JP2000113663A - Memory card protective device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a memory card protective device which protects a memory card from damage and the breakage of recorded data and facilitates the attachment/detachment of the memory card. SOLUTION: A memory card protective device has a protective cover 16 above a memory card slot 15 through which a memory card 14 is attached and detached. The protective cover 16 is transferred between a protective position at which it covers the upper surface of the memory card 14 to protect the card 14 from damage, etc., and an exposure position at which the memory card 14 is exposed. A detection switch 37 which detects the transfer of the protective cover 16 to the exposure position and prohibits the accesss to the memory card 14 is provided near the protective cover 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a protection device for a memory card used in a digital still camera, a digital printer and the like, and more particularly, to a protection device for a memory card and a memory card for protecting data recorded on the memory card. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital still camera mainly uses a memory card for recording photographed image data. For this reason, a digital camera is provided with a slit-shaped memory card slot into which a memory card is inserted, and a socket for reading data from and writing data to the memory card is built in the back of the memory card slot. Conventionally, when printing image data captured by a digital still camera, the digital still camera is connected to a printer via a cable, and the image data is input to the printer. However, in order to eliminate the inconvenience of cable connection, various printers are provided which are provided with a memory card slot so that a memory card used in a digital still camera can be directly used.

Since the memory card is thin and has low strength, when a force is applied to the end of the memory card inserted into the memory card slot, the memory card may be bent. Therefore, a cover member for covering the memory card slot is provided near the memory card slot of the digital still camera or the printer.

[0004]

However, in a digital still camera or a printer provided with a lid member, when a memory card is inserted and removed, it is necessary to open the lid member, insert and remove the memory card, and close the lid member. Since it is necessary to perform three steps of operations, the operation is very troublesome. In particular, in the case of a digital still camera, it takes time to exchange a memory card, and a shutter chance may be missed.

Further, if the memory card is removed from the memory card slot while accessing the memory card, there is a problem that recorded data is destroyed. In order to prevent this, it is conceivable to provide a lock mechanism for preventing removal of the memory card during access, but there is a problem that the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a memory card protection device which can easily insert and remove a memory card and protect data when the memory card is removed. And

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, a memory card protection device according to the present invention is arranged near a memory card slot into which a memory card is inserted and removed, and is inserted into the memory card slot. A protection cover that covers and protects the memory card that has been covered, and a protection cover that is movable between an exposure position where the memory card is exposed by being pressed by a finger when the memory card is removed. And a spring that urges the spring toward itself.

In addition, a detection switch is provided for detecting a removal operation of the memory card by switching in conjunction with the movement of the protection cover, and reading and writing of data to the memory card is prohibited when the protection cover moves to the exposure position. Alternatively, power supply to a socket for reading and writing data from and to a memory card is stopped.

[0009]

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of a printer incorporating a memory card protection device according to the present invention. The printer 2 is of a color thermosensitive recording type, and as is well known, a color thermosensitive recording layer in which a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer which are colored by heating are layered on a support. Paper is used. Then, a full-color print can be created by performing thermal recording on each of the thermosensitive coloring layers of the color thermosensitive recording paper with a thermal head sequentially.

The printer 2 has a front panel 4 provided with various operation switches and the like, a chassis (not shown) to which a printer unit, a power supply circuit, a control circuit, and the like are attached, and an upper panel 5 covering an upper portion of the chassis. It is composed of At the center of the front panel 4, there is provided a lid member 6 which can be opened and closed by a hinge part provided at the lower end. In a portion hidden by the lid member 6, a plurality of color thermosensitive recordings are provided. A cartridge chamber in which a recording paper cartridge in which paper is set is loaded, and a discharge port from which printed color thermal recording paper is discharged are provided. The lid member 6 is urged by a spring having a weak urging force in a direction to cover the cartridge chamber and the discharge port, and is opened against the urging of the spring by being pressed by the color thermosensitive recording paper being discharged. To the position, and discharges the color thermosensitive recording paper out of the printer 2.

