JP2009205383A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Card slot device and electronic device

  The present invention relates to a card slot device that is connected to an electronic device capable of processing various types of information, and a semiconductor card on which information is recorded can be attached and detached. The present invention also relates to an electronic device including a card slot device.

  Conventionally, an electronic device such as a PDA (personal digital assistance) terminal is often provided with a card slot to which a memory card capable of writing / reading various information can be attached / detached. In recent years, memory cards have become increasingly smaller, and card slots have also become smaller, making it easier to mount them on PDAs that are becoming smaller.

  Recently, in order to improve the security of electronic devices that handle personal information such as notebook personal computers and PDAs, a card reader that can be attached to and removed from a smart card (hereinafter referred to as SM card) is installed. Notebook computers have appeared. In addition to the configuration mounted on the notebook computer, the card reader has a configuration provided in a separate unit that can be attached to and detached from the notebook computer. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose the configuration of a card reader including an SM card and a card slot into which the SM card can be attached and detached. The card readers disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be attached to and detached from the notebook computer.

The SM card has an IC chip on the surface of the card body. IC chip is provided with eight terminals, when inserted inserted in the card slot, by connection terminals electrically contacts in the card slot, the transmission and reception of signals between the IC chip and laptops It can be carried out. In this IC chip, authentication information for authenticating the user is written in advance, and the notebook personal computer performs user authentication processing based on the authentication information, and determines whether or not the notebook personal computer can be used according to the authentication result. decide.
JP 2005-44358 A JP-A-11-39433

  However, in the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the card reader is configured to insert and hold only a part of the SM card, the SM card protrudes from the card reader. If a notebook personal computer equipped with such a card reader is accidentally dropped on the floor, the SM card is very likely to be damaged.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a card slot device therefor that can prevent damage to a semiconductor card due to a drop impact or the like even if the device body is accidentally dropped on the floor .

The present invention is an electronic device in which a processing device capable of processing various types of information is housed in a housing, and a pair of protrusions formed on both sides of one surface of the housing, and the pair of protrusions A card slot device having a slot in which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed at a position facing the recess in the housing, and the semiconductor card is mounted on the card slot device. When the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, the exposed portion of the semiconductor card exposed from the slot is an electronic device located in the recess space formed by the pair of protrusions and the bottom surface of the recess .

According to the present invention, the slot of the card slot device is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the concave portion, and when the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, a grip allowance for an exposed portion of the semiconductor card is formed. The electronic device is characterized by being inclined so as to increase.

According to the present invention, a recess is formed between the pair of protrusions by forming a pair of protrusions on the housing of the electronic device, and the exposed portion of the semiconductor card inserted into the card slot device is paired with the bottom surface of the recess. Since it is located in the recessed space formed by the protrusions, it is possible to prevent damage to the semiconductor card due to dropping of the electronic device.
Further, the slot of the card slot device is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the recess, and when the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, the slot for the exposed portion of the semiconductor card is inclined to increase. As a result, the semiconductor card can be easily inserted and removed.

The present invention is an electronic device in which a processing device capable of processing various types of information is housed in a housing, and a pair of protrusions are formed on both sides of one surface of the housing, so that the space between the pair of protrusions is reduced. A card slot device having a slot into which the semiconductor card can be inserted and removed is provided at a position facing the recess, and the semiconductor card is exposed from the slot when inserted into the slot of the card slot device. In this electronic device, the exposed portion of the semiconductor card is positioned in the recess space formed by the pair of protrusions and the bottom surface of the recess. Thus, in a state of inserting the semiconductor card into the slot, by placing in the recess so as not to protrude the semiconductor card from the surface of the housing, by any chance, to drop the electronic device in a state in which the semiconductor card is inserted Even if this happens, the semiconductor card can be prevented from being damaged.

According to the present invention, in the above, the slot of the card slot device is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the recess, and when the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, the exposed portion of the semiconductor card is It is an electronic device that is tilted so that the gripping margin becomes large. As a result, even if the electronic device is dropped in a state where the semiconductor card is mounted, the semiconductor card can be prevented from being damaged , and the semiconductor card can be easily inserted and removed. Have

This onset Ming can take the following aspects as a basic the above configuration.

Sunawa Chi, before Symbol slots, in a state in which the semiconductor card is inserted, said has a depth to accommodate only a portion of the semiconductor card, the portion exposed from the slot in the semiconductor card said recess It can be set as the structure arrange | positioned and arrange | positioned in the position where the distance of the said semiconductor card and the said recessed part becomes smaller than the distance of the top part of the said projection part, and the said recessed part. With such a configuration, in a state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, the semiconductor card can be disposed in the recess so as not to protrude from the surface of the housing. Even if the card slot device or the electronic device is dropped, the semiconductor card can be prevented from being damaged.
In addition, the card slot device can be attached to and detached from the housing of the electronic device. When the card slot device is attached, the connection terminal is connected to the connection terminal of the electronic device, and the slot faces the recess.

