JP2007293663A - Memory card with extended function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a memory card with an extended function for enabling an electric device applying the memory card to use a storage function originally owned by the memory card and an adding function of an external module. <P>SOLUTION: The memory card with the extended function includes a basic transmission interface on a main body and an extended interface connected to an internal circuit. A joint part is disposed at a peripheral position of a circuit contact of the extended interface. The memory card and the external module are joined by using the joint part, and a joint between the extended interface and a circuit contact of the external module is surely formed. The memory card enables the electric device applying the memory card to use not only the storage function originally owned by the memory card but also the adding function of the external module, especially, to exchange and use external modules differing in function if necessary, and significantly improves a function and an added value of the memory card. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a memory card, and more particularly, an external module can be connected, and an electric device can use a storage function inherent to the memory card and can use an additional function of the external module. Regarding cards.

Most existing consumer electronic products have a memory card slot, and the user can insert a memory card of a predetermined format into the memory card slot to expand the data storage capacity of the device or transfer data. Use as a replacement storage medium increases convenience and applicability in use. The market size of similar consumer electronic products (especially portable electric devices such as digital cameras, video cameras, MP3s, mobile phones, etc.) is increasing day by day, and the functions of the electric devices themselves are constantly increasing. There is a need for expansion and improvement, which will meet consumer needs and provide basic market competitiveness.

The acceptance of these portable electrical devices by a wide range of consumers is mainly due to the advantages of miniaturization and sophistication of the devices themselves, and there is a need to meet the design requirements of miniaturization and sophistication. The development of the component technology to be operated is also relatively small in size and chip-oriented, and the density is also increasing. On the other hand, the device itself is integrated with the structure of similar functions as much as possible. Alignment, for example, the so-called “SDIO (Secure Digital Input / Output) support” electrical device on the market can be used by inserting an SD memory card into the SD memory card slot in which it is placed, as well as an SD interface input / output facility ( For example, Bluetooth card, Wi-Fi card, GPS receiver, digital camera card, FM radio card, fingerprint identifier etc.) are also supported, ie SDIO By simply inserting an “SDIO card”, you can increase the number of specific functions such as combining a wireless LAN card with a notebook computer or a GPS receiver with a PDA. It is a practical product that is widely accepted by consumers.

However, SDIO cards are connected to electrical devices primarily through SD memory card slots, so an electrical device with only a single SD memory card slot can be either an SDIO card or an SD memory card. It may be possible to use an SDIO card built-in memory construction method and have a data storage capacity expansion function at the same time, but the SDIO card is an expansion card with a specific function It is not possible to use another extended function without removing and replacing the entire SDIO card. In other words, data stored when using the Bluetooth function cannot be used when using the GPS function, and it is inconvenient that it is necessary to carry several memory cards and expansion cards.

In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to install a basic transmission interface and an expansion interface connected to an internal circuit on the memory card body, and provide a joint at a peripheral position of the circuit contact of the expansion interface. The memory card is connected to the external module through this joint, and the expansion interface and the circuit contact of the external module are securely connected, and the memory card's original storage function is used for the electrical device to which this memory card is applied. In addition to making it possible to use the external module, additional functions of the external module can be used. In particular, the external module of a different function can be exchanged and used as necessary, greatly improving the functions and added value of the memory card. An object of the present invention is to provide a memory card having an extended function.

A basic transmission interface and an expansion interface connected to an internal circuit are provided on the memory card main body, and a joint is provided at a position around the circuit contact of the expansion interface of the main body. Attachment modules are combined.

Hereinafter, the main technical contents and implementation methods of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings to facilitate understanding.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the memory card having the extended function of the present invention has a control chip 12, a flash memory 13, and a transmission interface 14 on the main body 11, as shown in FIGS. The control chip 12 includes a microcontroller (MCU), a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM), and is mainly used for related circuit operations, and the transmission interface 14 is applied. Connected to the electrical device to form a circuit connection.

Among them, an extension interface 15 connected to a circuit inside the memory card 10 is further installed on the main body 11, and a joint 16 is further provided at a position around the circuit contact 151 of the extension interface 15. The memory card 10 and the external module 20 are coupled to each other by the unit 16 to securely form a junction of circuit contacts between the expansion interface 15 and the external module 20, and the electric device to which the memory card 10 is applied is inherent to the memory card 10 Not only can the storage function be used, but additional functions of the external module 20 can also be used. In particular, the external module 20 having a different function can be exchanged and used as required. Added value is improved.

In a specific implementation, the expansion interface 15 is provided at the other end of the memory card 10 main body 11 opposite to the transmission interface 14, and the main body 11 includes a recess 17 at a position where the expansion interface 15 is installed. The circuit contacts 151 and the joints 16 of the memory card 10 are provided around the recesses 17, respectively, and the connection between the external module 20 and the memory card 10 main body 11 is configured using a line groove tank. The Of course, it can also be combined by a saw-like fitting method (not shown).

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a memory card and an external module according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the memory card 10 is provided with a fitting portion 18 at a place where the circuit contact 151 of the expansion interface 15 of the main body 11 is installed, and the external module 20 protrudes to a portion corresponding to the fitting portion 18 of the main body. When the external module 20 is inserted and positioned in the recess 17 of the memory card 10 main body 11 using the joint portions 16 and 21, the protrusion 23 of the external module 20 is inserted into the memory card 10 main body 11. Insertion into the insertion portion 18 strengthens the coupling between the external module 20 and the memory card 10 main body 11.

Further, the external module 20 is provided with a joint 21 connected to the main body 11 of the memory card 10 and a circuit contact 22 connected to the expansion interface 15 of the memory card 10 on the main body. 20 itself is a chip module having functions such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi network card, GPS, memory card, FM radio card, wireless identification system (RFID), fingerprint identifier, etc., and its outer shape is shown in FIGS. The format shown in FIG. 7 can be used, and the principle is that the memory card 10 is not affected in principle. This not only allows the electrical device to use the data storage function of the memory card 10, but also allows the additional function of the external module to be used at the same time, especially using an external module. The stored data can be stored in a memory inside the memory card 10 and can be used for an electric device or an external module having a different function.

Naturally, the joint 16 on the main body 11 and the joint 21 on the external module 20 can be provided with a circuit contact joining function by design.

As described above, the present invention provides a memory card capable of expanding functions, and filed a patent application based on the law. The above description of the embodiment and the contents of the drawings are based on the best embodiment of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The structure, apparatus, features, etc. of the present invention are similar or similar. Are all considered to be within the scope of the invention and patent application of the present invention.

It is a three-dimensional external view of the present invention. It is a diagram which shows the basic composition of this invention. FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of FIG. 1. It is the three-dimensional exploded view of the memory card and external module of another Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows the assembly example 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the assembly example 2 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the assembly example 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Memory card 11 Main body 12 Control chip 13 Flash memory 14 Transmission interface 15 Expansion interface 151 Circuit contact 16 Joint part 17 Recessed part 18 Insertion part 20 External module 21 Joint part 22 Circuit contact

Claims (7)

A memory card, wherein a basic transmission interface and an expansion interface connected to an internal circuit are provided on a main body, and a joint is provided at a position around the circuit contact of the expansion interface of the main body. A memory card with an extended function, to which an external module is coupled. The memory card having an expansion function according to claim 1, wherein the expansion interface is provided at the other end of the main body facing the transmission interface. A recess is provided at a location where the extension interface of the main body is disposed, and a circuit contact of the extension interface is provided in the recess, and a joint for connecting the main body and the external module to each other is provided. Item 3. A memory card having the extended function according to Item 1 or 2. 4. The memory card having an extended function according to claim 1, wherein the joint portion is constituted by a linear groove tank, and connects the external module and the memory card main body. The memory card with an extended function according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the joining portion is configured in a manner of fitting in a saw-like top and bottom, and the external module and the memory card main body are coupled. An external module, wherein a joint part mutually coupled to the memory card main body and a circuit contact connected to the expansion interface of the memory card are provided on the main body. The external module is one or any of a Bluetooth chip module, a Wi-Fi chip module, a GPS chip module, a memory card chip module, an FM radio card chip module, a wireless identification system chip module, a fingerprint identifier chip module, and the like. The external module of claim 6, which can be a combination of two or more.

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