JP2605314Y2 - Adapter card - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adapter card for a connector system, and selectively connects three types of card-type data storage media to a connector system to be mounted on, for example, a personal computer, a laptop computer, or a notebook PC. Regarding possible adapter cards.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 63-69375 filed by the applicant discloses a method for detachably connecting an IC card to a computer system such as a personal computer, a laptop computer, a notebook PC, or peripheral devices thereof. Is disclosed. This type of connector system is manufactured and sold by DuPont Japan Limited. The standard for IC cards is J
E IDA (Japan Electronics Industry Development Association) and PCM
CIA (Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association).

[0003] As a standardized IC card, 3.3 is used.
J E IDA style card type having a thickness of mm
-1 PCMCIA is common. Thus, the housing of the actual mass production has been that IC card connector systems, this J E IDA style card type -1 PC
It is designed to accommodate and electrically connect the MCIA.

[0004] However, in recent years, as an IC card, for example a built-in modem function, J E having a thickness of about 5mm
IDA style card type-2 PCMCIA is spreading. Furthermore, as a card-type data storage medium having an IC card similar portability is becoming even popular removable package having a thickness of about 5mm, a built 1.8-inch hard drive (HDD). The removable HDD package is standardized as J E IDA type -3 PCMCIA / 1.8 "HDD.

[0005]

As described above, the functions of a card-type data storage medium such as an IC card are diversified, and the functions of a computer system to which the card-type data storage medium is to be mounted or peripheral devices thereof are expanded. Tend to be. Therefore, without changing the built a connector system design in a computer system or the like, can be freely selected according to the card type data storage medium for connection to a computer system or the like to the desired end user It is strongly desired.

[0006] If, above the J E IDA style card
Type 1 or Type -2 PCMCIA, and J E ID
Designing a dedicated connector system for each A-type-3 PCMCIA / 1.8 "HDD,
There is the disadvantage of increasing costs for both the manufacturer and the end user. Secondly, when using the above three types of card-type data storage media, there is a disadvantage that the connector system must be exchanged for each of them.

Accordingly, already mass production a connector system J E IDA style card type -1 for PCMCIA, J E IDA style card type -2 PCM
CIA and J E IDA type -3 PCMCIA / 1.
Being applicable to 8 "HDDs also means cost reduction.
It is also beneficial in handling the connector system described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an adapter card which can selectively connect a plurality of types of card-type data storage media to one connector system. It is to be.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the present invention, an adapter card according to the present invention has one end having an insertion port, the other end having a first male connector, and one end. And a receiving space extending from the insertion opening to the first male connector at the other end, wherein the adapter card is mounted in the receiving space of the housing of the connector system having a housing having: A card-like extension member accommodated in the card-like extension member; and the card-like extension member is connected to the first male connector of the connector system housing when the card-like extension member is accommodated in the accommodation space of the connector system housing. One end having a first female connector; and a card-like extension member, wherein the card-like extension member has a housing And a second male connector projecting from the insertion opening at one end of the housing of the connector system into the external space when housed in the housing space of the connector system. A plurality of card-type data storage media each having a built- in second female connector electrically connected to the second male connector and electrically and mechanically connected to the second male connector; While the card-like extension member is accommodated in the accommodation space of the housing of the connector system and the first female connector of the card-like extension member is connected to the first male connector, the second male connector has It is characterized in that any of the second female connectors in the plurality of types of card-type data storage media can be directly and electrically connected mechanically. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of types of card-type data storage media include a first IC card, a second IC card having a greater thickness than the first IC card, and a hard disk drive package. Is included.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the housing space of the housing of the connector system in which the adapter card is to be mounted is adapted to receive one type of card-type data storage medium.

In this specification, a card-type data storage medium means a substantially card-shaped data storage medium such as an IC card or a thin HDD package.
The card includes a memory card, a card containing a CPU and a memory chip, and a card having a modem function or an interface function to an external computer network.

[0012]

According to the adapter of the present invention, the card type data storage medium is connected to the outside of the housing of the connector system via the adapter. Therefore, the dimensions of the card-type data storage medium to be connected to the connector system are not restricted by the size of the accommodation space inside the housing of the connector system.

[0013]

1 and 2 show an adapter card according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The adapter card 1 has a card-shaped body 3a, a header 5a attached to one end thereof, a receptacle 5b provided at the other end, and a printed circuit board 7 (see FIG. 2) arranged inside the body 3a. It has. The number of pins of each of the header 5a and the receptacle 5b is 2 × 34. The dimensions of the card-shaped body 3a including the receptacle 5b are 54.0 mm width × 8.
It is 5.6 mm long x 3.3 mm thick. This dimension is JE
IDA (Japan Electronic Industry Development Association) Style Card Type-1 Same as PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association). Header. 5a, J E IDA style card type -1 PCMCIA (below, type
Referred to as -1 card), J E IDA style card type-2 PCMCIA (hereinafter, referred to as type-2 cards), J E IDA type -3 PCMCIA / 1.8 "
HDD (hereinafter, referred to as type -3 HDD) what Re of the
It is adapted to the receptacle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the header pin 5a 'of the header 5a and the receptacle pin 5b' of the receptacle 5b
Are soldered to the printed circuit board 7 and are electrically connected to each other by a circuit (not shown) of the printed circuit board 7.

The card-shaped body 3a has a selection switch 9 (see FIG. 1) on the upper surface thereof, and the selection switch 9 is connected to the printed circuit board 7 according to the type of the card-type data storage medium connected to the header 5a. Switch circuit.

FIG. 3 shows a connector system to which the adapter card 1 is to be mounted. This connector system 10
0 is 1 when adapter card 1 is not installed.
Up to three type-1 cards only or one type
-3 HDD only, or one type-1 card and one type-3 HDD.

The type-1 card 3b shown in FIG. 4 basically has a read-only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RA) as a card-like device.
M). This type-1 card 3 can be pulled out after data is once loaded into the computer system 100. On the front end face of the type-1 card 3b, there is provided a receptacle 5b having 2 × 34 pins to which first, second, and third headers 31, 32, and 33 of the connector system 100 described later are fitted. ing. The dimensions of the type-1 card 3b are 54 mm wide × 85.6 mm long × 3.3 mm thick.

The type-3 HDD 5 shown in FIG.
This is a card-type package including a thin housing 51 containing an inch disk drive (not shown) and a base plate 53 on which the housing 51 is installed.
A connector system 100 is provided on the front end face of the housing 51.
The number of pins to be fitted with a fourth header 34 described later is 2 ×
There is provided a receptacle 5b having the same. The size of Type-3 HDD5 is 50.8mm width x 76.58
mm or 70 mm long x 10 mm or 15 mm thick. Such a type-3 HDD 5 can be used in the same manner as the type-1 card 3a.

The type-2 card 3c shown in FIG. 6 has substantially the same shape as the type-1 card 3b.
It has a receptacle 5b similar to the receptacle of the card 3b. However, type-2 card 3c, for example a built-in modem function, the maximum thickness of about 5 mm. This type
-2 The card 3c cannot be installed in the connector system 100 of FIG. 3 unless the adapter card 1 is used.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the connector system 100 includes a housing 2 and a connector body 4 connected to a rear end.

The housing 2 has a pair of side walls 6 defining both side surfaces thereof, upper and lower housing plates 8a and 8c defining upper and lower surfaces of the housing 2, a partition plate 8b vertically separating the inside of the housing 2, and a housing. And a front body 10 defining two front ends. The front body 10 has an insertion opening 16.

Such a connector system 100 includes:
An appropriate attachment member 20 having an insertion hole 18 for inserting a screw or the like is attached. With this attachment member 20, the connector system 100 is attached to the computer system 100 such as a personal computer, a laptop computer, or a notebook personal computer, or a peripheral device thereof.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, the internal space of the housing 2 communicating with the insertion opening 16 is in the height direction (Z axis).
The first, second and third decks 11, 12, 1 along the direction
It is divided into three. First deck 11 and second deck 12
Are separated from each other by a partition plate 8b. Second
The deck 12 has upper and lower decks 12a and 12b, and the third deck 13 has upper and lower decks 13a and 1b.
3b.

