JP2005268123A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electronic equipment wherein a switch and a female connector are arranged to surely prevent occurrence of a wrong operation. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic equipment is provided with a female connector member in which a male connector member which is a counterpart is inserted and the switch arranged in a position which is a deep part of an insertion direction of the male connector member and which does not contact an insertion tip part of the male connector member when the male connector member is inserted. Thereby, the switch is never pushed when the male connector member is inserted in the female connector member. Therefore, while the male connector member is inserted in the female connector member, the wrong operation of the switch can be surely prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an arrangement of a switch and a female connector, and particularly relates to an electronic apparatus using a switch that is required to prevent an erroneous operation in a normal operation, such as a reset switch and a call switch for a program that is used less frequently.

  Currently, many portable electronic devices are manufactured and widely used by users. In recent portable electronic devices, devices such as a configuration with few operation keys and a configuration with a built-in battery are implemented in order to realize miniaturization, and the entire device is controlled by a microcomputer. For this reason, in addition to operation keys that are directly related to operations such as reproduction, a reset switch is required for initializing settings in the electronic device when the microcomputer malfunctions.

  Such an arrangement of the reset switch requires a configuration that is not accidentally pressed by a normal operation of the user. For example, a configuration in which the reset switch is arranged on the back side of the main body, a configuration in which the reset switch is miniaturized as much as possible, and a dent Easy to push, such as a configuration in which a small reset switch is placed at the tip of the panel and the reset switch is pushed with a thin stick, a configuration in which the reset switch is placed inside the accidental operation prevention lid, and a configuration in which the reset switch is placed inside the hidden panel No configuration is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3). Similarly to the reset switch above, the call switch for the infrequently used program, the switch for calling the initial setting menu, the start switch for the self-diagnostic program at the time of failure, or the start switch for the service program used by the service person at the time of repair In addition, a configuration is required so that it is not accidentally pressed by a normal operation of the user.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-38132 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-433 JP 2002-244878 A

  By the way, the reset switch should not be operated during the operation of the portable electronic device. However, in the conventional technology described above, it is possible that the reset switch may be pressed during music playback even during operation of the portable electronic device, for example, in a portable audio player.

  Some recent portable electronic devices use a hard disk or a semiconductor memory as a data storage medium. For example, there is a portable music playback device including a so-called hard disk (magnetic disk) storage device that records a plurality of music information. In these portable electronic devices, there is a problem that if the reset switch is inadvertently pressed during the operation of the portable electronic device, the main body breaks down or data is lost. Therefore, in such a portable electronic device, a mechanism for more reliably preventing an erroneous operation of the reset switch is required. However, the conventional technology has not realized a switch that reliably prevents the reset switch from being inadvertently pressed during the operation of the portable electronic device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an electronic device in which a switch and a female connector are arranged so as to reliably prevent an erroneous operation.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a female connector member into which a pair of male connector members are inserted, and a back portion in the insertion direction of the male connector member, and when the male connector member is inserted, And a switch disposed at a position not in contact with the insertion tip of the male connector member.

  Embodiments of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following description, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for schematically explaining the arrangement of a switch and a female connector member, which is a characteristic configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. In the electronic device according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the switch 1 is further axially extended from the innermost end surface 12a of the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12 embedded in the outer surface 10 of the main body of the electronic device. It is arranged at a separated position. That is, the switch 1 is disposed outside the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12 and further in the back. The central axis of the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12 and the central axis in the pressing direction of the switch 1 are substantially coaxial. Note that the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12 is not closed, and is configured to penetrate to the switch 1 side. FIG. 1 illustrates the case where the female connector member 12 and the switch 1 are viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the female connector member 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a male connector member 20 that fits into the female connector member 12 is inserted into the female connector member 12 for use. For example, a plurality of terminals are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12 and the outer peripheral surface of the male connector member 20, and the male connector member 20 is inserted into and fitted into the female connector member 12. In this case, each terminal contacts and is electrically connected. As an example, a terminal L12, a terminal R12, a ground terminal GND12, and the like are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the male connector member 20 is provided with a terminal L20, a terminal R20, a terminal GND20, etc. at positions corresponding to the terminal L12, the terminal R12, and the ground terminal GND12 as shown in FIG. These terminals are in contact and electrically connected. In FIG. 2, the terminal L12, the terminal R12, and the terminal GND12 on the female connector member 12 side are not shown.

