JPH06259611A - Lock device for information apparatus using attachable/ detachable information recording storage member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a memory card from being taken out in its access state and to permit it to be taken out except in the access state by an easy operation. CONSTITUTION:When the access state is set, between a memory card 1 and an apparatus by the control of a general control part 15, an electromagnetic magnet 14 is fed from a magnet feed circuit 16 to turn a stop claw member 10 clockwise. Then, the stop claw 10 enters into a linear guide hollow part 4a, and therefore, a lock part 7c of an eject button 7 is detained by the stop claw 10 and a transmission lever 5 cannot be turned even if the eject button 7 is depressed. When the access state is released, feed to the electromagnetic magnet 14 is broken, and the stop claw member 10 is turned counterclockwise by a coiled spring 13, and the operation of the eject button 7 is not restricted by the stop claw member 10, and therefore, the transmission lever 5 is turned and the memory card 1 is projected from a card storage part 2a together with a card eject plate 3 when the eject button 7 is depressed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses an information recording / storing member such as a memory card, a cartridge or a hard disk which is detachably or replaceably attached to a main body of an information device as a recording medium, for example, an electronic camera or an IC. The present invention relates to a lock device in an information device such as a card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A memory card, a cartridge, which is detachably attached to or replaceable with a main body of an information device,
An information device such as an electronic camera or an IC card, which uses an information recording / storing member (hereinafter, simply referred to as “memory card”) such as a hard disk as a recording medium, is already widely used.

In such an information device, while the necessary information stored in the memory card is transmitted to the main body of the information device, for example, the inserted memory card is removed from the card accommodation portion of the information device, or , When an external force is applied to the inserted memory card, the information cannot be transmitted from the memory card to the information device, or the information to be transmitted is transmitted incompletely. Moreover, there is a risk that the memory card may be damaged.

[0004]

Therefore, while the necessary information is being transmitted from the memory card to the main body of the information device, that is, while the memory card and the main body of the information device are being accessed, such information transmission is not possible. It is necessary to protect the electrical and mechanical connection between the memory card and the main body of the information device from the above-mentioned external factors so that the inhibition phenomenon does not occur.

As examples devised based on such an idea, for example, the disclosed techniques of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-104260 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-54097 are already known.

According to these techniques, after the memory card is inserted into the card accommodating portion of the information device, the insertion state is once locked and the memory card is taken out (discharged).
In some cases, the user manually releases the locked state and moves the memory card to the ejection position by using mechanical movement or electromagnetic movement.

Further, in the information device with the lock device configured as described above, since the memory card cannot be operated while the memory card and the main body of the information device are being accessed, an unfamiliar user may mistake the device for failure. Because of this, there is a need to display that the device is currently being accessed or is in the locked state when in the locked state.

Further, in such an information device, if the electric connection between the memory card and the device is incomplete when entering the locked state, the intended purpose of transmitting information from the memory card to the device can be achieved. This will result in the disappearance. In other words, it operates in an incomplete state.

Therefore, in such a case, it is necessary to prevent the incomplete operation by stopping the lock and notifying the user of the state.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. A first object of the present invention is to allow a user to record information when the information recording / storing member and the main body of the information device are in an access state. An object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for an information device that uses a detachable information recording storage member that can be taken out by a simple operation when the storage member cannot be taken out and is not in an access state.

A second object of the present invention is that when the user cannot take out the information recording / storing member (locked state), the detachable type can be recognized from the outside to indicate that the user is in the current locked state. Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for an information device using the information recording / storing member.

[0012]

