JP2929803B2 - Interchangeable storage device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flexible magnetic disk device used as an external storage device of a personal computer and a storage device having the functions of an IC memory card device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art IC memory card (PC9) guidelines JEIDA VER, 4 established in June 1990
The IC memory card specified in (standard specification of personal computer IC memory card) has a storage capacity that can be expanded up to 64 megabytes, and data can be accessed with a bus width of 8 bits and 16 bits. Currently, MASKRO
M. EPROM. EEPROM. FLASH-EPRO
M. Various memories such as SPRAM can be stored. on the other hand,
A flexible magnetic disk device is used as an external storage device of a personal computer. Currently, a 3.5-inch cartridge type is mainly used, but the flexible magnetic disk device is a disk rotating motor, a moving mechanism of a magnetic head, and the like. Since the main components are mechanical elements, disadvantageous conditions in terms of life, weight, occupied volume, and power consumption are provided in comparison with IC memory cards. Therefore, with the recent trend of miniaturization, weight reduction and low power consumption of personal computers, in the near future,
Some predict that the time will come when C memory cards will replace flexible magnetic disks. However, considering the huge software heritage stored in the flexible disk cartridge of the flexible magnetic disk device up to now, the price of the IC memory card is still more than an order of magnitude higher than the flexible disk cartridge, so it will be replaced It is not likely that both will coexist for the time being. The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and proposes a device capable of accessing both a flexible magnetic disk device and an IC memory card.

FIG. 11 is an external view of an IC memory card defined by JEIDA VER. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an IC memory card, and there are two types, type I and type II, depending on the thickness.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an IC memory card and an IC memory card device. In the figure, 2 is an IC memory card holder, 3 is an interface connector attached to the IC memory card holder 2, and 4 is a control controller circuit mounting board.

FIG. 13 is an external view of an ejecting holder mechanism in which an IC memory card holder, an interface connector, an IC memory card ejection mechanism, and an ejection button are integrated. In the figure, 5 is an IC memory card ejection mechanism,
Reference numeral 5a denotes a discharge button which is used when the mounted IC memory card is detached from the connection pin of the interface connector 3. That is, when a finger is pressed in the direction of arrow A, the slide table 5b formed of a thin metal plate incorporated in the IC memory card holder 2 moves in the direction of arrow B, and the IC memory card 1 is detached from the interface connector 3. Can be.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a flexible magnetic disk device. In the figure, 6 is a 3.5 inch flexible disk cartridge, and 7 is a flexible magnetic disk device. 8a is a front panel, 8b is an insertion / ejection opening of a flexible disk cartridge, 9 is a carriage assembly having two heads, 10 is a head feed mechanism including a stepping motor and a lead screw,
Numeral 11 denotes a disk rotating mechanism comprising a DC motor and a chucking mechanism for mounting the flexible disk cartridge. Numeral 12 denotes a loading mechanism for transporting the flexible disk cartridge 6 to the disk rotating mechanism 11 by vertical movement. Numeral 13 denotes a component of the entire apparatus. It is a frame.

FIG. 15 is a schematic structural view of a flexible disk cartridge. Details are described in “90 mm flexible disk cartridge” of JIS X6221. In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes a flexible information recording medium in which magnetic recording media are formed on two surfaces of a thin donut-shaped plastic disc, and 15 denotes a flexible information recording medium 1.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a hub made of an iron material attached to the center, 16 denotes a protective plastic case, and 17 denotes a shutter attached to the protective plastic case 16 in the process of inserting the flexible disk cartridge 6 into the flexible magnetic disk device. Opened gradually in the direction of arrow C, and in a completely mounted state, the protective plastic case 16 and the shutter 17 are provided with a head insertion port 18 previously prepared.
, A part of the flexible information recording medium 14 can be seen.

[0008] The initial operation of the flexible magnetic disk device will be described briefly. When the flexible disk cartridge 6 is inserted into the insertion / ejection opening 8b of the flexible disk cartridge of the flexible magnetic disk device 7, first, the flexible disk cartridge 6 is moved downward by the loading mechanism 12, and is included in the cartridge disk rotation mechanism 11. The chucking mechanism and the hub 15 are connected. At this time, the opening operation of the shutter 17 of the flexible disk cartridge is performed in conjunction with the operation, and the two heads of the carriage assembly 9 descend and contact the flexible information recording medium 14 at the head insertion port 18. Next, the flexible information recording medium 14 rotates in synchronization with the DC motor of the disk rotating mechanism 11, and a series of recording / reproducing operations becomes possible. The head feed mechanism 10 uses a stepping motor as a drive source, moves the carriage assembly 9 via a lead screw, and transports the head onto an arbitrary track of the flexible information medium 14. The above is the outline of the initial operation. The operation at the end of removing the flexible disk cartridge 6 is automatically performed by pressing the ejection button 8c, and the operation reverse to the initial operation is automatically performed. Is discharged.