  Here, the switch 1 includes a pressing portion 2 that can be pressed in the depth direction in the axial direction of the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12. When the pressing unit 2 is pressed, a predetermined operation is performed in the electronic device. However, in the present invention, when the male connector member 20 is inserted and fitted into the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12, the switch 20 has the tip 20 a of the male connector member 20 of the switch 1. It arrange | positions in the position which does not contact the press part 2. FIG. That is, the distance from the outer end face of the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12 to the surface of the pressing portion 2 of the switch 1, that is, the distance from the outer surface 10 of the main body of the electronic device to the surface of the pressing portion 2 of the switch is When the mold connector member 20 is inserted, the distal end portion 20a of the male connector member 20 cannot be pushed by the pressing portion 2 of the switch 1.

  Therefore, even if the user inserts the male connector member 20 into the female connector member 12 for normal operation, the distal end portion 20a of the male connector member 20 does not reach the pressing portion 2 of the switch 1. 1 is not pushed by insertion of the male connector member 20. And in order to push this switch, as shown in FIG. 3, it has the length more than the length of the male connector member 20, and the end surface of the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12, ie, the outer surface of the main body of an electronic device It is necessary to insert a switch pressing member 24 having a length that can reach the surface of the pressing portion 2 of the switch 1 from the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12. Here, as described above, since the central axis of the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12 and the central axis in the pressing direction of the switch 1 are substantially coaxial, the pressing portion of the switch 1 from the outer surface 10 of the main body of the electronic device. When the switch pressing member 24 or the like having a length that can reach the surface 2 is inserted, the switch 1 can be reliably pressed. As long as the switch pressing member 24 has a necessary length and can pass through the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12, any material and shape may be used, for example, a toothpick.

  Thus, the switch 1 is never pushed when the male connector member 20 is inserted into the female connector member 12. Therefore, the erroneous operation of the switch 1 can be reliably prevented while the male connector member 20 is inserted into the female connector member 12.

  Such a switch 1 is suitable for use as, for example, a reset switch for initializing settings of a microcomputer when a microcomputer that controls the entire electronic device malfunctions. The reset switch should not operate while the electronic device is operating. However, a configuration in which the reset switch is arranged on the back side of the main body as in the past, a configuration in which the reset switch is miniaturized as much as possible, a configuration in which a small reset switch is arranged at the tip of the recess and the reset switch is pushed with a thin rod, In the configuration in which the reset switch is arranged inside, the configuration in which the reset switch is arranged in the hidden panel, etc., there is a possibility that the reset switch is pushed by mistake.

  However, when this switch 1 is used as a reset switch, the reset switch (switch 1) can never be pushed when the male connector member 20 is inserted into the female connector member 12. In order to push the reset switch (switch 1), after the male connector member 20 is removed from the female connector member 12, the switch pressing member 24 having the necessary length as described above is moved to the female connector member. It must be inserted into the 12 insertion holes 14. Therefore, while the male connector member 20 is inserted into the female connector member 12 and the electronic device is operated, the reset switch never operates and the setting of the microcomputer is not initialized. That is, when the switch 1 is used as a reset switch, erroneous operation of the reset switch during the operation of the electronic device is reliably prevented. Furthermore, since the reset switch is provided in the electronic device, there is no need to provide a button for pressing the reset switch outside the electronic device, and the electronic device can be downsized.

