JP2001216057A - Portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optimize the miniaturization of a portable computer, and to prevent the generation of any malfunction. SOLUTION: An inside FDD unit 14 and an inside CDROM drive unit 15 are selectively mounted on an FDD/CDROM slot 13. In this case, when the inside CDROM drive unit is mounted, an outside FDD port for connecting an outside FDD unit 16 is automatically set to an enable state, and the outside FDD unit 16 is made to be usable. Also, when the inside FDD unit 14 is mounted instead of the inside CDROM drive unit, the outside FDD port is automatically made to be disabled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a portable computer, and more particularly to a portable computer capable of incorporating a magnetic disk device such as a floppy disk drive unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various portable personal computers of a laptop type or a notebook type have been developed. Most portable personal computers of this type have a built-in 3.5-inch floppy disk drive (FDD) unit, for example.

[0005] However, recently, various kinds of application software and the like are supplied by CDs, and the development of portable personal computers that can use a CDROM drive has been demanded.

Conventionally, when a CDROM drive is used, it has been necessary to connect a dedicated extension unit to a portable personal computer and attach a CDROM drive unit to the extension unit.

[0005] It is also possible to incorporate a CDROM drive unit in the computer main body. However, in this case, there is a problem that the computer main body must be designed to be larger by the size of the CDROM drive unit.

That is, if the CDROM drive unit is provided at a position overlapping the system board in the computer main body, the computer main body must be designed to be thick, and if the CDROM drive unit is provided at a position not overlapping the system board, the computer main body must be provided. The planar area (footprint) will increase.

[0007]

Conventionally, CDROM
When the drive unit is built in the computer main body, there is a disadvantage that the thickness and the footprint of the computer main body are increased.

For this reason, a new structure for miniaturization is required, but at this time, it is necessary to improve the connection structure with the FDD unit without causing a risk of malfunction or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a portable computer which can cope with miniaturization and can prevent occurrence of a malfunction due to the size reduction.

[0010]

A portable computer according to the present invention comprises a computer main body, an internal FDD unit and an internal CDROM provided in the computer main body.
A mounting portion for selectively mounting a drive unit, an internal FDD port provided in the computer main body for interfacing with an internal FDD unit mounted on the mounting portion, and a mounting portion provided in the computer main body. , An internal CDRO for interfacing with an internal CDROM drive unit mounted in the mounting section
An M port, and an external F
The DD unit is detachably connected and its external FD
External FDD for interfacing with D unit
A port and an external FDD port enable / disable for detecting whether the internal FDD unit or the internal CDROM drive unit is mounted on the mounting portion, and setting the external FDD port to an enable or disable state according to a result of the detection. And an enable control means.

In this portable computer,
When the internal CDROM drive unit is mounted on the mounting portion, the internal FDD cannot be used, but instead, the external FDD port is automatically set to the enable state.
For this reason, the user can use the external FDD only by connecting the external FDD to the external FDD port with the CDROM drive mounted without performing the enable / disable operation of the external FDD. Also, when the internal FDD unit is mounted on the mounting part,
The external FDD port is automatically disabled so that no malfunction occurs even if the external FDD is connected by mistake. Therefore, it is possible to cope with miniaturization, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of malfunction due to the size reduction.

A portable computer according to the present invention has a computer main body, a mounting portion to which a first magnetic disk drive unit detachably mounted on the computer main body can be mounted, and the first magnetic disk mounted on the mounting portion. A first port for performing an interface when a disk drive unit is mounted, a second port for connecting to a second magnetic disk drive unit separately from the first port and performing an interface; And a control unit for setting the second port to a disabled state when one magnetic disk drive unit is mounted.

