JP5564900B2 - Memory card holding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a memory card holding device that holds a plurality of memory cards of the same type and is mounted on a device using a memory card such as a digital camera, a video camera, and a PC.

  In recent years, devices using memory cards such as digital cameras, video cameras, PCs, etc., are compatible with the increase in capacity associated with recording of high-quality images and moving images, and in order to improve the convenience of data management, a plurality of memories of the same type Some are equipped with a memory card holding device capable of holding a card.

  Such a memory card holding device generally includes a plurality of memory card connectors for holding a plurality of memory cards of the same type.

  Conventionally, the plurality of memory card connectors are arranged such that when the plurality of memory cards held by the connectors are viewed from a direction orthogonal to the memory card plane, the entire surfaces of the plurality of memory cards overlap (the orthogonal projection position is It was arranged to overlap). That is, when a plurality of memory card connectors have a plurality of memory card insertion slots extending in parallel to each other, the plurality of memory card connectors are inserted into and removed from the connector insertion slot and the memory card All the arrangement positions in the direction orthogonal to both the plane and the direction orthogonal to the plane were the same.

JP 2004-153430 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-167889

  However, according to the present inventor, when the plurality of memory card connectors are viewed from the direction orthogonal to the plane of the memory card when the plurality of memory cards held in the connector are viewed from the direction perpendicular to the memory card plane, the entire surfaces of the plurality of memory cards overlap. (When the orthogonal projection positions overlap), when operating a memory card device, it is difficult to identify a plurality of memory cards and memory card connectors to be operated with just the touch of a fingertip without looking at them. There is a risk of causing an erroneous operation. For example, if you try to load a memory card into a specific memory card connector among multiple memory card connectors, but you accidentally load a memory card into another memory card connector, or a memory card loaded into a specific memory card connector The memory card loaded in another memory card connector may be ejected by mistake.

  On the other hand, a gap between adjacent memory card connectors among a plurality of memory card connectors can be secured only about several millimeters due to layout restrictions, and it is difficult to insert an operator's finger into this gap. Therefore, when the arrangement positions in the direction orthogonal to both the memory card insertion / removal direction and the memory card plane orthogonal direction are all the same, when operating one memory card held in the adjacent memory card connector, The memory card may interfere with the operator's finger. For example, when only one memory card in the loading position (ejecting position) is pushed in and ejected (loaded), other adjacent memory cards are also pushed together, or only one memory card in the ejecting position is inserted. When picking up from the ejection position, it may be difficult to pinch other adjacent memory cards.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of the above problem awareness, and can identify a plurality of memory cards and memory card connectors to be operated only by the touch of a fingertip without visually observing them, and adjacent memory cards. An object of the present invention is to provide a memory card holding device in which another memory card does not interfere with an operator's finger when operating one memory card held by a connector.

The memory card holding device of the present invention is a memory card holding device having a plurality of memory card connectors for holding a plurality of memory cards of the same type, wherein the plurality of memory card connectors are held by the memory card connectors. When the memory card is viewed from a direction orthogonal to the memory card plane, the memory cards are arranged such that a part of the plurality of memory cards overlap and the other part does not overlap, and the plurality of memory card connectors include the plurality of memory cards. The plurality of memory card planes to be inserted have a plurality of insertion openings extending in directions that are in a twisted relationship with each other while keeping the plurality of memory card planes parallel to each other, and the plurality of memory card connectors are orthogonally projected according to the twisted relationship The plurality of memory card connectors have the same virtual rotation And the rotation angle formed by the adjacent memory card among the plurality of memory cards held by the plurality of memory card connectors is set within a range of 12 ° to 30 °. It is characterized by being.

  The plurality of memory card connectors can be housed in a memory card operation room provided in a housing of a memory card using device. In this case, the plurality of memory cards have operation end portions that do not overlap each other when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the memory card plane at the loading position and the ejection position, and the memory card operation chamber includes the plurality of memory cards. It is preferable to have a stepped bottom surface that exposes the operation end. The memory card operation chamber can be opened and closed by an open / close lid hinged to the housing.

  The plurality of memory card connectors hold a plurality of memory cards to be inserted into the plurality of insertion ports in a stable state at a loading position and an ejection position, and the plurality of memory card connectors are the same as the plurality of memory cards. It is preferable to have a loading mechanism and a discharging mechanism of specification.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to identify a plurality of memory cards and memory card connectors to be operated only by the touch of a finger without visually observing them, and operate one memory card held in an adjacent memory card connector. Thus, it is possible to provide a memory card holding device in which other memory cards do not interfere with the operator's finger.