  For example, when this switch 1 is used as a reset switch of a stereo player that listens to music using headphones, the user is listening to music when the stereo player is in operation. When the stereo player is operating, that is, when the user is listening to music, a headphone plug is always inserted into the audio jack. That is, in this case, there is no danger of the reset switch being pressed during the operation of the stereo player.

  The switch 1 can also be used, for example, as a start switch for a self-diagnosis program at the time of failure or as a start switch for a service program used by a service person during repair. Also in this case, when the male connector member 20 is inserted into the female connector member 12, the service program start switch can never be pressed. In order to press the service program start switch (switch 1), the switch pressing member 24 having the necessary length as described above must be inserted into the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12. Therefore, while the male connector member 20 is inserted into the female connector member 12 and the electronic device is operated, the service program activation switch is never pressed, and the service program is not activated. That is, erroneous operation of the service program start switch during the operation of the electronic device is reliably prevented.

  In addition, the switch 1 can be assigned various functions such as a call switch for an initial setting menu and a call switch for a program that is not frequently used. In this case, a male connector member having an insertion portion long enough to press the switch 1 is prepared in advance together with a normally used male connector member, and the switch 1 is pushed by inserting this male connector member, It is also possible to adopt a configuration for performing the above operations.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the switch 1 may be configured to be disposed at the innermost portion in the insertion hole 18 of the female connector member 16 embedded in the outer surface 10 of the main body of the electronic device. . That is, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the switch 1 is arranged outside the insertion hole 14 of the female connector member 12. However, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the switch 1 is inserted in the insertion hole 18 of the female connector member 16. It is the structure arrange | positioned inside.

  The female connector member 16 is used by inserting a male connector member 26 to be fitted into the female connector member 16 as shown in FIG. In this case as well, even if the user inserts the male connector member 26 into the female connector member 16 for normal operation, the distal end portion 26a of the male connector member 26 does not reach the pressing portion 2 of the switch 1. The switch 1 is not pushed by the insertion of the male connector member 26. When this switch is pressed, the end of the insertion hole 18 of the female connector member 16, that is, the outer surface of the main body of the electronic device has a length equal to or longer than the length of the male connector member 26 as shown in FIG. A switch pressing member 30 having a length that can reach the surface of the pressing portion 2 of the switch 1 from 10 is inserted into the insertion hole 18 of the female connector member 16. Even in the case of such a configuration, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[Example]
Next, the present invention will be described in more detail based on specific examples. Hereinafter, a portable music player to which the present invention is applied will be described as an example with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a portable music playback apparatus 100 that is a music playback apparatus according to the present embodiment and is miniaturized for portable use. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the side of the portable music player 100. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of each functional unit of the portable music playback device 100. As shown in FIG. 7, the portable music player 100 includes a display unit 103 for displaying various types of information on the outer surface, an operation unit 102 for inputting functions such as playback / stop, and the like. The portable music player 100 also includes an audio jack 110 for inserting a headphone plug 120 on its side as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the portable music playback device 100 includes a CPU 101 as playback start means, reading means, and playback means, an operation unit 102 for inputting the contents of processing to be executed by the portable music playback device 100, A display unit 103 that displays various information such as song information, an output unit 104 that outputs headphones by connecting headphones, a hard disk storage device 105 as a disk storage unit, a semiconductor memory 106 as a solid storage unit, It is configured with.

  When a user listens to music with the portable music playback device 100, a headphone plug 120 fitted to the audio jack 110 is inserted into the audio jack 110 as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing a peripheral portion of the audio jack 110 in the portable music playback device 100. In FIG. 10, the peripheral portion of the audio jack 110 is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the audio jack 110. A plurality of terminals (not shown) are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the audio jack 110 and the outer peripheral surface of the headphone plug 120, and the respective terminals contact when the headphone plug 120 is inserted into and fitted to the audio jack 110. And electrically connected.

