, is composed of a square head 49 and leg portions 50 extending downward from the head portion 49, and wedge-shaped protrusions 51 are provided on both end surfaces of the leg portion 50. It is formed. Each of the reinforcing metal fittings 27 is press-fitted into each of the vertical holes 40 via the protrusion 51, and the lower end of the leg 50 is soldered to the circuit board 46. As described above, the reinforcing metal fitting 27 is located in the region between the terminals 25 arranged on both sides thereof, and preferably the inner surface 52 of the front wall 26 and the joint portion between the terminals 25 and the circuit board 46. It is fixed to the circuit board 46 with 53. As a result, even if the electronic device is dropped with the card 22 attached and the card 22 is excessively pushed into the housing 23, the forward movement of the card 22 is restrained by the reinforcing metal fitting 27. Therefore, there is no possibility that the front wall 26 is damaged or the joint portion 53 of the terminal 25 and the circuit board 46 is peeled off.

[0019] In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the head 49 of the reinforcing metal fitting 27 may be configured to come into contact with the housing cover 24. Then, in this case, the ground performance can be further improved. Further, each of the reinforcing metal fittings 27 may be integrated by connecting each head 49.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. For the sake of brevity, the same reference numerals are given to those having the same configurations as those in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the configurations in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0021] The card connector 61 includes a housing 62 capable of accommodating the card 22, a housing cover 63 provided so as to be fitted in the housing 62, and a plurality (9 in the drawing) arranged in the housing 62. It is equipped with a terminal 25 of.

The housing 62 is made of synthetic resin and is composed of a bottom plate 28, a front wall 64 formed at a front end portion of the bottom plate 28, and side walls 29 and 30, and the front wall 64 has the terminal 25. The same number of horizontal holes 31 to 39 (9 in the figure) are drilled in the front-rear direction.

The housing cover 63 is made of a metal plate, and its front end portion 65 and both end portions 42, 43 are respectively bent downward, and the front end portion 65 is in contact with the front surface 66 of the front wall 64. The front end portion 65 is composed of a curtain plate portion 67 and a plurality of (six in the figure) leg portions 68 extending downward from the curtain plate portion 67, and each leg portion 68 is a terminal 25 excluding terminals 25 on both sides. The lower end is soldered to the circuit board 46. As described above, the leg portion 68 is arranged in the region between the terminals 25 arranged on both sides thereof, and preferably the inner surface 69 of the front wall 64 and the joint portion between the terminal 25 and the circuit board 46. It is fixed to the circuit board 46 with 53. As a result, since the front end portion 65 functions in the same manner as the reinforcing metal fitting 26 in the first embodiment, the electronic device is dropped with the card 22 attached, and the card 22 is placed in the housing 62. Even if it is pushed excessively, the forward movement of the card 22 is restrained by the front end portion 65, the front wall 64 is damaged, or the terminal 25 and the joint portion 53 of the circuit board 46 are peeled off. There is no risk of it.

[0024] In the first and second embodiments, the lower ends of the legs 50 and 68 may be surface-mounted on the circuit board 46, and may be further surface-mounted by a joining method other than soldering such as press fitting. It may be fixed.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. For the sake of brevity, the same reference numerals are given to those having the same configurations as those in FIGS. 6 to 8 and 1 to 5, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0026] The card connector 71 according to the present embodiment is a modification of the shape of the front end portion 65 of the housing cover 63 in the second embodiment described above. That is, the front end portion 73 of the housing cover 72 in the present embodiment has two curtain plate portions 74 and 75 formed so as to be in contact with the front surface 66 of the front wall 64 of the housing 62 and the respective curtain plate portions 74,75. It is composed of fitting portions 76,77 and 78,79 formed by bending both sides of the housing rearward. The fitting part<u style="single">76</u>, 77, and 78, 79 are fitted, for example, into the respective lateral holes 32, 34, and 36, 38, respectively.<u style="single">Each fitting part</u>76,77,78<u style="single">,79</u>Is formed so as to be locked to the upper surface portion 80 of each of the lateral holes 32, 34, 36, 38, as is well shown in FIG. As a result, the housing cover 72 can be reliably fixed to the housing 62 in a state of being accurately positioned, and the strength of the front wall 64 can be further improved.

[0027] Further, preferably, a required number of engaging projections 81 (four locations in FIG. 6) are projected from the upper surface of the front wall 64 of the housing 62, and the engaging projections 81 of the housing cover 72 are provided. Engagement holes 82 are drilled at the corresponding positions. As a result, when the housing cover 72 is fixed to the housing 62, each of the engaging protrusions 81 engages with each of the engaging holes 82, and the front wall 64 can be more reliably prevented from being damaged. it can. That is, even if the card 22 is excessively pushed into the housing 62 and a forward rotational moment M (see FIG. 8) centered on the bottom surface thereof acts on the front wall 64, the engaging projection 81 and the card 22 By engaging the engaging holes 82, the rotational moment M can be sufficiently opposed, so that the front wall 64 is not likely to be destroyed.

[0028] In the first, second, and third embodiments, the reinforcing metal fittings 27, the legs 68 of the front end portion 65, and the fitting portions 76,77,78,79 of the front end portion 73 are installed. The number and installation position are not limited to the above-mentioned number and position. Further, the reinforcing metal fitting 27 and the front end portions 65 and 73 may be provided at different positions of the front wall 64, such as being installed on the inner surface 52, 69 side of the front wall 64.

[0029] Further, in the present invention, the terminal 25 is housed in the housing 23,62 without penetrating the front walls 26, 64, and the rear end portion of the terminal 25 is soldered to the circuit board 46. It can also be applied to a card connector configured to be used. Even in this case, the reinforcing metal fitting 27, the leg portion 50, and the fitting portion 76,77,78,79 are the regions between the terminals 25 arranged on both sides (the front extension lines of the terminals 25 arranged on both sides). It is provided so as to be located in (including the area sandwiched between).

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the reinforcing member can receive the forward force acting on the front wall, the electronic device is dropped or the like with the card attached. Even if the card is pushed excessively into the housing, there is no risk of damaging the front wall of the housing, and various excellent effects such as improvement of product reliability can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a card connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a card connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the card connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a card connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a card connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a card connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view showing a card connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a card connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Code description] 21 Card connector 22 Card 23 Housing 24 Housing cover 25 Terminal 26 Front wall 27 Reinforcing bracket 52 Inner surface 61 Card connector 62 Housing 64 Front wall 65 Front end 69 Inner surface 71 Card connector 72 Housing cover 73 Front end