JP2004005659A - Electronic device, and information processing system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device having excellent immunity to possibility of ejection of a card while the card is being fed when a compact manual card ejection mechanism is used for realizing portability in an electronic device using a memory card or an IC card. <P>SOLUTION: This system comprises a control means 68 to control the electronic device 1, a terminal 37 to transmit/receive various signals to/from a terminal 32 of an information storage medium 3 detachably installed on the electronic device 1 under control of the control means 68, and an ejection start detecting means 27 to detect start of move of the information storage medium 3 in an ejection direction. The control means 68 executes power-off sequence within a set time after detection of start of move of the information storage medium 3 by the ejection start detection means 27. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device, such as an electronic organizer, having an external information storage medium detachably provided, and an information processing system using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a small manual card ejection mechanism is used to realize portability in an electronic device using a memory card or an IC card, the card may be ejected while power is supplied to the card. In this case, the power supply sequence to the card may be cut off while the voltage is applied to the signal line, and the power-off sequence may not be performed properly, which may lead to physical destruction of the card.
[0003]
Conventionally, for example, in an electronic organizer having a memory card, a lock mechanism for ejecting a card is provided to prevent such card destruction, and a power-off sequence is immediately executed when the lock mechanism is released during power feeding of the card. It was like.
[0004]
The power-off sequence is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-1-233680 (pages 2-3)
[0006]
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 25550/1993 (page 5-7)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this conventional method, although physical destruction of the card is prevented, if the card is unlocked by mistake, even if the card is tried to be locked again, the card terminal has already executed the power-off sequence, so the card terminal is restarted. Had to eject the card once and then insert it again into the card terminal, which had a problem in operability.
[0008]
In addition, if the lock is accidentally released and the card is ejected while rewriting the file or data in the memory in the card and the card is ejected, the file or data becomes abnormal, which hinders subsequent operations.
[0009]
Furthermore, a simple card terminal usually does not have a card lock mechanism, in which case the card may be ejected during power supply of the card as described above, which may cause the destruction of the IC chip inside the card. There was a problem.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems of the related art and to provide an electronic device having excellent reliability and an information processing system using the electronic device.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control means for controlling an electronic device,
A terminal for performing communication of various signals with a terminal of an information storage medium detachably mounted on the electronic device under the control of the control unit;
Discharging start detecting means for detecting the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharging direction,
The control means executes a power-off sequence within a set time (for example, within 300 μs) after the discharge start detecting means detects the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharge direction.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are external views of a portable IC card terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an IC card is being inserted into a card terminal, and FIG. It is a figure showing the state where the IC card was attached. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing a state inside the card terminal, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged side view showing a connection state between the card terminal and the IC card.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a card insertion slot 2 is formed on the front side of a card terminal 1 made of, for example, an electronic notebook, and an ejection lever 4 and a lock release button 5 are close to each other on the right side. Is provided. On the upper surface of the card terminal 1, a liquid crystal display 6 and a number of operation keys 7 are arranged in rows. Although not shown, a buzzer (alarm) is installed inside the card terminal 1.
[0014]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the card terminal 1. The card terminal 1 is connected via a clock terminal 61, a reset terminal 62, an I / O terminal 63 for inputting / outputting data, a power supply terminal 64 for receiving power from the card terminal 1, a ground terminal 65, and the like on the IC card 3. Have been.
[0015]
The card terminal 1 includes a ROM 66 storing a program for controlling the operation of the card terminal 1, a RAM 67 storing various data and files, an MPU 68 for controlling the operation of the card terminal 1 based on the control program, and an IC card 3. An IC card interface 69 for electrical connection, an LCD control unit 70 for controlling the liquid crystal display unit 6, a keyboard control unit 71 for controlling the operation keys 7, and a power supply for connecting a power switch 72 to control the power supplied to each unit. The control unit 73 includes a card detection switch 27 for detecting the completion of the mounting of the IC card 3 and the start of discharging, and an unlock detection switch 28 for detecting the unlocking of the IC card 3. It is connected. The card terminal 1 has a discharge lever 4 and a lock release button 5.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, a guide wall 9 extends in parallel with a side wall 8 of the card terminal 1 by a width of the IC card 3, and the side wall 8 and the guide wall 9 are inserted into the IC card 3. , Functions as a guide when discharging.
