Card edge connector

Abstract

A card edge connector can be used for inserting an electronic card and comprises a lengthwise insulating body, conductive terminals located in the insulating body, a first island part and a second island part, the first island part and the second island part are arranged at the two ends of the insulating body in the lengthwise direction respectively, the insulating body is provided with a clamping groove penetrating between the first island part and the second island part, and the electronic card is inserted into the clamping groove. The first island part is pivoted with an ear fastener, the second island part is fixed with a cover part and a locking and clamping part, a through groove for the locking and clamping part to move along the lengthwise direction penetrates through the second island part and the cover part, the through groove penetrates out of the cover part to form a skylight, and the locking and clamping part falls into the skylight when the electronic card is inserted along the insertion direction of the electronic card. On the premise that the standard size is not changed, the card locking state can be visually displayed, and low-cost self-display card locking is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electrical connectors, and in particular to a card edge connector. Background Technology

[0002] The card edge connector is a key component for the insertion and fixation of electronic cards. Its locking status is not visible, which can easily lead to the risk of mis-locking. Traditional structures include an insulating body, conductive terminals, and pivoting lugs at both ends connecting to the card locking assembly. The locking component is hidden within a through-slot in the second island section, making it impossible for the operator to directly confirm its proper positioning. This results in the risk of poor contact or mechanical damage to the electronic card, especially in scenarios involving frequent insertion and removal; approximately 15% of failures originate from this issue.

[0003] Existing improvement solutions generally suffer from a trade-off between performance and cost. First, micro-marking solutions are prone to becoming difficult to identify due to their size and wear. Second, while external sensor solutions can detect, their cost increases by more than 40%. Finally, optical detection solutions are prone to losing compatibility due to their large size. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a card edge connector that can intuitively display the card locking status without changing the standard size, thus achieving low-cost self-display card locking.

[0005] This application provides a card edge connector for inserting electronic cards, including a longitudinally elongated insulating body, conductive terminals located within the insulating body, and a first island and a second island each located at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the insulating body. The insulating body has a card slot extending between the first island and the second island for inserting an electronic card. The first island is pivotally connected to an ear fastener, and the second island is fixed with a cover and a locking member. The second island and the cover are connected by a through groove for the locking member to move along the longitudinal direction. The through groove extends out of the cover to form a window. During the insertion of the electronic card, the locking member falls into the window when viewed along the insertion direction of the electronic card.

[0006] In the card edge connector of this application, by designing a skylight on the cover, the movement trajectory of the card locking component is directly exposed inside the skylight. When the electronic card is inserted, the operator can judge the card locking status by observing whether the card locking component falls into the skylight (unlocked) or bounces back outside the skylight (locked). Thus, the card locking status can be displayed intuitively without changing the standard size, realizing low-cost self-display card locking.

[0007] Preferably, the locking mechanism is used to lock the electronic card when it is inserted into the card slot, and when viewed along the insertion direction of the electronic card, the locking mechanism springs back to the outside of the skylight after the electronic card is inserted into place.

[0008] Preferably, the locking component is a metal component and includes a holding portion fixed to the second island portion, a latching portion extending upward from the holding portion and inclined toward the slot, and a contact portion extending upward from the latching portion and bent away from the slot. The latching portion is provided with a latching hole for locking.

[0009] Preferably, the snap-fit ​​hole extends to the retaining part, and the retaining part is provided with several protrusions on both sides.

[0010] Preferably, when viewed along the direction of electronic card insertion, the latching part is inclined at 5° to 10° relative to the retaining part toward the card slot.

[0011] Preferably, when viewed along the direction of electronic card insertion, the contact portion is inclined at 40° to 45° relative to the retaining portion in the direction away from the card slot.

[0012] Preferably, the width of the retaining portion is greater than the width of the latching portion, and the width of the latching portion of the contact portion is greater than the width of the contact portion.

[0013] Preferably, the bottom of the retaining portion has a flange protrusion that bends away from the second island portion.

[0014] Preferably, the card edge connector further includes a retaining member disposed between the first island portion and the ear fastener, the retaining member being used to strengthen the pivot connection between the ear fastener and the first island portion.

[0015] Preferably, the groove wall is an arc shape that guides the insertion direction of the electronic card. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the application scenario of the card edge connector according to an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure 2 This is an overall schematic diagram of the card edge connector according to an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 3 This application Figure 2 An exploded view of the card edge connector in the embodiment.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a partial structure of the card edge connector in an embodiment of this application, and a schematic diagram of an electronic card locking scenario.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cover in an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the electronic card and the card lock in place according to an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the view through the sunroof when the electronic card and the card lock are in place, according to an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the abnormal state of the electronic card and card lock in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the view through the skylight when the electronic card and card lock malfunction according to an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 10 This is a side view of the locking mechanism according to an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 11 This is a front view of the locking mechanism according to an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the ear clip component according to an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the retaining member according to an embodiment of this application.

