JP2000163174A - Pc(personal computer) card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce any unnecessary power to be supplied to a PC card by a DTE(data terminal equipment) while the PC card is inserted by allowing the card to be seemingly inserted or pulled out in the same way by an operation from the outside without actually inserting the PC card into the DTE or pulling the PC card out of the DTE. SOLUTION: This PC card is provided with a first interface to be connected with a DTE, a second interface to be connected with an outside device, a control part 1 for controlling data transfer between the first and second interfaces, a composite analog switch 2 for switching the connection/disconnection of signal lines between the first interface and the control part 1, a serial detecting circuit 5 for receiving serial signals from the second interface, and a secondary battery 4 for supplying a power to the serial detecting circuit 5. In this case, the composite analog switch 2 is controlled by the serial signals from the second interface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a PC (personal computer) card, and more particularly, to a PC card using DT.
The same operation as the card insertion / removal is performed by an external operation without actually removing the card from the E (data terminal device),
The present invention relates to a PC card capable of reducing power consumption when not in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A PC (personal computer) card is an expansion card for expanding an input / output function of a computer, and includes a LAN (local information network) card and the like.

A PC card used in connection with a DTE (data terminal device) consumes power even in an idling state, but it is preferable to reduce such unnecessary power consumption and accompanying heat generation. Such a PC card is disclosed, for example, in JP-A-10-171936 as shown in FIG.
No., published in the official gazette (“PC card”).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a PC card disclosed in the above publication. Power is supplied from the DTE to the power control unit 130 via the power terminal 99 provided in the card slot 140 of the PC card. Addresses and data are exchanged between the memory 150 and the DTE via the signal terminal 90, the signal cutoff circuit 100, and the bus line 120. Then, in the power saving mode, the power control unit 130 shuts off the power output VA to the memory 150, but continues to supply the power output VB to the memory control unit 160.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system centering on the power supply control unit 130 described above. As shown in FIG. 7, V
B is constantly output, and VA is output from the source.
The VA is turned on / off based on the output of the power cutoff signal generator 110. Further, the output of the power supply cutoff signal generation unit 110 in the power supply control unit 130 is
Is supplied to a three-state buffer (not shown)
Is turned on / off so that an error signal does not enter the memory 150.

[0006]

However, since the conventional card slot arrangement 140 is not stipulated, for example, an expansion card slot of a desktop may be mounted on the back of a DTE (data terminal device). It was difficult to slip. Also, in a card slot of a notebook PC or the like, every time the setting of the card is changed, there is a trouble that the PC card must be inserted and removed.

[0007] When the DTE and the PC card are carried at the same time, the PC card is more portable if it is incorporated in the DTE, but if the card is still inserted in the card slot 140, the power of the DTE is consumed. I do. Alternatively, in a system that does not require insertion / removal, power is consumed by power supply from the DTE as long as the card is inserted even when the card is not used.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention provides an external operation to perform the same operation as the removal of a card without actually removing the PC card from the DTE. It is an object to reduce unnecessary power to be supplied to zero.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a first interface connected to a DTE (data terminal device), a second interface connected to an external device, and the first interface. A control unit for controlling data transfer between the first interface and the second interface, a decoding analog switch for switching connection / disconnection of a signal line between the first interface and the control unit, and a serial switch from the second interface. PC having a serial detection circuit for receiving a signal and a secondary battery for supplying power to the serial detection circuit
(Personal computer) card, wherein the second
The decoding analog switch is controlled by a serial signal from an interface.

That is, in the present invention, the state of the PC card presence / absence detection signal is performed from an external input device, thereby reducing the power consumption supplied from the DTE while the PC card is inserted and making it difficult for the DTE to insert and remove. In this case, the same operation as that of the pull-out is realized in a pseudo manner from the outside.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a PC card according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the PC card of the present invention has a DT
E connected to PCMCIA (personal co.
mputer card memory card i
(International Association) interface 3, an external interface 6 connected to the mobile phone 50 via a connection cable, and a DTE 2
0 is transferred to the mobile phone, and the data format received from the mobile phone 50 is
The control unit 1 outputs data to the control unit 20.

The controller 1 has, as an interface on the DTE 20 side, card attribute information CIS 16 for scanning when the DTE 20 detects the insertion of a PC card and discriminating what kind of card it is. It has a configuration register group 17 for performing configuration as a medium. In addition, after the configuration, it has an extended COM port 15 that can be used as an extended external medium of the DTE.

The CPU 11 executes an operation of a command received from the extended COM port 15 and transfers user data to the mobile phone interface circuit 14.

The user data received via the portable telephone interface 14 is transferred to the extended COM port 15 and output to the DTE 20, and the state of the portable telephone or the like (incoming call) is monitored.

Further, the CPU 11 has a ROM 12 as a program memory and a RAM 13 as a work memory.

The mobile phone interface circuit 14 is C
The user data transferred from the PU 11 is converted into a predetermined data format, output to a mobile phone or the like via the external interface 6, and the data format received from the external interface is converted to a CP.
The data is converted into a format that can be read from U11.

Further, there is provided an analog switch 2 capable of switching connection / disconnection of a signal line between the PCMCIA interface 3 and the control unit 1.

The PC card has a serial detection circuit 5 that can receive a serial signal from the external interface 6. The serial detection circuit 5 controls the analog switch 2.

The serial detection circuit 5 is backed up by a secondary battery 4, and this battery is connected to the VCC1 and VCC2 terminals of the PCMCIA interface 3.
Power is supplied and charged. The secondary battery 4 can be replaced by a user.

The serial detection circuit is backed up by a secondary battery.
By switching the "open / connect" of the analog switch inserted in the signal line of the MCIA interface to make the DTE determine the presence or absence of the card,
While the card is being inserted into the DTE, a pseudo pull-out operation is performed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system using the PC card of the present invention. PC card 30 is DTE 20
DT by the PCMCIA interface 3
Connected to E. Also, it is connected to a mobile phone or the like 50 via the external interface 6 and the connection cable 40.

Next, the operation of the PC card of the present invention will be described.

When the secondary battery is mounted, the serial detection circuit is initialized, the control signal of the analog switch becomes an initial value, and the composite analog switch is connected.

With the resistance shown in FIG.
One terminal and the CD2 terminal are subjected to pull-up processing. P
With the analog switch inside the C card connected,
When a PC card is inserted into the DTE, the PC card
Since the D1 terminal and the CD2 terminal are connected to GND,
The TE side detects H → L of the CD1 and 2 terminals, recognizes that the card has been inserted, and applies the VCC1 terminal and V
Power supply is started from the CC2 terminal. Then, the secondary battery starts charging at the same time as the power is supplied.

Then, after waiting for the power supply stabilization time, RES
ET is released.

After the control unit completes the initial processing, the READY signal is activated.

The DTE scans the CIS information of the PC card, determines the attributes of the card, and performs configuration so that it looks like an extended COM port. In this state, the extended COM port in the control unit is activated, and data can be transmitted to and received from the DTE.

FIG. 4 shows signal lines between the portable telephone and the PC card. When the user performs a key operation, the mobile phone transmits a serial signal indicating which key has been pressed. A “disconnection request” and a “connection request” are determined by the combination of the serial signals. Normally, this serial signal is ignored by the control unit.However, the serial detection circuit ignores signals other than the above-mentioned "disconnection request" and "connection request" and ignores either "disconnection request" or "connection request". Open / connect the analog switch when receiving.

Here, the operation when a "disconnection request" is received will be described.

When receiving the "disconnect request", the serial detection circuit opens the analog SW.

DTE is L of CD1 terminal and CD2 terminal.
By detecting that the card has been removed by the change in H,
Power supply to the CC1 terminal and the VCC2 terminal is stopped.

In this state, the PC card does not consume the power of the DTE.

Since the power supply from the DTE is interrupted, the control unit becomes inoperable, but the serial detection circuit is operable by the secondary battery.

When the user performs a key operation of "connection request" when he / she wants to use the card, a serial signal of "connection request" is transmitted as a serial signal. Upon receiving the connection request, the serial detection circuit sets the analog switch to a connected state.

The DTE detects H → L of the CD1 and CD2 terminals, recognizes again that the card has been inserted, and starts supplying power to the card from the VCC1 and VCC2 terminals.

At the same time as power is supplied, the secondary battery starts charging.

Thereafter, the extended CO
The M port is activated.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. Referring to FIG. 5, a modem IC 14 is mounted instead of the external interface circuit, and a modular jack is used as the external interface 6. Have. The serial detection circuit 5 is a line capable of detecting the state of a RING tone (ringing tone) and a NO CARRIER (no carrier wave detected).
Backed up by

The serial detection circuit 5 monitors the state of the modular jack, and upon detecting a RING tone, brings the analog switch 2 into a connected state.

When the analog switch is connected, the modem card is activated as an extended COM port of the DTE, and data communication becomes possible.

After the data communication is completed, if the line is disconnected from the connection partner, the serial detection circuit 5 sets NO CARRI
ER is detected and the analog switch is turned off.
The DTE detects L → H of the CD terminal and stops power supply to the modem card. Therefore, the power consumption of the modem card can be reduced. The PC card shown in FIG.
BBS (bulletin board dsystem)
m: electronic bulletin board system) and the like.

[0043]

According to the present invention described above, the same operation as the removal of a card can be performed by an external operation without actually removing the PC card from the DTE. The reason is that from the input device other than the PCMCIA interface, the CD1 terminal of the PCMCIA interface, CD1
This is because two terminals are controlled.

According to the present invention, the power consumption of the DTE can be reduced to zero while the card is inserted. The reason is that by controlling the CD1 and CD2 terminals,
This is because power supply from the DTE is stopped by leaving the card in the TE.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a PC card of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system using the PC card of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a connection between a DTE and a PC card.

FIG. 4 is a table showing assignment of signal lines between a mobile phone and a PC card.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the PC card of the present invention including a modem IC.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional PC card.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram mainly showing a power supply control unit of the PC card of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 control unit 2 analog switch 3 PCMCIA interface 4 secondary battery 5 serial detection circuit 6 external interface 14 mobile phone interface 15 extended COM port 16 CIS information 17 configuration register unit 20 DTE

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first interface connected to a DTE (data terminal device), a second interface connected to an external device, a control unit controlling data transfer between the first and second interfaces, A decoding analog switch for switching connection / disconnection of a signal line between the first interface and the control unit, a serial detection circuit for receiving a serial signal from the second interface, and power supply to the serial detection circuit PC with secondary battery
(Personal computer) card, wherein the decoding analog switch is controlled by a serial signal from the second interface.
C card. 2. The secondary battery is detachable.
2. The PC card according to claim 1, wherein all switches of the analog decoding switch are connected by mounting a next battery. 3. The DTE detects a connection state of the analog switch by inserting the PC card into the DTE, and starts supplying power to the PC card based on the detection result. P according to claim 2
C card. 4. The PC according to claim 3, wherein the secondary battery is charged at the same time when the power supply is started.
card. 5. The external device is a mobile phone, and the serial detection circuit is a device that requests connection or disconnection between the first interface and the control circuit from the mobile phone via the external interface. 5. The PC card according to claim 4, wherein a signal is received, and the decoding analog switch is connected or disconnected based on the request signal. 6. The second interface is a modular jack connected to a data communication line, and the serial detection circuit includes a RING tone and a NOC.
An ARRIER state detection circuit, wherein the serial detection circuit receives, via the modular jack, a request signal for requesting connection or disconnection between the first interface and the control circuit, and The PC card according to claim 4, wherein the decoding analog switch is connected or disconnected based on the connection.