JP2637926B2 - Function switching device for information processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function switching device for an information processing apparatus having a built-in printed wiring board to which a dip switch is attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to check the operation of an information processing apparatus by switching the function of the information processing apparatus, conventionally, an operator manually switches a dip switch provided in the information processing apparatus, and thereafter, switches the dip switch. Generally, an operator visually checks whether or not the information processing apparatus has performed a predetermined operation by switching.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional method for switching functions of an information processing apparatus, the functions cannot be switched unless an operator operates a dip switch, so that remote control or unattended control is required. Had the drawback that it could not be done.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a function switching device of an information processing device capable of performing remote control and unattended control. is there.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention (an invention according to claim 1) is to provide a printed wiring board mounted on an information processing apparatus with an edge on a mounting opening side edge. A function switching unit attached to a dip switch arranged substantially parallel to the edge, a control device for sending a function switching signal to the function switching unit, and a signal cable for connecting the function switching unit and the control device. And a function switching unit including a pair of clip pieces, a rotating shaft that rotatably supports both clip pieces, a spring that biases both clip pieces in a direction to always close them, and a front side of one of the clip pieces. Means provided in the center for returning the knob of the dip switch to an initial state when mounted on the substrate, and a rear surface of the substrate which is disposed extending forward from the other clip piece and is mounted on the substrate. It is obtained so as to constitute between the plurality of contacts in contact with each switch contact leads of a DIP switch protruding.

[0006] The second invention (the invention according to claim 2) is the first invention.
In the invention, the means for returning the knob of the dip switch to the initial state is constituted by the tip of the center of the clip piece,
The shape is an inclined surface that engages with the knob of the dip switch during the mounting process. According to a third invention (an invention according to a third aspect), in the first invention, means for returning the knob of the dip switch to an initial state is provided by first and second inverted U-shaped one ends of which are fixed to clip pieces. A knob operation piece support portion and a knob operation piece having both ends fixed to the other ends of the first and second knob operation piece support portions, and the knob operation piece is provided with a DIP switch during the mounting process. It is designed to be engaged with a knob.

[0007]

According to the present invention, therefore, in the first invention,
When the function switching unit is attached to the DIP switch arranged on the printed wiring board mounted on the information processing device, the knob of the DIP switch is set to the initial state by means provided at the front center of one of the clip pieces of the function switching unit On the other hand, a plurality of contacts extending forward from the other clip piece of the function switching unit come into contact with the lead of each switch contact of the dip switch protruding to the rear surface of the substrate. A function switching signal is sent from the control device to the function switching unit via a signal cable.

[0008] In the second invention, in the mounting process of the function switching unit,
An inclined surface formed at the tip of the center of the clip piece engages the knob of the dip switch, and returns the knob of the dip switch to the initial state. According to the third aspect, in the process of mounting the function switching unit, the knob operation piece having both ends fixed to the other ends of the first and second knob operation piece support portions engages with the knob of the dip switch, and Return the knob to its initial state.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on embodiments. [Embodiment 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a specific example of a function switch, and FIG. The state which attached to the arrange | positioned DIP switch is shown.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes an information processing apparatus, for example, a personal computer is used. The information processing apparatus 1 needs to externally switch functions in order to check the operation or change the functions.
This information processing apparatus 1 usually includes at least one or more printed wiring boards (hereinafter simply referred to as boards) 2,
A dip switch 3 for switching functions is attached to a part of the substrate 2.

The dip switch 3 faces the board mounting port 1a of the information processing apparatus 1 so that it can be operated from the outside in a normal mounting state, or more specifically, the board 2 facing the board mounting port 1a. The lead 3a of a plurality of switch contacts built in the DIP switch 3 when mounted on the substrate 2 as shown in FIG. In general, it protrudes from the back surface of the substrate 2 in alignment with the edge 2 a of the substrate 2.

A function switch 5 characterized by the present invention is mounted on the dip switch 3. The function switching device 5 has a clip structure, and includes two clip pieces 5a and 5b and a rotation shaft 5c that rotatably supports the both.
And a spring 5d for rotating the clip pieces 5a and 5b in the closing direction when the clip pieces 5a and 5b are removed from the dip switch 3.
And a plurality of contacts 5e that contact switch leads 3a protruding from the rear surface of the substrate 2 to which the dip switch 3 is attached when the function switch 5 is attached.

In the present embodiment, these contacts 5e are constituted by two types of contacts, and one is a dip switch 3 arranged at a portion near the edge 2a of the substrate 2 almost in parallel with the edge 2a of the substrate 2. The contact 5e1 is in contact with the switch contact lead 3a of the DIP switch 3 and the switch contact lead 3a of the DIP switch 3 is disposed at a portion away from the edge 2a of the substrate 2 and substantially parallel to the edge 2a of the substrate 2. The contact 5e2 is in contact.

Although the contact 5e1 has a shape extending straight from the clip piece 5b, the contact 5e2
The difference is that, after extending straight from the clip piece 5b, the tip end is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction. Note that these contacts 5e1, 5e2
Are fixed to the main body of the clip piece 5b by known fixing means. The contacts 5e1 and 5e2 of the function switch 5 are bundled at the main body of the function switch 5 and are connected via the signal cable 6 and the connector 7 to the control unit 10e.
It is connected to the.

The control device 10 sends a function switching signal S1 as shown in FIG. 4A to the information processing device 1 via the signal cable 6, and the function switching as shown in FIG. It is configured to receive a reply signal S2 indicating that the signal has been received via the function confirmation signal cable 11. Therefore, the control device 10 has a built-in personal computer, for example, and when a function switching type is designated from the keyboard of the personal computer,
The function switching signal S1 corresponding to the designation is sent to one or more of the contacts 5e of the function switch 5. The function switching signal S1 is a signal having a level of “1” or “0”.

When the function is switched based on the function switching signal S 1, the information processing device 1 sends a reply signal S 2 for confirming the function switching to the control device 10 via the function confirmation signal cable 11. Next, a method of attaching the function switch 5 to the dip switch 3 arranged on the substrate 2 will be described.

The clip pieces 5a and 5b of the function switching unit 5
Before mounting, the tip of the clip is closed by the spring bias of the spring 5d. Then, the operator grasps the rear ends of the clip pieces 5a and 5b to open the front end, and pushes the substrate 2 from behind the substrate 2 to which the DIP switch 3 is attached so as to hold it. Then, the inclined surface 5a1 formed at the tip of the center portion of the clip piece 5a goes under the knob 3b of the DIP switch 3, and when the function switch 5 is further pushed in the direction of the DIP switch 3, the knob 3b of the DIP switch 3 is pushed. All of them are pushed up to the initial state (off position in this embodiment). As a result, the DIP switch 3 is returned to the initial state, and is opened when viewed from the information processing apparatus 1.

When the function switch 5 is pushed to a predetermined position, the operator releases his / her hand from the function switch 5. In this state, the contacts 5e1 and 5e2 are in contact with the switch contact leads 3a protruding from the rear surface of the substrate 2, respectively. In such a state, the operator operates the control device 10 to send out the function switching signal S1.

The function switching signal S1 shown in FIG.
The period during which a signal required for the function A mode is selectively transmitted to each of the contacts 5e1 and 5e2 is shown.
The reply signal S2 shown in FIG.
1 is sent from the information processing device 1 to the control device 1
This is a function confirmation signal returned to 0, indicating that the function has been switched to the A mode. Similarly, when a signal required for the function B mode is transmitted as the function switching signal S1, a reply signal S2 indicating that the function has been switched to the B mode is returned as a function confirmation signal.

The reply signal S2 is one of signals (for example, a status signal used in a personal computer) which is always transmitted in a general information processing apparatus. The explanation would be useless. The reply signal S2 used here is usually sent as an open collector or relay contact signal.

By performing such an operation, after attaching the function switch 5 to the information processing apparatus 1, the operator simply operates the control apparatus 10 on the control apparatus 10 side. 1 mode switching can be performed. That is, in the present embodiment, the control device 10 is installed at a position away from the information processing device 1 and
Remote control and unattended control of the system.

Further, in this embodiment, by sending a reply signal S2 from the information processing device 1 to the control device 10,
The operation state of the information processing device 1 can be confirmed on the control device 10 side. That is, in the present embodiment, the operation after the function switching can be confirmed without human intervention.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in particular, a modification of the function switch 5. In the same figure, those having the same functions or the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. A different point from the first embodiment is a mechanism for returning the knob 3b of the DIP switch 3 to the initial state at the time of mounting.

