JP2006294260A - Plug connector and plug connection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plug connector preventing a connection plug such as a USB memory, which is connected to an electric apparatus such as an audio player, from coming off by easy operation and preventing damage of data due to disconnection of the connection plug during transmission/receipt of the data. <P>SOLUTION: A recess part 204 is arranged in the USB memory 2 formed into a rectangular parallelepiped substantially, and a USB terminal 3 supported rotationally is exposed, while an engaged part 102 formed of an opening part 104 to be engaged in the recess part 204 is arranged in the audio player 1. When the USB memory 2 inserted into the USB terminal 3 is turned by a predetermined angle, the USB memory 2 is locked in the audio player 1. A locking detection means, which transmits a locking completion signal at the same time when locking is finished, and an I/O control means performing control to allow input/output of a signal via the USB terminal 3 based on the locking completion signal are arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection device and a plug connection method for connecting a connection plug to a terminal provided in an electronic device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement in a connection portion between a terminal and a connection plug, and a signal transmitted through the terminal. Regarding control.

Conventionally, as a terminal provided in an electronic apparatus such as a personal computer, a printer, or an external storage device, for example, there is a USB terminal.
This USB terminal is connected to a cable equipped with a USB plug, a portable memory equipped with a USB plug, etc., but the conventional connection structure exposes the USB terminal from an opening provided in the casing of the electronic device. Thus, an electrical and mechanical connection is made by inserting a USB plug into the USB terminal so that the exposed USB terminal is covered.

  As an electronic device adopting the above-described connection structure, for example, there is this USB audio player. This USB audio player is provided with a USB terminal on the main body of the USB audio player, selects and reads music data in the USB memory, and performs mutual recording of the connected USB memory (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Utility Model Registration No. 3106234 (first page, FIG. 1)

  However, the conventional plug connection structure is simple plugging / unplugging because of its convenience. However, in the USB terminal that handles digital signals as described above, the USB plug is disconnected from the USB terminal during data transmission / reception. If this happens, there is a possibility that the data being transmitted / received may be damaged.

  In addition, in the above-described small and lightweight electronic devices with excellent portability such as USB audio players, if the USB device is accidentally dropped during data transmission / reception, the USB plug may come off or the USB plug or USB terminal may be damaged. There was a case.

  Even if some means for preventing plug disconnection is taken, it is assumed that the user himself may accidentally remove the plug during data transmission / reception, and some data protection is required.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a plug connection device and a plug connection method capable of solving the above-described problems.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the plug connecting device and the plug connecting method according to the present invention employ the following technical means.
That is, the plug connection device according to claim 1 is a plug connection structure in which a connection plug is detachably engaged with a terminal provided in an electronic device, and the connection plug inserted into the terminal is connected to a required angle. A lock mechanism is provided that is rotated to engage the connection plug with the electronic device.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the plug connecting device according to the first aspect, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking portion provided in the connection plug, a terminal provided in the electronic device, and the terminal being exposed. It is provided with the to-be-latched part fitted, and the terminal support part which is provided in the said electronic device and supports the said terminal so that rotation is possible.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the plug connecting device according to the second aspect, wherein the connection plug is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the locking portion is provided to face both side surfaces on the short side of the connection plug. The locking portion is configured to allow the locking portion to be loosely inserted when the connection plug is inserted into the terminal and to be fitted in the recess. It is formed with a required thickness that can be combined, and includes an opening having a required thickness that fits into the recess when the locking portion is rotated by a required angle.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the plug connecting device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the terminal support portion is provided so as to protrude from the rotating plate that holds the terminal and the electronic device, and rotates the rotating plate. It is characterized by comprising a rotating plate holding part to be supported.
A plug connection device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the plug connection device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the lock is transmitted at the same time as the connection plug inserted into the terminal is rotated by a required angle to complete the lock. It is characterized by comprising a detecting means and an I / O control means for controlling a signal sent via the terminal so as to be input / output based on the lock completion signal.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the plug connection device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is characterized in that the connection plug is a USB plug and the terminal is a USB terminal.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the plug connecting device according to the sixth aspect, the USB plug is a USB memory including a memory.
The plug connection method according to claim 8 is a plug connection in which a locked portion is provided around a terminal provided in the electronic device, a locking portion is provided in the connection plug, and the connection plug is detachably engaged with the terminal. A method of engaging the connection plug with the electronic device by rotating the connection plug inserted into the terminal by a required angle, locking the locking portion with the locked portion; Features.
A plug connection method according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the plug connection method according to the eighth aspect, wherein the connection plug inserted into the terminal is rotated by a required angle to complete locking, and at the same time, a signal performed via the terminal can be input / output It is characterized by controlling to a proper state.

