JP2003157130A - Option device loading/unloading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To load a plurality of option devices on a portable terminal. SOLUTION: The option device loading/unloading device 10 has a general slot 12 for loading a general option device. The device 10 further has a special terminal group 20 provided separately from a general terminal group 14 of the general slot 12, a detector circuit S2 which detects a special option device using the special terminal group 20 being loaded in such a case, and a switch circuit 30 which selects a signal group to be supplied to the device loaded in the general slot 12 out of a plurality of signal groups. Here, the specifications of the general slot 12 are disclosed and the specifications of the special terminal group 20 is not disclosed. When the detector circuit S2 detects the special option device being loaded, the switch circuit 30 selects the signal group for the special option device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for providing a small device with expandability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, PDA (Personal Di)
In a mobile terminal such as a digital assistant, CompactFlash (CF) (registered trademark),
SD memory card, multimedia card (MMC)
I having functions such as a card corresponding to a slot (registered trademark), a camera, GPS, Bluetooth, etc.
/ O card is attached to achieve expandability.

[0003]

However, in the conventional method, in order to realize expandability for a portable terminal having a small space, it is difficult to miniaturize the device because a slot is required for each card having different specifications. is there. Further, when an original expansion device other than a card having a predetermined standard such as CF, SD memory card, or MMC is mounted, it is necessary to provide a dedicated slot separately. Therefore, there is a problem that the device becomes large when the expandability is important, and conversely, the expandability becomes poor when the device is downsized.

The present invention has been made from such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for enhancing expandability while keeping downsizing of a device.

[0005]

One aspect of the present invention relates to an optional device attaching / detaching apparatus. This device has a general-purpose slot for installing general-purpose optional devices,
A signal exchange mechanism that is provided separately from the signal connection part of the general-purpose slot, a detection circuit that detects when a special optional device that uses the signal exchange mechanism is installed, and a device that is installed in the general-purpose slot. And a switch circuit that selects a power signal group from a plurality of signal groups.
Here, while the specifications of the general-purpose slot are made public, the specifications of the signal exchange mechanism are not made public, and when the detection circuit detects that a special option device is installed, the signal for the special option device is detected in the switch circuit. A group is selected.

Here, the general-purpose option device is
The specifications are publicly available, for example, CF (registered trademark), smart media (registered trademark), MMC (registered trademark), memory stick (registered trademark), small memory such as SD memory card, and small PC card, or An I / O card having functions such as a camera, GPS, and Bluetooth. The general-purpose slot detachably holds such a general-purpose optional device. The optional device is a card, a unit, or the like.
The signal exchange mechanism includes a mechanism or structure such as a connector and a card edge, and electrical, magnetic and optical means for transmitting a signal. The special option device is an expansion unit such as an LCD or a keyboard that is uniquely designed by each company.

When the general-purpose option device is attached, the detection circuit may not detect the attachment of the device, and the signal group for the general-purpose option device may be selected in the switch circuit. When the special option device is attached, The signal group for the special optional device may be selected in the switch circuit by the action of the detection circuit.

The detection circuit may have means for transmitting a special option device type to the control unit, and the signal group selected by the switch circuit may be determined according to a command from the control unit. The means for transmitting may be a signal line of several bits or may be a pull-up resistor. The control unit may include a CPU and other controllers.

The signal exchange mechanism may be formed to include an electrode group formed on a printed circuit board on which a general-purpose slot is mounted.

The electrode group may be formed by effectively utilizing the area that becomes a dead space when a general-purpose optional device is mounted in the general-purpose slot. The electrode group may be formed on a surface different from the surface on which the terminals for the general-purpose option device are formed, for example. The signal exchange mechanism may supply a signal to a special option device via the electrode group.

Another aspect of the present invention also relates to an optional device attaching / detaching apparatus. This device includes a general-purpose terminal group provided in a general-purpose slot for mounting a general-purpose optional device, and a signal exchange mechanism provided separately from the general-purpose terminal group. The signal switching mechanism is configured so that only a special option device designed on the basis of its existence uses the mechanism, and the signal switching mechanism becomes a dead space when a general-purpose option device is installed in a general-purpose slot. It is provided by using the area.

The area to be a dead space may be located at a position close to and opposed to the outer surface of the special option device, and the signal exchange mechanism has a projection provided on the outer surface of the special option device when the special option device is mounted. Electrodes may be in contact with the terminals. Here, the electrodes of the signal exchange mechanism may have a round pattern.

It is to be noted that any combination of the above constituent elements, and the expression of the present invention converted between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program and the like are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

[0014]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optional device attaching / detaching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The optional device attaching / detaching device 10 includes a general-purpose slot 12, a special electrode group 20 used for a special optional device, a main controller 22, a general-purpose optional device controller 24, a first special device controller 26, and a second special device. The device control unit 28 and the switch circuit 30 are included. A general-purpose option device is attached to the general-purpose slot 12. The general-purpose slot 12 includes a general-purpose terminal group 14 that is a signal connecting portion connected to a terminal group of the general-purpose option device, and a guide portion 16 that guides mounting of the general-purpose option device. In this embodiment, the general-purpose slot 1
2 is also used for mounting a special option device.

The specifications of the special electrode group 20 are not disclosed and are designed by each manufacturer.
The special electrode group 20 is connected to or in contact with the terminal group of the special option device. The special electrode group 20 is formed at a position different from the general terminal group 14 of the general slot 12. That is, the special electrode group 20 includes the general-purpose slot 1
When a general-purpose option device is attached to the device 2, it is formed by effectively utilizing the dead space area. For example, the special electrode group 20 may be formed on a printed circuit board on which the general-purpose slot 12 is mounted.

The special option device does not have to have the same shape as the general-purpose option device, and may have any shape as long as it is configured to make contact with the special-purpose electrode group 20 by utilizing the dead space of the general-purpose slot 12. May be

The main control unit 22 is composed of a CPU, a memory, an I / O controller and the like. In addition, the main control unit 22
Includes a first detection circuit S1 that detects that a general-purpose option device is attached to the general-purpose slot 12, and a second detection circuit S2 that detects that a special-purpose option device is attached. The general-purpose option device control unit 24 controls the general-purpose option device. The first special device control unit 26 and the second special device control unit 28 control different special option devices. Although only two special device controllers are shown here, the optional device attaching / detaching device 10 may have as many special device controllers as the number of controllable special option devices.

The general-purpose option device controller 2
4, the first special device control unit 26 and the second special device control unit 28 may not be physically separated, but may be an interface that supplies a signal for controlling each device. The switch circuit 30 is a bus switching IC.

The general-purpose terminal group 14 of the general-purpose slot 12 includes a sense pin P1. A power supply voltage is applied to the sense pin P1 via a pull-up resistor. Due to the pull-up resistor, the voltage on the sense pin P1 is high when no universal option device is installed in the universal slot 12. When the general-purpose optional device is installed in the general-purpose slot 12, the voltage of the sense pin P1 is designed to be low. The first detection circuit S1 senses a change in the voltage of the sense pin P1 and thereby detects that the general-purpose option device is attached to the general-purpose slot 12.

The special electrode group 20 includes a sense pin P2. A power supply voltage is applied to the sense pin P2 via a pull-up resistor. Due to the pull-up resistor, the voltage on the sense pin P2 is high when no special option device is installed in the universal slot 12. When the special option device is installed in the general-purpose slot 12, the voltage of the sense pin P2 is designed to be low. Second
The detection circuit S2 senses a change in the voltage of the sense pin P2, and thereby detects that the special option device is attached to the general-purpose slot 12.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the signal value detected by the first detection circuit S1 and the second detection circuit S2 and the mounting state of the device. When the signal values detected by the first detection circuit S1 and the second detection circuit S2 are (1,1), the main control unit 22 determines that no device is attached to the general-purpose slot 12. The signal values detected by the first detection circuit S1 and the second detection circuit S2 are (0,
In the case of 1), the main control unit 22 determines that the general-purpose option device is attached to the general-purpose slot 12. First
When the signal values detected by the detection circuit S1 and the second detection circuit S2 are (1, 0), the main control unit 22 determines that the special option device is attached to the general-purpose slot 12.

In the present embodiment, the special option device is designed so that signals are supplied from the option device attaching / detaching device 10 through the special terminal group 20, but the general-purpose terminal group 14 is also used. May be designed so that the signals are supplied by the above. The signal values detected by the first detection circuit S1 and the second detection circuit S2 are (0,
In the case of 0), the main control unit 22 may determine that such a special option device is attached to the general-purpose slot 12.

The device type determination method itself using the sense pin is a known technique, and the main control unit 22 detects the type of the device mounted in the general-purpose slot 12 by using another known detection technique. Good.

Returning to FIG. 1, the special electrode group 20 includes type judgment pins K1 and K2 for judging the type of the special option device. The power supply voltage is applied to the type determination pins K1 and K2 via a pull-up resistor (not shown), as in the sense pin P1 or P2. The main control unit 22 determines the type of the special option device attached to the general-purpose slot 12 based on the signal values of the type determination pins K1 and K2. In the present embodiment, each of the type determination pins K1 and K2 is a 1-bit signal line. Therefore, here, the type of the special option device can be represented by 2 bits.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the signal values input to the type determination pins K1 and K2 and the types of special option devices. Here, since the type of special option device can be represented by a 2-bit signal value, 4
A type of special option device can be identified. Here, the main control unit 22 uses, for example, the signal values (K1, K
When 2) is (0,0), the special option device is L
Identify it as a CD. Further, the main control unit 22 identifies that the special option device is a keyboard when the signal values (K1, K2) are (0, 1), for example.

The main control section 22 uses the general-purpose slot 1 based on the signal values detected by the first detection circuit S1 and the second detection circuit S2 and the signal values of the type determination pins K1 and K2.
2. Determine the type of device attached to 2. Main control unit 2
2 controls the switch circuit 30 according to the type of the device mounted in the general-purpose slot 12 to switch the bus to the interface corresponding to each device.

For example, when an ordinary general-purpose option device is inserted, the general-purpose option device control section 24 controls. When the special option device is attached, the control unit corresponding to the device is selected according to the signal value input to the type determination pin.

Incidentally, here, the sense pin P1 or P2
However, the type of the special option device is determined by using the type determination pins K1 and K2. For example, two or more sense pins P1 or P2 may be provided to identify the types of various optional devices. Alternatively, one sense pin P1 or P2 may be used in serial communication to identify the types of various optional devices. The function of the sense pin described here may be realized by the general-purpose terminal group 14. For example, when the general-purpose option device is a CF, the general-purpose terminal group 14 has a card detect (CD) pin as a standard function. The CD pin may be used to detect attachment of an optional device.

FIG. 4 shows an optional device attaching / detaching device 10.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a part of FIG. Here, the general-purpose slot 12 has a convex terminal group 14. The general-purpose slot 12 has a specification in which a general-purpose option device having a concave terminal group is mounted. In the present embodiment, the special option device 5
No. 0 has a one-stop spring pin 54 at a position opposed to the special electrode 20 when mounted in the general-purpose slot 12. The spring pin 54 is not limited to the illustrated shape, and may be a double stopper or a simple protrusion as long as it is configured to contact the special electrode 20.

The special option device 50 may have a recess 52 that fits into the general-purpose terminal group 14 of the general-purpose slot 12. The recess 52 may be used as a signal terminal, or may be a dummy terminal provided only to reinforce the fitting between the general-purpose slot 12 and the general-purpose option device 50. Here, the fitting is not necessarily limited to a mechanical method, but refers to a general state of being placed at a predetermined position for signal transmission.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that this embodiment is merely an example, and that various modifications can be made to the combinations of the respective constituent elements and the respective processing processes, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

For example, in the embodiment, the type determination pin K1
Although the sense pin P2 other than K2 and K2 is provided, the presence or absence of the attachment of the special option device may be detected using only the type determination pins K1 and K2 without providing the sense pin P2.

In the embodiment, a plurality of special option devices are discriminated by the type discriminating pin, but UART (Universal Asynchronous) is used.
nous Receiver / Transmitte
r) or I2C (Inter Integrate)
d Circuit) may be used.

[0035]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION A plurality of types of option devices having different specifications can be mounted in a small space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optional device attaching / detaching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between a signal value detected by a first detection circuit S1 and a second detection circuit S2 and a mounting state of a device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between signal values input to type determination pins K1 and K2 and types of special option devices.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a part of an optional device attaching / detaching device and a special optional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ··· Optional device attaching / detaching device, 12 ·· General-purpose slot, 14 · · General-purpose terminal group, 16 · ·
・ ・ Special terminal group, 22 ・ ・ Main control unit, 24 ・ ・ General-purpose option device control unit, 26 ・ ・ First special device control unit, 28 ・ ・ Second special device control unit, 30 ・ ・ Switch circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A general-purpose slot for mounting a general-purpose option device, a signal exchange mechanism provided separately from a signal connection portion of the general-purpose slot, and a special option device utilizing the signal exchange mechanism. And a switch circuit for selecting a signal group to be supplied to the device mounted in the general-purpose slot from a plurality of signal groups, and the specifications of the general-purpose slot are disclosed. On the other hand, the specification of the signal exchange mechanism is not disclosed, and when the detection circuit detects the attachment of the special option device, a signal group for the special option device is selected in the switch circuit. A featured optional device attachment / detachment device. 2. The detection circuit includes means for transmitting the type of the special option device to a control unit, and a signal group selected by the switch circuit is determined according to a command from the control unit. The apparatus of claim 1 characterized. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal exchange mechanism includes an electrode group formed on a printed board on which the general-purpose slot is mounted. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the electrode group is formed by effectively utilizing an area which becomes a dead space when the general-purpose optional device is mounted in the general-purpose slot. . 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the signal exchange mechanism supplies a signal to the special option device via the electrode group.