FIG. 16 is an embodiment of a flexible magnetic disk device described in US Pat. No. 4,891,727. According to the present invention, two types of cartridges, a flexible disk cartridge and a semiconductor cartridge constituted by an IC memory housed in the same size as the flexible disk cartridge, are accessed. In the figure, 19 is a flexible magnetic disk device, 20
Is a chucking hub capable of fixing both the flexible disk cartridge 6 and the semiconductor cartridge 21 (not shown), 22 is a magnetic head used for the flexible disk 6, and 23 is capable of inserting or ejecting either the flexible disk cartridge 6 or the semiconductor cartridge 21 A storage medium insertion port 24 is a connector for making an electrical connection with the semiconductor cartridge 21, and 26 is a hole detection switch for detecting a discrimination hole 25 provided in the semiconductor cartridge 21.

[0010]

In the above invention, it is assumed that the size of the flexible disk cartridge and the size of the semiconductor cartridge are the same, and the same insertion / ejection operation as that of the flexible disk cartridge can be performed. The IC memory card specified by JEIDA VER, 4 used in the present invention has a drawback that it is narrower in width than a flexible disk cartridge and has a dedicated connector, so that it cannot be directly accessed from the insertion / ejection port of the conventional flexible disk cartridge. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been developed in accordance with JIS X6221 90 mm flexible disk cartridges and IC memory card guidelines.
It is an object of the present invention to obtain a replaceable storage device that can be accessed by an IC memory card specified by EIDA VER.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a replaceable storage device according to the present invention has a new 3.5-inch flexible magnetic disk device by changing a front panel, a loading mechanism and an electric circuit board. , An attachment, an attachment holder, and the like are provided. The attachment of the IC memory card is provided integrally with a holding guide portion of the IC memory card and a lower portion thereof, and is attached to and detached from the same insertion and ejection opening as the flexible disk cartridge. A main body part, which can be attached to and detached from an insertion / ejection port provided on the front surface of the exchangeable storage device in correspondence with the attachment, and further provided with a sliding guide for holding the outside of the holding guide part of the IC memory card inside. With an attachment holder equipped with a shutter biased by a spring on the front. It is configured to be mounted on a removable storage device.

[0013]

The interchangeable storage device of the present invention integrates a 3.5-inch flexible magnetic disk device used as an external storage device of a personal computer with an IC memory card determined by JEIDA VER, 4. The memory card is inserted along the holding guide portion of the attachment, and is inserted from the corresponding insertion / ejection port of the exchangeable storage device together with the attachment body portion integrally provided at the lower portion, and the outside of the holding guide portion is It is held by a sliding guide of an attachment holder mounted on the exchangeable storage device.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an exchangeable storage device capable of accessing either a 3.5-inch flexible disk cartridge or a JEIDA VER, 4 IC memory card.
In the figure, 27 is the main body of the exchangeable storage device, 28 is an IC
This is an attachment for mounting the memory card 1, and has the same vertical width as the flexible disk cartridge 6. 29g is a front panel, 29h is an insertion / ejection port for the IC memory card 1 and the flexible disk cartridge 6, and a shutter portion is omitted in the drawing. 29i
Is a push button for discharging the flexible disk cartridge 6. Since the width of the IC memory card 1 is smaller than that of the flexible disk cartridge 6, the attachment 28 according to the present invention is required.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the attachment structure of FIG. In the figure, 28a is an attachment main body,
28b is a fixing lever of the IC memory card, and a screw 28c
Is attached so as to be rotatable 180 degrees.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram relating to a procedure for using the attachment. 3 shows a state before the IC memory card 1 is mounted, and the fixing lever 28b is open outward. II in FIG. 3 shows the progress of the insertion of the IC memory card 1 into the slot of the attachment main body 28a. The IC memory card 1 is inserted along the holding guide portion 28d to cope with irregularities for preventing the IC memory card 1 from being erroneously inserted. It stops at the stopper 28e provided. In III of FIG. 3, when the IC memory card 1 is inserted to a predetermined position, the fixing lever 28b is rotated by 180 degrees, and is fixed by intervening in the lever stopper groove 28f of the attachment body. 28
g is a slit as a sliding guide for insertion into an attachment holder described later.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of the attachment holder. In the figure, 29 is an attachment holder, 2
9a is an attachment holder main body, 29b is a shutter of the attachment holder, and 29c is a receiving side connector pin for an IC memory card. The attachment holder main body 29a is provided with flanges 29j as sliding guides on both inner sides, and the slit 28g on the outer side of the holding guide 28d shown in FIG. .

FIG. 5 is a view showing an embodiment of a shutter spring structure of the attachment holder. Attachment body 29
A and a shutter 29b use a shutter spring 29d obtained by bending a spring-like metal bar, and the spring is always in a shielded state when the IC memory card 1 is not inserted, thereby preventing foreign matter such as dust from entering. 5 shows a state before the shutter 29b is attached to the attachment holder main body. When the shutter 29b is attached, the shutter spring 29d is moved by an arrow D.
And assembled into the mounting holes 29e and 29f.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the components of the storage device according to the present invention. This device is based on a conventional flexible magnetic disk device, and can be dealt with by only a partial design change to support an IC memory card without major changes. Reference numerals 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, and 30e in the figure denote mechanism components that operate when the flexible disk cartridge is inserted and ejected, and correspond to the components of the loading mechanism 12 shown in FIG. 31 is an electric circuit board on which peripheral circuits necessary for driving the storage device are mounted, 32 is a shield cover mainly for electric shielding of the electric circuit board 31, 2
9g is a front panel. In the drawing, the attachment holder main body portion 29a of FIG. 4 is adhered to a portion indicated by a broken line on the electric circuit board 31, and the connector pins 29c are inserted into through holes of the electric circuit board 31 and soldered.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the main body of the storage device and the attachment holder. In the figure, the electric circuit board 31 and the shield cover 32 of the apparatus are omitted for the sake of explanation.
First, a flexible disk cartridge 6 not shown
The operation of the cartridge holder 30e when the is inserted is schematically described. When the edge of the flexible disk cartridge 6 comes into contact with the lever 30c, the shutter 17 of the flexible disk cartridge 6 is opened. Then, the hub 15 of the flexible cartridge 6 and the magnetic chuck included in the disk rotation mechanism 11 are joined. At the same time, the pair of magnetic heads of the carriage assembly 9 comes into contact with the flexible information recording medium 14. Therefore, in order to perform the function of the flexible disk device, the cartridge holder 30 is required.
e must be moved up and down. On the other hand, IC memory cards
There is no need to open and close the disk rotating mechanism and the disk cartridge shutter. Attachment holder body 29a
Is adhered and fixed to the electric circuit board 31, the cartridge holder 30e is formed in a concave shape in the embodiment of the present invention, and the attachment holder main body 29a and the card plug 3 are attached.
Notches are provided so that 6d does not contact.

The above is an embodiment of an apparatus which can access any of a flexible disk cartridge and an IC memory card used in the present invention. FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of a device that can access both at the same time. In this apparatus, a front panel 34 attached to a main body 33 of the exchangeable storage device has an insertion / ejection port 34 with a shutter corresponding to a flexible disk cartridge and an IC memory card, respectively.
a and 34b and discharge push buttons 35a and 35b, which can be individually handled.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an IC memory card holder case with a built-in storage device capable of directly accessing the IC memory card of FIG. In the figure, 36 is the entire IC memory card holder case, 36a is an aluminum alloy U-shaped holder having four screw mounting portions, and 36b is a guide for the IC memory card 1 made of a plastic material. Also, the shutter 36c and the card plug 36d of the insertion / ejection port are shown in FIG.
The same ones as 29b and 29c are used.
The IC memory card holder case 36 is directly screwed to the electric circuit board for use. The physical positional relationship with the cartridge holder 30e for the flexible disk cartridge is the same as that shown in FIG. 7, and a structure that does not allow the two to be in contact with each other is required.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an electric circuit board used for the storage device of the present invention. I in FIG. 10 shows a configuration in which one interface connector C1 is connected to one electric circuit board 31, and a peripheral circuit for driving a flexible magnetic disk device and a peripheral circuit for driving an IC memory card are divided. One sheet without separation (including mounting and dividing into multiple electric circuit boards and connecting them to each other with cables, etc.)
Is mounted on an electric circuit board, and is connected to the host computer by one interface connector. II in FIG. 10 shows a case where the two functions are separated and dedicated interface connectors C2 and C3 are provided corresponding to the two functions and connected to the host computer, but the electric circuit board is not necessarily separated into two. However, in terms of mounting, the interface connector should be
One method is also possible.

Although not shown, as a modified embodiment of the present invention, a sliding guide formed on both inner sides of the attachment holder 29 is provided with a slot instead of the flange 29j, and a corresponding sliding plate is attached to the attachment. 28 may be provided on both sides of the holding guide portion 28d.