A power switch 8 is provided on the left side of the front panel 4, and an operation section 9 including a plurality of operation switches for performing various operations is provided on the right side. These operation switches are a print switch 1 for starting printing.
0, a mode switch 11 for setting various modes, a mode selection switch 12 for selecting a mode, and the like.

A memory card slot 15 into which a memory card 14 is inserted is provided near the operation unit 9. The upper portion of the memory card slot 15 is covered and protected by a protective cover 16 constituting the memory card protection device of the present invention. This protective cover 16
As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3, a protection position for protecting the memory card slot 15 and the memory card 14 inserted in the memory card slot 15, and as shown in FIG. 2 and is movable between an exposure position where the memory card slot 15 and the memory card 14 inserted into the memory card slot 15 are exposed.

As shown in FIG. 1 which is an exploded perspective view of the vicinity of the memory card slot 15 and FIGS. 5 and 6 which are sectional views of essential parts, the memory card slot 15 has a slit along the left and right direction of the front panel 4. It is formed in a shape. Also,
A semi-cylindrical recess 18 is formed above and below the memory card slot 15 in the vertical direction so that the memory card 14 inserted into the memory card slot 15 can be easily picked and removed. Have been. In the concave portion 18 above the memory card slot 15,
An opening 19 is formed so as to extend toward the inside of the printer 2.
Is provided with a slide rail 20 for slidably holding a socket unit 23 comprising a socket 21 into which the memory card 14 is inserted and a printed circuit board 22 for holding the socket 21 below the opening 19. A socket holding portion 24 is formed.

The protective cover 16 is composed of a flat portion 16a inserted into the slide rail 20 and an inclined portion 16b protruding downward from a front edge of the flat portion 16a and covering the memory card slot 15 from above. Become. Two ribs 26 and 27 for reinforcing the protective cover 16 are provided on the lower surface of the protective cover 16, and a claw member 28 protruding downward is provided on the rear edge of the flat portion 16 a. When,
A guide shaft 29 protruding rearward is integrally formed. The guide shaft 29 has a coil spring 30 for urging the protection cover 16 toward the protection position attached to the outer periphery thereof, and a guide piece 31 provided on the inner wall of the upper surface of the upper panel 5.
Is inserted into the notch 31a. The coil spring 30 contacts the front surface of the guide piece 31 and urges the protection cover 16 toward the protection position.

The socket 21 has a thin plate shape.
A slit into which the memory card 14 is inserted and a metal contact piece which contacts the contact portion 14a of the memory card 14 in the slit 21a are provided. This socket 21
The two pins 21b provided on the upper surface are
Are screwed into the holes 33a formed in the two bosses 33 via the holes 22b of the printed circuit board 22, and each metal contact piece is soldered to the printed circuit board 22. Thereby, it is positioned and attached to the printed circuit board 22.

The printed board 22 has a slit 35 with which the claw member 28 of the protective cover 16 engages,
And a notch 36 for avoiding interference with the ribs 26 and 27. Positioning between the protective cover 16 and the printed board 22 is performed by engagement between the claw member 28 of the protective cover 16 and the slit 35 of the printed board 22. A detection switch 37 for detecting the movement of the protection cover 16 between the protection position and the exposure position is attached near the notch 36 on the lower surface of the printed circuit board 22, and the lower surface on the rear side of the printed circuit board 22 is A connector 38 to which a cable for connecting the metal contact piece of the socket 21 to a main printed circuit board provided with a control circuit is attached.

