JP3152190B2 - Peripheral device connection slot - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral device connection slot for using a peripheral device in a computer, and more particularly, to a peripheral device connecting a peripheral device to a computer in order to use a PCMCIA standard peripheral device in the computer. The present invention relates to a device connection slot.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-17511 (hereinafter referred to as Reference 1), Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-92399 (hereinafter referred to as Reference 2), and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. No. 120863 (hereinafter, reference 3)
Are known.

The above-mentioned references 1 to 3 relate to a slot structure of a card-type electronic device (hereinafter, PC card). Further, “slot structure” in the specification of the present invention
Unless otherwise specified in the specification of the present invention, a slot structure formed by using a connector as described in the above-mentioned documents 1 to 3, and a notebook generally used today. It is considered to be consistent with the recognition of the slot structure for a PC card used in a type computer or the like. Further, among the above-mentioned documents, especially Document 2 shows an example of a conventional slot structure having a complicated ejection mechanism for ejecting a PC card.

On the other hand, regarding the standard of a PC card, “PC
The MCIA Rel.2.1 "specification is helpful. However, although this specification describes in detail both the hardware and the software of the PC card, it is not essential as a material for confirming the contents of the present invention and the prior art. Instead, "Basic knowledge of PC card development" described in CQ Publishing's "Interface" June 1995 issue, pp.60-67, author Masahiro Kitagawa / Koichi Kitahori (hereinafter,
This will be described using reference 4). In this document 4,
The PC card described in the “PCMCIA Rel.2.1” specification and general PC card slot shapes are described. PC cards and the like described here are treated as “peripheral devices” unless otherwise specified in the present specification, and are similarly handled in “slot structure”. For the general PC card shape, see p.
"PC card size". The conventional slot structure is shown in “PC Card Slot Shape” on p. Pp.66-of the above publication
An empirical problem with the conventional slot structure was pointed out at 67.

[0005]

A first problem common to these prior arts is that the types and number of available peripheral devices are limited.

The reason for this is that, as shown in FIG. 16, a conventional slot generally inserts one or two peripheral devices typified by the PCMCIA standard from the side of a computer housing. It is arranged to be able to.
In the structure of FIG. 16, the TYPE I of the PCMCIA standard is used.
Two I (type two) size peripherals, or
Only one peripheral device of the PCMCIA standard type III (type three) size (corresponding to the peripheral device 4 in FIG. 16) can be used.

[0007] A second problem is that the design flexibility of peripheral devices is reduced.

[0008] The reason is that the conventional slot has a limitation that the peripheral device must have a card-type shape in consideration of insertion into the conventional slot. However, there are technical limitations in reducing the size of peripheral devices and making them into a card-type shape. In addition, those having a structure peculiar to peripheral devices such as a CD-ROM drive and a floppy disk drive should be made into a card-type shape. Can be difficult. In the case of using a device having a structure peculiar to this peripheral device, in the conventional slot 6, as shown in FIG. 17, a peripheral device 10 that cannot be inserted from the insertion slot can be inserted into the slot 6 using the cable 9. Computer 8 via the peripheral device 7
Connection between the computer 8 and the peripheral device 10
Since the structural integration is not ensured, the convenience of the peripheral device 10 is impaired. For example, in recent years, peripheral devices such as mobile phones and digital cameras have become widespread, and PCMCIA
There is a strong desire to connect these peripheral devices to a computer via an interface. In this case, in the conventional slot structure, it is necessary to connect to a connector inside the slot using a connection cable as shown in FIG. 17, or to have the peripheral device have a design including a card type shape. Therefore, there is a problem that the degree of freedom in designing peripheral devices is greatly impaired.

A third problem is that the visibility of display information on the peripheral device surface is lacking.

The reason is that referring to FIG. 16, the peripheral device 4 inserted into the slot 1 and connected to the connector 2
Since it is inserted deep into the computer 3, the display information 5 written on the surface of the peripheral device 4 cannot be confirmed in the inserted state. For this reason, in order to confirm what function the peripheral device 4 has, the user using the computer 3 must first put the peripheral device 4 out of the slot and check the display information 5. However, the only option is to check the software using an operating system or the like installed in the computer. For this reason, there is a problem that visibility of display information on the peripheral device surface is lacking.

Next, a fourth problem is that it is difficult to simplify the slot structure.

The reason is that the conventional peripheral device inserted into the slot requires a complicated mechanism for discharging the peripheral device to the outside of the computer as described in Document 2 because it is inserted deeply into the slot. And For this reason, there is a problem that the slot structure is necessarily complicated.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has the following objects.

