JPH01192592A - Memory card storage case - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the volatilization of data accompanied by the consumption of a data holding battery, by a method wherein, a back-up battery having a voltage higher than the data holding battery is provided in a memory card storage case body, and connection terminals conducting to this battery and being connected to external power source terminals of a memory card are provided. CONSTITUTION:When a memory card 20 is inserted into a card storage part 3 of a case 1 to be stored, external power source terminals 26 and 27 of the memory card 20 are respectively brought into contact and connected with connection terminals 5 and 6 provided by conducting to a back up battery 4, and a power supply is started from the back-up battery 4 through these terminals 26, 27, 5, and 6. At this time, because a voltage held by the back-up battery 4 is higher than that of a data holding battery 22, a reverse bias acts to a battery-side diode 23 in the memory card 20 and results in the interruption of a power supply from the data holding battery 22 to a RAM memory 21. In this manner, a power from the back-up battery 4 is supplied to the RAM memory 21 through a power source side diode 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a memory card storage case in which a memory card having a built-in data retention battery is stored.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a memory card equipped with a RAM memory such as a Suftic RAM has a built-in data retention battery for retaining data stored in the RAM memory. And among such memory cards,
Cards with a small memory capacity that does not require replacing the data retention battery during actual use are configured as battery-embedded cards with a data retention battery integrated into them, and cards with a large memory capacity. Cards that require a large power source to retain data are generally configured as battery-replaceable cards in which the data retaining battery can be replaced due to restrictions on the external dimensions of the card.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view schematically showing the basic configuration of such a memory card, in which reference numeral 20 indicates a memory card having a generally rectangular outer shape in plan view, and 21 indicates an RA.
M memory 22 is a data retention battery. The power supply (Vcc) terminal of this RAM memory 21 is connected to the battery 2 via a battery side diode 23 and an overcurrent protection resistor 24.
2, and the power supply side diode 25
It is connected to one external power terminal 26 disposed on the connector side end surface 20a of the memory card 20 via the connector. Further, the ground (GND) is connected to the other end of the battery 22 and the other external power terminal 27 provided on the connector side end surface 20a. That is, in this memory card 20, this is an external DC power supply (
The NB supply from the external power supply to the RAM memory 21 when connected to (not shown) and the power supply from the data retention battery 22 when not connected are as follows:
It is to be switched by the switching action of two diodes 23,25.

Therefore, when the voltage of the external power source is higher than the voltage of the battery 22, that is, during read/write operations when the memory card 20 is connected to the external power source, the external power terminals 26 and 27 are connected to the external power source. Power is supplied to the RAM memory 21 from this external power supply.

Furthermore, when the memory card 20 is not connected to an external power source, that is, when storing stored data, power is supplied from the battery 22 to the RAM memory 21.

Note that the reference numeral 28 in the figure is a battery voltage detection terminal used to detect and confirm the power supply voltage held by the data retention battery 22. is 51
It is approximately 2KB (kilobyte), and with this memory capacity, the period during which data in the RAM memory 21 can be effectively retained by power supply from the data retention battery 22, that is, the period during which the battery 22 is consumed is It is known from experience that the total number of shots is approximately one year. The period during which such data can be retained will be shortened as the memory capacity of the memory card increases.

Therefore, in these memory cards, it is necessary to replace the data retention battery before the above period has elapsed.
There is a problem in that troublesome period management must be carried out for this purpose, and if the above-mentioned period is exceeded, valuable data will be lost due to the battery 22 being exhausted.

This invention was made in order to solve such problems, and is capable of retaining data stored in the RAM memory of a memory card for a long period of one year or more. To provide a memory card storage case capable of reducing the time and effort required for period management regarding the replacement of a data retention battery and preventing data from disappearing due to exhaustion of the data retention battery.