The detection switch 37 is connected to the protective cover 16.
On / off. As shown in FIG. 5, when the protection cover 16 is in the protection position, the switch contact piece 37a of the detection switch 37 is pressed by the bent portion 26a of the rib 26 and is inserted into the detection switch 37 as shown in FIG. It has been pushed. At this time, the detection switch 37 is turned off. As shown in FIG. 6, when the protective cover 16 is moved to the exposed position by being pressed by the finger, the bent portion 26a of the rib 26 presses the switch contact piece 37a as shown in FIG. Is released, and the switch contact piece 37a projects outside the detection switch 37. At this time, the detection switch 37 outputs an ON signal.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printer 2. Each part of the printer 2 is controlled by a system controller 40 mounted on a main printed circuit board. The system controller 40 includes a CPU, a ROM storing a control program, a RAM storing temporary data, and the like. Operation signals of various operation switches of the operation unit 9 are input to the system controller 40, and control contents are sequentially switched according to the input signals.

The socket 21 is connected to a card interface (I / F) circuit 42 via a connector 38 provided on the printed circuit board 22. Card I / F circuit 4
2 is controlled by the system controller 40 to read out the luminance data and the color data which are compressed and recorded in the memory card 14 and input these data to the data expanding circuit 43. The data decompression circuit 43 decompresses the compressed data into data of the original size, decompresses the luminance data and color data for each pixel into one byte (8 bits), and records the data in the frame memory 44.

The detection signal of the detection switch 37 attached to the printed circuit board 22 is transmitted to the system controller 4.
Input to 0. When an ON signal is input from the detection switch 37, the system controller 40 prohibits the card I / F circuit 42 from accessing the memory card 14. If the card I / F circuit 42 is accessing the memory card 14, the operation is stopped. Thus, even if the user attempts to remove the memory card 14 from the memory card slot 15 while accessing the memory card 14, the data recorded on the memory card 14 is not destroyed.

The selector 46 is connected to the system controller 4
0, and switches the input destination of the luminance data and color data recorded in the frame memory 44 to the monitor output system and the print system. System controller 40
When the screen is switched and when the memory card 14 is inserted into the card memory slot 15, data is input to the D / A converter 47 of the monitor output system, and when the print switch 10 is operated, the data is transmitted to the print system. YM
It is input to the C conversion circuit 48.

The D / A converter 47 converts the input digital data into analog data,
To enter. The encoder 49 encodes the input analog data into, for example, an NTSC signal. Thus, the data recorded on the memory card 14 can be observed on the monitor 50 connected to the printer 2.

The YMC conversion circuit 48 generates yellow, magenta, and cyan image data from the luminance data and the color data from the selector 46, and sends them to the image processing circuit 52. The image processing circuit 52 performs image processing in accordance with the print layout specified for the three-color image data, extracts only the color to be printed, for example, yellow image data, out of the three-color image data, and extracts one line at a time. Send to head driver 53. The thermal head 54 has a large number of heating elements arranged in a line, and each heating element is selectively driven to generate heat by the head driver 53 according to image data. By applying the heat of these heating elements to the color thermosensitive recording paper, a yellow image is thermally recorded line by line on the thermosensitive coloring layer for yellow. On the color thermosensitive recording paper, a frame image is thermally recorded in three color planes sequentially by using light fixing after thermal recording on each thermosensitive coloring layer, and a full color print is created.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. To perform printing using the printer 2, the memory card 14 on which image data is recorded by a digital still camera is inserted into the memory card slot 15. When the memory card 14 is inserted, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the finger holding the memory card 14 pushes the protection cover 16 from the protection position to the exposed position against the bias of the coil spring 30. When the protective cover 16 is pushed into the exposure position, as shown in FIG.
Of the detection switch 37 by the bent portion 26a of the rib 26 provided on the switch 26 is released. The detection switch 37 generates an ON signal and inputs it to the system controller 40 shown in FIG.