[0029] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate this application. Detailed Implementation

[0030] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the words "exemplary," "or," and "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of the words "exemplary," "or," and "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terminology used in this application's specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. It should be understood that, unless otherwise stated, " / " in this application means "or". For example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in this application is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. "At least one" refers to one or more. "More than one" refers to two or more. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, and a, b, and c (seven cases).

[0032] It should also be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims and drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects, rather than to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0033] Card edge connectors, as core components in electronic devices that enable the interconnection of functional modules, essentially achieve precise positioning and reliable contact of electronic cards through mechanical structures. The standardized structure commonly used in the industry today includes a longitudinally elongated insulated body and built-in conductive terminals, which, together with pivoting lugs and locking components at both ends, form the basic framework. In a working scenario, after the operator inserts the electronic card along the card slot, the lugs on the first island apply clamping force through leverage, while the locking components on the second island achieve final locking through the elastic deformation of the metal.

[0034] However, the highly integrated structure of existing card edge connectors in pursuit of miniaturization directly leads to a visual blind spot in the card locking action—the locking component is hidden entirely within the through-slot formed by the second island and the cover. In high-frequency insertion and removal scenarios, approximately 15% of system failures stem from the problem of indistinct locking caused by the lack of visual confirmation of the card's locking status. In other words, operators cannot visually confirm the locking status and must rely solely on experience, which can easily lead to misjudgments causing poor contact of the electronic card's gold fingers or mechanical damage due to excessive pressure on the locking mechanism.

[0035] Among the existing improvement solutions, the first type uses micro-lithography to create scale marks on the end of the locking component, and judges the degree of locking by observing the displacement of the marked points. However, this solution is easily difficult to identify due to size and wear. The second type integrates a micro-pressure sensor to detect the locking stress in real time, which can realize digital locking feedback. However, the hardware modification cost of a single connector increases by more than 40% compared to the traditional structure, and the complex circuitry severely restricts compatibility in high-density PCB layout scenarios. The third type of optical detection solution uses infrared photodiodes to monitor the locking displacement, but its optical components require an additional 0.8mm or more of vertical space, causing the overall height of the connector to exceed the standard limit, losing compatibility and failing to adapt to mainstream electronic card specifications, thus resulting in insufficient market acceptance.

[0036] Therefore, this application provides a card edge connector that can intuitively display the card locking status without altering standard dimensions, achieving low-cost self-display card locking. Some embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 This application provides a card edge connector 1, which can be used to insert an electronic card 2. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 2 and Figure 3The card edge connector 1 includes a longitudinally elongated insulating body 11, conductive terminals (not shown in the figure) located inside the insulating body 11, and a first island portion 12 and a second island portion 13 respectively located at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the insulating body 11. The insulating body 11 is provided with a card slot 110 passing through the first island portion 12 and the second island portion 13 for inserting an electronic card 2. The first island portion 12 is pivotally connected to an ear fastener 14. The second island portion 13 is fixed with a cover 15 and a locking member 16. The second island portion 13 and the cover 15 are connected by a through groove 130 for the locking member 16 to move along the longitudinal direction. The through groove 130 passes through the cover 15 to form a window 150. During the insertion of the electronic card 2, the locking member 16 falls into the window 150 when viewed along the insertion direction of the electronic card 2.

[0038] Please see Figures 4 to 9 By designing the through slot 130 of the cover 15 as a through "skylight 150", the locking mechanism 16 enters the skylight 150 area A during the insertion of the electronic card 2 (if the card malfunctions). Observing according to the insertion direction, as... Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, if the locking mechanism malfunctions, the movement trajectory of the locking component 16 will be exposed within the sunroof 150 (i.e., Figure 6 or Figure 8 Area A), thereby enabling visualization of the lock status, that is, the operator can directly observe the position of the lock piece 16 through the skylight 150 to determine whether the lock is completed, solving the hidden danger of false locking in traditional structures that are not visible, and without the need for external sensors or complex optical equipment, the visual function is achieved through physical structure improvement, reducing the increase in size or cost, thereby achieving a balance between cost and compatibility.

