JP2003196627A - Memory card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a memory card having a writing approval refusal setting means simplifying a setting operation and capable of miniaturizing and thinning a memory card body. <P>SOLUTION: The memory card body 1 is formed with a notch part 3 formed of a recess in the side part forming the external shape of a planar shape and provided with a writing approval refusal setting element 4 slidably fitted in the body inside in the notch part 3 and setting the approval refusal of the data writing according to the sliding position. The writing approval refusal setting element sets the approval refusal of the data writing in a semiconductor memory by selecting either of a first position covering a part of the notch part 3 and a second position covering another part. The memory card body is provided with a sliding hole 18 deformed by the elasticity of the body 1 in the body 1 in the notch part 3, and formed with fitting grooves 19 and 20 inside the sliding hole, so that the writing approval refusal setting element 4 is slidably fitted in the fitting grooves 19 and 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

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 mounted on a substrate housed inside the card body and capable of writing at least 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 / not writable setter that is slidably fitted inside the main body and sets 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. Whether or not data can be written is set, and the memory card main body has a sliding hole in the main body at the cutout portion, which is deformable by elasticity of the main body, and a fitting groove is formed inside the sliding hole. The writability setting element is configured to be slidably fitted in the fitting groove by being inserted in the sliding hole.

As a result, the write enable / disable setting element is simply fitted and slid into the sliding hole inside the notch while maintaining the thin shape of the card without having any protrusion from the side. The writability can be set by changing the notch with only a simple operation, and the elasticity of the sliding hole can surely hold the writability set 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.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is the memory card according to claim 1, in which a notch formed by a recess is formed on a side portion forming a planar outer shape. A main body, a semiconductor memory mounted on a substrate housed inside the memory card main body and capable of writing at least data, and a terminal provided in the memory card main body for electrically connecting the semiconductor memory and an external device A writable / unwritable setter which is slidably fitted inside the main body in the cutout portion and sets writable / unwritable of the data to / from the semiconductor memory. Whether to write data to the semiconductor memory is set by selecting one of a first position that covers a part of the cutout portion and a second position that covers another part of the cutout portion. The body is the body in the cutout By including a sliding hole that can be deformed by elasticity of the main body, and forming a fitting groove inside the sliding hole, by inserting the write enable / disable setting element into the sliding hole, It is configured to be slidably fitted in the fitting groove.

As a result, the writing enable / disable setter is simply fitted into the sliding hole inside the notch and slid while maintaining the thin shape of the card without having any protrusion from the side portion. The writability can be set by changing the notch with only a simple operation, and the elasticity of the sliding hole can surely hold the writability set 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.

The invention described in claim 2 is the same as claim 6
In the memory card according to [4], the write enable / disable setting element has a fitting portion that is inserted into the sliding hole and fitted therein, and the fitting portion has a maximum width portion larger than a width of the sliding hole. It is formed so as to be fitted in the fitting groove formed in the main body, and this has the effect that the fitting can be reliably performed.

The invention according to claim 3 is the same as the invention according to claim 6.
In the memory card described in (1) above, the memory card main body has an engaging portion formed in the fitting groove, and is configured to perform positioning during sliding of the write enable / disable setting element. , It has the effect that the selected position of the write enable / disable setting element can be set with certainty.

The invention according to claim 4 is the same as claim 6
In the memory card according to [4], 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 directed toward the maximum width portion of the fitting portion. This writing enable / disable setting element forcibly inserts the inclined surface of the fitting portion into the sliding hole when the fitting portion is fitted into the sliding hole. By doing so, the sliding hole is expanded to fit into the memory card body, and it fits while expanding and elastically deforming, so even if there are some dimensional variations, it is easy to fit It has the effect of being able to.

(First Embodiment) 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 a 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 exploded 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 main body of the memory card, 2 is a lower main body of the memory card, and the upper and lower main bodies 1 and 2 are superposed on each other to form the memory card main 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 main 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 side. 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 setting unit 4 between the upper and lower body of the memory card, the write enable / disable setter 4 is held between the upper body 1 of the memory card and the lower body 2 of the memory card simultaneously 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 setter 4 held between the upper and lower memory card main bodies 1 and 2 has the operation section 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, and 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 to 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.

(Second Embodiment) 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 the same as those of the memory card upper and lower body 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 setter 4 has a fitting portion 4h which is 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 writable / unwritable setting element 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.

[0044]

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

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── 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 BB09 CA01 CA31

Claims (4)

[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 main body for electrically connecting the semiconductor memory to an external device, and a terminal for slidingly fitting the semiconductor memory inside the main body in the cutout portion. A writable / unwritable setting element for setting writability, wherein the writable / unwritable setting element has a first position at which a part thereof covers a part of the cutout portion and a first position at which another part of the cutout portion is covered. Whether to write data to the semiconductor memory is set by selecting one of two positions, and the memory card main body is set to the main body in the cutout portion.
The main body is provided with a slide hole that can be deformed by elasticity, and a fitting groove is formed inside the slide hole. By inserting the write enable / disable setting element into the slide hole, A memory card, which is configured to be slidably fitted in a fitting groove. 2. The writable / unwritable setting element has a fitting portion which is inserted into and fitted into the sliding hole, and the fitting portion is formed such that a maximum width portion thereof is larger than a width of the sliding hole. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the memory card is configured to be fitted in a fitting groove formed in the main body. 3. The memory card main body is configured to form an engaging portion in the fitting groove to perform positioning when the writable / not-writable setter is slid. The listed memory card. 4. The writability 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. 3. The memory card according to claim 2, wherein the sliding hole is expanded to fit into the memory card body.