JP2009205383A - Card slot equipment and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage of a semiconductor card due to drop impact or the like by preventing the semiconductor card from being projected from the device body. <P>SOLUTION: This card slot device 20 is configured so as to be attached/detached to/from electronic equipment equipped with a pair of projecting parts 12a and 12b protruding near both side parts of one face of a casing and a convex section 13 formed between the pair of projecting parts 12a and 12b, and equipped with a slot 22 into/from which an SM card 30 can be inserted. The slot 22 is arranged at a position facing the recessed section 13 while the card slot device 20 is mounted on the electronic equipment 1 so that only a part of the SM card 30 can be stored. The slot 22 is arranged so that a part of the SM card 30 exposed from the slot 22 is fitted in the recessed section 13 when inserted into the slot 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a card slot device that is connected to an electronic device capable of processing various types of information, and a semiconductor card on which information is recorded can be attached and detached. The present invention also relates to an electronic device provided with such a card slot device.

  Conventionally, an electronic device such as a PDA (personal digital assistance) terminal is often provided with a card slot to which a memory card capable of writing / reading various information can be attached / detached. In recent years, memory cards have become increasingly smaller, and card slots have also become smaller, making it easier to mount them on PDAs that are becoming smaller.

  Recently, in order to improve the security of electronic devices that handle personal information such as notebook personal computers and PDAs, a card reader that can be attached to and removed from a smart card (hereinafter referred to as SM card) is installed. Notebook computers have appeared. In addition to the configuration mounted on the notebook computer, the card reader has a configuration provided in a separate unit that can be attached to and detached from the notebook computer. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose the configuration of a card reader including an SM card and a card slot into which the SM card can be attached and detached. The card readers disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be attached to and detached from the notebook computer.

The SM card has an IC chip on the surface of the card body. The IC chip has eight terminals. When the IC chip is inserted into the card slot, the signal is transmitted and received between the IC chip and the notebook computer by making electrical contact with the terminal in the card slot. be able to. In this IC chip, authentication information for authenticating the user is written in advance, and the notebook personal computer performs user authentication processing based on the authentication information, and determines whether or not the notebook personal computer can be used according to the authentication result. decide.
JP 2005-44358 A JP-A-11-39433

  However, in the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the card reader is configured to insert and hold only a part of the SM card, the SM card protrudes from the card reader. If a notebook personal computer equipped with such a card reader is accidentally dropped on the floor, the SM card is very likely to be damaged.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a card slot device and an electronic device that can prevent the semiconductor card from being damaged by a drop impact or the like by preventing the semiconductor card from protruding from the device main body.

  The card slot device according to the present invention includes a housing formed of a plurality of flat surfaces or curved surfaces, a pair of protrusions formed in the vicinity of both sides of one surface of the housing, and a pair of protrusions. A card slot device having a slot that can be attached to and detached from a semiconductor device having a recess formed therein and into which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed, wherein the slot is mounted on the electronic device. In a state where the semiconductor card is disposed in a position facing the recess, only a part of the semiconductor card can be accommodated, and in the state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, a portion exposed from the slot in the semiconductor card Is disposed at a position within the recess.

  An electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device capable of processing various types of information, and a pair of housings formed of a plurality of planes or curved surfaces and a pair of protrusions formed in the vicinity of both sides of one surface of the housing. A protrusion, a recess formed between the pair of protrusions, and a slot disposed in a position facing the recess and into which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed, the slot being a part of the semiconductor card In the state in which the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, a portion of the semiconductor card exposed from the slot is arranged at a position that fits in the recess.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the semiconductor card from being damaged due to dropping or the like by preventing the semiconductor card from protruding from the electronic device or the card slot device.