Further, the portable computer of the present invention has a first port connected to and connected to a computer main body, a first magnetic disk drive unit detachable from the computer main body, and the first port.
Connected to a second magnetic disk drive unit detachable from the computer body,
A second port for interfacing, and control means for setting the second port to a disabled state when the first magnetic disk drive unit is connected to the first port. And

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a portable personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. This portable computer is of a notebook type. As shown in the figure, an LCD unit 12 is attached to a computer main body 11 so as to be rotatable between a closed position and a released position. On the right side of the computer main body 11, an FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13 is provided. This FDD / CDROM mounting slot 1
3, an internal FDD unit 14 and an internal CDROM drive unit 15 can be interchangeably mounted. The internal FDD unit 14 is a drive corresponding to a 3.5-inch FD, and the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is a drive corresponding to a 12 cm CD.

The internal CDROM drive unit 15
A box-shaped base portion 151 having a reverse stepped shape as shown in the drawing and incorporating a drive mechanism, and the base portion 151
And a box-shaped disk accommodating portion 152 which is provided in a pair on the upper surface and has a larger size than the base portion 152. A CD mounting plate 153 is provided in the disk accommodating section 152 so as to be freely taken out.

The length, width, and thickness of the internal FDD unit 14 are L0, L1, and L3 + L5, respectively. Internal CD
The length and width of the base portion 151 of the ROM drive unit 15 are set to L0 and L1, which are the same as those of the internal FDD unit 14. The length and width of the disk accommodating portion 152 of the internal CDROM drive unit 15 are determined by the size (12 cm) of the CD accommodated therein, and thus have a size larger than that of the base portion 152. Here, the disk accommodating portion 152 has the width L1 of the base 151.
Has a width L2 larger than that of the base portion 151.
It is assumed that L0 is the same as. In this case, as shown in the drawing, a part of the disk accommodating portion 152 is positioned so as to protrude beyond the base portion 151 in the width direction. The width of the protrusion is
L4 (L4 = L2-L1).

The FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13 is
It is formed in a size that can accommodate the internal CDROM drive unit 15, and a guide portion 131 is provided at the right corner as shown in the figure. This guide part 131
Sets the internal CDROM drive unit 15 to FDD / C
When mounted in the DROM mounting slot 13, the base 151
And the disk accommodating portion 152 is located at a stepped portion.
The guide 131 supports an arm of the system board 21 which is cut out in a U-shape.

On the back of the computer body 11, connectors for connecting various external devices are provided, including a connector used as an external FDD port. Various electrical components for interfacing these connectors and external devices are mounted on an arm portion of the system board 21 on the back side of the computer main body.

The external FDD port is connected to a 3.5-inch external FDD unit 1 via a cable 17 as shown in FIG.
6 can be connected. This external FDD unit 16
Is the internal CDR in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13.
FD while OM drive unit 15 is mounted
Is connected when using the FDD / CD.
It is not used when the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted in the ROM mounting slot 13.

Next, the shape of the system board 21 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows the positional relationship between the internal CDROM drive unit 15 and the system board 21 when the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is mounted in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13, and FIG. 3 shows the FDD / CDROM mounting slot. Internal FDD at 13
The positional relationship between the internal FDD unit 14 and the system board 21 when the unit 14 is mounted is shown.

The system board 21 is composed of a printed circuit board (PCB) on which various electric components for realizing a computer system are mounted, and has an internal FDD unit 14 and an internal CDROM drive unit 15.
Rectangular notch 2 of substantially the same size as the base 151
Two.

When the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is mounted in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13, the base portion 151 of the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is housed in the cutout portion 22 of the system board 21, as shown in FIG. Is done. In this case, the base 151
A portion of the disk storage portion 152 protruding from the system board is opposed to a position spaced from the surface of the system board 21. Therefore, electrical components can be mounted also on the portion of the system board 21 that overlaps with the disk accommodating portion 152. FIG. 4 shows an example of a mounting state of the system board 21.
Shown in As can be seen from FIG. 4, by notching the system board 21 in a U-shape, the system board 21
On the arm portion on the back side of the computer main body, a space for mounting various electrical components 31 for interfacing with connectors provided on the back side of the computer main body and external devices can be secured. Therefore, it is not necessary to route the wiring for a long time, and an optimal mounting layout can be realized.

Further, an FDD / CDROM mounting slot 1
3 when the internal FDD unit 14 is attached to FIG.
, The internal FDD unit 14 is housed in the notch 22 of the system board 21.

As described above, in this portable computer, the internal FDD unit 14 or the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is accommodated in the cutout 22 of the system board 21 cut out in a U-shape. For this reason, the thickness of the computer main body 11 needs to be the sum of the thickness (L3 + L5) of the internal FDD unit 14 or the internal CDROM drive unit 15 and the housing thickness of the computer main body 11, and the thickness of the system board 21 is the thickness of the computer main body 11. Does not matter. Therefore, for example, the thickness of the computer main body 11 can be reduced as compared with the case where the internal CDROM drive unit or the internal FDD unit is arranged on the upper or lower side of the system board,
Also, the internal CDROM drive unit or the internal FD
The footprint can be reduced as compared with the case where the D unit is arranged side by side with the system board so as not to overlap with the system board.

The internal CDROM drive unit 1
5 has an inverted staircase shape including the base portion 141 and the disk accommodating portion 152 which is larger than the base portion 141, so that the area of the cutout portion 22 can be kept to a minimum value determined by the floor area of the base portion 141. it can.

Next, referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the CDROM connector and the FDD connector on the system board 21, the internal FDD unit 14 and the internal CDRO
The positional relationship between the M drive unit 15 and each connector will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, a CDROM connector 23 and an FDD connector 24 are arranged on the system board 21 to the left of the notch 22. Hereinafter, the CDROM connector and the FDD connector on the system board 21 are referred to as internal CDs, respectively.
It will be referred to as a ROM port or an internal FDD port.

The internal FDD unit 14 and the internal CD
With the ROM drive unit 15, the connectors 31, 3
2 are shifted from each other as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 1
3 when the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted
The connector 31 of the DD unit 14 is the internal FDD port 2
When the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is mounted in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13, the connector 32 of the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is directly connected to the internal CDROM port 23.

Also, between the connector 31 of the internal FDD unit 14 and the internal FDD port 24, and between the internal CDR
Connector 32 and internal CDR of OM drive unit 15
The connection to the OM port 23 can also be made via a cable.

FIG. 8 shows the system configuration of the portable computer shown in FIG.

As shown, the system includes a system bus 100, a CPU 101, a system memory 102,
BIOS ROM 103, floppy disk controller (FDC) 104, CDROM controller 10
5 and a gate IC circuit 106 are included.

Floppy disk controller 104
Is the internal FDD unit 14 connected to the internal FDD port 23 or the external FDD
An I / O controller for controlling the external FDD unit 16 connected to the DD port 25;
The port 23 and the external FDD port 25 are commonly connected. In this case, a gate IC is provided between the floppy disk controller 104 and the external FDD port 25.
Circuit 106 is interposed.

The gate IC circuit 106 is hardware for enabling / disabling the external FDD port 25. When the external FDD port 25 is to be enabled, the gate IC circuit 106 is turned on, and the signal from the floppy disk controller 104 is transmitted to the external FDD as it is.
The signal is transmitted to the DD port 25. On the other hand, external FDD port 2
5 is disabled when the gate IC circuit 106 is disabled.
Is turned off, and the signal transmission from the floppy disk controller 104 to the external FDD port 25 is interrupted.

The switching operation of the gate IC circuit 106 is determined by the logic "H" / "L" of the switch control signal input to the enable input EN. That is, if the logic of the switch control signal is “H”, the gate IC circuit 106 is turned on, and if the logic of the switch control signal is “L”, the gate IC circuit 106 is turned off.

The switch control signal is the FDD / CD shown in FIG.
This signal indicates whether or not the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted in the ROM mounting slot 13. in this case,
A switch control signal of “H” indicates that the internal FDD unit 14 is not mounted, and a switch control signal of “L” indicates that the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 9, this switch control signal utilizes a voltage value of a predetermined one (GND3) of a plurality of ground pins (GND1 to 3) of the internal FDD port 23. Generated. The GND3 pin is connected to the VCC terminal via a resistor R on the system board 21.

Therefore, when the internal FDD unit 14 is not mounted in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13, that is, when the internal FDD unit 14 is not connected to the internal FDD port 23, the pin of the GND 3 is set to “H”.
Level, thereby generating an "H" switch control signal.

On the other hand, FDD / CDROM mounting slot 1
When the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted on the internal FDD unit 3, that is, when the internal FDD unit 14 is connected to the internal FDD port 23, the pin of the GND 3 is connected to the ground inside the internal FDD unit 14. Pulled down to level. As a result, an "L" switch control signal is generated.

Therefore, in the system shown in FIG.
When the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13, the gate IC circuit 106 is turned off by the "L" switch control signal, thereby interrupting the signal transmission from the floppy disk controller 104 to the external FDD port 25. Is done. Therefore, the access signal from the floppy disk controller 104 is sent only to the internal FDD port 23. Therefore, only the internal FDD unit 14 is accessed, and even if the external FDD unit 16 is connected to the external FDD port, the external FDD unit 16 is not accessed.

On the other hand, FDD / CDROM mounting slot 1
3, when the internal FDD unit 14 is not mounted, that is, when the internal CDR is inserted in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13.
When the OM drive unit 15 is mounted,
The gate IC circuit 10 is controlled by the "H" switch control signal.
6 is turned on, whereby the signal transmission from the floppy disk controller 104 to the external FDD port 25 is permitted. Therefore, the access signal from the floppy disk controller 104 is transmitted to the internal FDD port 23
And the external FDD port 25. Therefore, if the external FDD unit 16 is connected, the external FDD
The access of the unit 16 becomes possible.

Thus, in this system, F
When the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is mounted in the DD / CDROM mounting slot 13, the internal FDD unit 14 cannot be used, but the external FDD port 25 is automatically set to the enabled state and the external FDD unit 16 is used. It becomes possible to do. For this reason, the user needs to set up the external FD
Without setting whether or not the D unit 16 is used, the FD
When the external FDD unit 16 is connected to the external FDD port 25 with the CDROM drive unit 15 mounted in the D / CDROM mounting slot 13, the external FDD unit 16 can be read / written.

Also, FDD / CDROM mounting slot 1
When the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted on the external FDD unit 3, the external FDD port 25 is automatically disabled. Therefore, even if the external FDD unit 16 is erroneously connected to the external FDD port 25, a malfunction such as a signal collision occurs. Does not occur.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of the system configuration. The system shown in FIG. 10 differs from the system shown in FIG. 8 only in that the switch control signal is generated by using the voltage of a predetermined pin of the CDROM port 25. Is the same as

That is, in the system of FIG.
The switch control signal input to the gate IC circuit 106 is transmitted to the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13 by the internal CDR.
This signal indicates whether the OM drive unit 15 is mounted. In this case, the switch control signal of “H” indicates that the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is mounted, and the switch control signal of “L” indicates that the internal CDRO drive unit is mounted.
This indicates that the M drive unit 15 is not mounted.

As shown in FIG. 11, this switch control signal is generated by using a voltage value of a predetermined one (VCC3) of a plurality of power supply pins (VCC1 to VCC3) of the CDROM port 24. Is done. The VCC3 pin is grounded via a resistor R on the system board 21.

Therefore, when the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is mounted in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13 and the internal FDD unit 14 is not mounted, that is, when the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is connected to the CDROM port 24, Is VCC3
Are the VC in the internal CDROM drive unit 15.
Connected to C terminal, pulled up to “H” level,
As a result, an "H" switch control signal is generated.

On the other hand, the internal CDROM drive unit 1
If the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted in the FDD / CDROM mounting slot 13 instead of the FDD / CDROM port 5, that is, if the internal CDROM drive unit 15 is not connected to the CDROM port 24, the VCC3 pin is pulled down to the "L" level. Is done. By this, "L"
Is generated.

Therefore, also in this system, depending on whether the internal FDD unit 14 is mounted or not, the external FDD
D port 25 can be automatically enabled / disabled.

Although the case where the external FDD unit 16 is connected to the external FDD port 25 on the back of the computer main body 11 has been described as an example, an extension unit such as a port replicator is mounted on the back of the computer main body 11. , An external FDD unit can be attached thereto.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the CDROM drive unit and the FDD unit can be selectively mounted in the computer main body without increasing the thickness and footprint of the computer main body. CDROM drive unit and FDD
Depending on which unit is installed, the external F
Since enable / disable of the DD port can be automatically controlled, the CDROM drive unit and the external FD can be controlled.
A system environment such as D or only the internal FDD can be easily realized.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to cope with downsizing and to prevent the occurrence of a malfunction due to the downsizing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an F provided in the portable computer shown in FIG.
The figure which shows the positional relationship of an internal CDROM drive unit and a system board when an internal CDROM drive unit is mounted in a DD / CDROM mounting slot.

FIG. 3 shows an F provided in the portable computer shown in FIG.
The figure which shows the positional relationship between an internal FDD unit and a system board when an internal FDD unit is mounted in a DD / CDROM mounting slot.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing an example of a mounting state of various components in the portable computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing an internal FDD port and a CDROM port mounted on a system board of the portable computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a connector mounting position of an internal FDD unit mounted on the portable computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a connector mounting position of an internal CDROM drive unit mounted on the portable computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the portable computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the principle of generation of a switch control signal for controlling a gate IC circuit provided in the system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary block diagram showing another example of the system configuration of the portable computer shown in FIG. 1;

11 is a diagram for explaining the principle of generating a switch control signal for controlling a gate IC circuit provided in the system of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

11: Computer body, 12: LCD unit, 13
... FDD / CDROM mounting slot, 14 ... 3.5 inch internal FDD unit, 15 ... 12 cm CDROM drive unit, 16 ... 3.5 inch external FDD unit, 21 ... System board, 22 ... Notch, 151
... Base part, 152 ... Disk storage part, 101 ... CPU,
102: system memory, 103: BIOS ROM,
104: floppy disk controller, 105: C
DROM controller, 106: gate IC circuit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] A computer main body; a mounting part provided in the computer main body, which can selectively mount an internal FDD unit and an internal CDROM drive unit; and a computer main body provided in the computer main body and mounted in the mounting part. An internal FDD port for interfacing with an internal FDD unit; an internal CDROM port provided in the computer main body for interfacing with an internal CDROM drive unit mounted on the mounting section; An external FDD unit is detachably connected to the external FDD unit, and an external FDD port for interfacing with the external FDD unit;
An external FDD for detecting which of the drive units is mounted, and setting the external FDD port to an enabled or disabled state according to the detection result
A portable computer comprising: port enable / disable control means. 2. The internal FDD port and an external FDD.
A floppy (registered trademark) disk controller connected to both of the ports; wherein the external FDD port enable / disable control means includes a voltage value of a predetermined pin of the internal FDD port or a predetermined pin of the internal CDROM port. A detection circuit for generating a detection signal indicating whether or not the internal FDD unit is mounted on the mounting portion in accordance with a voltage value; the floppy disk controller and the external FDD
2. The gate circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a gate circuit coupled between the ports and electrically connecting or disconnecting the floppy disk controller and the external FDD port in response to a detection signal from the detection circuit. Portable computer. 3. A computer main body, a mounting portion detachably provided to the computer main body, to which a first magnetic disk drive unit can be mounted, and when the first magnetic disk drive unit is mounted to the mounting portion. A first port for interfacing the first magnetic disk drive unit, a second port for connecting to a second magnetic disk drive unit separately from the first port, and interfacing with the first magnetic disk drive unit; And a control means for setting the second port to a disabled state when the second port is disabled. 4. A computer main body, a first port connected to a first magnetic disk drive unit detachable from the computer main body, and providing an interface; and a separate port from the first port. A second port for connecting and interfacing with a second magnetic disk drive unit that is detachably attached to the second magnetic disk drive unit; and connecting the second port when the first magnetic disk drive unit is connected to the first port. Controlling means for setting a disabled state.