The system controller 40 to which the ON signal has been input from the detection switch 37 receives the card I / F circuit 42
To prohibit access to the memory card 14.
As a result, the memory card 14 is inserted into the memory card slot 15 with the power of the printer 2 turned on, and even if the card I / F circuit 42 tries to access the memory card 14 due to some malfunction, the memory card 14
Since the access to the memory card 14 is surely prohibited at the time of insertion, the data recorded on the memory card 14 is not destroyed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the upper surface of the memory card 14 inserted into the memory card slot 15 is protected by the protection cover 16 that has returned to the protection position. Thus, even if something falls or hits near the memory card slot 15, the memory card 14 is not damaged because the protective cover 16 receives the impact. When the protection cover 16 returns to the protection position, as shown in FIG.
Since b pushes the switch contact piece 37a of the detection switch 37, the detection switch 37 is turned off.

After the memory card 14 is inserted into the memory card slot 15 and various operation switches provided on the operation unit 9 are operated, the card I / F circuit 42
The data is read from the memory card 14 via the. The compressed luminance data and color data read from the memory card 14 are input to the data expansion circuit 43 and restored to the original size data. The restored luminance data and color data are recorded in the frame memory 44.

The selector 46 inputs the luminance data and the color data read from the frame memory 44 to the D / A converter 47 according to the content of the operation on the operation unit 9.
The D / A converter 47 converts the input digital data into analog data, and inputs the analog data to the encoder 49.
The encoder 49 encodes the input analog data into, for example, an NTSC signal. Thus, the data recorded on the memory card 14 can be observed on the monitor 50 connected to the printer 2.

The image is observed on the monitor 50, and if there is an image to be printed, the print switch 10 is operated. The system controller 40 to which the operation signal from the operation unit 9 is input controls the selector 46 to input the luminance data and the color data read from the frame memory 46 to the YMC conversion circuit 48. YMC conversion circuit 48
Generates image data of each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan from the luminance data and the color data from the selector 46, and sends them to the image processing circuit 52. The image processing circuit 52 performs image processing in accordance with the print layout specified for the three-color image data, extracts only the color to be printed out of the three-color image data, for example, only yellow image data, and processes one line at a time. Send to head driver 53.

The thermal head 54 includes a head driver 5
Each of the heating elements is selectively driven to generate heat by 3, and the yellow image is thermally recorded line by line on the thermosensitive coloring layer for yellow. After the thermal recording of the yellow image, the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer is fixed by the optical fixing device. Next, thermal recording of the magenta image and fixing to the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer are performed. Finally, thermal recording of the cyan image is performed, and a full-color image is formed on the color thermosensitive recording paper. The color thermosensitive recording paper on which printing has been completed is discharged out of the printer 2 from a discharge port by a transport mechanism incorporated in the printer 2. At this time, the lid member 6 is pressed to open the discharge port.

When removing the memory card 14 from the memory card slot 15, as shown in FIGS.
The protection cover 16 is pushed by a finger from the protection position to the exposed position against the bias of the coil spring 30. Protective cover 1
When the cover 6 is pushed to the exposed position, the pressing of the detection switch 37 on the switch contact piece 37a by the bent portion 26a of the rib 26 provided on the protective cover 16 is released as shown in FIG. The detection switch 37 generates an ON signal,
This is input to the system controller 40 shown in FIG.

The system controller 40 to which the ON signal is inputted from the detection switch 37 is connected to the card I / F circuit 42
To prohibit access to the memory card 14.
As a result, the card I / F circuit 42
Memory card 14 even while accessing
Since the access to the memory card 14 is surely prohibited at the time of extracting the data, the data recorded on the memory card 14 is not destroyed.

In the above embodiment, the protection bar 16 is moved between the protection position and the exposure position by sliding. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be performed by turning, swinging, or the like. Hereinafter, an embodiment using the movement of the protective cover by rotation will be described. Note that the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 10 shows a state in the vicinity of the memory card slot of the printer using the rotation by moving the protection cover between the protection position for protecting the memory card 14 and the exposure position for exposing the memory card 14. It is an important section sectional view shown. The plate-shaped protective cover 60 is rotatably attached to the upper surface of the front panel 62 via a hinge 61 formed at one end. The protective cover 60 is attached to the front panel 6.
2 a leaf spring 63 made of a thin metal plate attached to the inner wall of the upper surface
Urged toward the protection position indicated by the solid line in the figure. The hinge 61 of the protective cover 60 contacts the upper surface of the front panel 62 to prevent the protective cover 60 from rotating in the direction opposite to the exposed position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure. The regulating piece 61a for regulating is integrally formed. This protective cover 60 can protect the memory card 14 from damage or the like, as in the above embodiment.

On the back surface of the protective cover 60, a projection 65 is provided.
The protrusion 65 presses the switch contact piece 67a of the detection switch 67 mounted on the printed board 66 when the protective cover 60 is turned to the exposed position. The detection switch 67 performs the same operation as in the above-described embodiment, and prohibits the card I / F circuit 42 from accessing the memory card 14 by inputting a detection signal to the system controller 40. Thereby, also in the present embodiment, data recorded on the memory card 14 can be protected.

Although the protective cover is arranged above the memory card in each of the above embodiments, it may be arranged below, or above and below the memory card.
Also, when the memory card is removed during access,
Although the access by the card I / F circuit is interrupted under the control of the system controller, the power supply to the socket may be stopped. Furthermore, although a color thermal printer has been described as an example, the present invention can be applied to various printers such as a monochrome thermal printer and a thermal transfer printer.

Although a memory card in which an IC memory is incorporated has been described as an example, a memory card defined in the present invention is a magneto-optical recording medium such as a magnet optical disk (MO disk) or a magnetic recording medium. It includes a certain floppy disk and the like, and the protection device of the present invention can also be used for protection of these removable recording media. When used to protect an MO disk or a floppy disk, data protection is performed by interrupting access by an I / F circuit or by stopping power supply to a drive device that reads and writes data on a recording medium. Further, the protective cover can be used also as an ejection switch for the recording medium.

Further, the printer has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to various devices using a removable recording medium such as a digital still camera and a memory card player.

[0039]

As described above, the memory card protection device of the present invention is composed of a protective cover and a small number of components such as a spring for urging the protective cover.
It can be adopted at low cost and can protect the memory card effectively. Also, inserting and removing the memory card into and from the memory card slot can be performed in one action without the need to consciously open and close the protective cover, making it easy to insert and remove the memory card. Can be

Further, the operation of removing the memory card is detected, and when this operation is detected, access to the memory card is prohibited.
Alternatively, the power supply to the socket that reads and writes data to the memory card is stopped, so if the memory card is pulled out during access, the recorded data will not be destroyed, and the recorded data can be effectively saved. Can be protected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a memory card protection device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external shape of a printer incorporating the memory card protection device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a state of a protection cover at a protection position.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a state of a protective cover when a memory card is removed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part near a memory card slot when a protective cover is at a protective position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part near a memory card slot when a protective cover is at an exposure position.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of a detection switch when a protection cover is at a protection position.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of a detection switch when the protective cover is at an exposure position.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printer.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part near a memory card slot of a printer using a protective cover according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Printer 4 Front Panel 14 Memory Card 15 Memory Card Slot 16 Protective Cover 21 Socket 22 Printed Circuit Board 26 Rib 30 Coil Spring 37 Detection Switch 40 System Controller 42 Card I / F Circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A protection position which is arranged in the vicinity of a memory card slot into which a memory card is inserted and removed and covers and protects a memory card inserted into the memory card slot, and which is pressed by a finger when the memory card is removed. A protection device for a memory card, comprising: a protection cover that is movable between an exposure position where a memory card is exposed; and a spring that biases the protection cover toward the protection position. A detection switch for switching operation in conjunction with movement of the protection cover and detecting a removal operation of the memory card, wherein when the protection cover moves to an exposure position, reading and writing of data to and from the memory card is performed. The power supply to a socket for prohibiting or for reading data from or writing data to a memory card is stopped.
The memory card protection device according to the above.