JP2003044187A - Card type input-output interface device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a first device smaller concerning a card type input-output interface device for connecting the first device and a second device. SOLUTION: This input-output interface device for connecting a main body device (first device) and an external device (second device) is provided with: a first connecting part 1 provided at one end of a card 4 whose external form is a card type and for transmitting and receiving data to/from the main body device (first device); a second connecting part 2 provided at the other end of the card 4 and for transmitting and receiving data to/from the external device (second device) by radio; and a transferring part (circuit part 3) connected so as to perform data transfer between the first connecting part 1 and the second connecting part 2 while being inserted into a slot for card insertion of the main body device (first device) from the one end of the card 4. The other end of the card 4 is provided with a part for housing the second connecting part 2 including a radio part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a card type input / output interface device for connecting between a first device (for example, a main device) and a second device (for example, an external device). Various electronic devices have been downsized due to advances in semiconductor technology and the like. Along with this, an IC memory card that can be inserted into and removed from the slot of the main body of the electronic device has been adopted as an external auxiliary storage device. In addition, the miniaturized electronic device is provided with a connector or the like for connecting with an external device such as a printer or an external device such as a modem for data transmission.
There is a demand for further miniaturization and cost efficiency of such electronic devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art IC memory cards include mask ROM and E
A non-volatile memory integrated into an integrated circuit such as an EPROM or a volatile memory integrated into an integrated circuit such as an SRAM or a DRAM is mounted on a card. For example, a 64-kbit I
When 12 C memories (semiconductor integrated circuit memories) are mounted on the card, an IC memory card having a storage capacity of 768 kbits is obtained. Therefore, one chip has several Mbits of IC
By mounting the memory for several chips on the card,
An IC memory card having a capacity of several megabytes to several tens of megabytes can be easily constructed. Also, an IC card, which is equipped with such an IC memory and a processor integrated into a circuit and is capable of data processing by this processor, has been put into practical use. This IC card may be referred to as a smart card or intelligent card, etc., as opposed to an IC memory card.

The external dimensions of the IC memory card or IC card are, for example, 85.6 × 54.0 × 3.3 [mm], and the personal computer is a personal computer.
By inserting the card into a card insertion slot of an electronic device such as a word processor (word processor), it is connected to the internal bus directly or via a register or the like. This connection type is classified into a contact type by elastic contact of contacts and a non-contact type by magnetic coupling or radio wave coupling. The non-contact type has no mechanical contact portion, and therefore has durability and contact failure. Although no trouble occurs, the structure of the coupling function is complicated, and the data transfer rate cannot be increased too much.

In electronic devices such as laptop and notebook personal computers and word processors, the IC memory card is used as a replaceable external storage device to reduce the thickness. Since it becomes difficult to incorporate all the functions by making the device thin, it is common to provide a connector for connecting to an external device such as a printer on the side surface of the housing.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned electronic equipment such as a personal computer and a word processor, a function which is not always used is omitted in order to reduce the size. For example, when data communication is not always performed, a function such as a modem is prepared as an external device, and when data communication is performed, a connector is used to connect to the main body device. For that purpose, a connector is provided on the side surface or the like of the housing of the miniaturized electronic device. Therefore, there is a drawback that a space for providing this connector is required. Instead of providing such a connector, a cable may be pulled out from the main unit and semi-fixedly connected to an external device. However, electronic devices that often move, such as laptop type and notebook type. However, there is a drawback that the cable is an obstacle. It is an object of the present invention to connect between a first device and a second device by using a slot into which an IC card or an IC memory card is inserted to further reduce the size of the first device. To do.

[0006]

With reference to FIG. 1, a card type input / output interface device of the present invention is for connecting a main body device (first device) and an external device (second device). An input / output interface device having a card-shaped outer shape and formed at one end of the card 4 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the main body device;
A second connecting portion 2 formed on the other end of the card 4 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device, and a first connecting member 2 inserted in a card insertion slot of the main device from one end of the card 4 And a transfer unit (circuit unit 3) connected so as to transfer data between the second connection unit 1 and the second connection unit 2, and the second connection unit 2 is accommodated at the other end of the card 4. It has a part to do.