(Embodiment)
[1. Configuration of electronic device]
1 and 2 are perspective views showing the appearance of the electronic device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 mainly shows the configuration of the front side. FIG. 2 mainly shows the configuration on the back side. The electronic apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is an example of a PDA that includes processing means such as a central processing unit and storage means such as a semiconductor memory capable of storing information. In addition, the electronic device 1 includes, for example, a liquid crystal monitor 2 and operation buttons 3.

  The electronic device 1 has an outer shell formed of a six-sided housing formed of a flat surface or a curved surface. In the present embodiment, the surface on which the liquid crystal monitor 2 and the operation buttons 3 are arranged is defined as the front surface 1a, the surface on the back side of the front surface 1a is defined as the back surface 1b, and is adjacent to the front surface 1a and the back surface 1b. The upper surface is defined as the upper surface 1c, the back surface of the upper surface 1c is defined as the lower surface 1d, and the left surface facing the front surface 1a, the rear surface 1b, the upper surface 1c, and the lower surface 1d and facing the left side in FIG. 1e, and the back side of the left side 1e is defined as the right side 1f. In the present embodiment, electronic device 1 has a size and a weight that can be easily held by a user's hand.

  The liquid crystal monitor 2 can display various information by a display control microcomputer included in the processing means in the electronic device 1. In the present embodiment, the effective display area of the liquid crystal monitor 2 is about 7 inches. Further, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 2 uses a display panel having a touch panel function capable of performing a predetermined operation by pressing the display surface, but may be a display panel that performs only display. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 2 is mounted as a display unit. However, the present invention is not limited to the liquid crystal monitor as long as at least information can be displayed, such as an organic EL display.

  The operation buttons 3 are composed of a plurality of buttons capable of inputting alphabets and hiragana generally used for a keyboard of a personal computer, for example. In this embodiment, only the push button type operation buttons are arranged, but an operation means such as a lever type or a ball type may be provided.

The electronic device 1, and processing means such as a central processing unit therein, comprising a semiconductor memory such which storage means capable of storing various types of information, and processing means operating means such as the operation button 3 is operated by the user Can perform predetermined information processing. Further, the result of the processing in the processing means can be displayed on a display means such as the liquid crystal monitor 2.

  Further, the back surface 1 b of the electronic device 1 is provided with protrusions 12 a and 12 b and a recess 13.

  The protrusions 12a and 12b are formed with curved surfaces in the present embodiment, but may be formed with flat surfaces. The electronic device 1 of the present embodiment is based on the premise that the left side 1e side is gripped with the left hand and the right side 1f side is gripped with the right hand. Therefore, it is preferable that the protrusions 12a and 12b have curved surfaces because the fingers of the user's left hand and right hand are easy to fit and the grip is improved. In addition, the boundary between the protrusion 12a and the left side 1e and the boundary between the protrusion 12b and the right side 1f are formed with curved surfaces. Since it is easy to fit to a boundary part, since grip property improves, it is preferable. In the present embodiment, the protrusions 12a and 12b are provided so that the user can easily hold the protrusions 12a and 12b. However, the protrusions 12a and 12b are not necessarily provided for holding. It is sufficient that at least the back surface 1b of the electronic device 1 has a recess 13 having a volume capable of containing the SM card. For example, the back surface 1b is formed as a flat surface and the recess 13 is formed at the approximate center thereof. Even if it exists, the effect of this Embodiment can be acquired.

Recess 13 is formed between the the protrusion 12a and the protrusion 12b, it is formed in a recessed shape in a direction normal to the back surface 1b. Moreover, the recessed part 13 is opening the part which contact | connects the lower surface 1d. The recess 13 is formed so that the user can easily grip the protrusions 12a and 12b, and the vicinity of the fingertips of the left hand and the right hand is positioned in the recess 13 when gripping. In addition, although the recessed part 13 was provided in order to make it easy for a user to hold | grip the protrusion parts 12a and 12b with a hand, it does not necessarily need to be provided for a holding | grip. At least the back surface 1b of the electronic apparatus 1 may be configured to have a volume capable of containing an SM card. For example, the back surface 1b is formed as a flat surface and the recess 13 is formed at the approximate center thereof. In addition, the operational effects of the present embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the lower surface 1 d of the electronic device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower surface 1d is provided with a connection terminal 14 and holes 15a and 15b. The connection terminal 14 includes a plurality of contacts that can be electrically connected to other connection terminals. In the present embodiment, the connection terminal 14 can be electrically connected to at least a connection terminal 23 arranged in a card slot device 20 described later. The holes 15a and 15b are internally threaded and can be screwed with screws 26a and 26b (described later) for fixing the card slot device 20.