1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a digital camera equipped with a memory card holding device according to the present invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the memory card loading state of the memory card holding device by this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the memory card discharge state of the memory card holding device by this invention. It is a front view which shows the arrangement configuration of the memory card connector of the memory card holding device according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the advantage at the time of operating the memory card hold | maintained at the adjacent memory card connector. It is explanatory drawing corresponding to FIG. 5 about the memory card holding | maintenance apparatus which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the arrangement configuration of the several memory card connector in the memory card holding | maintenance apparatus which concerns on another embodiment of this invention.

  An embodiment in which the memory card holding device 20 of the present invention is applied to a digital camera (a device using a memory card) 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The memory card holding device 20 is a dual slot type capable of holding two memory cards of the same type.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a shutter button 3, a power lever 4, a display panel 5, a mode dial 6, and a hot shoe 7 are disposed on the upper surface of the housing 2 of the digital camera 1. A finder 8, an image monitor 9, a remote control light receiving unit 10, and a card access lamp 11 are arranged on the rear surface of the housing 2. A sync terminal 12, a tripod screw hole 13, and an external IF connector 14 are arranged on the left side surface of the housing 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a memory card operation chamber 21 is formed on the left side surface of the housing 2, and the memory card operation chamber 21 is coupled to the housing 2 by a hinge shaft (not shown). The opening / closing lid (card cover) 22 can be opened and closed. 2 and 3, the opening / closing lid 22 is omitted. An engagement claw portion (not shown) is formed on the back side of the opening / closing lid 22 facing the memory card operation chamber 21, and this engagement claw portion is formed with an engagement hole portion (not shown) of the housing 2. By engaging, the opening / closing lid 22 is held in a closed state, and by releasing the engagement, the opening / closing lid 22 is opened.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two memory card connectors 30 and 40 are accommodated in the memory card operation chamber 21. The memory card connectors 30 and 40 have insertion openings (connector insertion openings) 31 and 41 extending in directions parallel to each other (direction parallel to the hinge axis). The insertion openings 31 and 41 open to the memory card operation chamber 21. doing. The memory card connectors 30 and 40 have two memory cards 32 and 42 of the same type (for example, an SD card, an SDHC card, a CF card, a PC card, etc.) to be inserted into the insertion ports 31 and 41. And it can hold | maintain in the discharge | emission position (FIG. 3) in the stable state. The memory card connectors 30 and 40 include a loading mechanism (not shown) that holds the memory cards 32 and 42 at the loading position, and a discharge that ejects the memory cards 32 and 42 at the loading position toward the outside of the housing 2. A mechanism (not shown) is provided. As this loading mechanism and ejection mechanism, for example, a push-push type that repeats loading and ejection each time a memory card is pushed in can be adopted. Further, from the viewpoint of improving manufacturing efficiency, it is preferable that the loading mechanism and the discharging mechanism have the same specifications.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the memory card connectors 30 and 40 are connected to both surfaces of the single circuit board 23 through electrical contacts 33 and 43, and the memory card 32 loaded in the memory card connectors 30 and 40, Any one of 42 can be accessed from the circuit board 23 to record image data. During recording of image data, the card access lamp 11 disposed on the rear surface of the housing 2 is turned on. When the memory cards 32 and 42 are at the ejection position, image data cannot be recorded.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the memory card connectors 30 and 40 are memory cards when the memory cards 32 and 42 held by the connectors are viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the memory card (a direction perpendicular to the plate surface). 32 and 42 are arranged so that a part of them overlaps and the other parts do not overlap (so that the orthogonal projection positions are different from each other). That is, the memory card connectors 30 and 40 are inserted in and removed from the insertion ports 31 and 41 (loading / discharging direction), and the direction perpendicular to the memory card plane of the memory cards 32 and 42 (plate surface orthogonal). Are arranged so that the positions in the direction (insertion port extending direction) perpendicular to both of them are different by a distance d (so that the connection positions on both surfaces of the circuit board 23 are shifted by a distance d). Therefore, the memory cards 32 and 42 held by the memory card connectors 30 and 40 are also arranged so that the positions in the insertion port extension direction differ by the distance d. The memory cards 32 and 42 have operation end portions 32X and 42X that do not overlap with each other when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the memory card plane at the loading position and the discharge position. It has a stepped bottom surface 21X that exposes the end portions 32X and 42X (FIGS. 2 and 3).

  When the memory card is loaded into the memory card holding device 20, it is confirmed that the power of the digital camera 1 is turned off, and then the opening / closing lid 22 is opened to open a memory card connector that opens into the memory card operation chamber 21. The memory card is pushed into the insertion ports 31 and 41 of the 30 and 40 and loaded. Further, when the memory card loaded in the memory card holding device 20 is ejected, the memory card at the loading position is pushed again to be positioned at the ejection position (projected). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when both the memory cards 32 and 42 are in the loading position, when one memory card 32 is ejected from the memory card connector 30, the operation end 32X of the memory card 32 is pushed in. To position (extrude) at the discharge position. Further, when both the memory cards 32 and 42 are in the ejection position, when one of the memory cards 42 is loaded into the memory card 40, the operation end 42X of the memory card 42 is pushed into the loading position.

