JP2001267031A - Interface device for card type electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interface device for a card type electronic equipment, which is compact and excellent in portability and yet can sustain its posture even when a card type electronic equipment is inserted into it. SOLUTION: An opening and closing cover 11 and a stand plate 21 are fitted to a case 3 of the device 1 as a posture keeping member. The opening and closing cover is for opening and closing an insertion slot for a PC card, a tip of its locking part 11d supports a side face of the PC card inserted. The stand plate is fitted to a bottom face 5e of the case in free rotation, projecting outside from the contained state as it rotates to stably hold the case against the supporting face. A guide 31 for a card combined with the opening and closing cover is pulled out of the case when the cover is opened, to guide the both sides of the card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an interface device for a card type electronic device, and more particularly to an interface device for a PC card used in a personal computer or the like. The present invention relates to an interface device for a card-type electronic device, which prevents the posture of the card-type electronic device and the device from becoming unstable when the card-type electronic device is inserted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a PC card has been known as a card type electronic device. A so-called notebook type personal computer is provided with a slot for inserting a PC card as a standard, while a so-called desktop type or tower type personal computer is provided with a PC card slot. Not usually. Therefore, the PC card cannot be used as it is in the desktop type including the tower type. However, if a PC card can be used even with a desktop type, the functions can be extended as necessary, which is extremely convenient. For this purpose, the PC
There is provided an adapter or an interface device which receives a card, is connected to a personal computer, and transmits / receives data of the PC card to / from the personal computer.

As described above, a notebook personal computer is usually provided with a slot for a PC card as a standard, but the number of slots is at most two and not large. Although it is technically possible to increase the number of slots, increasing the number of slots increases the size of the personal computer, which is contrary to the orientation of "note-type" products. Also, there are not many opportunities to use three or more cards at the same time. Therefore, a PC card interface device that can be connected to a personal computer as needed even in a notebook type is convenient. In this case, it is naturally desirable that both the desktop type and the notebook type can be shared. Since the notebook type is often carried, it is desirable that the interface device for the PC card used in the notebook type be small and excellent in portability. It is.

In this regard, conventional devices are not so small that they can be said to be highly portable. In addition, when the size is reduced, there is a problem in the stability of the posture of the PC card and the device when the PC card is inserted into the device. further,
The dimensions of PC cards are standardized, and they must be compatible with PC cards that conform to the standard, and lack the versatility if they require the use of nonstandard PC cards. It is inconvenient.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and can be used for a card-type electronic device of a conventional standard. In comparison, an object of the present invention is to provide a card-type electronic device interface device that is at least sufficiently small in the insertion direction of the card-type electronic device, is small, and can stably maintain its posture when used. And

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a card-type electronic device which is inserted into a card-type electronic device interface device when the card-type electronic device is mounted on the interface device. A posture holding member for holding the posture of the device is provided on the housing of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the dimension of the housing of the device in the direction in which the card-type electronic device is inserted is set to about 1/2 or less of the length of the card-type electronic device.

In another embodiment, the attitude holding member is provided with a rotatable opening / closing lid for opening and closing the card insertion slot in the housing of the apparatus, and the card-type electronic device inserted into the card insertion slot by the opening / closing lid. The device was configured to be supported on one side in the thickness direction.

In still another embodiment, the posture holding member is constituted by a plate-like member slidably attached to the bottom surface of the housing of the apparatus, and the plate-like member is provided on the bottom surface of the housing. It is configured such that it can be in a state of being housed on the lower side and a state in which at least a part of the housing extends outward from the bottom surface of the housing. The flat member has an elongated shape and is rotatably attached to the bottom surface of the housing. By rotating the flat member, the flat member extends outside the bottom surface in the short direction of the bottom surface of the housing. I was able to do it.

In still another embodiment, the electronic device further includes a card guide having a guide portion for guiding at least both sides of the card-type electronic device when the card-type electronic device is inserted. The card guide is coupled to the opening / closing lid so as to move in conjunction with the opening / closing lid. When the opening / closing lid is closed, the card guide is accommodated in the housing. It is pulled out from the insertion slot.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. In the following description, P which is an example of a card-type electronic device will be described.
Although the description will be given using a C card, it is needless to say that a card-type electronic device that can use the interface device according to the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a PC card interface device 1 according to a specific embodiment of the present invention when viewed from obliquely above, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view when viewed from below in the opposite direction. is there. FIG. 3 is a perspective view in a state where a lid 11 described later is opened.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a housing of the apparatus 1, in which P
A C card connector or the like (not shown) is provided, and receives a PC card as described later. The housing 3 includes a housing main body 5 and a lid 11. That is, an opening 6 through which a PC card is inserted is formed in the upper part of the housing body 5, and a lid 11 for opening and closing the opening 6 is pivotally mounted on the housing body 5 so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing body 5. It is supported and mounted. The housing body 5 includes two front and rear members, that is, a main body front member 7 and a main body rear member 9, and the lid 11 is attached to the rear member 9. The housing body 5 has a substantially rectangular cross section as a whole,
Its height, that is, the length in the direction in which a PC card to be described later is inserted, is extremely small as compared with a conventional device of this type. In the present embodiment, the length is approximately half or less of the length of the PC card. Has become the length.

For convenience of explanation, assuming that the front member 7 of the housing body 5 is the front part 5a and the rear member 9 is the rear part 5b, the left side part 5c of the housing body 5 has a cord connected to a power supply. And a USB connector 15 to which a cable connected to the personal computer body is connected.

The lid 11 is pivotally supported near the rear ends of both side edges 11a and 11b by appropriate means (not shown) such as a shaft provided near the rear upper end of the rear member 9 of the main body. It is possible to move. The lid 11 is connected to the opening 6 of the housing body 5.
And a flat portion 11 that is narrower than the flat portion 11c, extends in an arc shape from the front edge of the flat portion 11c, and further extends in an arc shape.
c that extends in a direction perpendicular to c.
As shown in FIG. 1, the locking portion 11d is
7a formed in the upper part of the front side surface, substantially at the center in the left-right direction
, And the inner surface side of the flat portion 11c rests on the flat mounting surface 6a (see FIG. 3) around the opening 6 to close the opening 6. Although not shown, it is possible to provide a locking means composed of, for example, a small projection and a corresponding small depression cooperating with the locking portion 11d of the lid 11 and the recess 7a of the front member 7, respectively.

With the lid 11 closed, there is an empty space below the tip of the locking portion 11d in the recess 7a, and the fingertip can be easily hung on the tip of the locking portion 11d so that the lid 11 is easily placed as shown in FIG. Can be opened. As described later, this locking portion 1
1d receives one side of the inserted PC card, and
Performs the function of maintaining the attitude of the C card. Symbol 31 is P
This is a card guide for inserting a C card, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the lower surface 5e of the housing body 5, elongated foot members 17a and 17b of a predetermined height extending in the front-rear direction are attached near the left and right ends thereof. A flat plate-shaped stand plate or leg member 21 is rotatably mounted on the lower surface 5e of the housing body 5 between the foot members 17a and 17b.
This configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view (a) of the housing body 5 and enlarged plan views (b) and (b) of the stand plate 21 of FIG.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A (c) and an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB of (b). As shown in FIG. 4A, the two foot members 17 are provided on the lower surface 5e of the housing body 5 as described above.
a and 17b are attached. At approximately the center in the left-right direction and the front-back direction, a mounting hole 18 into which a shaft 22 of a stand plate 21 described later is inserted is formed through the bottom wall 5f of the housing body 5. Around the mounting hole 18, four shallow grooves 19 having a predetermined width extending in the left-right direction or the front-rear direction of the housing main body 5, and 90 in the circumferential direction.
It is formed as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the stand plate 21 is a thin plate-like member having an elliptical shape, and a shaft 22 having a flange 22a whose diameter is enlarged at a tip portion is formed substantially at the center in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. ing. The shaft 22 is as shown
The housing body 5 is divided into two parts, and the distal end portion is elastically displaced radially inward and is restored.
(See Figure C). Reference numeral 23 denotes a low-profile projection formed concentrically with the shaft 22 and extending a predetermined length in the circumferential direction. As shown by a two-dot line in FIG. 5f is the projection 23
And its inner surface is regulated by the lower surface of the flange 22 a of the shaft 22. Therefore, the contact area between the stand plate 21 and the housing body 5 is small, and the frictional resistance when rotating the stand plate 22 is small.

The projection 24 shown enlarged in FIG.
It is a positioning projection extending at a predetermined length in the front-rear direction at substantially the center in the left-right direction of the plate 21.
Length is higher than 3. The positioning projection 24 fits into the groove 19 formed on the bottom surface 5e of the housing body 5 described above, so that the stand plate 21 has a position extending in the left-right direction of the housing body 5 as shown in FIG. It is positioned at a position extending in the front-rear direction.

Next, the card guide 31 shown in FIG.
The card guide 31 is connected to the lid 11 by the connecting lever 30 and moves in conjunction with the lid 11, and is stored in the housing body 5 when the lid 11 is closed, and the lid 11 is opened. Then, it moves upward, and the upper part protrudes from the housing body 5 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the main body front member 7 and the card guide 3.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a relationship with the reference numeral 1. Card guide 31
Is a flat flat portion 32 positioned substantially parallel to the front side wall 7a of the front member 7 and extends inward of the housing body 5 perpendicularly to the flat portion 32 and formed near the upper end of the left and right ends of the flat portion 32. The ears 33a and 33b are provided. The distance between the inner surfaces of the ears 33a and 33b is a size substantially corresponding to the width of the inserted PC card. A bent portion 34 is further formed outside the right ear portion 33b.
One end of a connection lever 30 is rotatably attached to the upper part of the camera. In the plane portion of the card guide 31, two slits 35a are provided at a predetermined distance in the left-right direction.
35b is formed to extend vertically from the lower end to near the upper end.