The second and third decks 12 and 13 communicate with each other in the Z-axis direction, and form a double deck 14 formed by combining these two decks 12 and 13. This double deck 1
Reference numeral 4 is designed to accommodate one type-3 HDD 5.

When the adapter card 1 is not mounted in the connector system 100, the type-3 HDD 5
Is the only deck on which the double deck 14 can be mounted. On the inner surface of the housing side wall 6 of the decks 12b and 13b, the double deck 14
Slot 3 for entering and exiting type-3 HDD5
0 is formed along the Y direction. A pair of slots 3
0 is the width of the type-3 HDD 5 (50.8 m
m).

In the inner surface of the housing side wall 6 in the upper deck 12a of the second deck 12 and the upper deck 13a of the third deck 13, slots 2 for allowing the type-1 card 3b to enter and exit the upper decks 12a and 13a, respectively.
6, 28 are formed along the Y direction. The distance between the pair of slots 26 and the distance between the pair of slots 28 are equal to the width (54.0 mm) of the type-1 card 3b. Each of these decks 11, 12a, and 13a is designed to be able to accommodate only one type-1 card 3b, and if the adapter card 1 is not used, the type-2 card is used.
The card 3c and the type-3 HDD 5 cannot be installed.

As described above, the dimensions of the card-shaped body 3a of the adapter card 1 of the present invention are equal to those of the type-1 card 3b. Therefore, one adapter card 1 can be mounted on each of the decks 11, 12a and 13a instead of one type-1 card 3b. By using this adapter card 1, the first to third decks 11
Type-1 or type-2 card 3
b or 3c, type-3 HDD 5 can be selectively mounted.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the body 4 of the connector system 100 has four headers. That is, type-1 in the first to third decks 11 to 13
It has first to third headers 31 to 33 to be fitted to the receptacle 5b of the card 3b, and a fourth header 34 to be fitted to the receptacle 5b of the type-3 HDD 5 in the double deck 14. These headers 3
1 to 34 are connected to appropriate circuits such as an interface circuit (not shown).

Housing 2 of connector system 100
Are first, second, and third discharge mechanisms 54a, 54 corresponding to the first, second, and third decks 11, 12, 13, respectively.
b, 54c. These three discharge mechanisms 54a, 5
The structures of 4b and 54c are basically the same. In the drawing, the reference numeral indicating the component of the first ejection mechanism 54a is letter a, the reference symbol indicating the component of the second ejection mechanism 54b is letter b, and the reference symbol indicating the component of the third ejection mechanism 54c. Is accompanied by the letter c. In the following description, the first discharge mechanism 54a will be described as a representative unless otherwise specified.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the first discharge mechanism 54a as seen from the upper and lower sides of the upper housing plate 8a of the connector system 100, respectively.

In the vicinity of the insertion opening 16 of the housing 2, a swing lever 56a is pivotally supported on the housing plate 8a by a rotating shaft 58a.

In order to swing the swing lever 56a around the rotation shaft 58a, one end 60a of the swing lever 56a
One end of the discharge slide member 62a is supported by a rotation shaft 64a. The slide member 62a is connected to one of the side walls 16.
Are slid along the Y direction in the guides 66a and 68a. The guides 66a and 68a are formed integrally with the housing 2, for example.

A tongue 70a is formed integrally with the other end of the swing lever 56a. This tongue piece 70a
Is slidably in contact with the inside of a belt-shaped sliding guide 72a slightly raised from the surface of the housing plate 18. The sliding guide 72a is formed, for example, by punching the housing plate 18.

Therefore, by manually sliding the slide member 62a in the Y direction, the swing lever 56a
Along the upper surface of the housing plate 8a, the rotation shaft 58a
Rocks around.

Further, the swing lever 56a is formed with a claw 74a projecting toward the housing plate 8a, for example, by punching.

