JPH04355892A - Memory card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a memory card having a magnetic display part where a character and a graphic, etc., are drawn and erased by permitting a magnetic component to approach to the surface of a card-shaped case so as to move it. CONSTITUTION:Plural hexagonal columnar bodies 19 whose upper faces are white and flat are arrayed in the magnetic display part 14. Very small black iron balls 22 are housed to be freely movable in the clearance between the side face of the respective columnar bodies 19 and parting plates 20. When a magnetic pen 15 comes near to a ceiling 21, the iron balls 22 are attracted by the magnet 16 and converged in the clearance between the upper surface of the columnar body 19 and the ceiling 21. Black dots on a white ground are seen on the surface of the magnetic display part 14 by the iron balls 22. Thus, the character and graphic are drawn on the surface of the magnetic display part 14.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a memory card comprising a semiconductor memory housed in a card-like case, and particularly to a memory card having a magnetic display portion on the surface thereof which can be freely rewritten by the user. Regarding.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a memory card in which a semiconductor memory is housed in a card-like case is widely used in small computer systems, electronic still cameras, etc. because of its thinness and light weight. The storage capacity of a memory card and the type of data handled vary depending on the application, but for example, in the case of an electronic still camera, it is set to store image data, control data, etc. within a storage capacity of about 10 Mbits. The control data includes information such as the number of shots taken and the shooting date. This information is automatically read from the memory card when it is inserted into a camera or playback device, and is displayed to the user through the display. It is transmitted as necessary information.

By the way, when using a memory card in an electronic still camera, it is not often thought of to store photographed image data on the card for a long period of time. The reason for this is that, at present, the price per unit capacity of memory cards themselves is an order of magnitude higher than that of other recording media, and in most cases the captured image data is stored on large-capacity, inexpensive storage devices such as magnetic tape or optical disks. It is used to transfer and store it on a medium. In other words, the memory card in an electronic still camera plays a strong role as a temporary storage medium until captured image data is transferred to a large-capacity recording medium, and the information on the card is frequently rewritten.

On the other hand, the amount of image data for one still image taken with an electronic still camera ranges from several hundred Kbits to several Mbits, so the number of still images that can be recorded on one memory card is limited. However, if you want to take a lot of pictures, you need to prepare multiple memory cards in advance according to the number of pictures you want to take. In this case, information on what kind of images have been recorded on which memory cards and information on how many still images can be recorded on each memory card is required. Such information is displayed when a memory card is inserted into an electronic still camera, playback device, etc., but handling the memory card becomes extremely complicated if multiple memory cards are checked one by one between shots.

[0005] Conventionally, it has been considered to attach a paper label to the surface of a memory card and write information unique to the memory card on this paper label. Since the information is frequently rewritten, the paper label must be replaced each time, which poses the problem of inconvenience and impractical handling.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, conventional memory cards have the problem of being inconvenient to handle because there is no way for the user to easily recognize information specific to each card. .

[0007] Therefore, the present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an extremely good memory card that allows the user to easily write and erase necessary information on the surface. purpose.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A memory card according to the present invention is directed to a memory card in which a semiconductor memory is housed in a card-like case. A magnetic display part is provided on the surface of the card-like case, on which characters, figures, etc. can be drawn or erased by moving a magnetized member close to the card-like case.

[0009]

[Operation] According to the above structure, by moving the magnetized member close to the surface of the card-like case,
Since a magnetic display section on which characters, figures, etc. can be drawn and erased is provided, the user can easily write and erase necessary information on the surface of the memory card.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1(a) shows a memory card 11. As shown in FIG. This memory card 11 has a semiconductor memory (not shown) housed in a card-shaped case 12, and a connector 13 for external connection is exposed on one end surface of the case 12. And card-like case 12
A magnetic display section 14 is adhered to the surface of. This magnetic display section 14 includes a magnetic pen 15 as shown in FIG. 1(b).
You can draw letters, figures, etc. by tracing with. This magnetic pen 15 is formed in the shape of a general pencil, and the portion corresponding to the lead is a magnet 16. Further, a concave guide portion 18 having a length equal to the width L of the card-like case 12 is formed in the grip portion 17 of the magnetic pen 17, and the magnet 16 is exposed on the bottom surface of the concave guide portion 18.

[0011] Here, the magnetic display section 14 has a structure in which a plurality of hexagonal columnar bodies 19 whose upper surfaces are white and flat are arranged in a plane, as shown in FIG. ing. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, a predetermined interval is provided between adjacent columnar bodies 19, and each columnar body 19 is separated by a partition plate 20. The height of the partition plate 20 is set to be slightly higher than the upper surface of the columnar body 19, as shown in FIG. 3(b). A transparent ceiling plate 21 is installed at the upper end of the partition plate 20 so as to face the upper surface of each columnar body 19. Furthermore, a fine black iron ball 22 is movably inserted into the gap between the side surface of each columnar body 19 and the partition plate 20. This iron ball 22 is connected to the upper surface of the columnar body 19 and the ceiling plate 21.
It is designed so that it can fit into the gap between the two.