On the other hand, the front member 7 of the housing body 5 is erected on the inner surface side of the front side wall 7a toward the inside of the housing body 5 and fits into the slits 35a and 35b of the card guide 31. Guide plates 36a and 36b are formed. As shown, the guide plates 36a, 36b are formed substantially symmetrically with the letter "L", and the lower portions 37a, 37b extending in the front-rear direction are fitted into the slits 35a, 35b to guide. That is, the states shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 show the state where the card guide 31 is pulled up to the uppermost position. The connection lever 30 is non-rotatably connected to the lid 11 at an ear 11 e bent toward the inner surface of the lid 11. Therefore, when the cover 11 is moved in the closing direction, the connecting lever 30 and the card guide 31 are moved.
Is moved on an arc around the rotation axis of the lid 11. As a result, the card guide 31 moves downward as shown by the arrow in FIG.
Since the shapes of 35b and guide plates 36a and 36b are as described above, they do not hinder the movement. Of course, the dimensions are determined so that the slits 35a and 35b do not come off the guide plates 36a and 36b even when the card guide 31 is at the uppermost position. During this movement, the vicinity of the upper end of the card guide 31, which is connected to the connection lever 30, first moves slightly forward as shown by a double-headed arrow in the figure, and then moves past the intermediate point. Move backward in the direction and return to the original position. However, the amount of movement in the front-rear direction is slight, and the card guide 31 moves while maintaining a substantially vertical state. In addition, a member may be provided which gives some clearance to restrict the movement of the lower portion of the card guide 31 in the front-rear direction. When opening the lid 11, the card guide 31 moves in the direction opposite to the arrow.

Although the movement of the upper end of the card guide 31 in the above-described embodiment in the front-rear direction is slight and negligible, the connecting lever is replaced by a connecting lever. 30 and the card guide 31
A shaft may be provided on the card guide 31 side, and a long hole into which the shaft is fitted may be formed in the connecting lever 30 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the connecting lever 30 (of course, the reverse configuration may be adopted). By providing a member for guiding the card guide 31 in the vertical direction integrally with the guide plates 36a and 36b or as a separate member, the movement in the front-rear direction near the upper end of the card guide 31 is eliminated. Alternatively, a slit extending downward from the upper end is provided on the guide plate 36a, 36b side, and the flat portion 3 of the card guide 31 is provided in the slit.
2 may be guided so as to fit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the PC card 51 is inserted into the interface device according to the present embodiment, the stand plate 21 is positioned at a position extending in the front-rear direction of the housing 3, and is placed on a table. It is. As shown in the figure, the height of the housing body 5 is considerably shorter than the length of the PC card 51 (in the present embodiment, the dimension is の or less). Since the PC card connector is provided in the lower portion of the inside of the housing main body 5, the length of the part of the PC card inserted into the housing main body 5 is about 以下 or less of the total length, and 3/4 or more of the portions protrude outside the housing body 5. And the housing body 5
Is set to the minimum necessary thickness to make the apparatus 1 compact. Therefore, if it is set up as it is, it will be extremely unstable, and it will easily fall down. However, as shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the stand plate 21 is attached to the lower surface of the casing main body 5, and when the apparatus 1 is to be set up, the stand plate 21 is attached to the casing main body 5.
The device 1 can be used while being stretched in the thickness direction or in the front-rear direction and used, so that the posture of the device 1 is stabilized and the posture of the PC card can be pulled and used.

Further, when the PC card 51 is inserted into the apparatus 1 prior to use, the insertion can be easily performed because the guide 31 is provided. That is, as described above, the length of the housing main body 5 of the present apparatus 1 is short, and the portion inserted into the housing main body 5 is 1/4 or less of the entire length.
When inserting the PC card 51, even if the PC card 51 is slightly inclined with respect to the insertion direction, it becomes difficult to insert the PC card 51. However, in the present embodiment, the upper opening 6
Since the both sides of the PC card 51 are guided far above by the left and right ears 33a and 33b of the card guide 31, tilting of the PC card 51 at the time of insertion is prevented, and insertion can be performed easily. In addition, the locking portion 11 of the lid 11
The movement of the PC card 51 in the thickness direction is restricted by the d and the flat portion 32 of the card guide 31, which is more convenient.