  The card slot device according to the present invention includes a housing formed of a plurality of flat surfaces or curved surfaces, a pair of protrusions formed in the vicinity of both sides of one surface of the housing, and a pair of protrusions. A card slot device having a slot that can be attached to and detached from a semiconductor device having a recess formed therein and into which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed, wherein the slot is mounted on the electronic device. In a state where the semiconductor card is disposed in a position facing the recess, only a part of the semiconductor card can be accommodated, and in the state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, a portion exposed from the slot in the semiconductor card Is disposed at a position within the recess. With such a configuration, in a state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, the semiconductor card can be disposed in the recess so as not to protrude from the surface of the housing. Even if the card slot device or the electronic device is dropped, the semiconductor card can be prevented from being damaged.

  An electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device capable of processing various types of information, and a pair of housings formed of a plurality of planes or curved surfaces and a pair of protrusions formed in the vicinity of both sides of one surface of the housing. A protrusion, a recess formed between the pair of protrusions, and a slot disposed in a position facing the recess and into which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed, the slot being a part of the semiconductor card In the state in which the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, a portion of the semiconductor card exposed from the slot is arranged at a position that fits in the recess. With such a configuration, in a state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, the semiconductor card can be disposed in the recess so as not to protrude from the surface of the housing. Even if the electronic device is dropped, the semiconductor card can be prevented from being damaged.

  The card slot device or the electronic device of the present invention can take the following modes based on the above configuration.

  That is, in the card slot device or the electronic device according to the present invention, the slot has a depth that accommodates only a part of the semiconductor card in a state in which the semiconductor card is inserted, and from the slot in the semiconductor card. The exposed portion may be located in the recess, and the distance between the semiconductor card and the recess may be arranged at a position smaller than the distance between the top of the protrusion and the recess. With such a configuration, in a state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, the semiconductor card can be disposed in the recess so as not to protrude from the surface of the housing. Even if the card slot device or the electronic device is dropped, the semiconductor card can be prevented from being damaged.

(Embodiment)
[1. Configuration of electronic device]
1 and 2 are perspective views showing the appearance of the electronic device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 mainly shows the configuration of the front side. FIG. 2 mainly shows the configuration on the back side. The electronic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is an example of a PDA that includes processing means such as a central processing unit and storage means such as a semiconductor memory capable of storing information. In addition, the electronic device 1 includes, for example, a liquid crystal monitor 2 and operation buttons 3.

  The electronic device 1 has an outer shell formed of a six-sided housing formed of a flat surface or a curved surface. In the present embodiment, the surface on which the liquid crystal monitor 2 and the operation buttons 3 are arranged is defined as the front surface 1a, the surface on the back side of the front surface 1a is defined as the back surface 1b, and is adjacent to the front surface 1a and the back surface 1b. The upper surface is defined as the upper surface 1c, the back surface of the upper surface 1c is defined as the lower surface 1d, and the left surface facing the front surface 1a, the rear surface 1b, the upper surface 1c, and the lower surface 1d and facing the left side in FIG. 1e, and the back side of the left side 1e is defined as the right side 1f. In the present embodiment, electronic device 1 has a size and a weight that can be easily held by a user's hand.

  The liquid crystal monitor 2 can display various information by a display control microcomputer included in the processing means in the electronic device 1. In the present embodiment, the effective display area of the liquid crystal monitor 2 is about 7 inches. Further, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 2 uses a display panel having a touch panel function capable of performing a predetermined operation by pressing the display surface, but may be a display panel that performs only display. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 2 is mounted as a display unit. However, the present invention is not limited to the liquid crystal monitor as long as at least information can be displayed, such as an organic EL display.

  The operation buttons 3 are composed of a plurality of buttons capable of inputting alphabets, hiragana, etc. that are generally adopted for a keyboard of a personal computer, for example. In this embodiment, only the push button type operation buttons are provided, but an operation means such as a lever type or a ball type may be provided.

  The electronic apparatus 1 includes a processing unit such as a central processing unit and a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory capable of storing various types of information. When the operation unit such as the operation button 3 is operated by a user, the processing unit Predetermined information processing can be performed. Further, the result of the processing in the processing means can be displayed on a display means such as the liquid crystal monitor 2.

