US 6,461,175 B2Grant
IC card connector with grounding terminal member
Issue Date:2002-10-08
•4 Claims
•12 Drawing Sheets
Abstract
An IC card connector is provided with grounding terminal members, in which a pair of grounding terminal members has simple structure and common shape allowing a reduced cost and easy fabrication. The IC card connector is provided with a housing with a plurality of pin terminals, a frame mounted on the housing, a pair of guide sections are provided longitudinally at both side sections of the frame to remove and insert to IC card, and respective arm sections of grounding pieces. mounted on the guide sections. The IC card is inserted between the guide sections so that a grounding terminal of one side section of the IC card is made to come into contact with first expanded sections, while a grounding terminal of the other side section of the IC card is made to come into contact with second expanded sections.
Metadata
Assignee
- ALPS Electric Co., Ltd.
Inventor
- Taiji Okamoto
Application Information
Application Number:US 09/939,456
Filing Date:2001-08-24
Priority Date:2000-08-31
Art Unit:7
Classifications
IPC:
H01R 13648H01R 466H01R 1340H01R 916
Field of Search:
439 92439 79439 644397331439869439 80439159439 95439108
Patent Drawings (12 sheets)
Description
Background of the Invention
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an IC (Integrated Circuit) card connector used for insertion and removal of the IC card, and more particularly to an IC card connector to which countermeasures to prevent static electricity is taken and where a grounding terminal member is used for this IC card connector.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The make up of a conventional IC card connector is described based on FIG.'s 13 and 14. U-shaped housing 121 made up of a molding of synthetic resin has a base section 121aand a guide section 121bextending toward the front direction from both side sections of the base section 121a. Further, a plurality of metallic pin terminals 122 are mounted in such a way that respective contact sections thereof are in the rear (right side of FIG. 13) and respective terminal sections 122athereof are in the front, and the pin terminals 122 are buried in the base section 121aof the housing 121 in a parallel arrangement in the lateral direction. Furthermore, a pair of mounting member 123 made of metallic piece is mounted on both side sections in front of the housing 121.
[0006] As illustrated in FIG. 14, a shielding plate 124 made of metallic plate has a top surface plate 124a, a plurality of bent tongue shaped pieces 124bprovided at the top surface plate 124a, C-shaped mounting sections 124cprovided at both side sections of the top surface plate 124a. Further, the shielding plate 124 is combined with the housing 121 while allowing the mounting section 124cto be fitted to a peripheral surface of the guide section 121bin such a way as to cover a top surface of the base section 121aof the housing 121 by use of the top surface plate 124a, so that the top surface of the housing 121 becomes electrically shielded by the shielding plate 124.
[0007] A pair of guide members 125 made up of the molding of the synthetic resin have a guide section 125athat has C-shape cross section and a mounting section 125bextending in forward direction. The pair of guide member 125 is integrated with the housing 121 in such a way as to recess the mounting section 125binto the guide section 121bof the housing 121.
[0008] Further, a pair of contact pieces 126a, 126bmade of metal plate are bent in opposite direction with each other and top sections thereof become contact sections. Furthermore, parts of the pair of contact pieces 126a, 126bextend in perpendicular direction to come into contact with circuit substrate described later.
[0009] Moreover, the pair of the contact pieces 126a, 126bare mounted on the pair of guide members 125, and parts of the contact pieces are exposed from opening sections which are not illustrated formed at the guide section 125ato come into contact electrically with an IC card, which is inserted, described later.
[0010] Then, the IC card connector having such a constitution is incorporated into an electronic apparatus to be used, and its incorporation is performed in such a way that terminal section 122aof the pin terminal 122 is connected to conductive pattern 128 provided on the circuit substrate 127, and one pair of mounting members 123 are mounted on the conductive pattern 128 with the mounting member 123 soldered. Further, a rectangular shaped IC card 30 used for such electronic apparatus is provided with a contact section capable of being connected to the pin terminal 122 at front section thereof and is provided with one pair of grounding terminals 31 at both side sections thereof.
[0011] Although the IC card 30 is used in such a way as to be inserted into or removed from the IC card connector, the IC card 30 is invariably inserted into the IC card connector using the guide section 125aof the guide member 125 as a guide. Further, when advancing the insertion of the IC card 30, a pointed end section thereof is inserted using the guide section 121bof the housing 121 as a guide. The insertion is completed when the contact section of the IC card 30 comes into contact with the pin terminal 122.
[0012] Furthermore, when the IC card 30 is completely inserted, the grounding terminal 31 of the IC card 30 comes into contact with the contact pieces 126a, 126b, while the IC card 30 simultaneously becomes elastically supported by the bent tongue shaped piece 124b. Further, the IC card 30 is capable of being pulled out from the IC card connector by hand, with the housing 121 and the guide member 125 as the guides are.
[0013] Now, since the pair of contact pieces 126a, 126bare shape differently from each other, dies for manufacturing each contact piece is prepared separately. The contact pieces 126a, 126bare made by undergo presswork utilizing each different die.
[0014] Thus, since it is necessary to prepare two kinds of dies in compliance with the contact pieces 126a, 126b, there is the problem of the time and the expense are required for manufacturing the dies.
[0015] Furthermore, the contact pieces 126a, 126bare small parts, accordingly, it is necessary to assemble the contact pieces 126a, 126binto the guide sections 125a, 125aby hands, for that reason, there is a possibility that the contact pieces 126a, 126bmay be accidentally mounted on the opposite end of the guide sections 125a, 125a.
[0016] Moreover, when the pair of contact pieces 126a, 126bare mounted on the guide sections 125a, 125arespectively, subsequently, it was necessary to use a jig when the connector is made to fix the connector on the circuit substrate 127 by use of the screws and so forth which are not illustrated.
Summary of the Invention
[0017] In view of the foregoing it is an object of the present invention to provide an IC card connector provided with grounding terminal members where a right side grounding terminal member and left side grounding terminal member are formed to have a simple structure and common shape, to reduce cost and allow easier assembly.
[0018] As a first solution for solving at least one of the aforementioned problems, there is provided a grounding terminal member while blanking a metal plate that is provided integrally with a leg section, a flat board shaped arm section, and first and second expanded sections being expanded outward at inside and outside of the arm section, wherein the leg section is made to ground, and any one of the first and the second expanded sections is made to elastically come into contact with a grounding terminal of electronic components.
[0019] As a second solution, there is provided an IC card connector that uses the grounding terminal member described in the first solution, comprising a housing on which a plurality of pin terminals are mounted and a frame which is mounted on the housing, wherein a pair of guide sections which are used at the time that the IC card is inserted and removed are provided longitudinally at both side sections of the frame, and the arm section of the grounding terminal member is mounted on the respective guide sections. The IC card is made to insert between the respective guide sections, and a grounding terminal of one side section of the IC card is made to come into contact with the first expanded section, while a grounding terminal of opposite side section to the one side section is made to come into contact with the second expanded section.
[0020] As a third solution, there is provided an IC card connector, in the second solution, wherein the housing is made to mount on a circuit substrate, subsequently, allowing pointed end of the leg section of the grounding terminal member to be projected from the guide section to establish continuity between the pointed end and a grounded pattern of the circuit substrate.
[0021] As a fourth solution, there is provided an IC card connector, in the second solution, wherein supporting leg sections are provided at both side sections of the frame, and pointed ends of the supporting leg sections are placed on the surface of the circuit substrate, thus allowing the pointed end of the leg sections of the grounding terminal member to be projected from the supporting leg sections.
[0022] As a fifth solution, there is provided an IC card connector, in the second solution, wherein engaging claws are formed at pointed ends of the leg sections, and the engaging claws are made to insert into hole sections of the circuit substrate to engage the guide section to the circuit substrate.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0023] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an IC card connector to be an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a side view of an IC connector to be an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a rear view of an IC card connector to be an embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a housing of the IC card connector to be an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view of the aforementioned housing;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the aforementioned housing;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a grounding terminal member of the IC card connector to be one embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a modified example of the aforementioned grounding terminal member;
[0031] FIG. 9 is an explanation view for explaining relationship between the IC card connector and the circuit board;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a principal portion enlarged view of the grounding terminal member of the IC card connector to be one embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 11 is a operational explanation view for explaining mounting of the IC card connector to the substrate to be one embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 12 is an explanation view for explaining condition where IC card of the IC card connector to be one embodiment of the present invention is mounted;
[0035] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional IC card connector, and perspective view of the IC card; and
[0036] FIG. 14 is a principal portion enlarged perspective view of the conventional IC card connector.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0037] Hereinafter an embodiment of an IC card connector of the present invention will be explained on the basis of FIG. 1 to FIG. 12.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, an approximately U-shaped housing 1 made up of the molding of synthetic resin has a base section 1amounted with a plurality of pin terminals 2, a pair of arm sections 1bextending in the rear (right side in FIG. 4) from both ends of the base section 1a, and leg section 1cprojected forward slightly from both ends of the base section 1aand projected downwards. Further, at the leg section 1c, mounting hole 1dfor mounting a screw and so forth is formed.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 5, at outside surface of the arm section 1b, first and second long thin projection sections 1e, 1fare formed to be projected integrally with the arm section 1balong with longitudinal direction thereof and at a connection section between the first long thin projection section 1eand the second long thin projection section 1f, a step section 1gis formed.
[0040] Right-angled struck section 1his formed protrusively at upper portion of both side sections of the above-described leg section 1c, and at lower portion thereof, engaging claw sections 1kfor mounting flat plate shaped metal terminal 4 (referring to FIG. 1) are formed.
[0041] Further, at the both side sections of the housing 1, each engaging groove 1swhich is enclosed by the aforementioned first and second long thin projection sections 1e, 1fand right-angled struck section 1hso as to form one flat surface is constituted.
[0042] Furthermore, at the center of underside of the arm section 1b, respective first supporting leg sections 10 are provided, and a pair of opposite trapezoidal shaped trapezoidal plates 11 are provided protrusively in the rear at approximately the center of the base section 1a. A second supporting leg section 12 is provided downward from the under side trapezoidal plate. Thus, a fixed distance from the circuit substrate, described later, depends on the first and the second supporting leg sections 10, 12, and the leg section 1c.
[0043] The pin terminal 2 made of metallic material has a terminal section 2athat is bent in the crank shape and a contact section 2bwhose cross section is rectangular shape. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of pin terminals 2 are mounted on the housing 1 while being buried in the housing 1 in such a way as to be buried in the longitudinal direction of the base section 1aof the housing 1 in the condition that the terminal sections 2aare in the front (left hand side of FIG. 4) and the contact sections 2bare in the rear (right hand side of FIG. 4).
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 6, at upper side section of front side of the base section 1a, small rectangular shaped contact portions 22, 22 are provided integrally with the base section 1aand part of the leg section 1c. Rectangular shaped grooves 22b, 22bare formed at the aforementioned contact portions 22, 22 so that the rectangular grooves 22b, 22bbecomes parallel with contact section 2bof the pin terminal 2 toward upper surface of the base section 1ain the rear side of the contact portions.
[0045] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a rectangular shaped piece of frame 3 made of synthetic resin has a pair of rectangular shaped guide sections 5a, 5bthat are arranged at both side sections thereof and oppositely with each other. Engaging pieces 7a, 7bextend to provide pointed ends to the front side of the guide sections 5a, 5b. Long narrow engaging grooves 9a, 9bare formed in such a way as to be chipped perpendicularly (up-and-down direction of FIG. 2) to the board thickness in the rear side.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the above-described engaging pieces 7a, 7bhave beak-shape pointed end which angles upward slightly and whose lower side bends gradually. The width of the connection section between the engaging pieces 7a, 7band the guide section 5a, 5bis slightly narrow.
[0047] A plurality of guide projections 111 are formed alternately at upper and lower edge sections on the inside of the guide sections 5a, 5balong their longitudinal direction and the guide projections 111 become the guide when inserting and removing the IC card 30.
[0048] Further, a rectangular shaped flat board section 15 that bridge-connects the guide sections 5a, 5bis formed close to above-described engaging grooves 9a, 9bwhile being integrated therewith. Supporting leg sections 17a, 17bare formed protrusively from lower ends of guide sections 5a, 5bat the connection points of the guide sections 5a, 5band the flat board section 15 while being integrated with the guide sections 5a, 5b, and mounting holes 19a, 19bfor tightening by use of screw and so forth are provided at these supporting leg sections 17a, 17b. Further, each part of the above-described engaging grooves 9a, 9bis formed in such a way as to be formed around the supporting leg sections 17a, 7binto long narrow groove near the mounting holes 19a, 19b. Rectangular shaped opening sections 6a, 6bthat penetrate in the direction of board thickness are formed close to the supporting leg sections 17a, 17bof the guide sections 5a, 5b.
[0049] Further, at connection points of the above-described guide sections 5a, 5band the engaging pieces 7a, 7b, a rectangular shaped upper board section 20 is disposed in such a way as to straddle between the above-described engaging pieces 7a, 7b.
[0050] A slightly protruded broad width section 20ais provided at the center of the edge section of the front side of the upper board section 20. Thin engaging claws 20b, 20bare formed in such a way as to project slightly near both sides of the broad width section 20a.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 7, grounding pieces 25, 26 to be grounding terminal members made of L-shaped sheet metal have leg sections 25a, 26awhich are forked shape and flat board shaped arm sections 25b, 26bwhich are integrally formed with the leg sections 25a, 26aand are disposed at right angle to the leg sections 25a, 26a.
[0052] Pointed ends of the above-described leg sections 25a, 26aare engaging claws 25d, 25d, 26d, 26dcapable of being deformed elastically and mount the leg sections 25a, 26aon the circuit substrate, which is described later, through the engaging claws 25d, 25d, 26d, 26dto ground.
[0053] First expanded sections 27a, 28aand second expanded sections 27b, 28bare formed in such a way as to be separated into an upper part and a lower part. The upper part and lower part are adjacent with each other while expanding outward of inside and outside surfaces of pointed end side of the above-described arm sections 25b, 26b.
[0054] Protruded sections 25c, 26cwhich are slightly protruded outward are formed at both side edges of the leg section 25a, 26aof the grounding pieces 25, 26, to serve as a removal prevention member at the time of mounting.
[0055] Further, detailed description of the aforementioned engaging claw 26dis that, as illustrated in enlarged view of FIG. 10, the shape of outside of pointed end of the engaging claw 26dhas a tapered shape with the taper down, and where the upper side of the tapered portion has a perpendicular section and a horizontal section at a right angle to the perpendicular section. Furthermore, the engaging claw 26dhas an inverse taper shaped portion from the horizontal section while connecting to the above-described protruded section 26c. Moreover, also the condition of the above-described engaging claw 25dis the same as that of the above-described engaging claw 26d.
[0056] Thus, when mounting the engaging claw 26dwhile inserting through the hole section of the circuit substrate which is described later, the engaging claw is mounted more firmly while absorbing the gap and depending on the perpendicular section and the horizontal sections of the leg sections 25a, 26aof the grounding pieces 25, 26.
[0057] Moreover, these grounding pieces 25, 26 are manufactured in such a way as to be formed from a blank metal plate by a press forming machine using one common multiple-die.
[0058] Further, FIG. 8 illustrates modified example of grounding pieces 25, 26.
[0059] This grounding piece 32 made of metal plate is provided integrally with a leg section 32a, a flat board shaped arm section 32band first and second expanded sections 32e, 32fwhich expand outward of inside and outside of the arm section 32b. The leg section 32ais formed in forked shape, and pointed ends of the leg section 32aare engaging claws 32d, 32dcapable of being deformed elastically. Further, rectangular shaped tongue pieces 32c, 32cthat are cut to be raised outward from inside and outside surface of connection portion of the leg section 32aand the arm section 32bare formed adjacently right and left. Furthermore, the tongue pieces 32c, 32care removal prevention members at the time of mounting.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the aforementioned grounding pieces 25, 26 are recessed to the inside of the engaging grooves 9a, 9bof the guide sections 5a, 5b, and the first and the second expanded sections 27a, 28a, 27b, 28bare made to be exposed from the opening sections 6a, 6bwhich are penetrated to be formed at the guide sections 5a, 5b, in which the first and the second expanded sections 28a, 27bfrom among them come into contact with a grounding terminal 31 (referring to FIG. 13) of the mounted IC card 30.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 9, a circuit substrate 40 forms conductive patterns 41, 44 including grounded pattern 41, on which circuit substrate 40 electronic parts such as an IC, chip parts and so forth, not shown, are mounted by soldering and so forth.
[0062] The circuit substrate 40 forms thereon a pair of mounting holes (hole sections) 42, and forms a land section 43 made of metal foil around periphery of the mounting holes 42, and the land sections 43, which is electrically connected to the grounded pattern 41a.
[0063] Further, the circuit substrate 40 forms thereon a boss hole for positioning, in which part of the housing 1 and part of the frame 3 are inserted through this boss hole so that the circuit substrate is mounted to be fixed.
[0064] Next, description is made about fabrication of an IC card connector on the basis of FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, and FIG. 11C below.
[0065] First, the insertion of a plurality of the pin terminals 2 is made into the base section 1aof the housing 1. Then one end of the pin terminals is formed to contact sections 2b, while the other end is formed into terminal sections 2awhile bending the other end in the crank shape.
[0066] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the terminal sections 2bof the plural pin terminals 2 are soldered to a conductive pattern of the circuit substrate 40, while placing the housing I in predetermined position with respect to the circuit substrate 40. Moreover, as the need arises, the housing is tightened to be fixed to the circuit substrate 40 while inserting the screw and so forth into the mounting hole 1dof the housing 1. Further, a metallic terminal 4 is mounted on the engaging claw 1kof respective leg sections 1cof the housing 1. The metallic terminal 4 is mounted to be fixed to the conductive pattern 44 (referring to FIG. 9) of the circuit substrate 40 by the use of soldering. Thus, the housing 1 is mounted on the circuit substrate 40 with a predetermined height depending on the supporting leg sections 10, 12, and the leg section 1c.
[0067] Next, preparation is made to execute about a frame 3. Respective grounding pieces 25, 26 are made to insert through the engaging grooves 9a, 9bof the frame 3 from upper portion thereof to expose the first and the second expanded sections 27a, 28a, 27b, 28bformed on the arm sections 25b, 26bof the grounding pieces 25, 26 from the opening sections 6a, 6bformed on the guide sections 5a, 5b, and permitting the engaging claws 25d, 25d, 26d, 26dof the leg sections 25a, 26ato be projected through the engaging grooves 9a, 9bpositioned within respective supporting leg sections 17a, 17bfrom lower end thereof.
[0068] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the frame 3 is made to set in an obliquely inclined condition toward the housing 1 mounted on the circuit substrate 40, and the respective engaging pieces 7a, 7bare made to insert into the engaging groove Is of the arm section 1bof the housing 1 from the obliquely front direction (right side of FIG. 11B) while sliding along the engaging groove 1s.
[0069] Then, the engaging claws 20b, 20bof the upper board section 20 of the frame 3 are inserted through the rectangular grooves 22b, 22b(referring to FIG. 6) of the contact portions 22, 22 of the housing 1. Peripheral edge portions of the engaging claws 20b, 20bof the upper board section 20 strike the contact portions 22, 22. At the same time, pointed end portions of the engaging pieces 7a, 7bstrike corner portions of respective right-angled struck section 1hof the housing 1.
[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 11C, the frame 3 is made to push down so that the frame 3 becomes parallel with the circuit substrate 40, with the right-angled struck sections of the pointed ends of respective engaging pieces 7a, 7bas supports, and lower ends of the engaging pieces 7a, 7bare made to press against the first and the second long thin projection sections. As a result thereof, the broad width section 20aof the upper board section 20 of the frame 3 is disposed between the contact portions 22, 22 (referring to FIG. 1). Thus, the engaging claws 20b, 20bof the frame 3 are certainly recessed to the rectangular grooves 22b, 22bof the housing 1. Further, pointed ends of the beak shaped engaging pieces 7a, 7bare fitted to the respective right-angled struck sections 1hof the housing 1. The engaging claws 20b, 20bare recessed to the rectangular grooves 22b, 22b, therefore. movement of back and forth, right and left, and up and down of the frame 3 is restricted.
[0071] The supporting leg sections 17a, 17bof the frame 3 thus pushed down are placed on the circuit substrate 40. Moreover, the engaging pieces 7a, 7bare fitted to step sections 1gbetween the first and the second long thin projection sections 1e, 1f. Further, the engaging claws 25d, 26dof the grounding pieces 25, 26 are made to insert into the mounting hole 42 of the circuit substrate 40. The engaging claws 25d, 26dare subjected to snap-stopping while being deformed slightly and energizing elastically. After that, the engaging claws 25d, 26dare connected electrically to the land section 43 of the periphery edge of the mounting hole 42 while coming into contact therewith.
[0072] Thus, the IC card connector that is mounted on the circuit substrate 40 is completed.
[0073] Moreover, since both mounting holes (hole sections) 19a, 19bfor mounting screws and the engaging grooves 9a, 9bfor the grounding pieces 25, 26 are formed on the supporting leg sections 17a, 17b, it is possible that any one of the two is capable of being used. Namely, as described above, the grounding pieces 25, 26 are made to recess into the engaging grooves 9a, 9b of the guide sections 5a, 5b. The engaging claws 25d, 26dprotruded from the supporting leg sections 17a, 17bare made to insert through the mounting hole 42 of the circuit substrate 40. However, as another method, these protruded engaging claws 25d, 26dare made to cut off or to bend. Nuts are made to set within the mounting holes 19a, 19bof the frame 3. Tightening screws toward the nuts from mounting hole 42 of the circuit substrate 40 allows the frame 3 and the circuit substrate 40 to be fastened. Thus, the grounding terminal 31 of the IC card 30 is made to ground to the grounded pattern 41aof the circuit substrate 40 through the rounding pieces 25, 26.
[0074] Further, also when incorporating the grounding piece 32 instead of one pair of the grounding pieces 25, 26 f or the IC card connector, the same effect as the grounding pieces 25, 26 is exhibited. The grounding pieces 32 are capable of being mounted more certainly within the engaging grooves 9a, 9bof the guide sections 5a, 5bdepend in g on the tongue pieces 32c, 32c.
[0075] Next, operations of insertion and removal of the IC card 304 for the IC card connector will be described on the basis of FIG. 1, FIG. 9, and FIG. 12.
[0076] When inserting the IC card 30 illustrated in FIG. 9 into the guide sections 5a, 5bwhile being restricted by the guide projections 111 from un-inserted condition of the IC card 30 illustrated in FIG. 1, the grounding terminal 31 formed at side section of the IC card 30 is press to come into contact with both the first expanded section 28aand the second expanded section 27bof the grounding pieces 25, 26. Then, contact sections of the IC card are forced into the respective terminal sections 2bof the pin terminals 2 of the housing 1.
[0077] The IC card 30 is certainly mounted to the pin terminals 2 by inserting the IC card 30 by predetermined depth, resulting in completion.
[0078] At this time, the grounding terminal 31 of the IC card 30 is electrically connected to the grounded pattern 41aof the circuit substrate 40 through the grounding pieces 25, 26 to be grounded.
[0079] On the other hand, the IC card 30 is made to be removed from the IC card connector in such a way as to extrude the IC card 30 approximately straight in the removal direction from the connector either by pulling on both edge sections of the IC card 30 or by pressing on a push rod. which is not illustrated . when the IC card 30 is mounted within this IC card connector.
[0080] As described-above, the explanation has been made to execute one embodiment of the present invention, however, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various variations and modifications may be possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, a plurality of the first and the second expanded sections 27a, 27b, 28a, 28bof the grounding pieces 25, 26 can be provided, and it is good that the first and the second expanded sections 27a, 27b, 28a, 28bof the g rounding pieces 25, 26 are formed in the tongue piece shape. Further, it is also good that they are pressed by only a punch press, thus it is possible to simplify processing work.
[0081] As explained above, the grounding terminal member of the invention is provided integrally with the leg section, flat plate shaped arm section, the first and the second expanded sections that are expanded outward at inside and outside surfaces of the arm section in such a way as to blank a metal plate, in which the leg section is made to ground and any one of the first and the second expanded sections is made to execute elastic contact to a grounding terminal of the electronic parts, thereby, it is possible to form respective grounding terminal members by use of only one die. Accordingly, two different parts may be made as the same part, thus drastically reducing cost.
[0082] Further, the IC card connector is provided with a housing on which a plurality of pin terminals are mounted, and a frame which is mounted on the housing. A pair of guide sections for guiding insertion and removal of the IC card are provided at both side sections of the frame in the longitudinal direction thereof. respective arm sections of the grounding terminal members are mounted on the respective guide sections, in which the IC card is made to insert into respective guide sections there between. A grounding terminal of one side section of the IC card is made to come into contact with the first expanded section, while a grounding terminal of the other side section of the IC card is made to come into contact with the second expanded section. It is good that only common grounding terminal members are mounted on respective guide sections. Since there is no distinction between right side grounding terminal member and left side grounding terminal member, there is no fear of error fabrication. Thus it is possible to improve efficiency of work.
[0083] Furthermore. the housing is made to mount on the circuit substrate, followed by allowing pointed ends of the leg section of the grounding terminal member to be projected, so that continuity is established between the pointed ends and the grounded pattern of the circuit substrate. The grounding terminal of the IC card is capable of being grounded to the grounded pattern of the circuit substrate through the leg section of the grounding terminal member.
[0084] Moreover, the supporting leg sections are provided protrusively at both side sections of the frame. Pointed ends of the supporting leg sections are placed on the surface of the circuit substrate, further allowing the pointed ends of leg sections of the grounding terminal members to be projected from the supporting leg sections. The grounding terminal member makes the grounding of the IC card possible when the frame is set apart from the circuit substrate by constant distances. The frame is capable of being mounted on the circuit substrate through the supporting leg sections.
[0085] Still moreover, the engaging claws are formed at pointed ends of the leg sections. The guide sections are made to engage to the circuit substrate while inserting the engaging claws into the hole sections of the circuit substrate. Therefore, it is unnecessary to attach by use of the screws, so that it is possible to mount the guide section on the circuit substrate by performing the snap-stopping depending on only elastic deformation of the engaging claws.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An IC card connector comprising:
a housing having a plurality of terminal members, arranged side by side and having an IC card connected thereto, and a pair of guide sections oppositely faced to each other with a space into which said IC card is inserted being held therebetween, and for use in guiding said IC card to a position where it is connected with said housing, wherein each of said guide sections is provided with a grounding terminal contacting each of earth terminals arranged at both sides opposing against a direction crossing at a right angle with an inserting direction in said IC card, each of said grounding terminals is of the same shape and provided with a leg section extending in a height direction of each of said guide sections and contacted with an earth pattern of a circuit substrate, and an arm section extending from said leg section toward a longitudinal direction of each of said guide sections, said arm section is formed with a first expanded section and a second expanded section at its upper and lower parts, each of said first expanded section and said second expanded section protrudes to opposite front and rear sides, said first expanded section at one of said grounding terminals is contacted with one of said earth terminals and said second expanded section at the other grounding terminal is contacted with the other earth terminal.
2. An IC card connector according to claim 1, wherein said housing is made to mount on a circuit substrate, subsequently, allowing a pointed end of said leg section of said grounding terminal member to be projected from said guide section to establish continuity between said pointed end and a grounded pattern of said circuit substrate.
3. An IC card connector according to claim 2, wherein each of said guide sections is formed while both side sections of the frame which can be mounted at said housing are extended, supporting leg sections are provided at both side sections of said frame, and a pointed end of each of said leg sections of each of said grounding terminal members is projected from each of said supporting leg sections in a state in which the pointed ends of said supporting leg sections are placed on the surface of said circuit substrate.
4. An IC card connector according to claim 2, wherein pointed ends of said leg sections are notched to form a pair of engaging claws, and each of said engaging claws is inserted into hole sections of said circuit substrate to engage each of said guide sections to said circuit substrate.
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