A first object of the present invention is to alleviate restrictions on the types and the number of peripheral devices which can be used by directly inserting them into slots.

A second object of the present invention is to enable a flexible design of the shape of a peripheral device.

A third object of the present invention is to ensure visibility of display information described on the surface of a peripheral device.

A fourth object of the present invention is to make it possible to simplify the slot structure by not necessarily requiring a mechanism for discharging peripheral devices, and to further facilitate a method of removing the peripheral devices. It is.

[0018]

According to the present invention, a peripheral device connection slot is provided with an opening for opening all or a part of the front side of the peripheral device in addition to an insertion slot for inserting the peripheral device. It is characterized by. Thus, the first to fourth objects are achieved.

In the above configuration, a mechanism for protecting a connector for connecting the computer and the peripheral device is provided.

Here, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides openings 13 and 14 for opening all or a part of the front side of the peripheral devices 18 and 19, thereby preventing the peripheral devices 18 and 19 from being inserted. Part is relaxed,
TYPE II peripheral device 18 and TYPE III peripheral device 19 are inserted into connectors 15, 16 through insertion ports 11, 12.
, And can be used at the same time in the computer 17, which makes it possible to use peripheral equipment which is difficult with the conventional slot. Therefore, as can be seen from FIG. 1, for example, the peripheral device 18 of TYPEII and the peripheral device 19 of TYPEIII can be used at the same time, and the first object is achieved. Further, since the display information 20 and 21 can be confirmed even when the peripheral device is connected to the computer 14, the third object is achieved.

Further, it becomes possible to connect and use peripheral devices having a shape that cannot be inserted by a conventional slot.
The reason will be described with reference to FIG.
This is because the peripheral device 28 can be freely designed in shape outside the opening 25. In the example of FIG. 2, an example of a mobile phone is given as an example of the peripheral device 28. However, in this mobile phone, the shape of the upper surface side of the opening 25 can be freely designed. Therefore, the second object is achieved. Further, since the peripheral device 28 can be directly connected to the computer 27 via the connector 26 of the slot 30, the peripheral device 28 and the computer 27 can be structurally integrated, and the convenience of the peripheral device is improved.

Further, in a state where the peripheral device 28 and the computer 27 are connected, the user of the computer 27 can easily check the display information 29 written on the surface of the peripheral device. Is achieved. Further, the opening 25
Since the peripheral device 28 can be easily removed by pushing the peripheral device 28 out of the computer 27 using a finger or the like, the structure of the slot 30 can be simplified by not requiring a mechanism for discharging the peripheral device. Is possible, and the fourth
Is achieved.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the configuration of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, in addition to the insertion ports 11 and 12 for inserting the peripheral devices 18 and the peripheral devices 19, openings 13 and 14 for opening all or a part of one side surface of each peripheral device are provided. The peripheral device 18 and the peripheral device 19 inserted into this slot are connected to the computer 17 by the connectors 15 and 16. The display information 20 and the display information 21 written on the peripheral device 18 and the peripheral device 19 can be confirmed from the openings 13 and 14.

(Embodiments) Next, various embodiments of the present invention constituted by the above components will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

First, in the slot structure shown in FIG. 3, an opening 31 for opening all or a part of the front surface side of the peripheral device is provided in addition to the insertion port 30 for inserting the peripheral device.
Peripheral devices are inserted along the guide 34 of the slot 35 from the insertion port 30 and can be connected to the computer 33 by the connector 32.

Next, in the slot structure shown in FIG. 4, the slots 35 in FIG. 3 are arranged side by side as shown in FIG. The slot 36 and the slot 37 in FIG. 4 do not have a problem that a peripheral device inserted into one of the slots blocks the other slot and cannot be used as in the conventional slot.

Further, the slot structure shown in FIG.
Are arranged vertically. The slot 38 and the slot 39 in FIG. 5 have respective openings above and below the computer.

Further, the slot structure shown in FIG. 6 has an opening 4 for opening all or a part of the front side of the peripheral device.
1 and two openings 42 are provided. With such a configuration, it is possible to design a peripheral device with more flexibility.

Further, the slot structure shown in FIG. 7 is a slot 43 in which two slots are arranged vertically, and two slots are provided as an opening 44 and an opening 45 for opening all or a part of the front side of the peripheral device. It is provided.