  Further, the back surface 1 b of the electronic device 1 is provided with protrusions 12 a and 12 b and a recess 13.

  The protrusions 12a and 12b are formed with curved surfaces in the present embodiment, but may be formed with flat surfaces. The electronic device 1 of the present embodiment is based on the premise that the left side 1e side is gripped with the left hand and the right side 1f side is gripped with the right hand. Therefore, it is preferable that the protrusions 12a and 12b have curved surfaces because the fingers of the user's left hand and right hand are easy to fit and the grip is improved. In addition, the boundary between the protrusion 12a and the left side 1e and the boundary between the protrusion 12b and the right side 1f are formed with curved surfaces. Since it is easy to fit to a boundary part, since grip property improves, it is preferable. In the present embodiment, the protrusions 12a and 12b are provided so that the user can easily hold the protrusions 12a and 12b. However, the protrusions 12a and 12b are not necessarily provided for holding. It is sufficient that at least the back surface 1b of the electronic device 1 has a recess 13 having a volume capable of containing the SM card. For example, the back surface 1b is formed as a flat surface and the recess 13 is formed at the approximate center thereof. Even if it exists, the effect of this Embodiment can be acquired.

  The recess 13 is formed between the protrusion 12a and the protrusion 12b, and is formed in a shape that is recessed in the normal direction of the back surface 1b. Moreover, the recessed part 13 is opening the part which contact | connects the lower surface 1d. The recess 13 is formed so that the user can easily grip the protrusions 12a and 12b, and the vicinity of the fingertips of the left hand and the right hand is positioned in the recess 13 when gripping. In addition, although the recessed part 13 was provided in order to make it easy for a user to hold | grip the protrusion parts 12a and 12b with a hand, it does not necessarily need to be provided for a holding | grip. At least the back surface 1b of the electronic device 1 may be configured to have a volume capable of containing an SM card. For example, the back surface 1b is formed as a flat surface and the recess 13 is formed at the approximate center thereof. In addition, the operational effects of the present embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the lower surface 1 d of the electronic device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower surface 1d is provided with a connection terminal 14 and holes 15a and 15b. The connection terminal 14 includes a plurality of contacts that can be electrically connected to other connection terminals. In the present embodiment, the connection terminal 14 can be electrically connected to at least a connection terminal 23 arranged in a card slot device 20 described later. The holes 15a and 15b are internally threaded and can be screwed with screws 26a and 26b (described later) for fixing the card slot device 20.

[2. Configuration of card slot device]
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the card slot device. The card slot device 20 includes a device main body 21, a slot 22, a connection terminal 23, fixing portions 24a and 24b, and holes 25a and 25b.

  The apparatus main body 21 can insert and remove a semiconductor card containing a semiconductor chip. In this embodiment, a smart card (hereinafter referred to as an SM card) that conforms to the ISO 7816 standard, which is an example of a semiconductor card, can be inserted and removed, and information written in the SM card can be read or information can be read from the SM card. It was set as the structure which can be written. Note that the apparatus main body 21 reads information stored in an IC chip 30a (described later) provided in the SM card 30 or information stored in the IC chip 30a. And a processing means for processing the information handled by the communication means and electrically connecting the communication means and the connection terminal 23.

  The slot 22 opens to the side surface 21a of the apparatus main body 21 and has a size that allows the SM card 30 to be inserted. In the present embodiment, the slot 22 is not configured to accommodate the entire SM card 30 in the apparatus main body 21, but is configured such that a part of the SM card 30 is exposed. The holding of the SM card 30 will be described later.

  The connection terminal 23 is disposed on the side surface 21 a of the apparatus main body 21. Further, the connection terminal 23 includes a plurality of contacts that can be electrically connected to the connection terminal 14 of the electronic device 1.