FIG. 7 is a side view when the present apparatus 1 is used while lying on a table 61. FIG. The housing main body 3 is shaped so that the thickness is reduced at the center in the height direction from both end edges. In the illustrated state, the upper and lower edges of the rear member 9 of the housing body 5 and the open lid 11
The outer surface of the flat portion 11 is also in contact with the table 61, and the tip of the locking portion 11d of the lid 11 is
The lower surface (in FIG. 6) side of 1 is supported at a position away from the housing body 5. If the lid 11 is not provided,
Since the protruding portion of the PC card 51 is large, the PC card 51 becomes extremely unstable, and the PC card 51 tends to fall with respect to the housing main body 5 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. May cause Further, the device 1 together with the PC card 51 also tends to tilt in the direction of the arrow, and falls naturally or with slight vibration in the direction of the arrow. However, in the present embodiment, by adopting the above configuration, the locking portion 11d of the lid 31 is
By supporting the lower surface of the card halfway in the length direction of the card, it also serves to maintain the attitude of the PC card 51 with respect to the apparatus 1, and furthermore, the attitude of the apparatus 1 is stably held.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to use a card-type electronic device of a conventional standard.
It is possible to obtain a card-type electronic device interface device that is small, has excellent portability, and can maintain a stable posture during use. Therefore, it can be used for both desktop and notebook computers, and each can be used with its functions expanded as necessary.
Very convenient. Then, the posture can be maintained whether the device is used upright or sideways. In addition, when not used, the card insertion slot can be closed with a lid, so that entry of dust and the like can be prevented. Further, when the card guide is provided, the card can be held so as not to be inclined with respect to the insertion direction at the time of insertion, so that the insertion becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a PC card interface device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from below in the opposite direction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in a state where a lid is opened.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining how to attach a stand plate to a housing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a card guide of a front member of the housing body.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where an apparatus into which a PC card is inserted is set up.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the device into which the PC card is inserted is laid down.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 PC card interface device 3 Case 5 Case main body 5e Bottom surface 6 Opening (PC card insertion slot) 7 Main body front member 9 Main body rear member 11 Opening / closing lid 11d Locking part 17 Foot member 21 Stand plate 30 Connection lever 31 Card Guide 33 Ear 51 PC Card

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A housing, a card insertion slot provided in the housing for inserting a card-type electronic device, an external connection connector for making an electrical connection with an external information device, and external information. In a card-type electronic device interface device including a device and a circuit board for performing electrical control between the card-type electronic device and the card-type electronic device, when the card-type electronic device is mounted on the case, An interface device for a card-type electronic device, wherein a posture holding member for holding a posture of a device is provided in the housing. 2. The interface device for a card-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a dimension of the housing in a direction in which the card-type electronic device is inserted is about １ ／ or less of a length of the card-type electronic device. An interface device for a card-type electronic device, characterized in that: 3. The interface device for a card-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the posture holding member includes a card supporting member that supports the card-type electronic device inserted into the card insertion slot. An interface device for a card-type electronic device, wherein the card support member is constituted by an opening / closing lid that is rotatably provided on the housing and opens and closes the card insertion slot. 4. The card-type electronic device interface device according to claim 3, wherein the opening / closing lid supports the card-type electronic device on one side in a thickness direction thereof. Interface device. 5. The interface device for a card-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the posture holding member includes a housing supporting member that supports the housing, and the housing supporting member includes: A flat member slidably attached to the bottom surface of the housing, wherein the flat member is housed under the bottom surface of the housing, and at least a part of the flat member is An interface device for a card-type electronic device, wherein the interface device can be in a state of extending outward from a bottom surface of the electronic device. 6. The interface device for a card-type electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the flat member has an elongated shape, is rotatably attached to a bottom surface of the housing, and rotates the flat member. An interface device for a card-type electronic device, wherein the flat plate-shaped member extends outside the bottom surface of the housing in a short direction of the bottom surface. 7. The interface device for a card-type electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising an opening / closing lid that is rotatably provided on the housing and that opens and closes the card insertion slot. An interface device for a card-type electronic device. 8. The interface device for a card-type electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the device includes at least one of the card-type electronic devices when the card-type electronic device is inserted. A card guide provided with a guide portion for guiding both sides, the card guide is coupled to the lid so as to move in conjunction with the lid, and the housing is closed when the lid is closed. An interface device for a card-type electronic device, wherein the interface device is housed in a body and at least the guide portion is pulled out from the card insertion slot of the housing when the lid is opened. 9. The card type electronic device interface device according to claim 8, wherein the card guide comprises:
A card type comprising: a flat portion facing one side surface of an inserted card type electronic device; and ear portions extending from both side edges of the flat portion in a direction orthogonal to the flat portion. Interface device for electronic equipment.