[0017]
The ejection lever 4 and the lock release button 5 are provided near the mounting completion position of the IC card 3 so that the ejection lever 4 is on the near side as viewed from the terminal operator.
[0018]
The ejection lever 4 can reciprocate in the X direction corresponding to the insertion and ejection directions of the IC card 3, and the lock release button 5 can reciprocate in the Y direction orthogonal to the movement direction (X direction) of the ejection lever 4. I have.
[0019]
An engaging recess 11 is formed on a side surface of the finger contact portion 10 slightly protruding outward from the side wall 8 of the ejection lever 4 as shown in FIG. 1, for example, FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, an inclined surface 12 is provided at a corner on the distal end side of the engaging concave portion 11, and a spring hooking projection 13 is formed on a part of the ejection lever 4. The ejection lever 4 is elastically urged toward a stopper 16 provided at a standby position by a spring 15 stretched between the spring lever 13 and the spring hook 13. A slide guide piece 17 is integrally provided at a position corresponding to the side wall 8 of the discharge lever 4 and is slidably inserted into a guide groove 18 formed in a part of the side wall 8.
[0020]
The lock release button 5 is arranged next to the ejection lever 4 via a stopper 16 and slides along the stopper 16 in the Y direction. The pressing portion 19 which slightly protrudes from the side wall 8 of the lock release button 5 is provided between the finger contact portion 10 of the ejection lever 4 and the pressing preventing protrusion 20 provided on the side wall 8 as shown in FIG. It is arranged in the formed narrow recess 21 and is designed so that the protrusion amount is smaller than that of the finger contact portion 10 and the pressing prevention protrusion 20.
[0021]
In this way, it is possible to prevent the lock lever 5 from being unlocked by pressing the lock release button 5 with a finger when holding the card terminal 1, for example.
[0022]
The lock release button 5 is provided with a claw portion 22 that engages with the engagement recess 11 of the ejection lever 4, and an inclined surface 23 is formed on the near side of the claw portion 22.
[0023]
A bar 24 protrudes from the side opposite to the pressing portion 19, and a coil spring 25 is loosely fitted to the bar 24. The coil spring 25 is housed in a spring receiving portion 26 having a U-shaped planar shape. . Since the spring receiving portion 26 is fixed in the card terminal 1, the lock release button 5 is elastically urged by the coil spring 25 in the direction in which the pressing portion 19 projects.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, a card detection switch 27 is provided near the position where the insertion of the IC card 3 is completed, and an unlock detection switch 28 is provided near the unlock button 5. These detection switches 27 and 28 are composed of, for example, a micro switch or a photo sensor.
[0025]
Next, a contact structure between the contact spring group 29 of the card terminal 1 and the terminal portion 32 of the IC card 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0026]
The contact spring group 29 having elasticity is supported by a contact spring frame 40. The contact spring frame 40 is supported by an arm 42 so as to be rotatable about a pin 41. The arm 42 is fixed to the bottom plate 43 and also serves as a stopper for the IC card 3. The wiring of the contact spring group 29 is drawn out by a flexible printed board, but is not shown here.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 4A, before the IC card 3 is inserted, the end 44 of the contact spring frame 40 is elastically connected to the bottom plate 43 by a torsion spring (not shown) attached to the pin 41. The contact spring group 29 is in contact with the bottom plate 43 and is separated therefrom.
