Abstract The invention provides an improved IC card connector
which is constructed so that, even if with the passing of
time there occurs deterioration in the clamping force of
the connector for clamping the IC card, the IC card
itself will not be pushed in the card's discharge
direction by an elastic force of an actuator of a
detecting switch. The actuator (14a) of the detecting switch is
provided with a projected tongue piece (14c) obliquely
protruding toward the card insertion section, in a manner
such that the projected tongue piece is adapted to be
driven in the IC card's thickness direction by the IC
card just before the completion of its insertion.
Therefore, an elastic force of the actuator (this force
will be exerted on the IC card which has been inserted in
its loading position) may be made generally orthogonal to
the IC card's discharge direction. In this way, with
the passing of time, even if there occurs a deterioration
in a clamping force of the connector for clamping the IC
card, the IC card will not be pushed by the detecting
switch in its discharge direction and thus it is possible
to avoid positional deviation of the IC card when in its
inserted position.
An IC card connector, comprising: a housing including a card insertion section into
which an IC card may be inserted; a plurality of terminals each having a cantilever
beam configuration secured through one end thereof on the
housing, and each having a contact portion on a free end
thereof, said contact portion being formed in a manner
such that it is protruding toward the card insertion
section; a detecting switch located adjacent to an inmost
position of the card insertion section, said detecting
switch including an actuator and a contact element, the
actuator being made of an electrically conductive material
and adapted to be driven by an IC card just before the
completion of its insertion, said actuator being also
capable of coming into contact with the contact element
and moving away therefrom so as to detect whether the
insertion of the IC card is completed or not, wherein the actuator of the detecting switch is
provided with a projected tongue piece obliquely
protruding toward the card insertion section, in a manner
such that the projected tongue piece is adapted to be
driven in the IC card's thickness direction by the IC card
just before the completion of its insertion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
The IC card connector according to claim 1, wherein
the actuator is fixed at a base end thereof on the housing
so that a free end thereof is capable of getting into
contact with the contact element and moving away
therefrom, said actuator is further provided with the
projected tongue piece at a middle position between the
free end and the base end thereof, in a manner such that
the projected tongue piece is protruding toward the
outside of the actuator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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