[2. Configuration of card slot device]
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the card slot device. The card slot device 20 includes a device main body 21, a slot 22, a connection terminal 23, fixing portions 24a and 24b, and holes 25a and 25b.

  The apparatus main body 21 can insert and remove a semiconductor card containing a semiconductor chip. In this embodiment, a smart card (hereinafter referred to as an SM card) that conforms to the ISO 7816 standard, which is an example of a semiconductor card, can be inserted and removed, and information written in the SM card can be read or information can be read from the SM card. It was set as the structure which can be written. Note that the apparatus main body 21 reads information stored in an IC chip 30a (described later) provided in the SM card 30 or information stored in the IC chip 30a. And a processing means for processing the information handled by the communication means and electrically connecting the communication means and the connection terminal 23.

  The slot 22 opens to the side surface 21a of the apparatus main body 21 and has a size that allows the SM card 30 to be inserted. In the present embodiment, the slot 22 is not configured to accommodate the entire SM card 30 in the apparatus main body 21, but is configured such that a part of the SM card 30 is exposed. The holding of the SM card 30 will be described later.

  The connection terminal 23 is disposed on the side surface 21 a of the apparatus main body 21. Further, the connection terminal 23 includes a plurality of contacts that can be electrically connected to the connection terminal 14 of the electronic device 1.

  The fixing portions 24a and 24b are respectively arranged on two opposite side surfaces (two side surfaces adjacent to the side surface 21a in the present embodiment) in the apparatus main body 21.

  The holes 25a and 25b are formed through the fixing portions 24a and 24b. The holes 25a and 25b are formed so that the positions thereof overlap with the holes 15a and 15b when the side surface 21a of the apparatus main body 21 is disposed opposite to the lower surface 1d of the electronic device 1.

[3. Attaching / detaching SM card]
When the SM card 30 is used in the electronic device 1, it is necessary to attach the card slot device 20 to the electronic device 1.

5 and 6 are plan views showing a state in which the card slot device 20 is mounted on the electronic device 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram viewed from the front surface 1a side of the electronic device 1, and FIG. 6 is a diagram viewed from the back surface 1b side of the electronic device 1. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ in FIG. 6 and 7 show a state in which the SM card 30 is inserted into the slot 22.

When the card slot device 20 is attached to the electronic device 1, the card slot device 20 is brought into contact with the side surface 21 a of the electronic device 1 so as to face the lower surface 1 d of the electronic device 1. At this time, the connection terminal 23 (see FIG. 4) is disposed so as to face the connection terminal 14 (see FIG. 3), the hole 25a faces the hole 15a, and the hole 25b faces the hole 15b. Next, the screw 26a is screwed into the hole 15a through the hole 25a. Further, the screw 26b is inserted into the hole 25b and screwed into the hole 15b. As a result, the card slot device 20 can be attached to the electronic device 1. At this time, the connection terminal 23 and the connection terminal 14 are electrically connected. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the slot 22 is at a position facing the recess 13.

When the SM card 30 is inserted into the card slot device 20 attached to the electronic device 1, the SM card 30 is moved from the internal space of the recess 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow A shown in FIG. ). At this time, the SM card 30 is inserted into the slot 22 in such a direction that its connection terminal is located in the card slot device 20. The SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22 is partially exposed from the card slot device 20 as shown. As shown in FIG. 7, the portion of the SM card 30 exposed from the card slot device 20 is accommodated in the space of the recess 13. By this configuration, in a state of inserting the SM card 30 while wearing the card slot unit 20 to the electronic device 1 into the slot 22, the exposed portion from the slot 22 of the SM card 30, inserted in the SM card 30 for the slots 22 it is possible to eliminate the disadvantage of easily SM card 30 and shock from such a direction orthogonal to the direction may be damaged.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, since the slot 22 is formed to be slightly inclined with respect to the bottom surface 13a of the recess 13, the exposed end 30b of the SM card 30 after being inserted into the slot 22 has a bottom surface 13a. The distance D1 can be ensured to be large. However, the distance D1 is set to be smaller than the distance D2 between the top of the protrusion and the bottom surface 13a on the back surface 1b. The inclination angle of the slot 22 is set so that the end 30b of the SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22 does not protrude from the back surface 1b of the electronic device 1 , that is, is located in the recess space . Therefore, the SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22 is in a state where a portion not accommodated in the slot 22 is accommodated in the recess 13, and even if the electronic device 1 is dropped , 12b and the recess 13 formed by the bottom surface 13a can be prevented from being damaged. Further, when the user grips the vicinity of the end portion 30b of the SM card 30 with his / her finger and inserts / removes the SM card 30 into / from the slot 22, the gripping allowance can be largely secured by the inclination of the SM card 30. The demotion can be easily performed.