[0028]
Next, the operation of inserting and discharging the IC card 3 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, before the IC card 3 is inserted, the ejection lever 4 is retracted by the spring 15 to a position where it comes into contact with the stopper 16, and the lock release button 5 is engaged with the ejection lever 4 by the coil spring 25. And the movement of the ejection lever 4 in the X direction is stopped.
[0029]
When the IC card 3 is inserted in the direction of the arrow Z as shown in FIG. 1, the end 44 of the contact spring frame 40 is moved from the state of FIG. 4A to the tip of the IC card 3 as shown in FIG. When pushed up, the contact spring group 29 comes into contact with the terminal portion 32 of the IC card 3, and the card terminal 1 and the IC card 3 are in a communicable state.
[0030]
When the IC card 3 is further inserted, the end portion 44 rides on the surface of the IC card 3 as shown in FIG. In this state, the contact spring group 29 is pressed against the terminal portion 32 of the IC card 3 with a designed proper load (50 g in this embodiment).
[0031]
When the IC card 3 is inserted to a predetermined position, the tip of the IC card 3 presses the card detection switch 27 to detect that the IC card 3 has reached the insertion completion position, and the detection signal is sent to the MPU 68 via the bus line 74. Supplied to
[0032]
When the IC card 3 reaches the insertion completion position, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the tip of the IC card 3 is in contact with or near the ejection lever 4.
[0033]
As described above, the terminal portion 32 comes into contact with the contact spring group 29 and the IC card 3 is connected to the card terminal 1, so that the power is supplied from the card terminal 1 to the IC card 3, and the card terminal 1 and the IC card 3 Between the contact spring group 29 and the terminal portion 32.
[0034]
Even if a force for erroneously moving the discharge lever 4 in the discharge direction acts during the transmission / reception of such a signal, the discharge lever 4 is prevented from moving by the lock release button 5, so that the discharge lever 4 is unexpectedly moved. There is no movement.
[0035]
When the IC card 3 is ejected, the pressing portion 19 of the unlock button 5 is pushed inward of the card terminal 1 against the elasticity of the coil spring 25 with the fingertip 30 of the operator as shown in FIG. As described above, since the space between the finger contact portion 10 of the ejection lever 4 and the pressing prevention projection 20 (the concave portion 21) is narrow, the tip of the fingertip 30 or the like is used to move the lock release button 5 in order to move the lock release button 5. There must be.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 7, when the pressing portion 19 is pushed in, the lock release button 5 moves to the left as viewed in the drawing, and the claw 22 of the lock release button 5 comes off from the engagement recess 11 of the ejection lever 4, and the lock is released. The lock of the ejection lever 4 is released by the release button 5.
[0037]
The movement of the unlock button 5 is detected by an unlock detection switch 28, and an unlock detection signal is transmitted to a control unit (not shown).
[0038]
When the pressing portion 19 is pushed in as shown in FIG. 7, the finger pad 31 is near the finger pad 10 of the ejection lever 4, so that the finger pad 31 can be pulled toward the front side against the elasticity of the spring 15 as it is. As shown in FIG. 8, the ejection lever 4 moves in the direction of the arrow, and the IC card 3 moves in the ejection direction with the movement. The movement of the IC card 3 is detected by the card detection switch 27, and the card ejection detection signal is transmitted to a control unit (not shown).
[0039]
When the IC card 3 is moved by the ejection lever 4, the IC card 3 protrudes from the card terminal 1 to the extent that the rear end of the IC card 3 is picked by a finger. Just pull it out.
[0040]
As described above, the fingertip 30 is separated from the pressing portion 19 by moving the ejection lever 4 with the finger pad 31, so that the lock release button 5 is brought into contact with the stopper 16 as shown in FIG. Returning, the inclined surface 12 of the discharge lever 4 and the inclined surface 23 of the lock release button 5 face each other.
[0041]
If the finger pad 31 is released from the ejection lever 4 in this state, the ejection lever 4 moves to the standby position side by the restoring force of the spring 15, and the lock release button 5 is temporarily operated by the function of the above-described inclined surfaces 12 and 23. The eject lever 4 and the lock release button 5 are finally engaged as shown in FIG.
[0042]
The change in the conduction state between the contact point of the card terminal and the terminal portion of the IC card from the start of the ejection to the completion of the ejection is exactly opposite to the case of the card insertion described with reference to FIG. That is, from the state shown in FIG. 4 (c) to the state shown in FIG. 4 (b), the state is conductive, and from the state shown in FIG. 4 (b) to the state shown in FIG.
[0043]
FIG. 10 shows the card detection switch 27, the unlock detection switch 28, the output, and the power on / off of the IC card 3 when the operator accidentally ejects the IC card 3 while the power is being applied to the IC card 3. It is a timing chart showing a sequence.
The figure shows the output of the unlock detection switch 28, the output of the card detection switch 27, the power supply Vcc terminal, the clock terminal, the reset terminal, and the output from the execution of the card power-on sequence to the execution of the card power-off sequence (power-off sequence). The operation timing of the I / O terminal is shown.
[0044]
The output of the unlock detection switch 28 is at a high level when the unlock button 5 is not pressed, and goes to a low level when the unlock button 5 is pressed. The output of the card detection switch 27 is at a high level when the card is inserted and at a low level when the card is ejected. The outputs of these two detection switches 27 and 28 may be set so that the high level and the low level are reversed.
[0045]
As shown in the figure, the outputs of both detection switches 27 and 28 are already in the high level state, that is, the state where the IC card 3 is set at the insertion completion position of the card terminal 1. In this state, a power-on sequence of the IC card 3 is performed. That is, a predetermined voltage Vcc is applied from the card terminal 1 to the IC card 3, a clock signal for various control operations is supplied, reset is released, and command data and response data are exchanged at the I / O terminal. Done.
[0046]
In the normal case, the discharging operation of the IC card 3 is not performed during the power supply to the IC card 3, that is, while the outputs of the card detection switch 27 and the lock release detection switch 28 remain at the high level, The access operation of the IC card 3 is performed in a normal state from the power-on sequence to the power-off sequence.
[0047]
However, if the unlock button 5 is unexpectedly pressed during power supply to the IC card 3 for some reason, the output of the unlock detection switch 28 changes to a low level as shown in FIG.
[0048]
The control unit outputs a warning signal when the output of the unlock detection switch 28 changes to low level during the access operation of the IC card 3, and emits a warning sound with a buzzer (not shown) built in the card terminal 1. A warning is displayed on the display 6 (see FIG. 2) saying "IC card is being used and card ejection is prohibited!". However, even in this state, power supply to the IC card 3 is continued.
[0049]
This warning display may be performed only when the IC card is being processed. In this case, the control program may be configured to display a warning only when lock release is detected in a state where a predetermined response is not returned from the IC card 3 after a command is input to the IC card.
[0050]
Since the buzzer emits a warning sound and a warning is displayed on the display unit 6 in this manner, the operator usually notices an erroneous operation and stops the operation of the discharge lever 4. Then, when the finger is released from the lock release button 5, the output of the lock release detection switch 28 returns to the high level, so that the buzzer and the warning by the display unit 6 are stopped.
[0051]
However, if the ejection lever 4 is slid toward the user following the pressing of the lock release button 5 due to some mistake or the like, the output of the card detection switch 27 changes from high level to low level as shown in FIG. . The power-off sequence is executed with this level change as a trigger.
[0052]
That is, the control circuit of the card terminal outputs a reset signal to the IC card, resetting is performed thereafter, the I / O terminal is set to a high impedance state, supply of the clock signal is stopped, and finally supply of the voltage Vcc is stopped. I do. Such a power-off sequence is a program sequence that is completed within 300 μs in this embodiment after the output of the card detection switch 27 changes to a low level. Executing the power-off sequence before ejecting the card in this manner can prevent the memory inside the card or the microcomputer from being destroyed.
[0053]
FIG. 11 is a frequency distribution diagram when the time from when the card detection switch 27 goes low to when the contact spring group 29 of the card terminal 1 separates from the terminal portion 32 of the IC card 3 is measured 150 times.
[0054]
As is apparent from this figure, it takes 1 ms or more for the contact spring group 29 to separate from the terminal portion 32 of the IC card 3, and after the power-off sequence (set within 300 μs in this embodiment) is completed. 29 has been confirmed to be separated from the terminal portion 32 of the IC card 3. The moving distance of the IC card from the state where the discharge start is detected to the state where the conduction is disabled is 0.75 mm.
[0055]
FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a first modified example of the present invention. In this figure, the lock release button 5 and the lock release detection switch 28 are omitted to avoid complication of the drawing.
[0056]
As shown in the drawing, in this example, a lever detection switch 33 composed of, for example, a micro switch or the like for detecting the movement of the discharge lever 4 is provided near the discharge lever 4. A gap 34 is provided between the tip of the IC card 3 mounted at a predetermined position and the ejection lever 4, and the gap 34 serves as a play stroke 35 of the ejection lever 4. A stroke 36 is provided.
[0057]
Therefore, when the ejection lever 4 is moved in the ejection direction, first, the lever detection switch 33 detects the movement of the ejection lever 4 at the stage of play of the ejection lever 4, and a power-off sequence is executed based on this detection signal. It is configured to be. When the discharge lever 4 passes through the gap 34 and comes into contact with the tip of the IC card 3, the discharge lever 36 enters the discharge stroke 36, discharges the IC card 3, and the discharge operation is detected by the card detection switch 27. Therefore, the card detection switch 27 detects only the presence or absence of the IC card 3 and does not use it as a trigger for executing a power-off sequence.
[0058]
Since many components are used in the card ejection mechanism, the movement of the ejection lever 4 can be reliably detected by providing the play stroke 35 as described above.
[0059]
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a second modification of the present invention. In this example, a card detection terminal 38 is provided at a predetermined interval upstream of the contact terminal 37 in the IC card ejection direction.
[0060]
FIG. 3A shows a state in which the IC card 3 is mounted at a predetermined position. The contact terminal 37 and the card detection terminal 38 are in contact with the same terminal portion 32 on the IC card 3. Therefore, it can be detected that the IC card 3 is mounted by detecting the energized state of the card detection terminal 38 and the contact terminal 37.
[0061]
FIG. 4B shows a state in which the IC card 3 is being ejected. When the IC card 3 is ejected in the direction of the arrow, the contact terminals 37 maintain the electrical contact with the terminal portions 32 on the card, and It starts to slide on the terminal portion 32. First, the card detection terminal 38 comes off the terminal portion 32, and at that stage, the conduction between the card detection terminal 38 and the contact terminal 37 is lost. By detecting this change, the discharge start of the IC card 3 can be detected, and the power-off sequence is executed until the contact terminal 37 comes off the terminal portion 32.
[0062]
In the above description, an embodiment of an electronic device using an IC card has been described. However, the present invention is similarly applicable to an electronic device using a memory card and an electronic device into which a modem card can be inserted.
[0063]
In the above embodiment, the description has been made mainly of the contact-type information recording medium. However, the present invention is also applicable to the case where power is supplied and signals are transmitted and received by an electromagnetic coupling method using an electromagnetic coil for a terminal portion.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is configured as described above, and executes the power-off sequence after directly detecting the actual discharge start of the information storage medium by the discharge start detecting means. The used information processing system can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an IC card is being inserted into a portable IC card terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable IC card terminal showing a state where insertion of the IC card is completed.
FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the card terminal.
FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing a contact state between a contact spring group and a terminal portion.
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged plan view of the card terminal showing a state in which an IC card is being inserted.
