JP2012226905A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device that securely reduces troublesomeness in an environment in which it is difficult to connect a USB device to a USB connector.SOLUTION: A connector part 111 of a USB device 11 is fitted and pressed in a connector part 121 of a USB connector 12, and a support part 21 abuts against a support 311 of the USB connector 12. The connector part is further pressed in and then a rack 43 moves to the right to rotate a pinion gear 47 clockwise. Through the rotation, a support 312 moves to the left together with a rack 45. When the USB device 11 is completely pressed in the USB connector 12, a terminal 41 and a terminal 42 move beyond a guide member 48 respectively, so that the terminal 42 (VBUS, D+, D-, GND) is electrically connected to a terminal 61 (VBUS, D+, D-, GND) of the USB device 11. Even when the USB device 11 is turned over and inserted, a regular electric connection is made.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic apparatus that enables data transmission by connecting a communication standard USB.

  Conventionally, USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a communication standard for connecting various peripheral devices to an electronic device as a host, and there is no need to install a driver. It can be recognized as a device, and mounting on not only a PC peripheral device but also a mobile phone, a digital audio player, an in-vehicle device, etc. has become common. UBS has directionality when connected to peripheral devices, but USB that does not have directionality is also considered.

  In the prior art, a pair of pin supports to which a plurality of connect pins are fixed are arranged so that the surfaces having connector pins face each other to form a female connector, and one pin support is moved by an external force, The bin support after the movement is returned by the elastic member. However, since the pair of pin supports are returned by the elastic member, contact failure may occur in the connection of the pin support by the elastic member and the connection of the male connector, and it is difficult to reliably connect. There was a problem.

JP 2009-176543 A

  The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide an electronic apparatus that can reliably reduce the annoyance in an environment where it is difficult to attach a USB device to a USB connector.

  According to the embodiment, the USB connector having a connector part to which the connector part of the USB device can be attached, and the first and second terminals fixed in a state where the terminals are exposed to different surfaces, are supported so as to be linearly movable in the connector. First and second supports, a first rack attached to one end of the first support and formed with a linear gear, and attached to one end of the second support, A second rack in which a linear gear is formed at a position opposite to the gear of the rack, and the gears of the first and second racks, and the first and second racks are reversely moved. A pinion gear to be moved, and when the USB device having the directionality is mounted on the connector portion of the USB connector, regardless of the mounting direction of the connector portion of the USB device, Wherein one of terminals of the first and second supports within serial connector and the USB device are electrically connected.

It is a notional circuit block diagram for demonstrating one Embodiment regarding an electronic device. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a USB device. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a USB connector. It is a schematic sectional drawing for demonstrating an example of the USB connector in an electronic device. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the principal part of FIG. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the operation | movement procedure of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the case where a USB device is connected to a USB connector in the reverse direction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 are for explaining an embodiment related to an electronic device, and FIG. 1 is an outline of a USB communication standard part of an electronic device such as a mobile phone, a digital audio player, an in-vehicle device as well as a PC peripheral device. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a USB device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a USB connector.

  In FIG. 1, an electronic device 100 has a female USB connector 12 that conforms to the USB standard. A USB device 11 having a male connector conforming to the USB standard can be connected to the USB connector 12.

  The USB device 11 includes VBUS (power supply) of the USB connector 12 of the electronic device 100, VBUS, D +, D-, GND connected to D +, D-, and GND (ground) terminals for transmitting differential signals. A connector unit 111 having an I / F unit 112 that controls communication with the electronic device 100, a flash memory 113 that stores image data and the like, and a flash memory 113 based on a control program stored in the ROM 114. A data transfer control unit 115 such as a CPU (central processing unit) that controls data reading from the I / F unit 112 to the I / F unit 112 and data writing from the I / F unit 112 to the flash memory 113 is provided. The data transfer control unit 115 has a function of performing an authentication process with the electronic device 100 and permitting data transfer with the electronic device 100 via the communication unit when the authentication is successful.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the VBUS, D +, D−, and GND terminals of the USB device 11 are fixed to an insulating support portion 21.

  In the electronic device 100, a control unit 18 is configured by units such as the I / O control unit 13, the memory control unit 14, the CPU 15, the RAM 16, and the ROM 17. The USB connector 12 is connected to the I / O control unit 13. The USB connector 12 is a so-called A type USB connector for connecting the USB device 11.

  The I / O control unit 13 and the memory control unit 14 control data transfer among various devices such as the CPU 15, the USB connector 12, the RAM 16, and the ROM 17, and process images, sounds, and data according to the type of the target electronic device. And so on. The I / O control unit 13 and the memory control unit 14 can be configured as a single chip.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the USB connector 12 is fixed to a support 311 serving as an insulating first support in a state where terminals VBUS, D +, D−, and GND are exposed. As shown in FIG. 1, VBUS is connected to a VBUS line 19a connected to a power source (not shown) in the electronic device 100 in order to supply power to the USB device 11, and D + and D− transmit a differential signal. The D + line 19b and the D− line 19c are connected to the GND, and the GND is connected to the GND line 19d for grounding. The VBUS line 19a, the D + line 19b, the D- line 19c, and the GND line 19d are connected to the ports 13a to 13d of the I / O control unit 13, respectively.

  The control unit 18 can detect the presence or absence of an external connection to the USB connector 12 in accordance with a change in the H or L voltage level of the GND line 19d detected via the port 13d. The GND line 19d is pulled up to, for example, + 5V through a resistor (not shown), and if the USB connector 12 is not connected to the outside, the voltage level detected at the port 13d is H level. Therefore, if the detection at the port 13d indicates H level, the control unit 18 determines that the USB connector 12 is not connected to the outside. If the detection at the port 13d indicates L level, the USB connector 12 is connected to the outside. It can be determined that The USB connector 12 is generally installed on the side part of the operation panel of the electronic device 100.

  The configuration of the USB connector 12 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of the USB connector 12 in which the connector portion 121 is desired from the outside in the electronic device 100, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view further enlarging the main portion of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the USB connector 12 of this embodiment has VBUS, D +, D−, GND terminals each having an insulating support 311 and VBUS, D +, D−, which are fixed to the support 311. A support 312 is provided as a second support in which the arrangement of the GND terminals is fixed in reverse. Moreover, the supports 311 and 312 are supported in a state of being selectively movable at the connection position of the connector part 121 when the connector part 111 of the USB device 11 is mounted in the connector part 121 of the USB connector 12. .

  That is, one end of the support 311 fixed with the terminals 41 showing the VBUS, D +, D-, and GND terminals of the USB connector 12 together is exposed as a rack 43 in which a gear 431 is linearly formed. Installed. The rack 43 is slidably supported by a plurality of linearly arranged guides 44 serving as a first rack, and is movable in the horizontal direction in the figure. Similarly, one end of the support body 312 to which the terminal 42 indicating the VBUS, D +, D-, and GND terminals of the USB connector 12 is fixed is attached to the rack 45 in which the gear 451 is linearly formed. Yes. The rack 45 is slidably supported by a plurality of guides 46 that are second racks, and is movable in the horizontal direction in the figure. The gear 431 of the rack 43 and the gear 451 of the rack 45 are formed at opposing positions.

  The gear 431 and the gear 451 are meshed with a common pinion gear 47, and when the pinion gear 47 is rotated clockwise in the figure, the rack 43 is moved to the right and the rack 45 is moved to the left. When the pinion gear 47 is rotated counterclockwise, the rack 43 is moved leftward and the rack 45 is moved rightward. That is, the rack 43 and the rack 45 are movable in opposite directions.

  Between the terminal 41 and the terminal 42, as shown in FIG. 5, when the racks 43 and 45 pass each other, a guide member 48 for preventing a period of contact with each other is disposed. In addition, the terminal 41 is provided with wiring 191 for connecting with the ports 13a to 13d of the I / O control unit 13 (FIG. 1) in a manner that fits along the rack 43. Similar to the terminal 41, the wiring 191 is wired independently for VBUS, D +, D-, and GND. The terminal 42 is provided with a wiring 192 for connecting to the ports 13 a to 13 d of the I / O control unit 13 in a manner that fits along the rack 45. The wiring 192 is wired independently for VBUS, D +, D−, and GND in the same manner as the terminal 42.

  For the wirings 191 and 192, if the racks 43 and 45 are made of resin, for example, wiring patterns may be applied to the racks 43 and 45, or a flexible substrate may be used.

  The terminals 41 and 42 are each elastic. As a result, when the VBUS, D +, D−, and GND of the terminal 41 are connected to the VBUS, D +, D−, and GND of the USB device 11, they are securely connected electrically. Similarly, when the VBUS, D +, D−, and GND of the terminal 42 are connected to the VBUS, D +, D−, and GND of the USB device 11, they are securely connected electrically.

  The VBUS, D +, D−, and GND of the terminal 41 and the terminal 42 are disposed so as to face the VBUS, D +, D−, and GND of the USB device 11. Connections between the terminals 41 and 42 and the ports 13a to 13d of the I / O control unit 13 are wired so as to be in the same connection state.

  Here, with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D, a procedure in which the USB device 11 is mounted on the USB connector 12 and electrically connected thereto will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the connector part 111 of the USB device 11 is fitted into the connector part 121 of the USB connector 12 and pushed into the arrow in the figure. When the USB device 11 is further pushed in, the support portion 21 of the USB device 11 comes into contact with the support body 311 of the USB connector 12 as shown in FIG. When the USB device 11 is pushed further in the contact state, the rack 43 moves in the direction of arrow A, and the pinion gear 47 rotates in the clockwise direction. With this rotation, the support 312 moves in the direction of arrow B together with the rack 45.

  As the support 311 moves in the direction of arrow A and the support 312 moves in the direction of arrow B, as shown in FIG. 6C, the terminal 41 fixed to the support 311 rides on the guide member 48 at the same time. The terminal 42 fixed to the support 312 rides on the guide member 48.

  When the USB device 11 is further pushed in, the terminal 41 and the terminal 42 get over the guide member 48 as shown in FIG. At this time, the terminal 42 is electrically connected to a terminal 61 of the USB device 11 that collectively shows VBUS, D +, D−, and GND terminals.

  As a result, the VBUS, D +, D−, and GND terminals of the USB device 11 and the VBUS, D +, D−, and GND terminals of the USB connector 12 are electrically connected in a corresponding state, and are connected to the electronic device 100. The USB device 11 can communicate with each other.

  Next, consider a case where the terminal 61 of the USB device 11 is attached to the USB connector 12 in a state upside down from that shown in FIG. In this case, in FIG. 6A, the USB device 11 is connected to the USB connector 12 in the same procedure as in FIGS. 6B to 6D with the support portion 21 of the USB device 11 in contact with the support body 312. Push in.

  Then, the terminal 42 of the support 312 and the terminal 61 of the USB device 11 are electrically connected in a state as shown in FIG. Thereby, the electronic device 100 and the USB device 11 can communicate with each other.

  As described above, the support bodies 311 and 312 to which the terminals 41 and 42 that are electrically connected to the USB device 11 are fixed by the combination of the racks 43 and 45 and the pinion gear 47 can be selectively electrically connected. . Since the movement of the rack 43 and the rack 45 is determined by the rotation of the pinion gear 47, the amount of movement of the support 312 or 311 that is not reliably pushed into the support 311 or 312 that is pushed in by the USB device 11 is constant. It is. For this reason, if the USB device 11 is securely inserted into the USB connector 12, the terminal 61 of the USB device 11 and the terminal 41 of the support 311 or the terminal 42 of the support 312 are reliably electrically connected. It becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, a directional USB device can be connected to a USB connector of an electronic apparatus serving as a host without worrying about the direction. This makes it possible to mount the unit with a rack and pinion gear without worrying about directionality even in dimly lit environments or in environments where the USB device insertion slot is difficult to see. Reduction can be achieved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a device connected to a USB connector is not limited to a USB device, and a USB cable may be used. In addition, the USB connector side corresponds to the shape of the other party, but the same function may be provided on the connector side such as a USB device or a USB cable.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment was described, this embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, combinations, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Electronic device 11 USB device 111,121 Connector part 12 USB connector 191,192 Wiring 21 Support part 311,312 Support body 41,42 Terminal 43,45 Rack 431,451 Gear 44,46 Guide 47 Pinion gear 48 Guide member

Claims (3)

A USB connector having a connector part to which a connector part of a USB device can be attached;
First and second supports that are linearly movably supported in the connector and are fixed in a state where the terminals are exposed to different surfaces, respectively.
A first rack attached to one end of the first support and formed with a linear gear;
A second rack attached to one end of the second support and having a linear gear formed at a position facing the gear of the first rack;
A pinion gear that meshes with the respective gears of the first and second racks and moves the first and second racks in opposite directions,
The first and second supports in the connector regardless of the mounting direction of the connector part of the USB device when the USB device having the connector part is mounted on the connector part of the USB connector. An electronic apparatus in which any of the terminals is electrically connected to the USB device.   2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the terminals fixed to the first and second supports are USB standard VBUS, D +, D−, and GND.   A guide member is disposed in the USB connector to prevent the terminals fixed to the first and second supports from contacting each other while the first and second racks move in the opposite directions. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2.

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