JP2003157421A - Memory card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a memory card equipped with a write enable/disable setting means with which setting operation is simplified and a memory card body can be miniaturized and thinned. SOLUTION: On this memory card, a memory card body 1 is provided with a notched part 3 of a recessed part formed on a side part forming an outer shape in plane shape, and a write enable/disable setter 4 fitted inside of the notched part 3 so as to freely slide for setting whether data can be written or not by the slide position. An outer shape of the write enable/disable setter 4 is formed so that a portion covering the notched part 3 is approximately integrated with the memory card body 1. The memory card body 1 is provided with an elastic guide 6 for retaining a selecting position of the write enable/ disable setter 4, which can freely slide.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory card equipped with a write enable / disable setting means for preventing accidental deletion or rewriting of stored contents.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a memory card writable / unwritable setting means using a reflection sheet, a switch, or a setter that is largely exposed from a main body.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional memory card provided with a write enable / disable setting means using a reflection sheet.
In FIG. 12, 31 is a memory card body, 32 is a terminal integrally provided on the memory card body 31, and 33 is a reflection sheet.

Inside the memory card main body 31, a semiconductor memory (not shown) whose contents can be rewritten is provided, and a device (not shown) electrically connected to the semiconductor memory via a terminal 32. The stored contents are read and rewritten from. In this example, the reflection sheet 33 is used as the write enable / disable setting means. Whether or not writing is possible is set by attaching or peeling off the reflection sheet 33 at a predetermined position of the memory card main body 31. In the device, the setting is detected by detecting the reflection state at a predetermined position of the memory card body 31 with a photo coupler or the like.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional memory card provided with a write enable / disable setting means by a switch. In FIG. 13, 41 is a memory card main body, 42 is a terminal integrally provided in the memory card main body 41, and 43 is a switch.

Inside the memory card main body 41, a rewritable semiconductor memory (not shown) is provided, and a device (not shown) electrically connected to the semiconductor memory via a terminal 42. The stored contents are read and rewritten from. In this example, the switch 43 is used as the write enable / disable setting means. Switch 4 is available for writing
It is set by switching 3 and the setting is electrically detected in the device through the terminal 42.

[0007]

In such a memory card, the memory card body is made smaller and thinner,
Simultaneous simplification of the write enable / disable setting operation is required.

The conventional memory card provided with the write enable / disable setting means using the reflection sheet does not have a mechanical structure for the write enable / disable setting means. Therefore, it is effective for making the memory card body smaller and thinner. However, since the writability is set by attaching and peeling the reflection sheet, the writability setting operation is inconvenient.

Further, in the conventional memory card provided with the write enable / disable setting means by the switch, write enable / disable is set by switching the switch, so that the write enable / disable setting operation is simple. However, since the switch is built in the memory card body, there is a limit to the size and thickness reduction of the memory card body.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a memory card having a writable / unwritable setting means which allows easy setting operation and enables the memory card body to be made smaller and thinner.

[0011]

In order to solve this problem, a memory card of the present invention is a memory card main body in which a notch formed of a recess is formed in a side portion forming a planar outer shape, and the memory. A semiconductor memory, which is mounted on a substrate housed inside the card body and is capable of at least writing data, a terminal provided on the memory card body for electrically connecting the semiconductor memory and an external device, and the cutout portion. A writable / unwritable setter that is slidably fitted inside and sets writable / unwritable of the data in the semiconductor memory, and the writable / writable setter is partially a part of the cutout portion. Whether writing of data to the semiconductor memory is set by selecting one of a first position that covers the cutout portion and a second position that covers another part of the cutout portion. , The part covering the notch is the The memory card body has an elastic guide inside the notch, and the elastic guide holds the selected position of the write enable / disable setter, and The write enable / disable setting element is configured to be slidable.