  In the portable music playback device 100, the CPU 101 that controls the portable music playback device 100 malfunctions at the innermost part of the audio jack 110 embedded in the side surface 100a of the portable music playback device 100 as shown in FIG. In this case, a reset switch 130 for initializing the setting of the CPU 101 is provided. The central axis of the insertion hole of the audio jack 110 and the central axis in the pressing direction of the reset switch 130 are substantially coaxial.

  The reset switch 130 includes a pressing portion 132 that can be pressed in the depth direction in the axial direction of the insertion hole of the audio jack 110. When the pressing unit 132 is pressed, the portable music playback device 100 performs a reset operation, that is, initialization of settings of the CPU 101. The reset switch 130 is connected to a reset IC 107 as shown in FIG. 11, for example, and a battery 108 is further connected to the tip of the reset switch 130. The reset switch 130 is connected to the reset terminal 101a of the CPU 101. The CPU 101 operates at a voltage of 3V, for example. When the voltage is normal, the signal input from the reset IC 107 to the reset terminal 101a of the CPU 101 is a negate (H), and the CPU 101 performs normal operation. On the other hand, the CPU 101 can be reset by changing the signal input from the reset IC 107 to the reset terminal 101a of the CPU 101 to assert (L).

  For example, if an electrically heterogeneous signal is input or if the voltage fluctuates greatly from 3V, the CPU 101 may malfunction. Forcibly reset the CPU 101 settings to initialize the CPU 101 normally. It can be operated. The signal input from the reset IC 107 to the reset terminal 101a of the CPU 101 is normally negated (H). However, when the reset switch 130 is turned on, the signal changes to asserted (L). Thereby, the signal input from the reset IC 107 to the reset terminal 101a of the CPU 101 is changed to assert (L), and the CPU 101 can be reset.

  However, the reset switch 130 should not operate during the operation of the portable music player 100. Therefore, in this portable music player 100, as shown in FIG. 10, when the headphone plug 120 is inserted into and fitted into the audio jack 110, the reset switch 130 is connected to the front end 120a of the headphone plug 120. It arrange | positions in the position which does not contact the press part 132 of this. That is, the distance from the external end surface of the audio jack 110 to the surface of the pressing portion 132 of the reset switch 130, that is, the distance from the side surface 100 a of the portable music playback device to the surface of the pressing portion 132 of the reset switch 130 is When the is inserted, the distal end portion 120a of the headphone plug 120 cannot reach the pressing portion 132 of the reset switch 130.

  Therefore, even if the user inserts the headphone plug 120 into the audio jack 110 for a normal music playback operation, the front end 120a of the headphone plug 120 does not reach the pressing portion 132 of the reset switch 130. It is not pushed by inserting the headphone plug 120. In order to press the reset switch 130, the headphone plug 120 has a length longer than the length of the headphone plug 120 as shown in FIG. 12, and from the external end face of the audio jack 110, that is, from the side face 100a of the portable music player. It is necessary to insert the switch pressing member 122 having a length that can reach the surface of the pressing portion 132 of the reset switch 130 into the audio jack 110. Here, as described above, since the central axis of the insertion hole of the audio jack 110 and the central axis in the pressing direction of the reset switch 130 are substantially coaxial, the pressing portion of the reset switch 130 from the side surface 100a of the portable music playback device. When the switch pressing member 122 having a length that can reach the surface 132 is inserted, the reset switch 130 can be reliably pressed.

  As a result, the reset switch 130 is never pressed when the headphone plug 120 is inserted into the audio jack 110. Therefore, there is an effect that erroneous operation of the reset switch 130 is reliably prevented while the headphone plug 120 is inserted into the audio jack 110, that is, while the user is playing music.

  Further, in this portable music playback device 100, by disposing the reset switch 130 at the innermost part of the audio jack 110, there is no need to provide a button for pressing the reset switch on the outer peripheral portion of the portable music playback device 100, and portable music playback device 100 is provided. There is also an effect that the reproduction apparatus 100 is downsized.

