JP2004206183A - Storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hard disk compatible storage device that uses a semiconductor memory card. <P>SOLUTION: The storage device comprises a casing having the same form as the hard disk; a printed circuit board; a surface-mounted external connector secured to an end of the printed circuit board and having the same form as a standard hard disk exposed to a side of the casing; a surface-mounted memory card connector secured to the inside of the center of the printed circuit board and connected to the external connector by the printed circuit board via a predetermined pattern of connection; and a nonvolatile memory card attached to the memory card connector and having a hard disk compatibile interface function. The storage device is usable for any electronic device that transfers data via a hard disk interface, and is inexpensive and shock-resistant. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a storage device, and more particularly to a hard disk compatible storage device using a semiconductor memory card.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hard disk device has been used as a storage device of a personal computer or an electronic device, and interfaces such as a connector shape and a signal type such as EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Dorive Electronics) have been standardized. In some electronic devices, when updating data or a program, a hard disk in which new data or a program is stored is attached to the electronic device to perform the update.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The hard disk drive has a large capacity but is expensive and has a problem of being vulnerable to impact. In recent years, nonvolatile memory cards using flash memories have become widespread. This memory card has a small capacity but is inexpensive, and is resistant to impact, so that it is suitable for carrying. However, there is a problem that only an interface for a hard disk is provided and cannot be used for a device without an interface for a memory card.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a hard disk compatible storage device using a semiconductor memory card.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The storage device of the present invention includes a housing having the same shape as a hard disk, a printed board mounted so as to cover one surface of the housing, and an end portion of the printed board fixed to a side surface of the housing. A surface-mounted external connector having the same shape as the exposed standard hard disk, and a surface-mounted external connector fixed to the inside of the center of the printed circuit board and connected in a predetermined connection pattern by the external connector and the printed circuit board. It is characterized by comprising a memory card connector and a non-volatile memory card having a hard disk compatible interface function, which is mounted on the memory card connector.
[0006]
According to the present invention, it can be used for an electronic device that moves data via a standard hard disk interface, and is inexpensive and resistant to impact.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the storage device of the present invention. In the embodiment, a compact flash (registered trademark) card (hereinafter referred to as a CF card) 11, which is one of the standards of a nonvolatile memory card using a flash memory, is used.
[0008]
A known CF card 11 includes a flash memory 12 and a controller 13. The CF card 11 has a unique physical shape such as a connector. However, the CF card 11 is electrically controlled by a built-in controller 13, and is connected to an EIDE (ATA, ATAPI) which is an interface of a standard hard disk device in a personal computer or the like. An interface having the same function is provided.
[0009]
The storage device of the present invention uses a package (housing) 10 having the same external shape as a standard 2.5-inch hard disk device, and has a 44-pin connector 14 conforming to a standard IDE interface. . A CF card 11 is built in, and a connector terminal of the CF card and a terminal of an external interface connector 14 are connected by a predetermined connection pattern 15.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is a plan view and a side view showing the configuration of the storage device of the present invention. The shape of the package 10 is the same as that of a standard 2.5-inch hard disk drive, and the connector has a 44-pin connector 14 conforming to a standard IDE interface. The connector 14 also includes a master / slave designation pin. A printed board 20 is fixed to the open surface of the package 10 by screws 21.
[0011]
FIG. 3 is a plan view and a side view showing the configuration of the printed circuit board 20 of the storage device of the present invention. On the printed circuit board 20, a connector 14 for the IDE interface and a connector 22 for the CF card 11 are mounted. These connectors are surface mount connectors. The CF card 11 is mounted on the connector 22. In the area 23 of the printed circuit board 20, the two connectors 14 and 22 are connected by a predetermined print connection pattern.
[0012]
FIG. 4 is a table showing a connection configuration of the storage device of the present invention. The connector specification of the CF card and the connector specification of the EIDE are both publicly known, and the connection method between them is also publicly known.
[0013]
When the CF card 11 is mounted on the connector 22 and the printed circuit board 20 is fixed to the package (housing) 10, the edge of the CF card 11 opposite to the connector of the CF card 11 is inside the package (housing) 10. The CF card connector 22 is arranged so as to be located within a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is a distance at which connection and operation can be maintained even if the CF card is removed from the connector 22 by this distance. Thus, it is possible to prevent the CF card 11 from coming out of the connector 22 in the package and becoming inoperable due to vibration or the like.
When changing the capacity or using a CF card in which data is written in advance, the CF card 11 can be replaced by removing the substrate 20.
[0014]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed above, the present invention may have the following modifications. In the embodiment, the example in which the CF card is used has been disclosed. However, any nonvolatile memory card having a hard disk compatible interface can be used. Also, an example in which the device side interface is EIDE is disclosed, but this can be applied to any known interface as long as there is a nonvolatile memory card having a compatible interface.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the storage device of the present invention can be used for any electronic device having a hard disk interface, and is inexpensive and resistant to shocks. In this case, there is an effect that the handling is easy and the number of failures is reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a storage device of the present invention.
2A and 2B are a plan view and a side view illustrating a configuration of a storage device of the present invention.
3A and 3B are a plan view and a side view illustrating a configuration of a substrate of a storage device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a table showing a connection configuration of the storage device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Package, 11 ... CF card, 12 ... Flash memory, 13 ... Controller, 14 ... External connector, 15 ... Connection pattern, 20 ... Printed circuit board, 21 ... Screw, 22 ... Card connector

Claims (2)

A housing of the same shape as the hard disk,
A printed circuit board mounted so as to cover one surface of the housing;
A surface-mounted external connector fixed to an end of the printed circuit board and having the same shape as a standard hard disk exposed on the side surface of the housing;
A surface-mounted memory card connector fixed to the inside of the central portion of the printed circuit board and connected by a predetermined connection pattern by the external connector and the printed circuit board;
And a non-volatile memory card having a hard disk compatible interface function mounted on the memory card connector. The surface-mounted nonvolatile memory card connector is arranged so that an edge of the memory card opposite to the connector is located within a predetermined distance from the inside of the housing. 2. The storage device according to 1.

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