As a result, the cutout portion can be formed by simply sliding the write enable / disable setting element inside the cutout portion while maintaining the thin shape of the card without having any protrusion from the side portion. The writability can be set by changing the selected position, and moreover, the writability setter can be surely held in the memory card body by the elastic guide. Further, by providing the notch portion and the write enable / disable setting element on the side portion of the memory card body, it is possible to increase the ratio of the effective area in which the semiconductor memory or the like can be incorporated, and to reduce the size of the entire memory card.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a memory card main body in which a notch formed of a recess is formed in a side portion forming a planar outer shape, and an inside of the memory card main body. A semiconductor memory which is mounted on a substrate housed in the device and which can write at least data, a terminal which is provided in the memory card main body and electrically connects the semiconductor memory and an external device, and slides inside the cutout portion. A write enable / disable setting element that is freely fitted and sets whether or not the data can be written into the semiconductor memory, the write enable / disable setting element partially covering a part of the cutout portion; Whether to write data to the semiconductor memory is set by selecting either the position or the second position that covers the other part of the cutout portion, and the outer shape of the writeable / not settable is the cutout portion. The portion that covers the outline of the memory card The memory card main body has an elastic guide inside the cutout portion, and the elastic guide holds the selected position of the write enable / disable setting element, and the write enable / disable setting element. Is configured to be slidable, which allows the card to have a thin shape without any protrusions from the side,
The writable / unwritable setting element can be set to the memory card body by the elastic guide by simply changing the notch by a simple operation of sliding the writable / unwritable setting element inside the notch. Can hold Further, by providing the notch portion and the write enable / disable setting element on the side portion of the memory card body, it is possible to increase the ratio of the effective area in which the semiconductor memory or the like can be incorporated, and to reduce the size of the entire memory card. Have an effect.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the memory card according to the first aspect, between the elastic guide of the memory card main body and the writable / unwritable setter, the writable / unwritable setting for the elastic guide is set. The engaging portion for locking the sliding position of the child is provided, and this has the effect of reliably setting the selected position of the write enable / disable setting element.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the memory card according to the second aspect, the engaging portion has a convex portion formed substantially at the center of the elastic guide in the sliding direction of the write enable / disable setter. The writable / unwritable setting element rides over this convex portion and is locked to both sides of the elastic guide to select the position for covering the notch of the writable / not writable setting element. This has an effect that the elastic guide for performing the selected position of the write enable / disable setting element and the convex portion can be easily configured.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the memory card according to the second aspect, the engaging portion has a first engaging portion formed of a convex portion or a concave portion on the elastic guide, and writing is enabled or disabled. The elastic guide-corresponding surface of the setter is provided with a second concave or convex portion.
Of the write enable / disable setting element to form the engaging portion of
The second engagement portion is locked to the engagement portion of, so as to select the position that covers the notch of the write enable / disable setting element. This has the effect of giving the structure a degree of freedom in operation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the memory card according to the second aspect, the elastic guide formed on the memory card main body has a slit formed inside a notch portion of at least one of the main body, The embeddability setting element is configured to be fitted in the slit, which makes it easier to apply an elastic force as an elastic guide.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a memory card main body is provided with a notch formed of a concave portion on a side portion forming a planar outer shape, and mounted on a substrate housed inside the memory card main body. A semiconductor memory in which at least data can be written, a terminal provided in the memory card main body for electrically connecting the semiconductor memory to an external device, and a semiconductor slidably fitted inside the cutout portion. A writable / unwritable setting unit that sets writability of the data to the memory,
The writable / unwritable setting element is set to the semiconductor memory by selecting either a first position where a part thereof covers a part of the cutout portion or a second position where a part thereof covers another part of the cutout portion. The writability of data is set, and the outer shape of the writable / unwritable set is formed such that the portion covering the cutout portion is substantially integrated with the outer shape of the memory card body. A sliding hole having elasticity is provided inside the portion, a fitting groove is formed inside the sliding hole, and the writing enable / disable setting element is slidably fitted in the fitting groove. It was done,
As a result, only a simple operation of fitting the write enable / disable setter into the sliding hole inside the notch and sliding it while maintaining the thin shape as a card without having any protrusions from the side part The write enable / disable setting can be set by changing the notch, and the elasticity of the sliding hole can securely hold the write enable / disable setting element in the memory card body. Further, by providing the notch portion and the write enable / disable setting element on the side portion of the memory card body, it is possible to increase the ratio of the effective area in which the semiconductor memory or the like can be incorporated, and to reduce the size of the entire memory card. Have an effect.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the memory card according to the sixth aspect, the write enable / disable setting element has a fitting portion which is inserted into the sliding hole and fitted therein. The joint has a maximum width that is larger than the width of the sliding hole, and is configured to fit in the fitting groove formed in the main body. This ensures reliable fitting. It has the effect that

