JP2538054Y2 - Card module - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card module used as, for example, an IC card or a memory card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an electronic circuit in which a circuit module formed by disposing a semiconductor memory device or the like on a printed circuit board (PCB) has a detachable structure and a plurality of such circuit modules are combined. There is a device. In such an electronic device, the circuit module can have a main function or an auxiliary function of the device, and a plurality of circuit modules can have different functions.

As shown in FIG. 4, there is a card module 11 in which circuit modules are formed in a card shape. This card module 11 includes a circuit unit 12,
A connector 13 for electrically connecting the circuit unit 12 to another device (equipment);
And a case 14 for supporting the circuit unit 12 and the connector 13. Circuit unit 12
A circuit having a main function or an auxiliary function of a device that requires the card module 11 is configured.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a connector (not shown) provided in a slot 16 of an external device 15 requiring the card module 11 and a connector 13 of the card module 11
Is connected to the card module 11 and the external device 15.
Are electrically connected.

However, conventionally, only one connector 13 for connecting to an external device 15 is provided for one card module 11. Therefore, for example, the function test of the card module 11, that is, the card
When the circuit unit 12 constituting the module 11 is inspected, the card module 11 is connected to the external device 15 and the external device 15 is inspected or the card module 11 is inspected. Only one of the card module 11 and the card module 11 can be inspected by connecting to the device, and the inspection with the card module 11 connected to the external device 15 cannot be performed.

Also, since there is only one connector 13,
A plurality of different circuits cannot be formed in the circuit unit 12, and the card module 11 has a drawback that it can be used for only one purpose.

[0006]

As described above, the conventional card module has a drawback that it cannot be inspected when connected to an external device and can be used only for one purpose. . The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a card module which can be inspected even when connected to an external device and which can be used for a plurality of different applications.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The card module of the present invention
A first connector is provided on one side of a card-shaped case in which a circuit unit is built, and a second connector is provided on the other side of the case in opposition to the first connector. Is provided. The first and second connector sections are respectively connected to the circuit unit.

[0008]

According to the above arrangement, the first side is provided on both sides of the case.
And the second connector, if an external device is connected to the first connector portion and an inspection device is connected to the second connector portion, the inspection can be performed with the external device connected. Further, by connecting a plurality of different circuit units to each of the first and second connector sections,
A single card can be used for several different applications.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A card module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card module 21 according to an embodiment, with a part thereof cut away.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 22 denotes a case formed in a card shape.
Is built-in. The circuit unit 23 is formed of, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) and includes a circuit having a main function or an auxiliary function of a device requiring the card module 21. Further, connectors 24a and 24b are provided at both ends of the case 22, respectively. in this case,
As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 24a is provided on one side of the case 22, and the connector 24b is connected to the connector 24a.
The case 22 is provided on the other side surface of the case 22 opposite to the case. The connectors 24a and 24b connect the circuit unit 23 and an external device (equipment), respectively.

The card module constructed as described above
For example, assuming that the circuit unit 23 has one functional circuit and the connectors 24a and 24b share the input / output lines of the functional circuit in the device 21, as shown in FIG. In this state, the card module 21 can be inspected.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a connector (not shown) provided in a slot 26 of an external device 25 requiring a card module 21 and a card module 2
The card module 21 and the external device 25 are electrically connected to each other by connecting one of the connectors 24a. At this time, the other connector 24b of the card module 21 is connected to the other connector 24b of the card module 21. Another device (equipment), such as a card module
If an inspection device 27 for inspecting the module 21 is connected, the card module 21 can be inspected while connected to the external device 25.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the use of the card connection adapter 28 allows the functions to be expanded by the combination of the cards. That is, if a card module 29 similar to the card module 21 is prepared, for example, as an expansion ROM, the functions can be expanded as needed. Such connection between the cards can be made directly without using the card connection adapter 28 depending on the type of the connectors 24a and 24b.

Further, for example, if the circuit unit 23 is provided with two different functional circuits, and the connectors 24a and 24b are connected corresponding to the two functional circuits, respectively, different devices are provided for the connectors 24a and 24b, respectively. (Equipment) can be connected. That is, the card module 21 has a plurality of (in this case, two) different functional circuits and can be used for completely different purposes.

As described above, since the card module of this embodiment has two connectors 24a and 24b,
Inspection while connected to an external device, expansion of functions by connecting cards, conventional cards such as having two different circuits on one card, and connecting two devices at the same time -You can do things that were not possible with Domodule.

Further, since the two connectors 24a and 24b are provided on both sides of the card-shaped case 21 so as to face each other, the connection of the external device as described above and the car
For example, in a case where two devices are connected to each other and two devices are connected at the same time, devices can be connected in the longitudinal direction of the case 21 as shown in FIGS. Therefore, compared with a case where two connectors are provided on the same surface of the case, or a case where the connectors are provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the case, the devices can be easily connected and the connection state is stabilized. Can be done.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, by providing two connectors 24a and 24b on both side surfaces of the case 21, exposure of the connectors 24a and 24b can be prevented even a little. In addition, it is possible to prevent dust and dust from entering the connector. When the case 21 is handled, the upper surface or the lower surface of the case 21 may be generally damaged by rubbing the device or the like. However, by providing the connectors 24a and 24b on both side surfaces of the case 21, the connectors 24a and 24b It can be protected from contact with equipment.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, since two connector portions for connecting the circuit unit and the external device are provided, the inspection can be performed even when the external device is connected, and a plurality of different uses can be performed. Can be used for

Further, by providing the two connector portions opposite to both side portions of the case, the connection of the devices can be simplified and the connection state can be stabilized.

Further, by arranging the two connector portions on both side portions of the case, the exposure of the connector portions can be prevented as much as possible, and, for example, dust and dust can be prevented from entering, and the device can be protected from contact. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a configuration of a card module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inspection state of the card module.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the card modules are combined.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional card module.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a conventional card module is connected to an external device.

[Explanation of symbols]

21: Card module, 22: Case, 23: Circuit unit, 24a, 24b: Connector, 25: External device,
26: slot, 27: inspection device, 28: card connection adapter, 29: card module.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A card-shaped case in which a circuit unit is built, a first connector provided on one side surface of the case, connected to the circuit unit, and facing the first connector. A card module provided on the other side surface of the case and connected to the circuit unit.