  According to the present invention, the connection plug is inserted into the terminal provided in the electronic device, and the lock mechanism for engaging the connection plug with the electronic device by rotating the required angle is provided. Pulling out the plug can be suppressed.

  Even if an external force (for example, in a direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction) is applied to the connection plug, the lock mechanism can support the connection plug and prevent damage to the contact portion between the connection plug and the terminal. .

  In addition, a lock detection means for transmitting a lock completion signal at the same time as the lock is completed is provided, and an I / I for controlling a signal to be input / output to be input / output based on the lock completion signal of the lock detection means. Since the O control means is provided, signal input / output can be performed in a state where the connection plug is always normally connected to the terminal.

  Even if the connection plug is disconnected from the terminal during signal input / output, the lock completion signal of the lock detection means is interrupted, so that the I / O control means determines that there is an abnormality and the signal can be input / output. Since the input / output is switched to the stopped state, the data can be prevented from being damaged.

  Next, an embodiment of a plug connection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The plug connection device according to the present embodiment is applied to an audio player (electronic device) and a USB memory (connection plug). In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an audio player, reference numeral 2 denotes a USB memory, and reference numeral 3 denotes a USB terminal.

  The audio player 1 is provided with an opening 104 in a part of a housing 101 and a USB terminal 3 disposed so as to be exposed from the opening 104. A USB memory 2 to be described later is connected to the USB terminal 3. , The music data recorded in the USB memory 2 is played back by the audio player 1, the music data is recorded in a recording device (not shown) provided in the audio player 1, and the audio player 1 The music data recorded in the internal recording device can be stored in the USB memory 2.

  Further, the USB memory 2 is provided with a recording device (not shown) housed in a case portion 201 formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and protrudes from the case portion 201 and is electrically connected to the recording device and is connected to the USB memory 2. And a connecting portion 202 which is inserted into the terminal 3 and electrically connected thereto.

  The plug connecting device, which is a main part of the present invention, includes a locking portion 203 provided in the USB memory 2, a locked portion 102 provided in the audio player 1, and a terminal support portion 103 provided in the audio player 1. And a lock detection means and an I / O control means. The locking portion 203, the locked portion 102, and the terminal support portion 103 constitute a lock mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 1, the locking portion 203 is formed so as to face the connection side end short side both side surfaces of the case portion 201 constituting the USB memory 2 so as to communicate with the long side both side surfaces. The concave portion 204 is formed. The groove width of the concave portion 204 is a required width for sandwiching the locked portion 102 to be described later. As shown in FIG. 5, the concave portion 204 has concentric circular arc portions 205 at the upper left portion and the lower right portion of the drawing. Is formed.
In this embodiment, the concave portion 204 is formed in the case portion 201, but it may be formed on the base side of the connecting portion 202 protruding from the case portion 201.

  The locked portion 102 includes an opening 104 provided to expose the USB terminal 3 in a part of the casing 101 of the audio player 1. That is, the locked portion 102 is formed in a substantially cross hole shape in front view that is slightly larger than the case portion 201 constituting the USB memory 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the locked portion 102 is formed so that the edge portion 105 of the opening portion 104 protrudes away from the USB terminal 3, and the upper and lower edges are held so that the recess portion 204 can be sandwiched. The part 105 is stepped and formed in a narrow shape.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper and lower central portions of the opening 104 are formed in a curved shape so as to guide the arc portion 205 formed in the upper left portion and the lower right portion of the concave portion 204, and serve as a stopper 106. It is formed in a concave shape in which a part is formed. That is, when the concave portion 204 provided in the USB memory 2 is engaged with the edge portion 105 of the opening 104 and the USB memory 2 is rotated, the parallel portion of the concave portion 204 provided in the USB memory 2 is Abutting on a stopper 106 formed in the central portion, the rotation of the USB memory 2 is restricted to approximately 90 degrees.