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the memory card according to the sixth aspect, the memory card body has an engaging portion formed in the fitting groove, and the writable / unwritable setting element slides. The position of the write enable / disable setter can be set with certainty.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the memory card according to the sixth aspect, the width of the tip of the fitting portion of the write enable / disable setting element is smaller than the width of the sliding hole. And a slanting surface that is inclined toward the maximum width portion of the fitting portion, the writable / not-writable setter is configured to fit the fitting portion into the sliding hole. By forcibly inserting the sloping surface of the mating part into the sliding hole, the sliding hole is expanded and fitted into the memory card body. Therefore, even if there is some dimensional variation, there is an effect that they can be fitted easily.

(Embodiment 1) The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The form will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view showing the assembled state of the memory card according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the lower body in a cutaway state, and FIG. 3 is a partially disassembled state. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the upper main body cut away, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view of a write enable / disable setter, and FIG. It is a setting detection explanatory drawing of a permission / inhibition setter.

1 to 5, 1 is an upper body of a memory card, 2 is a lower body of the memory card, and the upper and lower bodies 1 and 2 are superposed on each other to form a memory card body. Reference numeral 3 denotes a cutout portion provided on a side portion of the memory card upper main body 1. The planer shape of the memory card upper main body 1 has a rectangular recess, and the write enable / disable setter 4 is slidable in the cutout portion 3. It is arranged in. That is, the elastic guide 6 formed by the slit 5 is provided in the upper main body 1 of the memory card inside the cutout 3, and the lower main body 2 of the memory card at a position facing the slit 5 is provided with the groove 7, Groove 7
The write enable / disable setter 4 is slidably fitted to the elastic guide 6, and the write enable / disable setter 4 is sandwiched between the upper and lower memory card main bodies 1 and 2. The write enable / disable setting part 4 is arranged so that a part thereof faces the cutout part 3 of the memory card upper body 1 and covers a part of the cutout part 3, and the sliding position covers the cutout part 3. Is to be selected.

The writable / unwritable setter 4 covers the notch 3 and sets writable / unwritable, and an operating part 4a serving as a manual switching knob, and a retaining part 4b fitted in the slit 5 and the groove 7. And a sliding contact portion 4c which connects the operation portion 4a and the retaining portion 4b and is in contact with the elastic guide 6 to slide.
And form. The write enable / disable setter 4 is fitted to the memory card upper main body 1 having the slit 5 and covered with the memory card lower main body 2 having the groove 7 so that the retaining portion 4b has the slit 5 and the groove. 7 and the sliding contact portion 4c is slidably held and sandwiched between the elastic guide 6 and the memory card lower main body 2.

The elastic guide 6 provided on the upper body 1 of the memory card is formed with an engaging portion consisting of a convex portion 6a at substantially the center thereof, and the convex portion 6a is a sliding contact portion of the write enable / disable setter 4. Four
The position of covering the cutout portion 3 of the write enable / disable setter 4 is selected by c being overridden and locked on both sides of the elastic guide 6. That is, the main body 1 on the memory card
An engaging portion is provided between the elastic guide 6 and the writable / unwritable setting element 4 for locking the sliding position of the writable / unwritable setting element 4 with respect to the elastic guide 6. This allows
A click feeling in sliding of the write enable / disable setting element 4 and locking of the write enable / disable setting are possible at the same time, and the click feeling can be adjusted by changing the amount of protrusion of the protrusion 6a. Here, the engaging portion formed of the convex portion 6a forms the first engaging portion formed of a convex portion or a concave portion on the elastic guide 6, and corresponds to the elastic guide 6 in the sliding contact portion 4c of the write enable / disable setter 4. A second engaging portion formed of a concave portion or a convex portion is formed on the surface, and the second engaging portion is locked to the first engaging portion by sliding of the write enable / disable setting element 4. It may be configured to. Further, the respective shapes are not limited to this as long as they can be engaged and disengaged.