[0039] In this application, the locking member 16 can be used to lock the electronic card 2 when it is inserted into the card slot 110, and as described above, when viewed along the insertion direction of the electronic card 2, as... Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, when the electronic card 2 is inserted into place, the locking mechanism 16 can spring back to the outside of the sunroof 150, indicating that the card is locked normally. Conversely, if it does not spring back, the locking mechanism will not function properly. Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, when the card lock malfunctions, the card lock component 16 will be exposed inside the skylight 150. In this situation, the card lock component 16 has a spring-loaded characteristic. When the electronic card 2 is fully inserted, if the card lock is normal, the card lock component 16 will be disengaged from the skylight 150 area after being subjected to force (i.e., it will spring back to outside the skylight 150, and the card lock component 16 will be invisible). This creates a dual feedback mechanism: when the card lock component 16 exits the skylight 150, the operator observes a blank window and can confirm that the locking is complete, forming visual feedback; the spring-loaded action can produce a distinct "click" tactile sensation, indicating to the user that the lock is in place, forming tactile feedback. If the card lock component 16 does not spring back to outside the skylight 150, the locking failure can be immediately detected, thereby improving the function of preventing false locking.

[0040] The groove wall of the through groove 130 can be arc-shaped to guide the insertion direction of the electronic card 2. In this case, the groove wall of the through groove 130 adopts an arc-shaped guide design, which can conform to the movement trajectory of the locking component 16. The arc-shaped groove wall reduces frictional resistance and the risk of jamming, making the locking component 16 move more smoothly, thereby improving the smoothness of operation. In addition, the guide design ensures that the locking component 16 moves along the same path each time, reducing the difference in feel caused by skew, thereby improving the consistency of force.

[0041] Additionally, please see Figure 5 The cover 15 may include a main body 151, a latching portion 152 formed at the lower end of the main body 151 for engaging with the wall of the through slot 130, and an opening 153 formed in the main body 151 and communicating with the through slot 130. The opening 153 facilitates the insertion of the electronic card 2, and a window 150 is provided at the end of the opening 153 away from the electronic card 2. In this case, the cover 15 can be detachably mounted on the second island 13 via the latching portion 152, thereby facilitating maintenance; and the opening 153 facilitates the insertion of the electronic card 2, while the window 150 facilitates observation of the card locking status when the electronic card 2 is inserted.

[0042] In this application, please refer to Figure 10 and Figure 11 The locking member 16 can be a metal part. The locking member 16 may include a holding part 161 fixed to the second island 13, a latching part 162 extending upward from the holding part 161 and inclined towards the card slot 110, and a contact part 163 extending upward from the latching part 162 and bent away from the card slot 110. The latching part 162 may be provided with a latching hole 160 for locking the card. In this case, by using the elastic design of the metal material (holding part 161, latching part 162, contact part 163), the mechanical properties of the locking member 16 are optimized. When the electronic card 2 is inserted, the holding part 161 is firmly fixed to the inner wall of the through slot 130, and the inclined latching part 162 locks the electronic card 2 in the latching hole 160 under the combined action of the electronic card 2, the wall of the through slot 130, and its own elastic force. Meanwhile, during this process, the contact part 163, which is located at the end of the latch part 162 and extends to it, allows the operator to observe its position through the skylight 150. If the latch is in place, the contact part 163 will not fall inside the skylight 150. Conversely, if the latch is abnormal, the contact part 163 will be exposed in the skylight 150.

[0043] The contact portion 163 has a length of L1. L1 is configured such that when the lock is in place, the contact portion 163 is just not in the sunroof 150, and when the lock malfunctions, the contact portion 163 is exposed in the sunroof 150. The latch portion 162 has a length of L2, and the retaining portion 161 has a length of L3, with L3:L2 = 1:2. In this configuration, the force distribution can be optimized, thereby improving the stability and consistent feel of the lock.

[0044] Additionally, the latching hole 160 can extend to the retaining portion 161, and the retaining portion 161 has several protrusions on both sides. In this case, extending the latching hole 160 to the retaining portion 161 can optimize the elastic force of the locking member 16 to a certain extent, thereby improving the locking and rebound limitations. In addition, the protrusions can enhance the fixing stability and improve the adaptability to high-frequency insertion and removal scenarios.

[0045] Furthermore, viewed along the insertion direction of the electronic card 2, the latching portion 162 can be tilted 5° to 10° relative to the retaining portion 161 towards the card slot 110. Also, viewed along the insertion direction of the electronic card 2, the contact portion 163 can be tilted 40° to 45° relative to the retaining portion 161 away from the card slot 110. In this configuration, the angle design of the metal lock component 16 allows for controllable elastic deformation of the metal component at specific angles, ensuring that the user perceives a clear locking threshold. This further optimizes the force distribution, thereby improving the stability and tactile consistency of the lock.

[0046] Furthermore, the width of the retaining portion 161 can be greater than the width of the latching portion 162, and the width of the latching portion 162 can be greater than the width of the contact portion 163. In this case, through the width design of the metal lock piece 16, the retaining portion 161 (wide) provides rigid support, and the contact portion 163 (narrow) reduces friction, which can balance strength and elasticity, thereby further optimizing the force distribution and improving the stability and feel consistency of the lock.