Next, the operation of the portable music player 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In the hard disk storage device 105, a large number of songs are stored so as to be mutually identifiable. Songs stored on these hard disk storage device 105, music signal S ₁₀₅ indicating the each song based on the control of the CPU101 is output to the CPU101 is read from the hard disk storage within 105.

On the other hand, in the operation unit 102, contents of processing to be executed by the music playback device 100 such as selection processing for extracting music to be played back from a large number of songs stored and stored in the hard disk storage device 105 are input. Then, an operation signal _S102 corresponding to the input content is output to the CPU 101.

In CPU 101, based on the contents included in the operation signal S _102, and transfers the semiconductor memory 106 tracks read from the hard disk storage 105 as music signal S ₁₀₅ as a music signal S _106, is the transfer The tune is read again from the semiconductor memory ₁₀₆ as the tune signal S ₁₀₆ , and is output to the output unit 104 as the output signal S ₁₀₄ .

Then, the output unit 104 outputs the music included in the output signal _S104 to the user of the portable music playback device 100. As an output mode at this time, for example, the output is made to a headphone or an earphone connected to the output unit 104 via an audio jack.

Further, when executing each process described above, CPU 101 is when there is information to be displayed on the display unit 103, and outputs to the display unit 103 generates a display signal S ₁₀₃ including the information, the display unit 103 receiving the display signal S _103, and display their desired information.

  In this portable music playback device 100, the music stored in the hard disk storage device 105 is played back by performing the operations as described above, and the user can enjoy the music.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the switch provided at the innermost part of the audio jack 110 is provided with a reset function has been described, but in addition to the reset function, a service program start switch, an initial setting menu call switch, and the like It is possible to assign various functions such as a call switch for a program that is used less frequently. In this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the reset switch 130 is provided in the innermost portion of the audio jack 110, that is, the configuration in which the reset switch 130 is disposed inside the audio jack 110 has been described. The reset switch 130 may be arranged outside.

  In the above description, the present invention has been described by taking a portable music player as an example. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and a female connector member is mounted and a corresponding male connector. All electronic devices used by inserting a member into the female connector member are targets. Examples of such electronic devices include mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras, PCs, CD-ROMs, stereo components, and the like.

  In addition, the female connector member in the present invention is not limited to the headphone jack, and any jack such as an RCA jack or a microphone jack is targeted, and any signal may be input and output. The size of the female connector member and the male connector member corresponding to the female connector member are not limited. Further, the shape of the female connector member may be circular, triangular, quadrangular, or any other shape.

It is a schematic diagram which illustrates roughly the arrangement | positioning of the switch and female connector member in the electronic device concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the state by which the male connector member was inserted and fitted by the female connector member. It is a figure which shows the state which inserts a switch press member in a female connector member. It is a figure which shows the structure by which the switch is arrange | positioned in the innermost part of the female connector member. It is a figure which shows the state by which the male connector member was inserted and fitted by the female connector member. It is a figure which shows the state which inserts a switch press member in a female connector member. It is a top view which shows a portable music player. It is a side view which shows the side of a portable music player. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of each function part of a portable music player. It is a figure which expands and shows the peripheral part of the audio jack in a portable music player. It is a figure which shows the connection structure of a reset switch. It is a figure which shows the state which inserts a switch press member in an audio jack.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Switch 2 Press part 12 Female connector member 12a End surface 14 Insertion hole 16 Female connector member 20 Male connector member 20a Tip part of male connector member 24 Switch pressing member 26 Male connector member 26a Tip part of male connector member 30 Switch pressing member

Claims (3)

A female connector member into which a pair of male connector members are inserted;
A switch disposed at a position that does not come into contact with the insertion tip of the male connector member when the male connector member is inserted at the back of the male connector member in the insertion direction;
An electronic device comprising:   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the male connector member is a plug member, and the female connector member is a jack member. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a central axis of the insertion port of the female connector member and a central axis in a pressing direction of the switch are substantially coaxial.

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