  In addition, the slot 22 has an inclination angle such that a line segment extending in the longitudinal direction of the SM card 30 from the main plane of the inserted SM card 30 does not overlap the electronic device 1, so that the SM card 30 is inserted into the slot 22. Since the SM card 30 is unlikely to come into contact with the housing (back surface 1b) of the electronic device 1 when inserting / removing, the SM card 30 can be inserted / removed smoothly.

Here, the slot 22 may be configured to be held in a posture in which the main plane of the inserted SM card 30 is substantially parallel to the bottom surface 13 a of the recess 13. In that case, the distance D1 between the end portion 30b and the bottom surface 13a of the SM card 30, that only to secure a large as possible within a range that does not become larger than the distance D2, an end portion 30b of the SM card 30 inserted into the slots 22 Ru it is possible to secure the gripping margin in. Further, since the opening of the slot 22 can be formed at a position where it can be easily seen from the outside, there is an effect that the SM card 30 can be easily inserted into the slot 22.

[4. Effects of the embodiment, etc.]
According to the present embodiment, the opening of the slot 22 is disposed so as to face the recess 13 of the electronic device 1 so that the SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22 does not protrude from the recess space of the electronic device 1. Therefore , even if a so-called accident occurs, such as when the electronic device 1 is accidentally dropped, the SM card 30 can be prevented from being damaged.

Further, by tilted slot 22 to the bottom surface 13a of the recess 13, to secure a large gripping margin at the exposed end portions 30b opposite to the insertion end of the SM card 30 inserted into the slots 22 Therefore, the operation of inserting / removing the SM card 30 into / from the slot 22 can be easily performed.

  In the present embodiment, a PDA has been described as an example, but any device that can be operated by at least a user holding it with a hand may be used. For example, the present invention is useful for a personal computer, a portable disk player equipped with a drive or a hard disk drive to which a disk-shaped medium such as a DVD can be attached or detached, a portable navigation system, and the like.

In this embodiment, the card slot device in which the SM card 30 can be inserted / removed has been described. However, the card that can be inserted into / removed from the device is not limited to the SM card, and is at least installed in the card slot device. The present invention is applicable as long as the portion is exposed from the card slot device. In addition to the SM card, the present invention can be applied to a card slot such as a PC card or an Express card defined by PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Association).

In the present embodiment, the card slot device 20 is an independent device from the electronic device 1. However, even in the electronic device 1 in which a configuration corresponding to the card slot device 20 is integrally provided in the housing. Good. In other words, the electronic device 1 and the card slot device 20 shown in FIG.

The present invention is useful for an electronic device equipped with mosquito Dosurotto.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device in embodiment The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device in embodiment Side view of electronic device according to embodiment The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the card slot apparatus in embodiment The top view which shows the structure of the electronic device with which the card slot apparatus was mounted | worn Rear view showing the configuration of an electronic device which the card slot unit is attached Sectional drawing of the ZZ part in FIG.

1 Electronic device
12a, 12b Protrusion 13 Recess 13a Bottom 20 Card slot device 22 Slot
30 SM card

Claims (4)

  A processing device capable of processing various types of information is an electronic device housed in a housing,
  A pair of protrusions formed on both sides of one surface of the housing;
  A recess formed between the pair of protrusions,
  A card slot device having a slot into which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed is detachable at a position facing the recess in the housing,
  In a state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot of the card slot device, the exposed portion of the semiconductor card exposed from the slot is located in the recessed space formed by the pair of protrusions and the bottom surface of the recessed portion. Electronic devices. The slot of the card slot device is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the recess, and in a state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, it is inclined so that a grip allowance of an exposed portion of the semiconductor card is increased. The electronic device according to claim 1 .   The card slot device is detachable from a housing of an electronic device, and the slot opening faces the recess when the card slot device is mounted on the housing. 3. The electronic device according to 2.   A processing device capable of processing various types of information is a card slot device that can be attached to and detached from the housing of an electronic device housed in the housing,
The card slot device has a slot opening in which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed on a side surface of the device body, and a connection terminal connected to the connection terminal of the electronic device on the same side surface as the side where the opening is provided. A card slot device provided.