In particular, the slide plate 76a shown in FIG.
Is a type-1 that is electrically connected to the header of the connector system 100 when the type-1 card 3b is not used.
This is for pulling out the card 3b from the connector body 4. The slide plate 76a has a claw 80a formed by cutting and raising the base end portion 78a. The claw 80a engages with the claw 74a of the swing lever 56a as the swing lever 56a swings. It is possible. Therefore, when the swing lever 56a swings, the slide plate 76a
Slides on the surface of the housing plate 18 in the Y direction. During this sliding, the base end portion 78a of the slide plate 76a, an arm 82a described later, and notches 86a, 88a described later of the housing plate 8a function as a slide guide, and the slide plate 76a moves in the X direction. Exercise is regulated.

Each of the slide plates 76a has an arm 8 on each side end thereof toward the connector body 14 side.
2a is extended. Each of the arms 82a has a bent portion 84a. This bent portion 84a
The slide plate 7 protrudes toward the inner surface side of the housing plate 8a through cutouts 86a formed at both ends of the housing plate 8a on the connector body 14 side.
6a is different. Similarly, the base end 78a of the slide plate 76a is
a slide plate 76 so as to protrude toward the inner surface side of the housing plate 8a through the cutout 88a formed in the slide plate 76.
a is different from a. Further, the tips of the bent portions 84a of the arms 82a are bent, respectively, so that the type-1
The discharge hook 90a is to be engaged with the receptacle-side end face of the card 3b.

The lower discharge mechanism 54c includes the upper discharge mechanism 54
It has the same configuration as a.

The operation when the adapter card 1 is mounted on the connector system 100 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 12, the connector system 1
00 is the casing 11 of the computer system 110
2 is mounted inside. Computer casing 1
12 is a housing insertion port 1 of the connector system 100.
6 has an opening 114 corresponding thereto.

The adapter card 1 is inserted into at least one of the decks 11, 12a and 13a of the connector system 100, for example, as shown in FIG.
The receptacle 5b of the adapter card 1 is fitted to the header 31 of the connector system 100. At this time, the end face of the adapter card 1 on the receptacle 5b side is engaged with the discharge hook 90a of the slide plate 76a, and the slide plate 76a moves forward, whereby the swing lever 56a is also rotated around the rotation shaft 58a. You. Thereby, the slide member 62a protrudes from the end face of the housing 2 on the insertion port 16 side.

The header 5a of the adapter card 1 protrudes from the computer casing 112 through the housing insertion port 16 of the connector system 100 and the opening 114 of the computer casing 112. For example, a type-2 card 3c is fitted into the header 5a.
Thus, the computer system 110 and the type-2 card 3c are connected via the adapter card 1.

Next, to release the connection between the computer system 110 and the type-2 card 3c, the slide member 62a is pressed and the swing lever 56a is rotated around the rotation shaft 56a. Then, the slide plate 76a moves in the Y direction along the surface of the housing plate 8a due to the engagement between the swing lever pawl 74a and the slide plate pawl 80a. Accordingly, the fitting between the adapter card 1 and the header 36 is released by the discharge hook 90a. Accordingly, the connection of the type-2 card 3c is released.

Alternatively, the header 5 of the adapter card 1
In the case where the type-1 card 3b or the type-3 HDD 5 is attached to a, the type-1 card 3b or the type-3 HDD5 can be attached to and released from the computer system 110 in the same manner as described above. Insert the adapter card 1 into the second or third deck 12 or 1
3, the three types of card-type data storage media can be selectively mounted and released in the same manner as described above. In this case, the middle or lower discharge mechanism 54b, 54c is used.

In any case, the selection switch 9 of the adapter card 1 is set according to the type of the card type data storage device.

By using the adapter card 1 in this manner, not only the type-1 card 3b but also the type-2 card 3 is provided in any of the first to third decks 11 to 13.
c, Type-3 HDD 5 can be selectively installed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified in various ways. For example, in the above embodiment, three types of media are shown as card-type data storage media, but two or more types of various IC cards and the like can be used.