Further, the slot structure shown in FIG.
A movable plate capable of adjusting the opening amount of the opening 31 of the slot 35 is attached. In FIG. 8, the movable plate 48 is slid to freely adjust the opening amount of the opening 47. The slot 46 may make the movable plate 48 transparent so as to ensure the visibility of display information written on the surface of the peripheral device.

The slot structure shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a movable plate capable of opening and closing the opening 31 of the slot 35 in FIG. In FIG. 9, the movable plate 51
To open and close the opening 50. The slot 49 may make the movable plate 51 transparent in order to ensure the visibility of display information written on the surface of the peripheral device.

FIG. 10 shows a structure in which the connector shown in FIG. 3 is exposed from the opening, and a slot is formed by a cover for protecting the connector. In FIG. 10, this is realized by inserting a connector cover 58 for protecting the connector 57 from the insertion opening 55 of the slot 54 in the same manner as the insertion of peripheral equipment. Even in a conventional slot, there is a connector cover to be inserted into the slot, but it must be a connector cover having a shape that can be inserted into the conventional slot, as with peripheral devices. Even if the connector cover 58 to be inserted into the slot 54 has a shape that cannot be inserted into a conventional slot, the shape of the connector cover 58 can be flexibly designed as long as the connector cover 58 utilizes the open portion 56.

The slot structure shown in FIG. 11 is a slot structure having a connector protection mechanism. The connector cover 60 for protecting the connector is opened by the operation of inserting the peripheral device from the insertion port 61, and the connector cover 60 is closed again by the operation of discharging the peripheral device.

Next, the configuration of FIG. 11 will be described in more detail.

FIG. 12 is a development view of the configuration of FIG. The support mechanism 62 for fixing the connector cover 60 shown in FIG. 12 is configured such that when the peripheral device is not inserted into the slot, the connector cover 60 is fixed from below by the support pins 63 and the peripheral device is inserted. The support pins 63 placed below the connector cover 60 are housed inside the support mechanism 62 to release the fixing of the connector cover 60. The support mechanism 62 is a mechanism that prevents the connector cover 60 from being opened by the external force applied from the opening 59 and the connector 70 from being easily exposed.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the support mechanism 62 of FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is a developed view of FIG. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the support mechanism 62 includes a support pin 63, a support mechanism cover 66 and a support mechanism base 67.
The lever 64 and the support mechanism spring 65 are sandwiched. The support pin 63 and the lever 64 are connected by a connection portion 63d of the support pin 63 and a connection portion 64d of the lever 64.
The support mechanism spring 65 is mounted by passing the key portions 65a and 65b through the spring holes 63c and the spring holes 64c. With the support mechanism spring 65 mounted, the fulcrum 63b is passed through the support pin shaft 67a, the fulcrum 64b is passed through the lever shaft 67b, and the support pin 63 and the lever 64 are connected to the support mechanism cover 66.
The support mechanism 67 is attached to the support mechanism
2. Since the protrusion 64a of the lever 64 is pushed into the support mechanism and stored by the peripheral device insertion operation, the lever 64 rotates about the lever shaft 67b as a fulcrum. Since the connecting portion 64d slides along the guide 66a of the support pin cover 66, the connecting portion 63d also slides along the guide 66a. For this reason, the support pin 6
3 rotates about the support pin shaft 67a as a fulcrum. Support pin 6
3, the support portion 6 protruding from the support mechanism 62
3a is housed inside the support mechanism 62, and the fixing of the connector cover 60 is released.

As shown in FIG. 12, the connector cover 60 is supported by a connector cover spring 68 provided below the connector cover 60. Connector cover 6
When the peripheral device is no longer supported by the support pins 63 due to the insertion operation of the peripheral device, the operation of inserting the peripheral device further deeply pushes the connector cover shaft 60a as a center toward the lower part of the housing to fit in the storage area 69. . As a result, the connector 70 is opened, and connection between the peripheral device and the computer 72 becomes possible. When the peripheral device is ejected, the lever 64 and the support pin 63 are pushed back to a position where the peripheral device is not inserted by the force of the support pin spring 65 fixed to the spring shaft 67c, and the protrusion 64a and the support portion 63a are moved. It again projects outside the support mechanism 62. The protruding protrusion 64a and the support 63a appear from the side hole 71a and the side hole 71b of the housing upper part 71, respectively. By the discharging operation of the peripheral device, the connector cover 60 is jumped up by the connector cover spring 68 and returns to the position for protecting the connector 70 again. The support mechanism 62 fixes the connector cover 60 so that the connector cover 60 is not easily opened by inserting the support portion 63a emerging from the side hole 71b below the connector 70.

