JP2007021033A - External apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external microphone apparatus which can be mounted to a small game machine smoothly. <P>SOLUTION: The small game machine is provided with a USB port and an engaging hole part 852 formed at a mounting surface 830. The external microphone apparatus is provided with a case body 200, a USB terminal part 300, and a fixing screw 400. The USB terminal part 300 and the fixing screw 400 are provided at the mounting surface 230 of the case body 200. The USB terminal part 300 and the fixing screw 400 are arranged at the mounting surface 230 respectively corresponding to the positions of the USB port and the engaging hole part 852. Moreover, the USB terminal part 300 is permitted to slide and move by a prescribed quantity in the in-plane direction of the mounting surface 230. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an external device. For example, the present invention relates to an external device that is detachably attached to a portable small game machine.

  As a portable information processing apparatus, for example, a portable small game machine is known. In such a small game machine, in order to improve portability and design, for example, functions such as a microphone, a camera, and character input are separately prepared as external hardware, and can be attached to and detached from the small game machine. (For example, Patent Document 1). An electrical connection is made by inserting a plug provided on one of the small game machine and the external hardware into a port provided on the other, and bidirectional transmission of signals and power is performed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-144040

However, for example, even if a small game machine is provided with a connection port and a plug is provided in the external hardware corresponding to the position of the connection port, the position of the connection port and the plug is shifted due to individual product differences. Often occurs.
In this way, when the connection positions of the connection port and the plug are shifted, if the plug is forcibly pushed into the connection port, a large stress is applied to the plug and the connection port, which is likely to cause a failure.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an external device that can be smoothly attached to a portable information processing device.

  The external device of the present invention is an external device that is externally attached to a portable information processing device having a connection port and an engagement hole on one side of the casing, and the external device is the portable information processing device. A case body having a mounting surface facing the one side surface of the casing when externally attached to the housing, a plug inserted into the connection port, and an engagement inserted into the engagement hole portion and engaged therewith. And the plug and the engaging means are disposed on the mounting surface corresponding to the positions of the connection port and the engaging hole, respectively, and the plug is in an in-plane direction of the mounting surface. A predetermined amount of slide movement is permitted in FIG.

  In such a configuration, the external device is attached to the portable information processing device so that the attachment surface is brought into contact with one side surface of the portable information processing device. At this time, the plug of the external device is inserted and connected to the connection port of the portable information processing device, and the engaging means of the external device is inserted into the engagement hole of the portable information processing device and engaged. Here, when the plug is inserted into the connection port, the plug slides in the in-plane direction of the mounting surface to a position where the plug can be smoothly inserted into the connection port without resistance. Then, the plug is inserted into the connection port, and the external device is attached and fixed to the portable information processing apparatus and electrically connected.

A connection port and an engagement hole are provided on one side surface of the portable information processing apparatus, and a plug and engagement means are provided on the mounting surface of the case body corresponding to the positions of the connection port and the engagement hole. However, it is often the case that these arrangement positions are shifted due to a manufacturing error of the portable information processing apparatus or the external apparatus.
Conventionally, if these plugs are out of position, forcibly inserting the plug into the connection port and attaching the external device to the portable information processing device is not desirable because it places a lot of stress on the plug, and may cause failure. .

  In this respect, in the present invention, the plug is provided so as to be slidable within the mounting surface, and the position of the plug can be adjusted according to the position of the connection port, so that the plug can be smoothly connected to the connection port regardless of some manufacturing errors. Can be plugged in.

  In the present invention, the plug includes a slide plate projecting in a flange shape in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plug insertion direction, and the case body supports and positions the plug in a state of projecting from the mounting surface. And a plug exposure hole that is formed in the mounting surface and exposes the plug, and the plug support means has a wall that sandwiches the slide plate therebetween wider than the slide plate. It is preferable that an opposing wall that is spaced apart by a predetermined distance and a holding wall that holds the slide plate from the plug insertion direction are provided, and the plug exposure hole is formed to have an opening larger than the plug.