[0025]

As described above, according to the electric exchange type storage device of the present invention, the front panel, the loading mechanism and the electric circuit board of the conventional 3.5-inch flexible magnetic disk device are changed, and the attachment is newly added. , An attachment holder and the like, and the attachment of the IC memory card is provided with a holding guide portion of the IC memory card and an attachment body portion integrally provided below and attached to and detached from the same insertion and ejection opening as the flexible disk cartridge. An attachment provided with an IC memory card through a common thin insertion / ejection port, and a flexible disk cartridge, Can be selectively detached and attached The holder has a slide guide for holding the outside of the holding guide portion of the IC memory card inside and a shutter provided on the front surface, so that the attachment can be smoothly attached to the attachment holder, and the dust can be removed when not in use. Can be protected from intrusion of
With the above configuration, a 90 mm flexible disk cartridge defined by JIS X6221 and an IC memory card defined by the standard guideline JEIDA VER, 4 can be dealt with accurately and quickly in common.
It is possible to provide an optimum storage device for a notebook type personal computer which is saving space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 3.5 inch flexible cartridge and JEID
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an exchangeable storage device that can access any one of AVER, 4 IC memory cards.

FIG. 2 is a plan view and a front view of the attachment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view relating to a procedure for using the attachment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an attachment holder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shutter spring structure of the attachment holder.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a component configuration of a storage device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the main body of the storage device and the attachment holder.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of an apparatus capable of simultaneously accessing a flexible disk cartridge and an IC memory card.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of an IC memory card holder case.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an electric circuit board used for a storage device.

FIG. 11 is an external view of an IC memory card.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an IC memory card and an IC memory card device.

FIG. 13 is an external view of a holder mechanism with eject.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a flexible magnetic disk device.

FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram of a flexible disk cartridge.

FIG. 16 is an embodiment of a flexible magnetic disk device described in US Pat. No. 4,891,727.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC memory card 2 IC memory card holder 3 Interface connector 4 Controller circuit board for control 5 IC memory card ejection mechanism 5a Eject button 5b Slide table 6 3.5 inch flexible disk cartridge 7 Flexible magnetic disk device 8a Front panel 8b Flexible Disc cartridge insertion / ejection slot 9 Carriage assembly 10 Head feed mechanism 11 Disk rotation mechanism 12 Loading mechanism 13 Frame 14 Flexible information recording medium 15 Hub 16 Protective plastic case 17 Shutter 18 Head insertion slot 19 Flexible magnetic disk device 20 Chucking Hub 21 Semiconductor cartridge 22 Magnetic head 23 Storage medium insertion slot 24 Connector 25 Discrimination hole 26 Hole detection switch 27 Main body of exchangeable storage device 28 Attachment 28a Attachment main body 28b Fixing lever for IC memory card 28c Screw 28d Holding guide 28e Stopper 28f Lever stopper groove 28g Slit 29 Attachment holder 29a Attachment holder main body 29b Attachment holder shutter 29c Connector Pin 29d Shutter spring 29e Mounting hole 29f Mounting hole 29g Front panel 29h Insertion / ejection port 29i Push button 29j Sliding guide 30a Mechanical component 30b Mechanical component 30c Mechanical component 30d Mechanical component 31 Electric circuit board 32 Shield cover 33 Main body of exchangeable storage device 34 Front panel 34a Insert / eject port with shutter 34b Insert / eject port with shutter 35a Discharge push button 35b Discharge push button 3 IC memory holder casing 36a aluminum alloy of the U-shaped holder 36b guide 36c shutter 36d card contact plugs C1 interface connector C2 interface connector C3 interface connector

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-33991 (JP, A) JP-A-2-255997 (JP, A) JP-A-64-3725 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 184695 (JP, A) JP-A-4-251481 (JP, A) JP-A-3-124262 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06K 17/00-19 / 077 G11B 23/00 G11B 25/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An exchangeable storage device capable of recording and reproducing information by replacing a flexible disk cartridge and an IC memory card mounted on an attachment, wherein the attachment of the IC memory card comprises a holding guide portion of the IC memory card, It is provided integrally at the bottom,
And an attachment body detachably attached to the flexible disk cartridge from the same insertion / ejection opening, so that it can be attached / detached from an insertion / ejection opening provided on the front surface of the exchangeable storage device corresponding to the attachment. Replaceable storage device. 2. An exchangeable storage device is provided with an attachment holder provided with a slide guide for holding the outside of the holding guide portion of the IC memory card inside and a shutter urged by a spring on the front surface. 2. The exchangeable storage device according to claim 1, wherein: