JPH0450622Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] This invention relates to a unit that has the function of a case for storing media such as cassette tapes and compact disks, and the function of a rechargeable power source.

[Conventional technology]

With the development and spread of headphone type cassette tape players, portable compact disc players, etc., opportunities to enjoy music etc. outdoors have increased. For example, when using a headphone-type cassette tape player, all you need is the player, headphone, and recorded audio cassette tape.
You can enjoy music etc. anywhere.

Along with these portable audio devices,
One item that is almost always carried is a media case that stores cassette tapes and compact discs.

At present, dry batteries are the most commonly used power source for the portable audio equipment mentioned above, but headphone-type cassette tape players and compact disk players, which can operate with relatively low voltage and small current, are powered by solar batteries. The use of has also been attempted. For example, players have already been developed in which an amorphous semiconductor solar cell is attached to the player body and used as a power source.

Furthermore, in place of dry batteries, secondary batteries such as Ni-Cd batteries that can be used repeatedly by being charged are being used in some areas.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, the above portable devices using solar cells have the following problems.

First, when solar cells are exposed to direct sunlight, the inside of the device becomes hot, which has a negative effect on the electronic components and media inside.

Second, the surface of portable devices is equipped with various switches and knobs, display panels, media attachment/detachment openings, confirmation windows, and heat dissipation windows, so avoid installing solar cells while avoiding these. available, and the available area is limited.

Third, solar cells installed in portable devices are difficult to use when used as power sources for other devices.
Lacks versatility.

In order to deal with these problems, it is conceivable to use a power supply unit equipped with a solar cell separately from the portable device. However, when using such a power supply unit, in addition to portable equipment, etc.
A separate power supply unit must be carried, which is inconvenient.

On the other hand, rechargeable batteries are heavy compared to the amount of power they provide, and can be used for only a short time on a single charge.
There are some disadvantages such as it takes a long time to charge. For this reason,
Currently, it is hardly used in headphone type cassette tape players, compact disk players, etc., which require miniaturization.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to enjoy music etc. using a portable device such as a headphone type cassette tape player without increasing the amount of luggage that must be carried. The purpose is to solve a problem.

[Means to solve the problem]

The structure of this invention will be explained with reference to the reference numerals in the drawings. Solar cells 4, 4 are attached to a case body 1 that is adapted to the shape of a media such as a tape or a compact disk. In addition, a pair of foldable secondary battery holding terminals 14, 1 are provided in the case body 1.
4 is provided, and the secondary battery holding terminals 14, 14 are connected to the solar cells 4, 4 via the charging controller 12.

[Effect]

By placing the media case so that the light-receiving surface side of the solar cell 4 faces the sun, electric power can be obtained from the solar cell 4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery holding terminal 14,
The secondary batteries 13, 13 are charged by standing up the battery 14 from the case body 1 and attaching the secondary batteries 13, 13 between them.

Furthermore, when the secondary batteries 13, 13 are not being charged, the secondary battery holding terminals 14, 14 can be folded as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

〔Example〕

Next, examples and preferred embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The illustrated embodiment is an application of this invention to an audio cassette case.

The case body 1 consists of a box body 2 made of polystyrene resin or the like and a lid body 3, and the lid body 3 is attached by a hinge 9.
is attached to the box body 2 so as to be openable and closable. Solar cells 4, 4 are attached to the inner surfaces of the box body 2 and the lid body 3 (the side where the tape cassette is stored),
All of these light-receiving surfaces are directed toward the inside of the cassette case 1.

The solar cells 4, 4 can be attached by using channel-shaped, claw-shaped fixtures, etc. in addition to bonding. Furthermore, the solar cells 4 and 4 can be attached to the outer surface of the box 2 and the lid 3 instead of the inner surface. In this case, the box 2 and the lid 3 are both made of a transparent material, It is preferable to adhere the light-receiving surfaces of the solar cells 4, 4 to these. Moreover, the solar cells 4, 4 may not be attached to both the box body 2 and the lid body 3, but may be attached only to one of them.

A charging controller 12, secondary battery holding terminals 14, 14, and a female connector 8 are attached to the front portion of the box 2 in a row.

By raising the secondary battery holding terminals 14, 14 from the bottom surface of the box body 2 as shown by solid lines in FIG. 2, the secondary batteries 13, 13 can be installed between them. Furthermore, when the secondary batteries 13, 13 are removed, they can be folded up as shown by the two-dot chain line.

Generally, the charging controller 12 has a charging protection function and a backflow prevention function. Further, the female connector 8 is equipped with a plug-in switch mechanism, and as shown in FIG. 3, the male connector b
When the connector b is inserted, the movable contacts 18, 18 which are in contact with the fixed contacts 17, 17 are separated by the connector b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the secondary battery holding terminal 14,
14 is the fixed contact 17, 1 of the female connector 8.
7, movable contacts 18, 18 in contact therewith, and the filling controller 12, which are connected to the solar cells 4, 4. In addition, in Figures 1 and 2, 1
5, 15, . . . indicate wiring conductors for these connections.

As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery terminal 14,
14 from the box body 1, and during this time remove the secondary battery 1.
The secondary batteries 13, 13 can be charged by attaching the batteries 3, 13 and opening the box 2 and lid 3 to expose the light-receiving surfaces of the solar cells 4, 4 to sunlight or illumination light.

On the other hand, when the male connector b is inserted into the female connector 8, the movable contacts 18, 18 are separated from the fixed contacts 17, 17 of the female connector 8, and at the same time,
Contacts c and c of male connector b are connected to the fixed contacts 17 and 17, respectively. Therefore, by inserting the male connector b connected to the power supply circuit of the external device a into the female connector 8, the solar cells 4, 4 can be switched and used as the power source for the external device a. can.

As already mentioned, when the secondary batteries 13, 13 are not being charged, this is connected to the secondary battery holding terminals 14, 14.
2, and fold the terminals 14, 14 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. As a result, the bottom surface of the box body 2 becomes substantially flat, and a space for storing media can be secured.

Note that this invention can be similarly applied to other media cases such as disk cases in addition to the above-mentioned cassette cases. Of course, the arrangement of the above-mentioned parts can be changed as appropriate depending on the shape of the media case, the shape of the media to be stored, etc.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to this invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(a) Since the solar cell 4 is attached to the media case from which the contents inside can be freely taken out, the device and media can be used without being affected by direct sunlight.

(b) Since the solar cell 4 can be attached to a media case whose surface is hardly used, the solar cell 4 can be attached using a relatively large area without being restricted by other things.

(c) Since the secondary electron holding terminals 14, 14 are foldable, when the secondary batteries 13, 13 are not being charged, the holding terminals 14, 14 can be folded out of the way, and the case body 1 storage space can be used widely.

(d) Since the solar battery 4 is attached to a media case that is almost always carried along with portable devices, the solar battery 4 can be used as a secondary power source for charging without increasing the number of unnecessary items to carry. It can be used as Moreover, since charging can be performed at any time in the presence of light, high practicality is achieved, such as the use time of the secondary batteries 13, 13 being substantially extended.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a media case/power supply unit with the lid open, showing an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the main parts of the power supply unit;
FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram of the unit. 1...Case body, 2...Box body of the case body,
3...Lid of case body, 4...Solar cell, 12
...Charging controller, 14...Secondary battery holding terminal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A case body 1 that is adapted to the shape of a media such as a tape or a compact disk is equipped with solar cells 4 and 4.
At the same time, the case body 1 is provided with a pair of foldable secondary battery holding terminals 14, 14, and the solar cells 4, 4 are connected via the charging controller 12.
A media case characterized in that secondary battery holding terminals 14, 14 are connected to the .