  In such a configuration, the plug is supported by the plug support means in a state of protruding from the case body. At this time, in the plug insertion direction, the slide plate of the plug is held by the holding wall, and the plug is supported so as not to move in the plug insertion direction. On the other hand, in the direction perpendicular to the plug insertion direction, the slide plate is disposed between the opposing walls facing each other at a wider interval than the slide plate, and the plug exposure hole is formed with an area larger than the plug. Therefore, a predetermined slide movement is allowed in a direction orthogonal to the plug insertion direction.

  According to such a configuration, the plug can be slid within the mounting surface, and the position of the plug can be adjusted according to the position of the connection port. Therefore, the plug can be smoothly inserted into the connection port regardless of some manufacturing errors. be able to.

  According to the present invention, two engagement holes are provided on one side of the portable information processing apparatus with the connection port in between, and the case body is arranged on the mounting surface with the plug in between. It is preferable to provide two engaging means provided.

According to such a configuration, since the engagement means and the engagement hole are provided on both sides with the plug and the connection port in between, a force acts on the external device with the external device attached to the portable information processing device. Even so, both sides of the plug do not move, so there is no stress on the plug.
In particular, when the plug is slidable in the mounting surface direction, it is not desirable that a force is applied to the plug. However, since the engaging means is positioned on both sides of the plug, an excessive force is applied to the plug. By avoiding such a situation, it is possible to reliably maintain an electrical connection and prevent a failure.

The two engaging means are preferably provided at a predetermined distance from the plug. According to such a configuration, the engagement means is engaged with the engagement hole portion at a predetermined distance from the plug and the position of the engagement means is fixed, so that it is reliably avoided that a large stress is applied to the plug. be able to.
For example, a camera or a keyboard can be cited as an example of an external device. In the case of a camera, the user touches the external device when changing the direction of the lens. Touch the attachment device. Even in such a case, it is possible to prevent the plug from being stressed by the two engaging means sandwiching the plug, and to provide an external device that can securely maintain the electrical connection even if operated by the user. Can do.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that a circuit board is provided, and the circuit board and the plug are connected by a flexible cable.

  According to such a configuration, even when the plug slides, the flexible cable flexes flexibly so that the electrical connection between the plug and the circuit board is maintained.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the circuit board is disposed close to the back surface of the plug in the case body, and no integrated circuit is mounted in a region of the circuit board facing the plug.

  According to such a configuration, since the circuit board is disposed close to the plug, the external device can be reduced in size by eliminating dead space as much as possible in the case body. Even when the plug slides when attaching the external device to the portable information processing device, the integrated circuit of the circuit board is not mounted in the area corresponding to the back surface of the plug. The integrated circuit or the like will not be damaged even if it is moved close to. Therefore, a failure or the like can be prevented while using a very small external device.

  In the present invention, the engagement hole portion is a female screw, and the engagement means is a fixing screw having a male screw portion that protrudes from the mounting surface of the case body and that engages with the female screw at a lower end. It is preferable.

  According to such a configuration, the external device can be securely attached to the portable information processing device by screwing the fixing screw into the female screw of the engaging hole.

  When two engaging means are provided across the plug, both need not necessarily be threaded portions, and one may be a screw, and the other may be an engaging pin that is inserted into the hole and positioned. Good. According to such a configuration, the external device can be attached and fixed to the portable information processing device with one screw, and the plug is stressed so that both sides of the plug do not move by providing the engagement pin on the other. You can avoid that.

  In the present invention, the fixing screw is exposed from a screw shaft core portion having a male screw portion at a lower end side tip portion, a flange portion provided in a flange shape with respect to the screw shaft core portion, and the case body. A rotation operation part that rotates the screw shaft core part, and the case body includes fixing screw support means for supporting and positioning the male screw in a state of protruding from the mounting surface, and the fixing screw support The means includes support walls that are provided to face each other in the insertion direction of the fixing screw so as to sandwich the flange portion therebetween, and the interval between the support walls is wider than the thickness of the flange portion, and the axial direction of the fixing screw It is preferable that a predetermined amount of movement is permitted.

  In such a configuration, the male screw portion is supported by the fixing screw supporting means in a state protruding from the case body. At this time, when the fixing screw is supported so that the flange portion is sandwiched between the supporting walls, the supporting wall is provided at a predetermined interval, and the vertical movement of the fixing screw is allowed. When attaching the external device to the portable information processing device, the plug is inserted into the connection port and the fixing screw is screwed into the engaging hole. At the same time, the fixing screw is inserted into the engaging port. Even if it is not screwed in, the fixing screw moves in the axial direction. When the plug is completely inserted into the connection port, the rotation operation portion of the fixing screw is turned to screw the fixing screw into the engaging hole portion.

  According to such a configuration, when attaching the external device to the portable information processing device, it is not necessary to screw the fixing screw into the engaging hole at the same time as inserting the plug into the connection port, and when inserting the plug into the connection port. The fixing screw can be moved by moving it in the axial direction. Then, after the plug is inserted into the connection port, the fixing screw may be screwed into the engaging hole. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the plug insertion and the fixing screw rotation operation at the same time, so that the external device can be easily attached.

  In this invention, it is preferable that the said rotation operation part is a knurl formed in the surrounding end surface of the said flange part, and the operation window which exposes the surrounding end surface of the said flange part is opened in the said case body. .

In such a configuration, the flange portion is exposed from the operation window of the case body.
Then, by rotating the flange portion from the operation window, the fixing screw can be rotated and the fixing screw can be screwed into the engaging hole portion.

  In the present invention, a microphone that outputs a signal in response to voice is provided, and the microphone has a sound collection unit in a direction that intersects with the front-rear direction in the normal use state of the portable information processing apparatus to which the external device is attached. It is preferable that the microphone is omnidirectional and is disposed in the case body.

  In such a configuration, voice is collected by a microphone provided in the external device, and the collected voice information is transmitted to the portable information processing apparatus. In a state in which an external device is attached to the portable information processing device, voices uttered by users who are in front of and behind the portable information processing device are directed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the normal use direction of the portable information processing device. Reach the sound collection section. Then, this sound is collected by a non-directional microphone.

According to such a configuration, the sound collection unit of the microphone is substantially orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the mobile information processing device in the normal use state, and the microphone is omnidirectional. Sounds from multiple users can be collected with a single microphone before and after. That is, the external device only needs to have one microphone, and thus the external device can be reduced in size.
For example, although two microphones may be provided for a user in front of the portable information processing apparatus and for a user in the rear of the portable information processing apparatus, it is inevitable that the external device is increased in size.
In this regard, in the present invention, since the sound collection unit of the microphone is oriented substantially orthogonal to the normal use state of the portable information processing device, the voices of the users who are in front of and behind the portable information processing device are To collect sound.
Here, although the sound collection unit of the microphone is not directly facing the user, in this respect, since the microphone is omnidirectional in the present invention, sound emitted from a direction orthogonal to the direction of the sound collection unit is also collected. Can sound.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated and described with reference to reference numerals attached to respective elements in the drawings.
(First embodiment)
A first embodiment according to the external device of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an external microphone device (external device) 100 is attached to a small game machine (portable information processing device) 800.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a usage state of the small game machine 800 to which the external microphone device 100 is attached.

First, the small game machine 800 will be described.
The small game machine 800 has a flat shape with a small thickness as a whole, and when viewed from the front, the horizontal direction is the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction is the short direction. Then, the user enjoys a game or the like by operating the left and right various switches 862 while looking at the rectangular liquid crystal display 810 that is provided in a large size at the front center.

The small game machine 800 includes a frame-shaped frame 820 that incorporates internal components, a front case 860 and a back case 870 that are provided on the front and back sides of the frame 820 so as to close the internal space of the frame 820, It has.
The front case 860 is provided with various switches 862 as input means for inputting information or operation instructions by manual operation, in addition to the liquid crystal display 810 as output means.
Although not shown, the back case 870 is provided with a lid for a drive to which a disk is mounted so as to be opened and closed.

Various switches (not shown) are provided on the outer surface of the frame 820, and the upper end surface, which is the upper side in FIG. 1, is a mounting surface 830 to which the external microphone device 100 is attached.
The mounting surface 830 is provided with a USB port 840 disposed substantially in the center on the left and right sides, and two engagement holes 851 and 852 disposed on both sides with the USB port 840 interposed therebetween. .

The USB port 840 includes a connection hole (connection port) 841 that is an insertion port of the USB plug 310, and electrode parts 842 and 842 that are arranged close to each other across the connection hole 841.
Although detailed illustration is omitted, the engagement hole portions 851 and 852 are stepped female screws, that is, the inner side is threaded while the inner side of the hole is reduced in diameter with a step.
A drive opening / closing switch 831 or an infrared transmission / reception unit 832 is provided on both the left and right sides opposite to the USB port 840 with the engagement holes 851 and 852 therebetween.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the external microphone device 100.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the external microphone device 100.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the external microphone device 100 taken along the line VV in FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the external microphone device 100 taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

  The external microphone device 100 includes a case body 200 having a storage space therein, a USB terminal (plug) 300 connected to the USB port 840 of the small game machine 800, and the external microphone device 100 as a small game machine 800. A fixing screw (engagement means) 400, a microphone 500, and a circuit board 600 on which an integrated circuit 610 for performing arithmetic processing and the like is mounted.

The case body 200 is formed by laminating a front case 210 and a back case 220. The case body 200 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a lower surface is formed in a substantially flat surface. (See FIG. 6).
When the external microphone device 100 is attached to the attachment surface 830 of the small game machine 800, the lower surface formed on the substantially flat surface becomes the attachment surface 230 facing the attachment surface 830 of the small game machine 800.
A sound collecting hole 240 for taking in sound is provided in the approximate center of one end surface of the case body 200, and an engaging pin 231 projects from the lower surface (mounting surface 230) toward one side.

Further, an operation window 250 for exposing the knurl 421 of the fixing screw 400 to the outside is formed on the side surface of the case body 200 on the other side, and further, a screw for projecting the fixing screw 400 to the outside on the other side of the mounting surface 230. A protruding hole 232 is provided.
Further, a USB exposure hole 233 for projecting the USB terminal part 300 to the outside is formed at a substantially central part of the mounting surface 230.

  Here, the USB terminal portion 300, the engagement pin 231 and the fixing screw 400 on the attachment surface 230 of the external microphone device 100 are arranged at the USB port 840 and the two engagement holes on the attachment surface 830 of the small game machine 800. Corresponding to the positions of the portions 851 and 852.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the internal structure in a cross-sectional view as seen from the front side.
The case body 200 includes USB support means (plug support means) 260 that supports and positions the USB terminal unit 300.
The USB support means 260 is configured by substantially U-shaped guide walls 261 and 261 facing each other at a predetermined interval in a central region on the lower surface side inside the case body 200.

The guide wall 261 includes an opposing wall 262 that is spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and a clamping wall 263 that clamps the USB terminal unit 300 from the plug insertion direction.
Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the front case 210 and the back case 220 are cut out in the corresponding region between the guide walls 261 and 261, and the USB when the front case 210 and the back case 220 are joined. A USB exposure hole 233 for exposing the terminal part 300 is formed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the case body 200 has support walls (fixed screw support means) 251 and 252 that are opposed to each other with the operation window 250 interposed therebetween in the vertical direction and are supported with the fixing screw 400 interposed therebetween. I have.

  The USB terminal unit 300 includes a USB plug 310, electrode pins 320 and 320 provided on both sides of the USB plug 310, and a support base unit 330 on which the USB plug 310 and the electrode pins 320 and 320 are disposed. And a slide plate 340 provided on the back surface of the support base 330 and projecting in a flange shape, and a back terminal portion 350 provided on the back surface of the slide plate 340.

The position of the USB terminal 300 is determined by fitting the slide plate 340 between the guide walls 261 and 261 in such a direction that the USB plug 310 protrudes outside the case body 200.
Here, as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 6, the tip (USB plug 310, electrode pin 320) is exposed from the USB exposure hole 233 from the support base 330 in the USB terminal unit 300. The USB exposure hole 233 is slightly wider than the vertical width and the horizontal width of the support base 330. Further, the lateral width of the USB terminal unit 300 is slightly shorter than the interval between the guide walls, and can be slid left and right between the guide walls 261 and 261. Therefore, the UBS terminal unit 300 is allowed to slide a predetermined amount from side to side and back and forth.

The USB plug 310 has a longer protruding length from the mounting surface 230 than the fixing screw 400, and the distal end position of the USB plug 310 protrudes longer than the distal end position of the fixing screw 400.
In addition, the USB plug 310 is fixedly provided on the support base 330, whereas the electrode pins 320 and 320 are provided so as to be able to project and retract on the support base, and are attached in the protruding direction by a biasing means such as a spring. It is energized.

  The fixing screw 400 is reduced in diameter with a step 412 on the lower end side, and has a screw shaft core portion 410 having a male screw 411 at the reduced lower end side tip portion, and a flange shape on the upper end side of the screw shaft core portion 410. The disc-shaped flange portion 420 and a knurl (rotation operation portion) 421 provided on the peripheral end surface of the flange portion 420 are provided. The fixing screw 400 is arranged such that the male screw 411 protrudes from the mounting surface 230 of the case body 200 and the peripheral end surface of the flange portion 420 is exposed from the operation window 250 of the case body 200.

  Here, the vertical width of the operation window 250 and the support walls 251 and 252 is wider than the thickness of the flange portion 420, and the fixing screw 400 is allowed to slide by a predetermined amount in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the sound collecting microphone 500 has a short cylindrical shape with a small thickness, and a sound collecting portion 510 is provided on one end surface. The microphone 500 is omnidirectional. In the case body 200, the microphone 500 is disposed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the case body 200 with the sound collection unit 510 facing sideways, and is sensitive to sound from the sound collection hole 240.

Various integrated circuits 610 are mounted on the circuit board 600, and the circuit board 600 is arranged on the upper side in the case body 200, that is, arranged on the back side of the USB terminal unit 300.
Here, the integrated circuit 610 is not provided in a region of the circuit board 600 that faces the back surface of the USB terminal unit 300, and the USB terminal unit 300 and the circuit board 600 are disposed very close to each other. . Further, the circuit board 600 and the USB terminal unit 300 are electrically connected by a flexible cable 630.

The operation of attaching the external microphone device 100 having such a configuration to the small game machine 800 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the mounting surface 230 of the external microphone device 100 is opposed to the mounting surface 830 of the small game machine 800.
When the external microphone device 100 is brought close to the mounting surface 830 of the small game device, the USB plug 310 of the external microphone device 100 is inserted into the connection hole portion 841 and the electrode pin 320 is inserted into the electrode portions 842 and 842.
Further, the engagement pin 231 is inserted into one engagement hole 851, and the male screw 411 of the fixing screw 400 is inserted into the other engagement hole 852.

At this time, the USB terminal unit 300 is slidable within the mounting surface 230.
Therefore, first, when the USB plug 310 is inserted about half, the case body 200 is moved left and right or back and forth so that the fixing screw 400 and the engagement pin 231 fit into the engagement holes 852 and 852, respectively.
When the positions of the fixing screw 400 and the engaging pin 231 are in the engaging holes 852 and 852, the external microphone device 100 is pressed against the mounting surface 830 of the small game machine 800 so that the USB plug 310 is inserted to the root. .
At this time, the electrode pin 320 and the electrode portion 842 are in strong contact with each other in a state where the electrode pin 320 is pressed against the electrode portion 842 and pushed up by a predetermined amount.

Here, the male screw 411 of the fixing screw 400 enters the entrance of the engaging hole 852, but the fixing screw 400 is not rotated, so the engaging hole 852 and the male screw 411 are not screwed together, and the fixing screw 400 Pushed up.
When the USB plug 310 is firmly inserted into the connection hole portion 841, the flange portion 420 of the fixing screw 400 is turned from the operation window 250 to rotate the fixing screw 400 and screw the male screw 411 into the engaging hole portion 852. To go.
Then, the external microphone device 100 is attached and fixed to the small game machine 800.

Next, connection establishment and subsequent operation when the external microphone device 100 is attached to the small game machine 800 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the external microphone device 100 and the small game machine 800.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for connection establishment processing and audio data processing between the small game machine 800 and the external microphone device 100.
First, block diagrams of the external microphone device 100 and the small game machine 800 will be described.
The external microphone device 100 includes a USB control circuit unit 611 that controls the entire external microphone device, an AD converter 612 that performs analog / digital conversion of signals between the microphone 500 and the USB control circuit unit 611, a control program, and the like. A recorded memory 613 and a crystal resonator 614 that oscillates a reference clock pulse are provided.

  The small game machine 800 includes a control device 881, a power supply module 882 such as a battery, output means 883 such as a liquid crystal display 810 and a speaker, and input means 884 such as various switches, and further includes an inserted cartridge and the like. Application software 885 recorded on the computer.

In such a configuration, when the application software 885 is loaded with the USB plug 310 and the electrode pin 320 inserted into the USB port 840 (connection hole portion 841, electrode portion 842) (ST100) (ST101), the application software is loaded. Is supplied from the power supply module 882 to the external microphone device 100 via the electrode pin 320 (ST110).
Upon receiving this power supply, the USB control circuit unit 611 of the external microphone device 100 is activated (ST200). Then, the activated USB control circuit unit 611 recognizes the connection of the small game machine 800 and transmits a connection establishment request to the small game machine 800 (ST210).
In response to this connection establishment request, a response signal is output from the control device 881 of the small game machine 800 to the USB control circuit unit 611 (ST120), and a connection establishment process between the external microphone device 100 and the small game machine 800 is performed. Performed (ST220).

In this state where the external microphone device 100 is attached to the small game machine 800, for example, as shown in FIG.
Then, this sound is collected by microphone 500 (ST230), and the collected sound signal is subjected to signal processing such as AD conversion (ST240) and then output to small game machine 800 (ST250). Then, the audio data is processed in accordance with the application program of the application software 885 (ST130), and predetermined information is output to the liquid crystal display 810, the speaker, etc. as the output means 883 (ST140).

According to 1st Embodiment provided with such a structure, there can exist the following effects.
(1) Since the USB terminal unit 300 is provided so as to be slidable within the mounting surface 230, and the USB plug 310 can be adjusted according to the position of the USB port 840, the USB plug 310 can be connected regardless of some manufacturing errors. The USB port 840 can be smoothly inserted.

(2) Since the fixing screw 400 and the engagement pin 231 are engaged with the engagement holes 851 and 852 on both sides with the USB plug 310 and the USB port 840 in between, the external microphone device 100 is attached to the small game device. Even if a force is applied to the external microphone device 100 in this state, both sides of the USB plug 310 do not move, so that the USB plug 310 is not stressed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid applying an extra force to the USB plug 310, to ensure electrical connection, and to prevent failure.

(3) Since the circuit board 600 and the USB terminal unit 300 are connected by the flexible cable 630, even when the USB terminal unit 300 is slid, the flexible cable 630 flexes flexibly so that the USB terminal unit 300 and the circuit board are connected. The electrical connection with 600 can be maintained.

(4) Since the circuit board 600 is disposed close to the USB terminal unit 300 on the back surface of the USB terminal unit 300, the external microphone device 100 can be reduced in size by eliminating dead space as much as possible in the case body 200. . In addition, since the integrated circuit 610 of the circuit board 600 is not mounted in the area corresponding to the back surface of the USB terminal unit 300, the USB terminal unit 300 slides when the external microphone device 100 is attached to the small game machine 800. In such a case, the integrated circuit 610 and the like are not damaged even if the USB terminal unit 300 slides and moves very close to the circuit board 600. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a failure or the like while using a very small external microphone device 100.

(5) Since the fixing screw 400 is allowed to move up and down, when attaching the external microphone device 100 to the small game machine 800, when the USB terminal unit 300 is inserted into the USB port 840, the fixing screw 400 is simultaneously inserted into the engaging hole. The fixing screw 400 can move upward without being screwed into the portion 852. When the USB plug 310 is completely inserted into the USB port 840, the fixing screw 400 can be screwed into the engaging hole 852 by turning the flange 420 of the fixing screw 400 from the operation window 250. Therefore, when attaching the external microphone device 100 to the small game device, it is not necessary to simultaneously insert the USB plug 310 and rotate the fixing screw 400, so that the external microphone device 100 can be easily attached.

(6) Since the sound collection unit 510 of the microphone 500 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the normal use state of the small game machine 800, the voices of the users who are in front of and behind the small game machine 800 are captured by one microphone 500. Sound can be collected. Since the microphone 500 is non-directional, it is possible to collect sound emitted from a direction orthogonal to the direction of the sound collection unit 510. Since only one microphone 500 is required as described above, the external microphone device 100 can be reduced in size. Furthermore, the length of the external microphone device 100 in the longitudinal direction can be made as short as possible by matching the thickness direction (cylinder axis direction) of the thin columnar microphone 500 having a small thickness with the longitudinal direction of the case body 200. . Since the drive opening / closing switch 831 and the infrared transmission / reception unit 832 are provided on the mounting surface 830 of the small game machine 800, the length of the external device 100 is limited. The ability to shorten the length is a great advantage.

(Modification 1)
Next, Modification 1 of the external device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The basic configuration of the first modification is the same as that of the first embodiment, whereas the first embodiment is the external microphone device 100, whereas the first modification is a touch panel device for character input.
In Modification 1, the touch panel 910 is provided in the external main body 900 having the USB terminal 300 in FIG. The configuration of the external main body 900 is basically the same as that of the external microphone device 100 described in the first embodiment except that the microphone 500 is not provided. A character string or an illustration corresponding to the key is displayed on the touch panel 910. When the key is selected with the stylus pen 920, the selected character information or the like can be input.

In addition to the touch panel device for inputting characters, examples of external devices include cameras and GPS (Global Positioning Systems).
Further, in addition to the touch panel, the external device may be a keyboard in which a key is pressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
The portable information processing apparatus is not limited to a small game machine, and examples thereof include a portable information terminal (PDA, personal digital assistant) such as an electronic notebook.
In the above embodiment, the case where the tip of the USB plug 310 protrudes longer from the mounting surface 230 than the tips of the fixing screw 400 and the engaging pin 231 has been described as an example. Of course, it may be long.
When the USB plug 310 is slid and the respective positions of the USB plug 310, the fixing screw 400, and the engagement pin 231 are adjusted to the positions of the USB port 840 and the engagement holes 851 and 852, the USB plug 310 is moved. Since it is a natural operation to move the case body 200 left and right or back and forth while being inserted into the USB port 840 to align the positions of the fixing screw 400 and the engagement pin 231 with the engagement holes 851 and 852, the USB plug 310 Preferably protrude longer than the fixing screw 400 and the engaging pin 231.

  The present invention can be used for an external device externally attached to a small game machine.

The figure which shows a mode that an external microphone apparatus is attached to a small game machine. The figure which shows the use condition of the small game machine which attached the external microphone apparatus. The front view of an external microphone apparatus. The bottom view of an external microphone apparatus. Sectional drawing of the external microphone apparatus 100 in the VV line | wire in FIG. Sectional drawing of the external microphone apparatus 100 in the VI-VI line in FIG. The figure which shows a microphone. The figure which shows a mode that an external microphone apparatus is attached to a small game machine. The block diagram of an external microphone apparatus and a small game machine. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the connection establishment process and audio | voice data processing of a small game machine and an external microphone apparatus. The figure which shows the modification 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... External microphone apparatus, 200 ... Case body, 210 ... Front case, 220 ... Back case, 230 ... Mounting surface, 231 ... Engagement pin, 232 ... Screw projection hole, 233 ... USB exposure hole, 240 ... Sound collection hole , 250 ... operation window, 251 ... support wall, 260 ... USB support means, 261 ... guide wall, 262 ... opposing wall, 263 ... clamping wall, 300 ... USB terminal section, 310 ... USB plug, 320 ... electrode pin, 330 ... Support base part, 340 ... slide plate, 350 ... back terminal part, 400 ... fixing screw, 410 ... screw shaft core part, 411 ... male screw, 412 ... step, 420 ... flange part, 421 ... knurled, 500 ... microphone, 510 ... Sound collecting unit, 600 ... Circuit board, 610 ... Integrated circuit, 611 ... USB control circuit unit, 612 ... AD converter, 613 ... Memory, 614 ... Crystal oscillator, 630 Flexible cable, 800 ... small game machine, 810 ... liquid crystal display, 820 ... frame, 830 ... mounting surface, 831 ... drive open / close switch, 832 ... infrared transmission / reception unit, 840 ... USB port, 841 ... connection hole, 842 ... electrode part , 851... Engagement hole, 852. Engagement hole, 860... Front case, 862 .. switch, 870 .. back case, 881... Control device, 882 ... power supply module, 883 ... output means, 884. ... application software, 900 ... external device main body, 910 ... touch panel, 920 ... stylus pen.

Claims (9)

An external device externally attached to a portable information processing device having a connection port and an engagement hole on one side of a housing,
A case body having an attachment surface facing the one side surface of the housing when the external device is externally attached to the portable information processing device;
A plug inserted into the connection port;
Engagement means inserted into and engaged with the engagement hole,
The plug and the engaging means are disposed on the mounting surface corresponding to the positions of the connection port and the engaging hole, respectively, and the plug slides a predetermined amount in the in-plane direction of the mounting surface. An external device characterized in that is permitted. The external device according to claim 1,
The plug includes a slide plate protruding in a flange shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plug insertion direction,
The case body supports and positions the plug in a state in which the plug protrudes from the mounting surface;
A plug exposure hole that is formed in the mounting surface and exposes the plug; and
The plug support means includes a wall facing the slide plate that is wider than the slide plate and facing the wall at a predetermined interval, and a holding wall that clamps the slide plate from the plug insertion direction.
The plug exposure hole is formed with an opening having an area larger than that of the plug. The external device according to claim 1 or 2,
Two engagement holes are provided on one side of the portable information processing apparatus with the connection port in between,
The case body includes two engaging means disposed on the mounting surface with the plug interposed therebetween. The external device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
With a circuit board,
The external device, wherein the circuit board and the plug are connected by a flexible cable. The external device according to claim 4,
The circuit board is disposed close to the back surface of the plug in the case body,
An external device, wherein an integrated circuit is not mounted on a region of the circuit board facing the plug. The external device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The engagement hole is a female screw;
The external device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging means is a fixing screw provided so as to protrude from an attachment surface of the case body and having a male screw portion screwed into the female screw at a lower end. The external device according to claim 6,
The fixing screw includes a screw shaft core portion having a male screw portion at a lower end side tip portion;
A flange portion provided in a flange shape with respect to the screw shaft core portion;
A rotation operation part that is exposed from the case body and rotates the screw shaft core part, and
The case body includes fixing screw support means for supporting and positioning the male screw in a state protruding from the mounting surface,
The fixing screw support means includes a support wall provided facing the fixing screw in the insertion direction so as to sandwich the flange portion therebetween.
The distance between the support walls is wider than the thickness of the flange portion, and a predetermined amount of movement of the fixing screw in the axial direction is allowed. The external device according to claim 7,
The rotation operation part is a knurl formed on a peripheral end surface of the flange part,
An operation device for exposing the peripheral end surface of the flange portion is formed in the case body. The external device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
It has a microphone that outputs signals in response to voice,
The microphone is disposed in the case body with the sound collection unit facing in a direction intersecting with the front-rear direction in a normal use state of the portable information processing apparatus to which the external device is attached,
The microphone is omnidirectional.

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