[0039]

The first effect is that in a conventional computer,
The slot can be mounted without impairing its shape convenience, and the type and number of conventional peripheral devices that can be used are reduced. The reason for this is that the provision of the opening makes it possible to realize a slot configuration in which the peripheral device inserted into the slot does not interfere with the connectors of other slots as shown in FIG. Is easily realizable. For example, the peripheral device 18 of TYPEII and the peripheral device 19 of TYPEIII shown in FIG. 1 can be directly inserted into a slot and used simultaneously without using a connection cable or the like.

The second effect is that it is possible to directly connect a peripheral device having a shape that cannot be inserted into a conventional slot to a computer, so that structural integration when the peripheral device and the computer are connected can be realized. Therefore, the convenience of peripheral devices is improved. The reason is that the provision of the opening makes it possible to freely design the shape of the peripheral device, which has been restricted in the conventional slot, to the outside of the computer from the opening. As shown in FIG. 2, a peripheral device 28 that cannot be inserted by a conventional slot can be inserted into a slot 30 having an opening 25 and used.

The third effect is that the display information written on the peripheral device surface can be easily confirmed in a state where the display information is inserted into the slot, and the display information can be visually recognized. The reason is that display information written on the peripheral device surface can be read from the opening in a state where the computer and the peripheral device are connected.

The fourth effect is that the present slot realizes a simplification of the slot structure by not necessarily requiring a mechanism for removing the peripheral device, and the peripheral device can be easily discharged. become. The reason is that the peripheral device in the conventional slot was deeply inserted into the slot from the insertion slot, so a mechanism was required to eject the inserted peripheral device. This is because the device can be easily ejected from the computer by pushing it out. At the same time, the slot structure can be simplified since no special mechanism is required for discharging the peripheral device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the present invention when a peripheral device is a mobile phone.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the present invention provided with a connector cover.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the present invention provided with another connector cover.

FIG. 12 is a development view of the configuration of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of the support mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a development view of the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a developed view of a configuration including a support mechanism in the configuration of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a conventional peripheral device connection slot.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another example of the structure of the conventional peripheral device connection slot.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Insert opening 12 Insert opening 13 Opening 14 Opening 15 Connector 16 Connector 17 Computer 18 Peripheral device 19 Peripheral device 20 Display information 21 Display information 30 Insertion opening 31 Opening 32 Connector 33 Computer 34 Guide 35 Slot 36 Slot 37 Slot 38 Slot 39 Slot 40 Slot 41 Opening 42 Opening 43 Slot 44 Opening 45 Opening 46 Slot 47 Opening 48 Movable plate 49 Slot 50 Opening 51 Movable plate 54 Slot 55 Insertion opening 56 Opening 57 Connector 58 Connector cover 59 Opening 60 Connector cover 60a Connector cover shaft 61 Insertion port 62 Support mechanism 63 Support pin 63a Support part 63b Support point 63c Spring hole 63d Connection part 64 Lever 64a Projection part 64c Spring hole 4d connecting portion 65 supporting mechanism spring 65a key part 65b the key portion 66 supporting mechanism cover 67 supporting mechanism base 67a supporting pin 67b lever shaft 67c spring shaft 68 connector cover spring 69 housing area 70 connector 71a side holes 71b Side hole

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-289776 (JP, A) JP-A-3-175517 (JP, A) JP-A-9-69016 (JP, A) JP-A-9-54632 (JP) JP-A-7-219676 (JP, A) JP-A-9-81699 (JP, A) JP-A-5-181565 (JP, A) JP-A-5-8643 (JP, U) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 1/16 H01R 12/18 H01R 13/52

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Insert a peripheral device used in a computer
An insertion port, and a connector for connecting the peripheral device and the computer.
And a peripheral device connection slot having at least
And the computer connected to the peripheral device is connected to the peripheral device.
Opening that opens all or part of the top of the peripheral deviceYes
And If the peripheral device and the computer are not connected,
A connector that covers the front of the connector and protects the connector.
Kuta cover, If no peripheral device is inserted in the computer,
Lock the connector cover and insert the peripheral device
Unlock the connector cover with
While pressing down the connector cover, connect the peripheral device to the connector
And a support mechanism that can be inserted up to the Have thing
A peripheral device connection slot. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting mechanism is configured to control the peripheral device.
A position to protect the connector by the discharging operation of the computer
Until the connector cover is returned by elastic force.
2. The peripheral device connection slot according to claim 1, wherein: