Metallic Card Connector Ejection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card connectors face challenges in miniaturization due to material strength limitations of synthetic resin ejection members, increased part count, and potential abrasion of base member side walls during repeated IC card insertion and withdrawal.
Innovation Solution
A card connector design featuring a metallic ejection member with an integrated swinging arm and feeling lock member, formed from a single metallic sheet, which reduces part count and size, and incorporates a compression coil spring and heart cam mechanism for smooth IC card insertion and withdrawal without abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the ejection member is formed from synthetic resin, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the material strength is insufficient requiring increased thickness and width
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection member is formed from a metallic sheet (such as phosphor bronze or spring steel) instead of synthetic resin, providing both high strength and adequate elasticity. This material substitution resolves the contradiction by offering superior mechanical properties while maintaining manufacturability through metal forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters from synthetic resin to metal, which fundamentally alters the strength-to-weight ratio and elastic properties. This parameter change allows the ejection member to achieve the required strength without increasing thickness or width, thus resolving the contradiction between material strength and dimensional constraints.
2Strength
If the ejection member thickness and width are increased to compensate for material strength limitations, then the strength is improved, but the card connector size and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
By using metallic material with inherently higher strength properties, the ejection member can maintain high strength while reducing cross-sectional dimensions. This directly resolves the contradiction by allowing smaller size without sacrificing strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic ejection member provides localized strength exactly where needed in the card connector structure, eliminating the need for overall size increase. The high-strength material allows precise dimensional control while maintaining structural integrity.
3Ease of operation
If the swinging arm and feeling lock member are fabricated as separate members and attached to the ejection member, then the functionality is improved, but the number of parts and manufacturing processes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The swinging arm and feeling lock member are integrated into a single metallic ejection member through forming processes. This merging eliminates separate parts and assembly steps while maintaining all required functions, directly resolving the contradiction between functionality and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated ejection member performs multiple functions (ejection, locking, and card retention) through its unified structure. This multi-functionality approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, reducing part count while preserving functionality.
4Device complexity
If the ejection member moves along the side wall of the base member made from synthetic resin, then the structure is simple, but the side wall is abraded and damaged during repeated insertion and withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic ejection member has superior wear resistance compared to synthetic resin, preventing abrasion of the base member side wall during repeated operations. This material property resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural simplicity while dramatically improving durability and reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design allows for a smaller card connector size, reduced part count, and prevents coil spring flexing, ensuring stiffness and preventing ejection member inclination, while ensuring smooth movement and preventing IC card abrasion.
Implementation Method 1
a compression coil spring that biases the ejection member rearward when the card is mounted in the card accommodating space
Implementation Method 2
a heart cam mechanism including a heart cam formed on the base member and a cam groove formed to extend around the heart cam and from the heart cam and permitting movement therein of a lock pin provided at a tip end of the swinging arm
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a card connector having a metallic ejection member. A card connector, in which a card accommodating space is formed by a base member and a cover member, comprises a plurality of contacts arranged on the base member, an ejection member capable of moving relative to the base member in a longitudinal direction, a compression coil spring biasing the ejection member rearward, and a heart cam mechanism including a heart cam and a cam groove. The ejection member includes a card push portion, a body, on a forward portion of which a coil spring accommodating space is formed, on a rear portion of which a swinging space is formed, and a coupling portion. The ejection member is formed integrally from a metallic sheet. The coil spring accommodating space and the swinging space are arranged in a row on the same line in a longitudinal direction.