The terminal support unit 103 includes a rotating plate holding unit 107 and a rotating plate 108.
The rotating plate holding part 107 is fixed to the inside of the housing 101 of the audio player 1 and the rib 109 that is projected in a ring shape with a required height around the opening 104 inside the housing 101 of the audio player 1. And a bracket 110 consisting of a base that is mounted around the rib 109 and a tip that protrudes from the rib 109 and is formed in an approximately L shape toward the inside. A space for holding the rotating plate 108 is defined by the portion.

  The rotating plate 108 is an annular member in which the USB terminal 3 fixed to the substrate 301 is fitted in the central portion, and a peripheral portion 111 formed to protrude inward is a space of the rotating plate holding portion 107. It is engaged with the part and is supported rotatably. A dog 112 that pushes a contact of a limit switch, which will be described later, protrudes from the back surface of the rotating plate 108.

The lock detection unit includes a sensor 113 including a limit switch fixed to the inside of the housing 101 of the audio player 1 and the upper right portion of the opening 104, and a USB memory in which the connection unit 202 is inserted into the USB terminal 3. 2 is rotated until it comes into contact with the stopper 106 (almost 90 degrees) to complete locking, and at the same time, the sensor 113 detects the changed orientation of the USB terminal 3 and sends a lock completion signal to the I / O control means described later. It is supposed to be.
Note that a non-contact type sensor such as a photoelectric sensor may be used instead of the contact type limit switch.

  The I / O control means (not shown) includes a control unit that controls a signal sent via the USB terminal 3 to be in an input / output enabled state based on a lock completion signal from the lock detection means. Is formed on an electronic circuit board inside the audio player 1. In other words, the I / O control means controls the signal sent via the USB terminal 3 to be in an input / output enabled state in conjunction with the ON state and the OFF state of the lock completion signal of the lock detecting means. Signals are input / output while the memory 2 is always normally connected to the USB terminal 3.

  Next, a connection procedure of the USB memory 2 in the plug connection device according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  First, the connection part 202 of the USB memory 2 is pushed straight into the USB terminal 3 exposed in the opening 104 to connect the connection part 202 of the USB memory 2 and the USB terminal 3 electrically and mechanically. If the connection is normally performed at this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal position of the edge portion 105 of the opening 104 and the horizontal position of the recess 204 formed in the case portion 201 of the USB memory 2. Is in a state that matches.

  When the connection part 202 of the USB memory 2 and the USB terminal 3 are normally connected, the USB memory 2 is rotated clockwise. At this time, the USB terminal 3 supported by the rotating plate 108 is guided by the rotating plate holding unit 107 and rotates together with the USB memory 2, and at the top and bottom of the opening 104 formed in a narrow step. The edge portion 105 and the recess portion 204 formed in the case portion 201 of the USB memory 2 are engaged with each other.

  In this engaged state, the USB memory 2 is rotated clockwise until the parallel portion of the concave portion 204 of the USB memory 2 contacts the stopper 106 (approximately 90 degrees).

When the rotation is completed, at the same time, the dog 112 provided on the back surface of the rotation plate 108 pushes the contact of the sensor 113 formed of a limit switch and transmits a lock completion signal to the I / O control means.
The I / O control means that has received the lock completion signal controls the signal sent via the USB terminal 3 so that it can be input / output. At this time, it is extremely preferable to provide an LED light emitting unit for notifying the completion of the lock in the vicinity of the opening 104.

  In this way, when the signal sent via the USB terminal 3 is ready for input / output, the music data recorded in the USB memory 2 is played back on the audio player 1 side or provided in the audio player 1. Music data can be recorded in the recording device, and music data recorded in the recording device in the audio player 1 can be stored in the USB memory 2.

  Even if the user accidentally or intentionally removes the USB memory 2 from the USB terminal 3 during input / output of music data, the lock completion signal of the lock detection means is turned off, so that the I / O The control means determines that there is an abnormality, and switches to a state where input / output of music data to / from the USB memory 2 is stopped.

  Even if an external force that bends the USB memory 2 is applied, the locking mechanism mechanically supports the USB memory 2, so that the contact portion between the connection portion 202 of the USB memory 2 and the USB terminal 3 is damaged. Is to prevent.

  As described above, the plug connection device according to the present embodiment inserts the connection portion 202 of the USB memory 2 into the USB terminal 3 provided in the audio player 1 and rotates it approximately 90 degrees to connect the USB to the audio player 1. Since the lock mechanism for engaging the memory 2 is provided, it is possible to prevent the connection plug from being pulled out with a simple operation.

In this embodiment, the USB memory 2 is exemplified as the connection plug and the USB terminal 3 is exemplified as the terminal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various connection plugs and terminals through which signals are exchanged. .
Alternatively, the USB memory 2 inserted into the USB terminal 3 may be locked by rotating the required angle. In this case, a signal to be input / output via the USB terminal 3 can be input / output at the same time as the locking is completed. It is preferable to control to a proper state.

  As mentioned above, although the plug connection apparatus concerning this Embodiment was demonstrated, embodiment mentioned above shows an example of suitable embodiment of this invention, and this invention is not limited to it, Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the audio player and USB memory to which the plug connection apparatus concerning this Embodiment is applied. It is a front view around a USB terminal. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the AA line in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal front view taken along line DD in FIG. 3. It is a perspective view around the USB terminal in a state where the USB memory is rotated and locked. It is a front view around the USB terminal in a locked state. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along CC line in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the EE line | wire in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Audio player 101 Case 102 Locked part 103 Terminal support part 104 Opening part 105 Edge part 106 Stopper 107 Rotation board holding part 108 Rotation board 109 Rib 110 Bracket 111 Peripheral part 112 Dog 113 Sensor 2 USB memory 201 Case part 202 Connection part 203 Locking part 204 Concave part 205 Arc part 3 USB terminal 301 Board

Claims (9)

A plug connection structure in which a connection plug is detachably engaged with a terminal provided in an electronic device,
A plug connection device comprising: a lock mechanism for rotating the connection plug inserted into the terminal by a required angle to engage the connection plug with the electronic device. The locking mechanism is
A locking portion provided on the connection plug;
A locked portion that is provided in the electronic device and exposes the terminal and is engaged with the locking portion;
The plug connection device according to claim 1, further comprising: a terminal support portion that is provided in the electronic device and rotatably supports the terminal. The connection plug is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape,
The locking portion is formed of a recess provided opposite to both side surfaces on the short side of the connection plug and communicated with both side surfaces on the long side.
The locked portion is formed with a required thickness so that the locking portion can be loosely inserted when the connection plug is inserted into the terminal and can be fitted into the recess. 3. The plug connecting device according to claim 2, further comprising an opening having a required thickness that is fitted into the recess when the stop is rotated by a required angle. The terminal support portion includes a rotating plate that holds the terminal;
The plug connection device according to claim 2, further comprising a rotating plate holding portion that protrudes from the electronic device and supports the rotating plate so as to be rotatable. Lock detecting means for transmitting a lock completion signal at the same time as the lock is completed by rotating the connection plug inserted into the terminal by a required angle; and
5. An I / O control unit that controls a signal transmitted through the terminal so as to be input / output based on the lock completion signal. Plug connection device.   The plug connection device according to claim 1, wherein the connection plug is a USB plug, and the terminal is a USB terminal.   The plug connection device according to claim 6, wherein the USB plug is a USB memory including a memory. A plug connection method in which a locked portion is provided around a terminal provided in an electronic device, a locking portion is provided in a connection plug, and the connection plug is detachably engaged with the terminal.
A plug connection characterized in that the connection plug inserted into the terminal is rotated by a required angle, the engagement portion is engaged with the engaged portion, and the connection plug is engaged with the electronic device. Method.   9. The plug according to claim 8, wherein the connection plug inserted into the terminal is rotated by a required angle to complete locking, and at the same time, a signal transmitted via the terminal is controlled to be input / output. Connection method.

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