The second connecting section 2 includes a radio section, and the radio frequency is variable, and the operating power is supplied from the first device via the first connecting section 1. You can Further, the second connecting portion 2 may be arranged in an increased portion having a thickness larger than the thickness of one end of the card.

The transfer section (circuit section 3) transfers information to the first connection section 1 with the card 4 inserted into the card insertion slot of the first apparatus (main apparatus) from one end. For responding to the information received by the second connection 2, and for responding to the information received by the first connection 1 for transferring information to the second connection 2. The first device (main device) and the second device (external device)
And a portion for accommodating the second connecting portion 2 is provided at the other end of the card 4.

[0009]

A normal IC memory card can be inserted into the card insertion slot of the first device (main unit) as an external storage device for reading and writing data. The card insertion slot As shown by an arrow in FIG. 1, an input / output interface device having a card-shaped outer shape is inserted, and the first connecting portion 1 and the bus of the first device are contact type or non-contact type. And the second connection unit 2 and the second device are wirelessly connected to each other, and the transfer unit (circuit unit 3) is connected between the first device and the second device. Information can be transferred via.

Further, by varying the radio frequency, it is possible to use a band which is not affected by the interfering wave. Further, by supplying the operating power from the first device, it is possible to operate the transfer unit (circuit unit 3) and the wireless unit that constitutes the second connection unit. Further, by forming the enlarged portion at the other end of the card, it becomes easy to accommodate the second connection portion.

The transfer section (circuit section 3) transfers information to the second connection section 2 side in response to the information from the first connection section 1 side, and receives the information from the second connection section 2 In response to information from the second device (external device), the information is transferred to the first connection unit 1 side.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention, which has a structure of a card 4 which can be inserted from one end into a card insertion slot of a main body device (first device) and has a first connection at one end thereof. A part 1 is provided, a second connection part 2 is provided at the other end, and a circuit part 3 (transfer part) for transferring information is provided between the first connection part 1 and the second connection part 2. The second connection unit 2 and the external device (second device) are wirelessly connected.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention.
(A) is a schematic side view and (B) is a schematic block diagram.
In the figure, reference numeral 10 is a card type input / output interface device, 11 is a main body IF section including a connector which constitutes the first connection section 1, and 12 is a connection section by a radio section which constitutes the second connection section 2. , Antenna 12-1 and wireless transceiver 12-
2 and. Further, 13 is a data transmission unit constituting the circuit unit 3, 20 is a main body device as a first device of a miniaturized electronic device such as a personal computer, word processor, measuring instrument, 21 is a bus of the main body device, 30 is a printer A second device as an input / output device such as a modem, that is, an external device, 3
1 is a wireless unit for connecting to the second connecting unit 12 of the card type input / output interface device 10, 31-1 is an antenna,
Reference numeral 31-2 is a wireless transmission / reception unit, 32 is a connector for connecting to another external device, and 33 is an external IF unit.

Card type input / output interface device 10
Is a main body IF section 11 constituting the first connecting section 1 provided at one end of the card, an antenna 12-1 constituting the second connecting section 2 provided at the other end of the card, and the wireless transmission / reception section 1.
2-2 and a data transmission unit 13 that constitutes a circuit unit 3 (see FIG. 1) that connects the first and second connection units 1 and 2. The main body IF section 11 is configured to be connected to the bus 21 of the main body apparatus 20 in a contact type or a non-contact type, and the second connection section 2 is configured by a wireless section that wirelessly transmits and receives data. Therefore, the external device 30 includes the antenna 31-1 and the wireless transmission / reception unit 31-2. The circuit section 3 can also be a wiring of a printed circuit board, but in this embodiment, the case where it has a function of performing serial / parallel conversion of data and control of data transmission is shown.

In the card insertion slot of the main unit 20,
When the IC memory card is inserted, the IC memory card is connected to the bus 21 of the main body device 20 and used as an external auxiliary storage device. When the card type input / output interface device 10 described above is inserted instead of the IC memory card, the main body IF unit 11 having a contact type or non-contact type connection configuration is connected to the bus 21 of the main body device 20. In this case, the operating power of the wireless transmission / reception unit 12-2 and the data transmission unit 13 of the card type input / output interface device 10 can be configured to be supplied by mounting a battery such as a lithium battery. From the device 20 to the main body IF unit 11
It is also possible to supply the electric power through the contact point.

A card type input / output interface device 10
Antenna 12-1 and external device 30 antenna 31-1
The external device 30 is provided within the service area of the card-type input / output interface device 10 so that the external device 30 can be wirelessly connected to
To place. In this case, since the weak radio waves connect each other, no interference is given to other devices. Further, when an electronic device using the similar card type input / output interface device 10 is present nearby, radio interference may occur. However, by changing the radio frequency and switching to a radio frequency that does not interfere with each other, The interference problem can be easily avoided.

When the external device 30 is designated by the processor of the main body device 20 and a data transfer instruction is issued, the data transmission section 13 of the card type input / output interface device 10 is instructed.
Responds to the transfer instruction, takes in the parallel data on the bus 21 via the main body IF unit 11, converts it into serial data, and transfers it to the wireless transmission / reception unit 12-2. Wireless transceiver 12-2
Will transmit serial data modulated according to a predetermined modulation method from the antenna 12-1. In the external device 30, the wireless serial data is received by the antenna 31-1, demodulated by the wireless transmitting / receiving unit 31-2, and the external IF unit 3
The data is further transferred to an external device (third device) or an internal circuit such as a printer control unit or a modem control unit in the external device 30 via the device 3.

When the data from the external device 30 is transferred to the main device 20, the serial data applied to the radio transmitting / receiving unit 31-2 via the external IF unit 33 is modulated into a radio signal and then the antenna 31. -1, and is received and demodulated by the wireless transmission / reception unit 12-2 via the antenna 12-1 of the card type input / output interface device 10. This demodulated data is serial data, and the data transmission device 13
Responds to the received information, converts it to parallel data, and
It is sent to the bus 21 of the main body device 20 via the unit 11. Therefore, it is possible to transfer data between the first connection unit and the second connection unit via the data transmission unit 13.

Of course, the external device 30 can be an input / output device such as a printer or a modem.
Connector 3 with standard interface such as S-232C
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which two are provided. That is, the thickness of the card type input / output interface device 10 is as described above.
RS-232 because it is extremely thin, about several mm
It is impossible to provide the connector 32 such as C, and the external device 30 is provided with the connector 32.
By wirelessly connecting the card-type input / output interface device 10 to the card-type input / output interface device 10, the main device 20 does not have to have a connector, and various external devices can be connected to the external device 30 using a normal connector provided to the external device 30. Can be connected to the second device (external device 30). Therefore,
Even if the main body device 20 is downsized, various external devices can be easily connected.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same parts, 14 is a start / stop synchronization control section corresponding to the function of the transfer section, 15 is a radio modulation section,
Reference numeral 16 is a wireless demodulation unit, 34 is a driver / receiver, 35 is a wireless demodulation unit, and 36 is a wireless modulation unit. This example
The external device 30 has a connector 3 with a standard interface or the like.
2 is provided, and another external device (third device) such as a modem is connected to this connector 32 to transfer data in asynchronous mode. That is, as described above, this is an embodiment in which the card type input / output interface device 10 and the external device 30 constitute an external interface unit for transferring start / stop data.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, the card type input / output interface device 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot of the main body device 20, and the main body device 2 is inserted through the main body IF section 11.
The external device 30 is connected to the bus 21 of No. 0, and the antenna 12-1 of the card type input / output interface device 10 and the antenna 31-1 of the external device 30 are wirelessly connected to each other. Also, an external device such as a modem is connected to the connector 32.

When data is transferred from the processor (not shown) of the main body device 20 to an external device (not shown) such as a modem connected by the connector 32 of the external device 30, the card type input / output interface device 10 is used. Data is transferred via the designated bus 21. Asynchronous control unit 1
In response to an instruction from the processor, the data acquisition unit 4 takes in the data transferred via the bus 21 via the main body IF unit 11, converts the data into serial start / stop data, and transfers the serial start / stop data to the wireless modulation unit 15. The start-stop data is modulated by the wireless modulator 15 and transmitted from the antenna 12-1.

In the external device 30, the antenna 31-
1 is received and demodulated by the wireless demodulation unit 35, the demodulated data is transferred to the connector 32 via the driver / receiver 34, and the start / stop data is transmitted via the connector 32 to an external device such as a modem (not shown). Forward. Therefore, even if the main body device 20 is not provided with the connector 32, by inserting the card-type input / output interface device 10 into the card insertion slot, the connector 32 provided in the external device 30 is provided as in the case where the connector 32 is provided. Data can be transferred to a modem or the like via the.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the second connecting portion of still another embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is the other end of the card 41.
A case is shown in which a portion 42a having an increased thickness of the card 41 is provided, and a connector 43 is provided on the increased portion 42a.
Reference numeral 44 is a jack to be inserted into the connector 43, and 45 is a cable. The part of the card 41 not shown is the IC
Like a memory card or an IC card, it has a first connecting portion that can be connected to the bus of the main body device when inserted into the card insertion slot of the main body device.

By making the above-mentioned jack 44 a small multi-contact jack known as a modular jack, the size of the connector 43 can be about 7 mm in length and width. Therefore, when the thickness of the card 41 is 3 mm,
Increased portion 42a is about 6 mm, total 9-10 mm
It can be a degree. With such a thickness, handling as a card type input / output interface device does not become difficult. Further, the main body device side may be configured so that the increased portion 42a is inserted into the slot into which the card 41 is inserted so that the increased portion 42a does not project to the side surface of the main body device. Further, the antenna 12-1 and the wireless transmission / reception unit 12-2 described above are provided in the increased portion 42a.

Further, FIG. 4B shows a case where the increased portion 42b formed at the other end of the card 41 has a width that allows the connector 43 to be provided so that the card 41 does not become large. It is a thing. Also in this case, the card insertion slot of the main body device may be provided with the increased portion 42b so that the increased portion 42b does not protrude from the side surface of the main body device.

Further, FIG. 4C shows a case where the increased portion 42c formed at the other end of the card 41 is formed by increasing the thickness in the vertical direction, and the connector 43 is provided on the increased portion 42c. it can. Also in the card type input / output interface device having this structure, the main body device side can be configured so as not to project from the main body device when inserted into the card insertion slot of the main body device. In this case, the opening shape of the card insertion slot of the main unit is such that the inserted IC memory card can be taken out by sandwiching it from above and below. In the present invention, this increased portion 42
a, 42b, 42c, that is, the increased portion formed at the other end of the card can accommodate the wireless unit including the antenna 12-1 and the wireless transmission / reception unit 12-2 that form the second connection unit. Further, the wireless unit may have various known configurations corresponding to the wireless frequency band.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first connecting portion 1 for transmitting and receiving data is connected to one end of the card 4 having a card-shaped outer shape, and the other end is wirelessly connected to an external device. The computer includes a second connection unit 2 for transmitting and receiving data, and a transfer unit (circuit unit 3) for transferring data between the first connection unit 1 and the second connection unit 2, and a personal computer or a word processor. Etc. into the card insertion slot of the main device (first device), and wirelessly connect to an external device (second device),
Since various systems can be configured and it is not necessary to provide a connector to the first device, the first device can be further downsized. Also, since it can be easily replaced like an IC memory card, it becomes possible to connect with a second device having an arbitrary structure by using a card type input / output interface device according to the interface type of the second device. The function of the first device can be easily expanded.

Further, since the second connecting portion 2 for connecting to the second device is constituted by the wireless section, the connection configuration with an external device is simplified, and the second device is provided with a connecting portion such as a connector. By providing, it becomes easy to connect the first device and various third devices through the second device. Further, even for an ordinary IC memory card or IC card, both the memory function and the interface function can be realized by providing the second connecting section 2 by the wireless section. That is, the conventional IC memory card and IC card are
Although it operates in a closed environment with the first device, in the present invention, it operates in an environment open to the outside, which is an advantage that various applications are possible. There is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a schematic side view, and (B) is a schematic block diagram.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a second connecting portion according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which (A), (B) and (C) are schematic perspective views of different shapes.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 first connection 2 Second connection 3 circuit section 4 cards

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 15, 2002 (2002.5.1)
5)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0006]

With reference to FIG. 1, a card type input / output interface device of the present invention is for connecting a main body device (first device) and an external device (second device). An input / output interface device having a card-shaped outer shape and formed at one end of the card 4 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the main body device;
A second connecting portion 2 formed on the other end of the card 4 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device, and a first connecting member 2 inserted in a card insertion slot of the main device from one end of the card 4 And a transfer unit (circuit unit 3) connected so as to transfer data between the second connection unit 1 and the second connection unit 2, and the second connection unit 2 is accommodated at the other end of the card 4. It has a part to do. I / O interface device
Is a main device (first device) and this main device (first device).
External device (second device) that has the function not always used
(Device) can be connected. Outside
Partial device (second device) has a function as an input / output device
Can be configured.

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Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An input / output interface device for connecting between a main body device and an external device, the outer shape of which is a card type, which is formed at one end of the card, and stores data between the main body device and the main body device. A first connecting part for transmitting and receiving, a second connecting part formed on the other end of the card for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from the external device; A transfer unit connected so as to transfer data between the first connection unit and the second connection unit when inserted from one end of the card, and the second end is provided at the other end of the card. A card type input / output interface device having a portion for accommodating a connection part of the card. 2. An input / output interface device for connecting between a first device and a second device, the outer shape of which is a card type, and the first device is provided at one end of the card. A first connection section for transferring information between the second card and a second connection section formed at the other end of the card for transferring information to and from the second device in a non-contact manner; In a state where the card is inserted into the card insertion slot of the first device from one end of the card, the first connecting portion and the second
Card-type input / output interface device, characterized in that the card-type input / output interface device further comprises a transfer unit capable of transferring information to / from the connection unit, and the other end of the card accommodates the second connection unit. . 3. The card type input / output interface device according to claim 2, wherein the second connection unit includes a wireless unit that wirelessly transfers information. 4. The card type input / output interface device according to claim 3, wherein the radio unit has a variable radio frequency. 5. The card-type input / output interface device according to claim 2, wherein operation power is supplied from the first device through the first connection portion. 6. The card type input / output according to claim 2, wherein the second connecting portion is provided in an increasing portion having a thickness larger than a thickness of one end portion of the card. Interface device. 7. The card type input / output interface according to claim 2, wherein the card has a structure in which a part of the card projects in a state where the card is inserted into a card insertion slot of the first device. apparatus. 8. An input / output interface device for connecting between a first device and a second device, the outer shape of which is a card type, and the first device is provided at one end of the card. And a first connection portion for transferring information, and a second connection portion provided at the other end of the card for wirelessly transferring information with the second device.
Connection part and a transfer part connected to the first connection part and the second connection part to transfer information, and from one end of the card to the card insertion slot of the first device. In the inserted state, in response to the information received by the second connection unit to transfer information to the first connection unit, and to transfer information to the second connection unit. In response to the information received by the first connection unit, information is transferred between the first device and the second device, and the other end of the card is A card type input / output interface device having a portion for accommodating a second connection portion. 9. The transfer unit demodulates the information received by the second connection unit and transfers the demodulated information to the first connection unit, and modulates the information received by the first connection unit to generate the first information. Two
9. The card type input / output interface device according to claim 8, wherein the card type input / output interface device is configured to transfer to a connection part of the card.