The connector system 100 to which the adapter card 1 is to be mounted is not limited to the one shown in the figure.
More or fewer decks may be used.

[0049]

According to the adapter card of the present invention, since the card type data storage medium and the connector system are connected via the adapter card, it is necessary to insert the card type data storage medium into the housing of the connector system. Absent. Therefore, the size and shape of the card-type data storage medium to be connected to the connector system are not restricted by the internal dimensions of the housing of the connector system. As a result, a connector system designed for a card-type data storage medium of one specific standard can be applied to a card-type data storage medium of a different standard.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an adapter card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1, showing an adapter card.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connector system to which the adapter card of FIG. 1 is to be mounted.

[Figure 4] J E should be mounted on the adapter card in FIG. 1
It is a perspective view which shows IDA style card type-1 PCMCIA.

[Figure 5] J E should be mounted on the adapter card in FIG. 1
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an IDA type-3 PCMCIA / 1.8 "HDD.

[6] J E should be mounted on the adapter card in FIG. 1
It is a perspective view which shows IDA style card type-2 PCMCIA.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 3, showing the connector system.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the connector system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the connector system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the connector system of FIG. 3 as viewed from the back side of the upper housing plate.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a slide plate in the connector system of FIG. 3;

[Figure 12] A view corresponding to FIG. 7, fitted with adapter card of the invention the connector system, J E IDA
It is a figure which shows the use condition which connected style card type-2 PCMCIA and the connector system via the adapter card.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Adapter card, 2 ... Connector system housing, 3a ... Card-shaped body (card-shaped extension member), 3
b ... type-1 card (card type data storage medium, first IC card), 3c ... type-3 card (card type data storage medium, second IC card), 5 ... hard disk drive package (card type data storage) Medium), 5a
... Adapter card header (second male connector),
5b: receptacle (first and second female connectors), 1
1, 12, 13 ... Deck of housing (accommodation space), 1
6 ... housing insertion port, 31, 32, 33, 34 ... housing header (first male connector), 100 ... connector system.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 63-14383 (JP, U) JP-A 3-53776 (JP, U) JP-A 3-103680 (JP, U)

Claims (6)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A housing having one end having an insertion port, the other end having a first male connector, and a housing space extending from the insertion port at one end to the first male connector at the other end. An adapter card mounted in a housing space of a housing of a connector system, comprising: a card-like extension member housed in a housing space of a housing of the connector system; a card-like extension member provided in the card-like extension member, wherein the card-like extension member is the connector An end having a first female connector connected to a first male connector of the housing of the connector system when housed in the housing space of the housing of the system; and a card-like extension member provided on the card-like extension member; When housed in the housing space of the connector system housing, the external space is inserted through the insertion opening at one end of the housing of the connector system. And a second female connector having a second male connector projecting therefrom; wherein the first female connector is electrically connected to the second male connector and electrically and mechanically relative to the second male connector. A plurality of card-type data storage media each having a built- in second female connector connected to the connector system, wherein a card-like extension member is housed in a housing space of the housing of the connector system, and a first male connector is provided. While the first female connector of the card-shaped extension member is connected to the second male connector, any of the second female connectors in the plurality of types of card-type data storage media is directly connected to the second male connector. adapter card that is electrically and mechanically connectable, characterized in that. 2. The adapter card according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of card-type data storage media include a first IC card. 3. The plurality of types of card-type data storage media include a second IC card having a thickness greater than that of the first IC card.
Adapter card as described in. 4. The adapter card according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of card-type data storage media include a hard disk drive package. 5. The housing space of the housing of the connector system in which the card-like extension of the adapter card is to be accommodated is adapted to accommodate one type of card-type data storage medium. The adapter card according to claim 4. 6. The card-like extension member includes a circuit board for conducting the first female connector and the second male connector, and the second male connector is connected to the second male connector via the second female connector. The adapter card according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a selection switch for switching a circuit on the circuit board according to a type of the connected card-type data storage medium.