1. (4) Means for Solving] The memory card storage case according to the present invention has a case body in which a memory card having a built-in data retention battery has a voltage higher than that of the data retention battery. This device is characterized by a configuration in which a backup battery is provided, and a connection terminal is provided which is electrically connected to the backup battery and connected to an external power supply terminal of the stored memory card.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, the RAM memory of the memory card housed in the case body is connected to a backup battery having a voltage lower than that of the data retention battery through its external power supply terminal and the connection terminal connected thereto. Power is supplied from Only after a long period of time corresponding to the power capacity of this backup battery has passed, that is, after the backup battery has been exhausted, can power be supplied from the data retention battery built into the memory card. will be held.

Therefore, the RAM of the memory card is used for a period corresponding to the power supply capacity of the backup battery for a longer period than in the conventional example.
The data stored in the memory will be retained continuously, which will reduce the time management effort associated with replacing the data retention battery built into the memory card, and will also reduce the amount of data stored as the data retention battery is depleted. This will effectively prevent the disappearance of

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a memory card storage case according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 is the memory card storage case, 2 is the case body, 3 is the card storage section, and 4 is the memory card storage case. The backup amplifier batteries 5 and 6 are connection terminals arranged in electrical continuity with the backup battery 3, respectively. The memory card itself housed in this case 1 has the same structure as that shown in the conventional example shown in FIG. Detailed illustrations and explanations will be omitted.

One end side (
In the figure, a concave card storage section 3 into which the memory card 20 is inserted and stored is formed on the right side (in the figure), and a data retention battery 22 built into the memory card 20 is formed inside the other end. A backup battery 4 having a high voltage is also provided. Note that this backup battery 4 is replaceable via a lid (not shown) provided on the case body 1. Also,
A pair of connection terminals 5.6 connected to external power terminals 26.27 of the memory card 20 are exposed on the inner end surface 3a of the card storage section 3, which is in contact with the connector side end surface 20a of the stored memory card 20. It is arranged in.

Therefore, when the memory card 20 is inserted and stored in the card storage section 3 of the case 1, the external power terminal 26 of the memory card 20 is connected to the connection terminal 5.6 which is arranged in electrical continuity with the backup battery 4. 27 are in contact and connected, respectively, and these terminals 26, 27, 5. Power supply from the backup battery 4 is started via 6. At this time, since the voltage stored in the bank amplifier battery 4 is higher than the voltage of the data retention battery 22, the battery side diode 23 in the memory card 20 shown in FIG. 5 is reverse biased. As a result, the power supply from the data retention battery 22 to the RAM memory 21 is cut off. As a result, the RAM memory 21 is supplied with power from the backup battery 4 via the power supply diode 25.

Therefore, as long as the memory card 20 is stored in the case 1, data will be retained in the RAM memory 21 until the bank amplifier battery 4 is significantly consumed and its voltage drops below that of the data retention battery 22. Since power is not supplied from the storage battery 22, consumption of the data storage battery 22 can be prevented. In addition,
Such a backup battery 4 is not limited by the external dimensions of the memory card 20 like the data retention battery 22, so for example, one with a large capacity expressed in mHA units may be selected. This has the advantage that the data in the RAM memory 2I can be retained for a long period of time, such as several years, corresponding to its capacity. Moreover, it goes without saying that this backup battery 4 may be a so-called negative battery or a secondary battery.

Next, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view schematically showing a memory card storage case according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a backup battery 4 is provided in the memory card storage case l. This embodiment differs from the embodiments described above in that a voltage sensor capable of detecting the level of the power supply voltage held by the backup battery 4 and the data retention battery 22 built into the memory card 20 is provided. That is, the code 7.8 in this figure indicates the case body 2.
A voltage sensor 9 is provided inside the case body 2, and 9 is a voltage display section consisting of an LED arranged on the surface of the case body 2.

One sensor 7 that detects the voltage held by the backup battery 4 is connected to a switch between connecting terminals 5 and 6 provided on both ends of the battery 4, that is, on the inner end surface 3a of the card storage section 3 in the case body 2. 10. The other sensor 8 that detects the voltage of the data retention battery 22 built into the memory card 20 is provided on the inner end surface 3a of the card storage section 3 and is connected to the memory card 20.
A switch 12 is connected between the connection terminal 11 connected to the battery voltage detection terminal 28 of 0 and the connection terminal 6 .