The memory card main body is integrally provided with a terminal 9 for electrically connecting to a device in a slit 8 portion formed on the lower side of the memory card main body 2, and the contents are rewritten in the inside thereof. It has a substrate 11 on which a possible semiconductor memory 10 is mounted. In the semiconductor memory 10, the stored contents are read and rewritten from a device (not shown) electrically connected through the terminal 9. Here, for rewriting, a write enable / disable setting means described later is provided to prevent accidental deletion or overwriting of stored contents.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a label sticking area, which is formed in a concave shape on the surface of the main body 1 of the memory card. As shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined display item of the memory card is printed on the label sticking area 12. The label 12a is attached. Here, the stopper portion 4b of the write enable / disable setter 4 is
By forming the slits 5 so as not to project slightly from the edges, the label 12a is prevented from peeling off, and the concave groove 7 of the memory card lower main body 2 is formed into a groove shape instead of a slit shape. By sticking the label 12a, the guide property is not impaired, the unevenness of the visible portion is eliminated, and the appearance is not impaired.

The operation of the memory card configured as described above will be described below.

In order to hold the write enable / disable setter 4 between the upper and lower bodies of the memory card, the upper and lower body 1 of the memory card and the lower body 2 of the memory card are held together with the substrate 11 on which the semiconductor memory 10 is mounted. . Here, the writability setter 4
Is sandwiched in a predetermined position between the upper and lower memory card main bodies 1 and 2 by being guided by the slit 5, the elastic guide 6, and the concave groove 7, and the memory card upper body 1 and the memory other than the cutout portion 3 are held. The outer periphery of the lower card body 2 is welded or adhered.

In this way, the write enable / disable setting element 4 held between the upper and lower memory card main bodies 1 and 2 has the operation portion 4 thereof.
a covers a part of the cutout 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the covered portion is about half of either the left or right of the cutout portion 3.
In (a), the left side is covered, and the covered portion is substantially integrated with the outer shape of the memory card upper body 1. About half of the right side that is not covered is a rectangular recess in the plane shape of the memory card body. By sliding the writable / unwritable setter 4 to the right, the sliding contact portion 4c of the writable / unwritable setter 4 gets over the convex portion 6a on the elastic guide 6, and the covered portion is shown in FIG. 6B. As described above, the elastic guide 6 is locked on the right side, but when the user rides over the elastic guide 6, the elastic guide 6 is bent. By selecting the position where the notch 3 is covered by the sliding of the write enable / disable setter 4, the write enable / disable of data to the memory card is set.

To set whether or not data can be written to the memory card, the write enable / disable setter 4 is pressed by pressing the operating portion 4a with fingers.
By sliding to the right and left. At this time, the writable / unwritable setter 4 can be slid with an appropriate click feeling by engaging and disengaging the elastic guide 6 by the convex portion 6a, and at the same time, write inadvertently. The propriety setting element 4 is prevented from sliding. Further, the rectangular recess not covered by the write enable / disable setting element 4 of the cutout portion 3 also has an indicator function, and the setting state of write enable / disable of data can be clearly visually recognized. Further, here, the step portions 4 are provided at both corners of the operation portion 4a of the write enable / disable setting unit 4.
d is provided and a minute recess is formed between the notch 3 and the side edge of the memory card upper body 1 so that the fingers or nails can be easily locked.

Next, a method in which the device to which the memory card is inserted and connected detects the write enable / disable setting of the memory card will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 7A, 22 is a device into which the memory card of this embodiment is inserted and connected, 21 is a device 2
2 is a detection switch provided with a detection unit 23 and a contact 24. Here, the writable / unwritable setter 4 covers the left side of the cutout portion 3 as in FIG. 6A, and the state in which the writable / writable settler 4 is located on the left is writable. Suppose it is a setting. In this writable setting, since the writable / unwritable setting element 4 covers the left side of the cutout portion 3, the detection portion 23 of the detection switch 21 is lifted up and the contact 24 is closed. By detecting the closing of the contact 24, the device 22 can recognize that the memory card is writable.

On the other hand, the state in which the write enable / disable setter 4 shown in FIG. 7B is located on the right is the write disable setting. In this write-disable setting, the left side of the cutout 3 is not covered with the write enable / disable setter 4, so that the detection unit 23 of the detection switch 21 is not lifted up and the contact 24 is opened. By detecting the opening of the contact 24, the device 22 can recognize that the memory card is not writable.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a switch built-in memory card according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The basic structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the substrate 1 inside the memory card
The switch 13 is mounted on the switch 1, and the operating portion 13a of the switch 13 is configured to protrude toward the write enable / disable setter 4 side. On the other hand, the write enable / disable setter 4 is provided with an operating portion 4e, and the operating portion 4e is arranged so as to be engageable with the operating portion 13a of the switch 13. For this purpose, a space 14 for sliding or moving the operating portion 4e and the operating portion 13a is provided between the memory card upper body 1 and the memory card lower body 2. With such a configuration, it is possible to electrically switch the inside of the memory card main body at the same time as the writing is permitted by sliding the writing permission / prohibition setter 4.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a memory card with a built-in contact portion according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The basic structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the substrate 1 inside the memory card
1 is provided with a contact 15 and the write enable / disable setter 4 is provided with a contact piece holder 4f and a contact piece 4g, and a contact piece holder 4f is provided between the memory card upper body 1 and the memory card lower body 2. And by providing the sliding space 16 of the contact piece 4g, at the same time as the write enable / disable by the sliding of the write enable / disable setter 4,
It is possible to switch electrically.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the memory card according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is provided with the write enable / disable setting unit 4.

The basic structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment,
In place of the slit 5 formed in the memory card upper main body 1 in the first embodiment, a concave groove 17 is formed in that portion. The concave groove 17 and the concave groove 7 formed in the memory card lower main body 2 are The writable / unwritable setting element 4 is adapted to be fitted with the retaining portion 4b.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the size of the slit 5, the depth of the concave groove 7 or 17, the thickness of the elastic guide 6, the height of the convex portion 6a, etc. are set in the upper and lower portions of the memory card 1. 2 and the material of the material such as the synthetic resin forming the write enable / disable setter 4, the elastic strength during sliding,
It can be appropriately set according to the settings such as the click feeling.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of a portion including a write enable / disable setting element of a memory card according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The memory card main bodies 1 and 2 have a slide hole 18 formed inside the cutout 3 by the upper and lower main bodies 1 and 2, and the groove 19 is formed in the memory card main body 1 and 2 inside the slide hole 18. 20 are formed, and the grooves 19 and 20 are used as elastic guides by utilizing elastic deformation of the main bodies 1 and 2 in the vicinity thereof. The memory card main bodies 1 and 2 have a superposed structure in which both main bodies are integrally joined in advance in a state shown in the drawing by ultrasonic welding or the like, and therefore the inside of the notch 3 is opened in the side direction. Of the sliding holes 18 are formed. Reference numeral 21 is an engaging portion formed in the groove 20, and is configured to perform positioning when the write enable / disable setter 4 described later is slid.

Here, the write enable / disable setting element 4 has a fitting portion 4h which is inserted into and fitted into the sliding hole 18 formed in the memory card bodies 1 and 2, and the fitting portion 4h is slidable. The width D2 of the maximum width portion 4j is formed larger than the width D1 of the moving hole 18, and the width D3 of the tip portion 4k is formed smaller than the width D1. 4h is the tip 4
An inclined surface 4m that is inclined from k toward the maximum width portion 4j is formed.

The write enable / disable setter 4 thus formed is
As shown in FIG. 11, the memory card body 1 made of an elastic material is forcibly inserted into the sliding hole 18 in the direction of the arrow so that the inclined surface 4m of the fitting portion 4h causes the insertion of the memory card body 1 made of an elastic material. , 2 are pushed in the vicinity of the sliding holes 18 and inserted while elastically deforming, and the fitting portions 4h are fitted into the grooves 19 and 20 (the writable / unwritable setter 4'in the fitted state is indicated by a broken line). Shown). After the fitting, the memory card bodies 1 and 2 are elastically deformed by the engaging portion 21 formed in the groove 20 to position the write enable / disable setter 4 as in the above-described embodiment. Will be possible.