[0012] Now, all the iron balls 22 are connected to each columnar body 1.
9 and the partition plate 20, when the magnetic display unit 14 is viewed from the outside, the white color of the upper surface of each columnar body 19 can be seen through the ceiling plate 21. become. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4(a), when the tip of the magnetic pen 15 is brought close to the ceiling plate 21, it is attracted by the magnet 16, and the iron ball 22 is brought into contact with the side surface of the columnar body 19 and the partition plate 20. When the magnetic pen 15 is brought closer to the ceiling plate 21, it floats up in the gap between the two, as shown in FIG. 4(b).
As shown in FIG.
It is focused in the gap between 1 and 1. Then, the upper surface of the columnar body 19 is covered with the iron ball 22, so that when the magnetic display section 14 is viewed from the outside, the surface appears as a black dot on a white background. Therefore, by tracing the surface of the ceiling board 21 with the magnetic pen 15, the traced part turns black.
Desired characters, figures, etc. can be easily drawn on the surface of the magnetic display section 14.

Next, when erasing characters, figures, etc. drawn on the magnetic display section 14 as described above, as shown in FIG. It is installed so as to contact the surface of the card-like case 12 opposite to the surface to which the magnetic display section 14 is attached, and is slid along the guide section 18 in the longitudinal direction of the card-like case 12, that is, in the direction of the arrow in the figure. let Then, as shown in the state change from FIG. 6A to FIG.
are attracted by the magnets 16 exposed on the bottom surface of the guide section 18, and fall into the gap between the side surface of each columnar body 19 and the partition plate 20, and when the magnetic display section 14 is viewed from the outside, its surface The white color on the top surface of each columnar body 19 is the ceiling plate 21.
You can see through it, and you can erase text, figures, etc. here.

Therefore, according to the structure of the above-described embodiment, a magnetic display section 14 is provided that allows characters, figures, etc. to be drawn or erased by tracing the surface of the card-like case 12 with a magnetic pen 15. Therefore, the user can easily write, erase, and rewrite unique information on the memory card 11.

Next, FIG. 7 shows another configuration of the magnetic display section 14. As shown in FIG. In this case, the magnetic display section 14 is
Generally speaking, as shown in FIG. 7, it has a structure in which a large number of spherical magnets 23 are arranged in a plane. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, each spherical magnet 23 has one half of the sphere magnetized as an S pole and the other half as an N pole, and each of the spherical magnets 23 is rotated independently by a fixed wall 24. Supported to make it possible. Moreover, this spherical magnet 23 has a white color on the south pole side and a black color on the north pole side. And each spherical magnet 2
3 is made visible from the outside through a transparent plate 25.

[0016] Now, all the spherical magnets 23 are
Assuming that the pole side is facing the transparent plate 25 side, when the magnetic display unit 14 is viewed from the outside, the white color of the S pole side of each spherical magnet 23 can be seen through the transparent plate 25. Become. In this state, as shown in FIG. 9(a),
When the S-pole magnetic pen 26 approaches the transparent plate 25, the spherical magnet 23 facing the tip of the magnetic pen 26 is reversed by the repulsive force of the magnetic field, and its N-pole side, that is, the black side, approaches the transparent plate 25.
When the magnetic display unit 14 is viewed from the outside, its surface appears as a black dot on a white background. Therefore, by tracing the surface of the transparent plate 25 with the magnetic pen 26, the traced portion turns black, so that desired characters, figures, etc. can be easily drawn on the surface of the magnetic display section 14.

Furthermore, when erasing characters, figures, etc. drawn on the magnetic display section 14 as described above, the process shown in FIG. 9(b) is performed.
As shown in the figure, when the N-pole planar magnet 27 is brought close to the transparent plate 25, the entire spherical magnets 23 are aligned so that their S-pole side, that is, the white side, faces the transparent plate 25 side, and characters and figures are placed here. etc. can be erased. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[0018]

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an extremely good memory card that allows a user to easily write and erase necessary information on the surface.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a memory card according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the magnetic display section of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the magnetic display section.

FIG. 4 is a diagram shown to explain a writing operation to the magnetic display section.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an erasing operation on the magnetic display section.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an erasing operation for the magnetic display section.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing another example of the configuration of the magnetic display section.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the magnetic display section.

FIG. 9 is a diagram shown for explaining write and erase operations on the magnetic display section.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Memory card, 12... Card-like case, 13... Connector, 14... Magnetic display part, 15... Magnetic pen, 16... Magnet, 17... Grip part, 18... Guide part, 19... Column body, 20
...Partition plate, 21...Ceiling board, 22...Iron ball, 23...Spherical magnet, 24...Fixed wall, 25...Transparent plate, 26...Magnetic pen, 2
7... Planar magnet.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a memory card in which a semiconductor memory is housed in a card-like case, characters, figures, etc. can be drawn or erased by moving a magnetized member close to the surface of the card-like case. A memory card characterized in that it is provided with a magnetic display section that allows for. 2. The magnetic display section includes a plurality of columnar bodies having flat upper surfaces and arranged in a plane, and an upper end set higher than the upper surface of the plurality of columnar bodies to partition adjacent columnar bodies. A partition member, a light transmitting plate installed at the upper end of the partition member so as to cover the plurality of columnar bodies, and a fine magnetic material interposed between the side surface of the columnar body and the partition member. 2. The memory according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body is moved to the upper surface of the columnar body by moving the magnetized member close to the surface of the light transmitting plate. card. 3. The magnetic display unit includes a plurality of spherical magnets, each of which has a different color and is magnetized to one and the other polarity, each of which is independently rotatably supported and arranged in a plane. 2. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein each spherical magnet is rotated by moving the magnetized member close to the plurality of spherical magnets. 4. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the magnetized member is formed in a pen shape and has a guide portion corresponding to the width of the card-like case in a grip portion.