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the switch IO is closed (ON), the voltage held by the backup battery 4 is changed by lighting, blinking, or turning off the LED constituting the voltage display section 9, for example, as shown in FIG. The backup battery 4 is expressed as shown in the example.
The quality of the product can be easily determined. Further, the voltage held by the data retention battery 22 is also expressed in the same way as described above by closing (ON) the switch 12.

Note that the voltage display means in the voltage display section 9 is not limited to display using LEDs, and may, for example, display the voltage value or sound a warning buzzer when the voltage value is below a predetermined value. It is also possible to configure Further, in the second embodiment, although the voltage sensors 7 and 8 are provided to individually detect the voltages of the bank amplifier battery 4 and the data retention battery 22, for example, By connecting the connection terminal 11 to the voltage sensor 7, it is also possible to configure the voltage sensor 7 to detect both voltages. Alternatively, it may be configured such that only the voltage held by the data retention battery 22, which is more likely to be lost due to battery exhaustion, that is, the voltage held by the data retention battery 22, can be detected and confirmed.

In this way, if a voltage sensor capable of detecting at least the height of the power supply voltage held by the data retention battery 22 built into the memory card 20 is provided in the case body 2,
This sensor has the advantage that it is possible to judge and confirm whether the data holding battery 22 is good or bad, and that appropriate measures such as battery replacement can be taken based on this judgment result.

Furthermore, when a secondary battery is used as the backup battery 4 in the embodiment of the present invention, the backup battery 4 may be externally charged by an external charging device having a predetermined structure. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an example of such an external charging device, and the reference numeral 13 in this figure is an AC adapter, 14. . . . is a connector portion into which the memory card storage case 1 is inserted and electrically connected, and 15 is an adapter outlet. That is, according to this external charging device, if the adapter outlet 15 is connected to a commercial power source (not shown), etc., and the memory card storage case 1 is attached to the connector portion 14 of the adapter 13, RAM memory 21 of memory card 2o while charging backup battery 4
It is possible to retain the data stored in the .

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a backup battery having a higher voltage than the data retention battery is provided inside the case body in which a memory card with a built-in data retention battery is housed, and the backup battery has a higher voltage than the data retention battery. There is a connection terminal that conducts with the battery and is connected to the external power terminal of the stored memory card, so power is supplied from the back amplifier battery to the RAM memory of the memory card stored inside the case body. After a long period of time corresponding to the power capacity of the backup battery has elapsed, power is supplied from the data retention battery built into the memory card.

Therefore, the RAM of the memory card lasts for a period corresponding to the power supply capacity of the back amplifier battery compared to the conventional example.
The data stored in the memory is retained continuously and data lifespan can be substantially extended. Therefore,
It is possible to significantly reduce the time and labor involved in managing the period of data retention battery replacement, and it is also possible to effectively prevent data from disappearing due to consumption of the data retention battery.

Furthermore, since the memory card is housed inside the case, it effectively prevents dust from adhering to the memory card's external power terminal and other connectors, which can cause poor contact. There is also an additional effect that the reliability of the memory card can be improved by preventing the occurrence of the problem.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view schematically showing a memory card storage case according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view schematically showing a memory card storage case according to another embodiment, and FIG. The figure is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display state in a voltage display section, FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an example of an external charging device, and FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the basic configuration of a memory card. . In the figure, 1 is a memory card storage case, 2 is a case body, 4 is a backup battery, 5°6.11 is a connection terminal, 7 and 8 are voltage sensors, 20 is a memory card, 2
2 is a data retention battery, and 26 and 27 are external power supply terminals. Note that the same reference numerals in the drawings indicate parts and portions that are the same or correspond to each other.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A backup battery with a higher voltage than the data retention battery is provided inside the case body in which a memory card with a built-in data retention battery is stored, and the stored memory is electrically connected to the backup battery. A memory card storage case characterized by having a connection terminal connected to an external power supply terminal of the card.