As described above, in this embodiment, the write enable / disable setter 4 can be fitted while being elastically deformed by simply inserting and fitting it into the sliding hole 18. Further, when the upper and lower bodies 1 and 2 are joined together, the writing enable / disable setter 4 is erroneously fixed by welding or the like without worrying about the fitted state of the writing enable / disable setter 4. Without overlapping, they can be integrated by superimposing them. Further, the writable / unwritable setter 4 is configured such that the slidable surface 4m spreads the sliding hole 18 to fit into the memory card body at the time of insertion.
Since the two are pushed apart and elastically deformed while they are fitted, they can be fitted easily even if there are some dimensional variations.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the writable / unwritable setting element is simply provided in the notch portion while maintaining the thin shape of the card without having any protrusion from the side portion of the memory card body. The write enable / disable setting can be set by changing the selected position of the notch with a simple operation that fits into the inner slide hole and slides. Moreover, the elasticity of the slide hole allows the write enable / disable setting element to be a memory card. Can be securely held in the body. Further, by providing the notch portion and the write enable / disable setting element on the side portion of the memory card body, it is possible to increase the ratio of the effective area in which the semiconductor memory or the like can be incorporated, and to reduce the size of the entire memory card. It has an excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an assembled state of a memory card according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the lower body in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 3 is a top side perspective view of the same part in a disassembled state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the same main body with a part thereof broken away.

5 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the write enable / disable setter.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of setting detection of the same write enable / disable setter.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a memory card according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a memory card according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a memory card according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a memory card according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional memory card provided with a write enable / disable setting unit using a reflection sheet.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional memory card provided with a write enable / disable setting unit using a switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Memory card main body 2 Memory card lower body 3 notches 4 Write enable / disable setter 4a operation part 4h fitting part 4m slope 5 slits 6 Elasticity guide 6a Envelope for engagement 7,17 concave groove 9 terminals 10 Semiconductor memory 11 board 12 Labeling area side 13 switch 15 contacts 18 Sliding hole 19,20 groove 21 Engagement part

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 3, 2002 (2002.12.
3)

[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] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0011]

In order to solve this problem, a memory card of the present invention is a memory card main body in which a notch formed of a recess is formed in a side portion forming a planar outer shape, and the memory. A semiconductor memory mounted on a substrate housed inside the card body and capable of at least writing data, a terminal provided on the memory card body for electrically connecting the semiconductor memory and an external device, and the cutout portion . Oke
And a writable / unwritable setter that slidably fits inside the main body to set writability of the data to the semiconductor memory,
The writable / unwritable setting element is set to the semiconductor memory by selecting either a first position where a part thereof covers a part of the cutout portion or a second position where a part thereof covers another part of the cutout portion. with setting the writability of data, pre-Symbol memory card body has a resilient guide inside the body in the notch to hold the selected position of the writability Setteiko by elastic guide,該書write The permission / prohibition setting element is configured to be slidable.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a memory card main body in which a notch formed of a recess is formed in a side portion forming a planar outer shape, and an inside of the memory card main body. It is mounted on the contained substrates, at least writable semiconductor memory data, and a terminal for electrically connecting the said semiconductor memory and an external device provided in the memory card body, sliding inside the body of the cutout portion A writable and unwritable setter that is movably fitted to set writability of the data to the semiconductor memory,
Whether to write data to the semiconductor memory is set by selecting either a first position, a part of which covers a part of the cutout portion, or a second position, a part of which covers the other part of the cutout portion. ,
Before Symbol memory card body, the resilient guide within the body <br/> the notch holds the selected position of the writability Setteiko by elastic guide, sliding the該書write permission setting element This is a simple structure that allows the write enable / disable setting element to slide inside the notch while maintaining the thin shape as a card without any protrusion from the side. The writable / unwritable setting element can be surely held in the memory card main body by the elastic guide by changing the notch portion to set writable / not writable. Further, by providing the notch portion and the write enable / disable setting element on the side portion of the memory card body, it is possible to increase the ratio of the effective area in which the semiconductor memory or the like can be incorporated, and to reduce the size of the entire memory card. Have an effect.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Delete

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Delete

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

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[Procedure Amendment 7]

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[Procedure Amendment 8]

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   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Noriaki Furuta             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takahiro Sakamoto             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masayoshi Yano             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B017 AA02 BB03 CA14                 5B035 AA11 BA03 BA04 BB09 CA01                       CA11 CA29 CA31

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A memory card main body having a notched portion formed as a recess in a side portion forming a planar outer shape, and a memory card main body mounted on a substrate accommodated therein, and capable of writing at least data. A semiconductor memory, a terminal provided on the memory card body for electrically connecting the semiconductor memory to an external device, and slidably fitted inside the notch, and writing the data to the semiconductor memory. A writable / unwritable setting element for setting whether to include or not include the writable / not writable setting element; Whether to write data to the semiconductor memory is set by selecting either the position or the position. The outer shape of the writable / not-writable setter is such that the portion covering the notch is substantially integrated with the outer shape of the memory card body. And the memory card The card main body has an elastic guide inside the notch, and the elastic guide holds the selected position of the write enable / disable setting element, and the write enable / disable setting element is slidable. Characteristic memory card. 2. An engaging portion is provided between the elastic guide of the memory card body and the writable / unwritable setting element for locking the sliding position of the writable / writable setting element with respect to the elastic guide. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The engagement portion has a convex portion formed substantially at the center of the elastic guide in the sliding direction of the write enable / disable set element, and the write enable / disable set element passes over the convex portion to both sides of the elastic guide. 3. The memory card according to claim 2, wherein a position that covers the notch of the write enable / disable setting element is selected by being locked to each of the memory cards. 4. The engaging portion has a first engaging portion formed of a convex portion or a concave portion on an elastic guide, and a second engaging portion of a concave portion or a convex portion on an elastic guide corresponding surface of the write enable / disable setter. The engagement portion is formed, and the second engagement portion is locked to the first engagement portion by the sliding of the write enable / disable setting element, so that the position at which the notch portion of the write enable / disable setting element is covered is formed. The memory card according to claim 2, wherein the memory card is configured to be selected. 5. The elastic guide formed on the main body of the memory card has a slit formed inside the notch of at least one of the main bodies, and the write enable / disable setter is fitted in the slit. The memory card according to claim 2, wherein the memory card is a memory card. 6. A memory card main body having a notched portion formed as a recess on a side portion forming a planar outer shape, and a memory card main body mounted on a substrate housed therein and capable of writing at least data. A semiconductor memory, a terminal provided on the memory card body for electrically connecting the semiconductor memory to an external device, and slidably fitted inside the notch, and writing the data to the semiconductor memory. A writable / unwritable setting element for setting whether to include or not include the writable / not writable setting element; Whether to write data to the semiconductor memory is set by selecting either the position or the position. The outer shape of the writable / not-writable setter is such that the portion covering the notch is substantially integrated with the outer shape of the memory card body. And the memory card The card body includes a sliding hole having elasticity inside the cutout portion, a fitting groove is formed inside the sliding hole, and the writing enable / disable setter is slidable in the fitting groove. A memory card characterized by being configured to be fitted to. 7. The writability setter has a fitting portion that is inserted into the sliding hole and fitted therein, and the fitting portion is formed such that a maximum width portion thereof is larger than a width of the sliding hole. 7. The memory card according to claim 6, wherein the memory card is configured to be fitted in a fitting groove formed in the main body. 8. The memory card main body is formed with an engaging portion in the fitting groove, and is configured to perform positioning when the write enable / disable setter is slid. The listed memory card. 9. The write enable / disable setting element is formed such that the width of the tip of the fitting portion is smaller than the width of the sliding hole, and is inclined toward the maximum width portion of the fitting portion. The writable / unwritable setting element is formed by forcibly inserting the inclined surface of the fitting portion into the sliding hole when the fitting portion is fitted into the sliding hole. 8. The memory card according to claim 7, wherein the sliding hole is expanded to fit into the memory card body.