[0047] In some embodiments, the bottom of the retaining portion 161 has a flange protrusion 164 that bends away from the second island portion 13. This improves the fixing stability of the locking member 16, reduces displacement that could cause false locking, and enhances reliability.

[0048] In this embodiment, the mechanical properties of the locking component 16 can be optimized by using the elastic design of the metal material (holding part 161, latching part 162, contact part 163), structural angles (5° to 10°, 40° to 45°), and shape (spiked part, flanged protrusion 164). It also provides a consistent feel. In addition, the latching part 162 (5° to 10°) can guide the electronic card 2 to slide in, and the contact part 163 (40° to 45°) can provide gradually increasing resistance, forming a clear stage feel. The clear "insertion resistance gradient" and "rebound feel" enhance the operational intuition, thereby reducing the risk of misoperation.

[0049] Please see Figure 12 In this application, the upper end of the ear clip 14 has a head that is easy for the operator to press and a lower end for pivoting the first island 12. The lower end is tapered and has a rotating shaft that facilitates the rotation of the first island 12 and a slanted groove that facilitates unlocking the electronic card 2.

[0050] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 13 The locking connector 1 may also include a retaining member 17, which is disposed between the first island portion 12 and the ear latch member 14. The retaining member 17 is used to strengthen the pivot connection between the ear latch member 14 and the first island portion 12. In this case, by adding the retaining member 17 between the ear latch member 14 and the first island portion 12, the mechanical strength of the pivot point is strengthened, thereby reducing the shaking of the ear latch member 14 and ensuring more precise coordinated action between the ear latch and the locking member 16 during insertion and removal, and reducing the deviation in locking force caused by structural loosening.

[0051] In addition, the retaining member 17 can be concave to fit the ear fastener 14. This improves the compactness of the ear fastener 14 and the retaining member 17, thereby improving assembly accuracy.

[0052] In summary, in the card edge connector 1 of this application, by designing a window 150 on the cover 15, the movement trajectory of the locking card 16 is directly exposed within the window 150. When the electronic card 2 is inserted, the operator can determine the card locking status by observing whether the locking card 16 falls into the window 150 (unlocked) or bounces back outside the window 150 (locked). Thus, the card locking status can be displayed intuitively without changing the standard size, achieving low-cost self-display card locking.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application.

Claims

1. A card edge connector for inserting electronic cards, comprising a longitudinally elongated insulating body, conductive terminals located within the insulating body, and a first island and a second island each disposed at both ends of the insulating body in the longitudinal direction. The insulating body has a card slot extending between the first island and the second island for inserting the electronic card. An ear fastener is pivotally connected to the first island. A cover and a locking mechanism are fixed to the second island. A through slot is formed between the second island and the cover, allowing the locking mechanism to move along the longitudinal direction. The connector is characterized in that: The through slot forms a skylight through the cover, and the locking member falls into the skylight when viewed along the direction of insertion of the electronic card.

2. The card edge connector of claim 1, wherein, The locking member is used to lock the electronic card when the electronic card is inserted into the card slot, and the locking member rebounds out of the skylight when the electronic card is inserted into place.

3. The card edge connector of claim 1, wherein, The locking member is a metal member and comprises a holding portion held on the second island portion, a clamping portion extending upward from the holding portion and inclined toward the card slot, and a contact portion extending upward from the clamping portion and bent away from the card slot.

4. The card edge connector of claim 3, wherein, The clamping hole extends to the holding portion, and the holding portion is provided with a plurality of protrusions on both sides.

5. The card edge connector of claim 3, wherein, The clamping portion is inclined 5° to 10° toward the card slot relative to the holding portion when viewed along the direction of insertion of the electronic card.

6. The card edge connector of claim 3, wherein, The contact portion is inclined 40° to 45° away from the card slot relative to the holding portion when viewed along the direction of insertion of the electronic card.

7. The card edge connector of claim 3, wherein, The width of the holding portion is greater than the width of the clamping portion, and the width of the clamping portion is greater than the width of the contact portion.

8. The card edge connector of claim 3, wherein, The bottom of the holding portion is formed with a flange bump bent away from the second island portion.

9. The card edge connector of claim 1, wherein, The card edge connector further comprises a holding member arranged between the first island portion and the ear clasp member, and the holding member is used to strengthen the pivotal connection between the ear clasp member and the first island portion.

10. The card edge connector of claim 1, wherein, The slot wall of the through slot is in the shape of a circular arc guiding the direction of insertion of the electronic card.

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