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged plan view of the card terminal showing a state in which the IC card is being discharged.
FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged plan view of the card terminal showing a state in which the IC card is being discharged.
FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged plan view of the card terminal showing a state in which the IC card is being discharged.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a card terminal.
FIG. 10 is a timing chart of each unit.
FIG. 11 is a frequency distribution diagram in which the time from when the card ejection is detected until the contact spring group separates from the terminal portion of the IC card is measured.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a first modified example of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a second modified example of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: portable IC card terminal, 3: IC card, 4: eject lever, 5: lock release button, 8: side wall, 10: finger pad, 11: engagement recess, 17: slide guide piece, 18: guide groove , 19: pressing portion, 20: pressing preventing protrusion, 21: concave portion, 22: claw portion, 27: card detection switch, 28: lock release detection switch, 29: contact spring group, 30: fingertip, 31: finger pad , 32: terminal section, 33: lever detection switch, 37: contact terminal, 38: card detection terminal, 66: ROM, 67: RAM, 68: MPU, 70: LCD control section, 73: power supply control section.

Claims (7)

Control means for controlling the electronic device;
A terminal for performing communication of various signals between a terminal of an information storage medium detachably mounted on the electronic device under the control of the control unit,
Discharging start detecting means for detecting the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharging direction,
The electronic device, wherein the control unit executes a power-off sequence within a set time after the discharge start detecting unit detects a start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharge direction. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the power-off sequence includes a process of outputting a reset signal to the information storage medium. Control means for controlling the electronic device;
A terminal for performing communication of various signals between a terminal of an information storage medium detachably mounted on the electronic device under the control of the control unit,
Discharging start detecting means for detecting the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharging direction,
The control unit outputs a reset signal, a clock signal stop process, and a voltage stop process to the information storage medium within 300 μs after the discharge start detection unit detects the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharge direction. An electronic device characterized by performing: Control means for controlling the electronic device;
A terminal for performing communication of various signals between a terminal of an information storage medium detachably mounted on the electronic device under the control of the control unit,
Discharging start detecting means for detecting the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharging direction,
After the discharge start detecting means detects the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharge direction, the control means outputs a reset signal to the information storage medium until the terminal of the electronic device is separated from the terminal of the information storage medium. And a clock signal stop processing and a voltage supply stop processing. An information storage medium having a terminal detachably mounted on the electronic device and communicating with the electronic device;
A control unit for controlling the electronic device, a terminal for performing communication of various signals between the terminal of the information storage medium under the control of the control unit, and detecting start of movement of the information storage medium in a discharge direction. An information processing system including an electronic device having discharge start detection means,
An information processing system, wherein the control unit executes a power-off sequence within a set time after the discharge start detection unit detects the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharge direction. An information storage medium having a terminal detachably mounted on the electronic device and communicating with the electronic device;
A control unit for controlling the electronic device, a terminal for performing communication of various signals between the terminal of the information storage medium under the control of the control unit, and detecting start of movement of the information storage medium in a discharge direction. An information processing system including an electronic device having discharge start detection means,
After detecting the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharge direction by the discharge start detection means, the control means executes a reset signal output processing, a clock signal stop processing, and a voltage supply stop processing for the information storage medium within 300 μs. An information processing system characterized by executing. An information storage medium having a terminal detachably mounted on the electronic device and communicating with the electronic device;
A control unit for controlling the electronic device, a terminal for performing communication of various signals between the terminal of the information storage medium under the control of the control unit, and detecting start of movement of the information storage medium in a discharge direction. An information processing system including an electronic device having discharge start detection means,
After the discharge start detecting means detects the start of movement of the information storage medium in the discharge direction, the control means outputs the reset signal to the information storage medium and outputs the clock until the terminal of the electronic device is separated from the terminal of the information storage medium. An information processing system for performing a signal stop process and a voltage supply stop process.

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