That is, in this embodiment, the clip 5
One ends of the knob operation piece support portions 10a and 10b made of an elastic material are fixed near both ends in the transverse direction of a. And these knob operation piece support parts 10a, 10b
It is formed in an inverted U shape, and both ends of a knob operation piece 10c supported by these knob operation piece support portions 10a and 10b are fixed to the other end. This knob operation piece 10c
Is made of the same material as the above-described knob operation piece support portions 10a and 10b or another metal material.

In this embodiment, when the function switch 5 is pushed in from behind the board 2 of the information processing apparatus 1 so as to hold the board 2, the knob operating piece 10c engages with the knob 3b of the dip switch 3 and is further pushed in. And knob operation piece support 1
Push up knob 3b in cooperation with the resilience of 0a, 10b,
Return to the initial state. The effect obtained by such a configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the same operation and effect can be obtained even if the knob operation piece supporting portions 10a and 10b and the knob operation piece 10c are made of a metal having no elasticity or a member having the same rigidity as the metal. Of course you can get it.

[0027]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, according to the first invention, when a function switching unit is attached to a dip switch arranged on a printed wiring board mounted on an information processing apparatus, the function can be improved. While the knob of the dip switch is returned to the initial state by means provided at the front center portion of one clip piece of the switching section, a plurality of contacts extending forward from the other clip piece of the function switching section are arranged. Remote control and unmanned control can be performed by contacting the lead of each switch contact of the dip switch protruding on the back of the board and sending a function switching signal to the function switching unit via a signal cable from the control device. become.

In the second invention, during the mounting process of the function switching unit,
The inclined surface formed at the tip of the central portion of the clip piece engages with the knob of the dip switch, and returns the knob of the dip switch to the initial state. The knob operation piece whose both ends are fixed to the other end of the knob operation piece support portion 2 engages with the knob of the DIP switch, returns the knob of the DIP switch to the initial state, and attaches the function switching portion to the DIP switch. , The knob of the dip switch can be reliably returned to the initial state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view when the function switch shown in FIG. 3 is attached to a DIP switch arranged on a printed wiring board,
It is a top view and a rear view.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration for explaining an embodiment of a function switching device of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a specific example of a function switch shown in FIG. 2;

4 is a waveform diagram showing an example of a function switching signal transmitted from the control device shown in FIG. 2 and a reply signal received by the control device.

FIG. 5 is a top view and a sectional view showing another example of the function switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing apparatus, 2 ... Printed wiring board (board), 2a ...
Edge, 3 ... Dip switch, 3a ... Switch contact lead, 3b ... Knob, 5 ... Function switch, 5a, 5b ... Clip piece, 5a1 ... Slope surface, 5c ... Rotating axis, 5d ... Spring, 5e (5e1, 5e1) 5e2) contact, 6 signal cable, 7 connector, 10 control device, 10a,
10b: knob operation piece support portion, 10c: knob operation piece, 11
… Function confirmation signal cable.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A function switching unit which is attached to a dip switch which faces a mounting-port-side edge of a printed wiring board mounted on an information processing apparatus and is substantially parallel to the edge. A control device for transmitting a function switching signal; and a signal cable for connecting the function switching unit and the control device. The function switching unit rotatably supports the pair of clip pieces and the two clip pieces. A rotating shaft, a spring that biases both clip pieces in a direction to always close them, and a spring provided at a front center portion of one of the clip pieces to return the knob of the dip switch to an initial state when mounted on the board. Means for connecting each switch contact of the dip switch, which is arranged to extend forward from the other clip piece and protrudes to the back of the board when mounted on the board. A function switching device for an information processing device, comprising: a plurality of contacts for contacting a lead. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for returning the knob of the DIP switch to the initial state is constituted by the tip of the central portion of the clip piece, the shape of which is inclined during engagement with the knob of the DIP switch. A function switching device for an information processing device, comprising: 3. A means for returning a knob of a dip switch to an initial state according to claim 1, wherein the first and second knob operation piece support portions each having one end fixed to a clip piece are provided. A first and a second knob operation piece supporting portion, each of which has two ends fixed to the other end thereof,
A function switching device for an information processing device, wherein the knob operation piece engages with a knob of a dip switch in a mounting process.