  In the present embodiment, when the memory card connectors 30 and 40 are viewed from a direction orthogonal to the plane of the memory card (a direction perpendicular to the plate surface) when the memory cards 32 and 42 held by the connectors are viewed. Arranged so that one part overlaps and the other part does not overlap (the orthogonal projection positions are different from each other), that is, the insertion / removal direction (loading / discharging direction) of the memory cards 32, 42 with respect to the insertion ports 31, 41, and the memory card Since the positions of the direction orthogonal to both the direction orthogonal to the plane of the memory card 32 and 42 (the direction orthogonal to the plate surface) are different from each other (the direction of extension of the insertion slot), when loading and ejecting the memory card, As a result of being able to identify the memory card and the memory card connector, which are the operation targets, only by the touch of the fingertip without visually observing the memory card and the memory card connector, the operability can be improved. That is, when the memory card is loaded, an attempt to load the memory card into the memory card connector 30 (40) can be prevented, but an erroneous operation of loading the memory card into the memory card connector 40 (30) can be prevented. Although an attempt is made to eject the memory card loaded in the memory card connector 30 (40), an erroneous operation of ejecting the memory card loaded in the memory card connector 40 (30) by mistake can be prevented.

  Further, when one of the memory cards 32 and 42 held by the adjacent memory card connectors 30 and 40 is operated, the other memory card does not interfere with the operator's finger. That is, when one of the memory cards 32 and 42 in the loading position (discharge position) is discharged (loaded), one of the operation end portions 32X and 42X may be pushed in, and the other adjacent memory card is pushed together. It wo n’t end up. Further, when one of the memory cards 32 and 42 in the ejection position is picked up and taken out from the ejection position, the other adjacent memory card does not get in the way and become difficult to pinch. The gap between adjacent memory card connectors can be secured only about a few millimeters due to layout restrictions, and it is difficult to insert an operator's finger into this gap, but the memory card 32, Since a space for pushing or pinching only one of 42 is ensured, the operability is not deteriorated due to restrictions on the layout.

  FIG. 6 shows a memory card holding device 40 according to another embodiment of the present invention. For simplification of explanation, the illustration of the memory card connector is omitted, and only the memory cards 50 and 60 held by the memory card connector are illustrated. The memory card connector that holds the memory cards 50 and 60 has an insertion slot extending in a direction in which the memory card planes are parallel to each other while being parallel to each other, and the memory cards 50 and 60 are connected in accordance with the twist relation. When viewed from a direction orthogonal to the plane of the memory card (in the direction orthogonal to the plate surface), the memory cards 50 and 60 are arranged such that a part thereof overlaps and the other part does not overlap (the orthogonal projection positions are different from each other). More specifically, the memory card connectors that hold the memory cards 50 and 60 are arranged to rotate about the same virtual rotation axis C by an angle α, and therefore the memory cards 50 and 60 also have the same virtual rotation. It is positioned by being rotated by an angle α around the axis C. Accordingly, the memory cards 50 and 60 have operation end portions 50X and 60X that do not overlap each other when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the memory card plane at the loading position and the discharging position.

  When both the memory cards 50 and 60 are in the loading position (FIG. 6A), when the memory card 50 is ejected from the memory card connector, the operation end 50X of the memory card 50 is pushed in to eject the memory card 50. (FIG. 6B), and the memory card 50 is taken out by pinching the operation end 50X. Conversely, when the memory card 60 is ejected from the memory card connector and taken out, the operation end 60X of the memory card 60 is pushed in and protruded to the ejection position (FIG. 6C), and the operation end 60X is removed. Pinch the memory card 60 out.

  Also in this other embodiment, when one of the memory cards 50, 60 in the loading position (discharge position) is discharged (loaded), one of the operation end portions 50X, 60X may be pushed in, and the other adjacent Never push the memory card together. Further, when one of the memory cards 50 and 60 at the ejection position is picked up and taken out from the ejection position, the other adjacent memory card does not get in the way and become difficult to pinch. That is, since the space for pushing and pinching only one of the memory cards 50 and 60 is secured by the operation end portions 50X and 60X, when operating one of the adjacent memory cards 50 and 60, the other memory card Does not interfere with the operator's finger. Further, since the memory cards 50 and 60 are only rotated and arranged by the angle α, the space in the memory card operation room 21 can be saved (the degree of freedom in layout can be increased).

  The angle α at which the memory cards 50 and 60 are rotated is preferably set within a range of 12 ° to 30 °. If the angle α is less than 12 °, it is difficult to identify the memory card and the memory card connector to be operated with only the touch of the fingertips without visually observing the operation, and the operation ends 50X and 60X There is a possibility that the space becomes so small that it is difficult to push in or pinch the memory cards 50 and 60 and the operability is lowered. When the angle α exceeds 30 °, the opening / closing lid 22 needs to be enlarged, so that the apparatus becomes large, space saving in the operation room 21 cannot be achieved, and layout restrictions occur. Since the direction of pushing is greatly different, the usability may be deteriorated. Furthermore, when the angle α exceeds 30 °, it may be difficult to recognize that a relevant item is included. In an extreme example, when the angle α is 90 °, even if one memory card 50 (60) is recognized as a memory card, the operation direction of the other memory card 60 (50) is completely different. If it is a separate member, it may cause misunderstanding.

  FIG. 7 shows a memory card holding device 70 capable of holding three memory cards, and only the arrangement configuration of three memory card connectors holding three memory cards is drawn in a skeleton. 7A, among the three memory card connectors 71, 72, 73, the direction in which the adjacent memory card connectors 71, 72 and the insertion slots 71a, 72a, 73a of the memory card connectors 72, 73 extend (insertion slot extension). (Direction) are sequentially different by a distance d. 7B, among the three memory card connectors 74, 75, and 76, the direction in which the adjacent memory card connectors 74 and 75 and the insertion ports 74a, 75a, and 76a of the memory card connectors 75 and 76 extend (insertion port extension). (Direction) are different from each other by a distance d, and the positions of the memory card connectors 74 and 76 that are not adjacent to each other in the direction in which the insertion ports 74a, 75a, and 76a extend (the insertion port extension direction) are the same. The above arrangement of the memory card connector is an example, and can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the housing 2, the arrangement position of the memory card operation chamber 21, and the like.

  In the above embodiment, the memory card holding device capable of holding two or three memory cards has been described as an example. However, the memory card holding device of the present invention can hold four or more memory cards. It can be.

  The memory card holding device of the present invention can be similarly applied to various memory card using devices such as a video camera and a PC in addition to a digital camera.

  The memory card holding device of the present invention is not limited to a mode in which a plurality of memory card connectors are formed in a housing of a memory card using device (stored in a memory card operation room). The present invention can be similarly applied to a device that is established separately (for example, a card reader that is connected to a memory card using device and used integrally).

1 Digital camera (device using memory card)
2 Housing 20 Memory card holding device 21 Memory card operation room 21X Step bottom 22 Opening / closing lid (card cover)
30 40 Memory card connector 31 41 Insertion slot (connector insertion slot)
32 42 Memory card 32X 42X Operation end 40 Memory card holding device 50 60 Memory card 50X 60X Operation end 70 Memory card holding device 71 72 73 74 75 75 76 Memory card connector 71a 72a 73a 74a 75a 76a Insert port (connector insertion) mouth)
C Virtual rotation axis

Claims (5)

In a memory card holding device comprising a plurality of memory card connectors for holding a plurality of memory cards of the same type,
The plurality of memory card connectors are arranged such that when the plurality of memory cards held by the memory card connector are viewed from a direction orthogonal to the memory card plane, a part of the plurality of memory cards overlap and the other part does not overlap. What
The plurality of memory card connectors have a plurality of insertion openings into which the plurality of memory cards are inserted, the plurality of memory card planes extending in directions in a twisted relationship with each other while keeping the plurality of memory card planes parallel.
The plurality of memory card connectors are arranged so that orthogonal projection positions differ according to the twist relationship;
The plurality of memory card connectors are arranged to rotate around the same virtual rotation axis, and rotation made by an adjacent memory card among the plurality of memory cards held by the plurality of memory card connectors The angle is set within a range of 12 ° to 30 °,
A memory card holding device. The memory card holding device according to claim 1 ,
The plurality of memory card connectors are a memory card holding device housed in a memory card operation chamber provided in a housing of a memory card using device. The memory card holding device according to claim 2 ,
The plurality of memory cards have operation end portions that do not overlap each other when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the memory card plane at the loading position and the discharging position,
The memory card operation chamber has a stepped bottom surface exposing the operation end portions of the plurality of memory cards. The memory card holding device according to claim 2 or claim 3 ,
The memory card holding device can be opened and closed by an open / close lid hinged to the housing. The memory card holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The plurality of memory card connectors hold a plurality of memory cards to be inserted into the plurality of insertion ports in a stable state at a loading position and a discharging position,
The memory card holding device, wherein the plurality of memory card connectors have a loading mechanism and a discharging mechanism having the same specifications as the plurality of memory cards.

Images