  The fixing portions 24a and 24b are respectively arranged on two opposite side surfaces (two side surfaces adjacent to the side surface 21a in the present embodiment) in the apparatus main body 21.

  The holes 25a and 25b are formed through the fixing portions 24a and 24b. The holes 25a and 25b are formed so that the positions thereof overlap with the holes 15a and 15b when the side surface 21a of the apparatus main body 21 is disposed opposite to the lower surface 1d of the electronic device 1.

[3. Attaching / detaching SM card]
When the SM card 30 is used in the electronic device 1, it is necessary to attach the card slot device 20 to the electronic device 1.

  5 and 6 are plan views showing a state in which the card slot device 20 is mounted on the electronic device 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram viewed from the front surface 1a side of the electronic device 1, and FIG. 6 is a diagram viewed from the back surface 1b side of the electronic device 1. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ in FIG. 6 and 7 show a state in which the SM card 30 is inserted into the slot 22.

  When the card slot 20 is attached to the electronic device 1, the card slot 20 is brought into contact with the side surface 21 a of the electronic device 1 so as to face the lower surface 1 d of the electronic device 1. At this time, it arrange | positions so that the connection terminal 23 (refer FIG. 4) may oppose the connection terminal 14 (refer FIG. 3), the hole 25a opposes the hole 15a, and the hole 25b opposes the hole 15b. Next, the screw 26a is screwed into the hole 15a through the hole 25a. Further, the screw 26b is inserted into the hole 25b and screwed into the hole 15b. As a result, the card slot device 20 can be attached to the electronic device 1. At this time, the connection terminal 23 and the connection terminal 14 are electrically connected. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the slot 22 is at a position facing the recess 13.

  When the SM card 30 is inserted into the card slot device 20 attached to the electronic device 1, the SM card 30 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A shown in FIG. 4). At this time, the SM card 30 is inserted into the slot 22 in such a direction that the connection terminal 30 a is positioned in the card slot device 20. The SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22 is partially exposed from the card slot device 20 as shown. As shown in FIG. 7, the portion of the SM card 30 exposed from the card slot device 20 is accommodated in the space of the recess 13. With this configuration, when the SM card 30 is inserted into the slot 22 with the card slot device 20 mounted on the electronic device 1, the SM card 30 goes straight from the slot 22 to the exposed portion in the insertion direction of the SM card 30 with respect to the slot 22. It is possible to eliminate the drawback that the SM card 30 is easily damaged when subjected to an impact from the direction in which it is made.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the slot 22 is formed to be slightly inclined with respect to the bottom surface 13a of the recess 13, so that the end 30b and the bottom surface 13a of the SM card 30 after being inserted into the slot 22 are formed. A large distance D1 can be secured. However, the distance D1 is set to be smaller than the distance D2 between the top of the back surface 1b and the bottom surface 13a. Further, the inclination angle of the slot 22 is set to an angle at which the end 30 b of the SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22 does not protrude from the back surface 1 b of the electronic device 1. Therefore, the SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22 is in a state in which the portion not accommodated in the slot 22 is accommodated in the recess 13, and even if the electronic device 1 is dropped, the SM card 30 is damaged. Can be prevented. Further, when the user grasps the vicinity of the end 30b of the SM card 30 with his / her finger and inserts / removes the SM card 30 into / from the slot 22, a large allowance can be secured for the SM card 30. Can be easily performed.

  In addition, the slot 22 has an inclination angle such that a line segment extending in the longitudinal direction of the SM card 30 from the main plane of the inserted SM card 30 does not overlap the electronic device 1, so that the SM card 30 is inserted into the slot 22. Since the SM card 30 is unlikely to come into contact with the housing (back surface 1b) of the electronic device 1 when inserting / removing, the SM card 30 can be inserted / removed smoothly.

  Here, the slot 22 may be configured to be held in a posture in which the main plane of the inserted SM card 30 is substantially parallel to the bottom surface 13 a of the recess 13. In that case, it is desirable to ensure the distance D1 between the end 30b of the SM card 30 and the bottom surface 13a as large as possible within a range that does not become larger than the distance D2. With this configuration, it is possible to secure a margin for gripping at the end 30b of the SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22, so that the SM card 30 can be easily removed. Further, since the opening of the slot 22 can be formed at a position where it can be easily seen from the outside, there is an effect that the SM card 30 can be easily inserted into the slot 22.

[4. Effects of the embodiment, etc.]
According to the present embodiment, the SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22 does not protrude from the surface of the electronic device 1 by arranging the opening of the slot 22 so as to face the concave portion 13 of the electronic device 1. Even if the electronic device 1 is accidentally dropped or the exposed portion from the slot 22 comes into contact with a foreign object, the SM card 30 can be prevented from being damaged even if a so-called accident occurs.

  Further, since the slot 22 is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the bottom surface 13a of the recess 13, a large grip allowance can be secured at the end 30b of the SM card 30 inserted into the slot 22. The insertion / removal operation to / from the slot 22 can be easily performed.

  In the present embodiment, a PDA has been described as an example, but any device that can be operated by at least a user holding it with a hand may be used. For example, the present invention is useful for a personal computer, a portable disk player equipped with a drive or a hard disk drive to which a disk-shaped medium such as a DVD can be attached or detached, a portable navigation system, and the like.

  In this embodiment, the card slot device in which the SM card 30 can be inserted / removed has been described. However, the card that can be inserted into / removed from the device is not limited to the SM card, and is at least installed in the card slot device. The present invention is applicable as long as the portion is exposed from the card slot device. In addition to the SM card, the present invention can be applied to a card slot such as a PC card or an Express card formulated by PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card Interafce Association).

  In the present embodiment, the card slot device 20 is an independent device from the electronic device 1, but the electronic device 1 may be integrally provided with a configuration corresponding to the card slot device 20. In other words, the electronic device 1 and the card slot device 20 shown in FIG.

  The present invention is useful for a card slot device having a card slot. Moreover, it is useful for an electronic device provided with such a card slot.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device in embodiment The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device in embodiment Side view of electronic device according to embodiment The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the card slot apparatus in embodiment The top view which shows the structure of the electronic device with which the card slot apparatus was mounted | worn The top view which shows the structure of the electronic device with which the card slot apparatus was mounted | worn Sectional drawing of the ZZ part in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic device 13 Recess 13a Bottom surface 20 Card slot device 22 Slot

Claims (3)

A housing composed of a plurality of flat surfaces or curved surfaces, a pair of protrusions formed in the vicinity of both side portions of one surface of the housing, and a recess formed between the pair of protrusions. A card slot device that is detachable from an electronic device and has a slot into which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed,
The slot is
In a state where the card slot device is mounted on the electronic device, the card slot device is disposed at a position facing the recess,
Can accommodate only a portion of the semiconductor card;
A card slot device in which, in a state where the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot, a portion of the semiconductor card that is exposed from the slot is disposed at a position that fits in the recess. An electronic device capable of processing various information,
A housing composed of a plurality of flat surfaces or curved surfaces;
A pair of protrusions formed in the vicinity of both sides of one surface of the housing;
A recess formed between the pair of protrusions;
It is arranged at a position facing the recess, and comprises a slot into which a semiconductor card can be inserted and removed,
The slot is
Can accommodate only a portion of the semiconductor card;
An electronic apparatus, wherein a portion of the semiconductor card exposed from the slot is arranged at a position that fits in the recess when the semiconductor card is inserted into the slot. In the state where the semiconductor card is inserted in the slot,
A depth to accommodate only a portion of the semiconductor card;
The portion exposed from the slot in the semiconductor card is located in the recess, and the distance between the semiconductor card and the recess is arranged at a position smaller than the distance between the top of the protrusion and the recess, The card slot device according to claim 1 or 2.

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