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention stores various necessary information and is provided detachably or exchangeably with respect to the body of the information equipment. In an information device using a recording storage member as a recording medium, a housing holder provided in the main body of the information device and housing the information recording storage member, and a predetermined housing position of the information recording storage member in the housing holder are defined. And a discharge position of the information recording / storing member, the information recording / storing member can be attached / detached or exchanged on a predetermined position of the predetermined storing position. And an information recording and storage member holding and ejecting member provided so as to be able to hold the information recording and storage member holding and ejecting member,
By the state transition movement from its initial state to the pushing state,
A discharge mediation configured to forcibly move the information recording / storing member holding and ejecting member from a predetermined storage position of the information recording / storing member in the storage holder toward a discharge position of the information recording / storing member. A discharge operation member configured to be operated so that the discharge intermediate member can be forcibly transitioned from its initial state to a pushing state by the movement of the member and the manual operation of the predetermined amount of the movement in the almost end region. And a state in which the information recording / storing member is inserted into the predetermined accommodation position and the information recording / storing member and the main body of the information device are in an access state, the information recording / storing member being provided so as to be able to shift from the unlocked state to the locked state An electromagnetic magnet means controlled to maintain the lock operation state, and the lock operation from the unlocked operation state of the electromagnetic magnet means. The initial state is changed to the locked state by the movement operation to the state, and the predetermined amount of movement of the ejection operation member is forcibly performed in the movement area before the movement in the final area by the movement operation to the locked state. And a forcible locking means configured to be capable of blocking.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the present invention inserts the information recording / storing member into the predetermined accommodation position, and provides a space between the information recording / storing member and the main body of the information device. The present invention is characterized in that a lock state display means that operates only when in an access state is provided.

[0014]

The lock device for an information device using the detachable information recording / storing member constructed as described above is designed to have the following functions.

(A) When the information recording / storing member is inserted into a predetermined accommodating position while being placed on the information recording / storing member holding / ejecting member, and an access state is established between the information equipment main body and the information recording / storing member. First, the electromagnetic magnet means is activated to shift the forced lock means from the unlocked state to the locked state.

(B) When the discharging operation member is discharged in this state, the motion of the discharging operation member is forcibly blocked at the intermediate position during the movement to the final region by the action of the forcible locking means. Thus, the information recording / storage member cannot be taken out from the accommodating holder. And
This prevents an incomplete information transmission phenomenon between the information recording / storing member and the information equipment body due to a user's erroneous operation.

(C) When the access between the information recording / storing member and the main body of the information equipment is completed, the function of the electromagnetic magnet means is released and the forcible locking means is returned from the locked posture to the non-locked posture. When the ejecting operation member is ejected at, the ejecting operation member is allowed to move to the end region and the information recording / storing member holding / ejection member is moved to the ejecting position, and the user holds the information recording / storing member in his hand. Make it available.

(D) In this case, by providing a display means as necessary, it is possible to inform the user that the information recording / storing member and the information equipment main body are currently being accessed, that is, the information recording / storing member cannot be taken out. Let me know.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration and operation of a lock device for an information device using the removable information recording / storing member of the present invention will be described in detail below based on an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electronic camera.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a lock device of an electronic camera using a removable information recording / storing member. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a memory card in which, for example, sequence control information (photographing operation mode information) of an electronic camera is stored, which is formed as a rectangular card having a predetermined thickness, for example. This is a member corresponding to the removable (or exchangeable) information recording / storing member described in the claims. Incidentally, 1a is an end portion of the memory card 1 on the insertion side.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a card holder provided on, for example, a back cover portion (not shown) of the electronic camera. Inside thereof, a card eject plate 3 described later and a memory card 1 inserted and mounted thereon are placed. It is formed as a hollow card accommodating portion 2a having a space thickness capable of accommodating.

The back cover portion of the electronic camera and the card holder 2 are both configured as a member corresponding to the main body of the information device and a member corresponding to the accommodating holder described in the claims.

On both sides of the card accommodating portion 2a, both side edges of the memory card 1 are A linear guide groove 2b for holding is formed, and one side surface portion further has a left arm end portion 5b of a transmission lever 5 described later.
Is formed with a lever opening 2c. In this case, the length of the lever opening 2c is set to a dimension that allows the left arm end 5b of the transmission lever 5 to swing within a range of a predetermined angle.

It is to be noted that, when the memory card 1 is completely inserted into the card holder 2a at a predetermined accommodation position in the card holder 2, an appropriate card capable of detecting the state by a contact method or a contacted method. Complete accommodation state detection means 2
1 and the sequence control information of the electronic camera stored in the memory card 1 when in this state are read by a contact method or a contacted method, and the integrated control unit 1 described later
5, an appropriate information reading means 22 to be introduced into
Each is attached to an appropriate place. These card complete accommodation state detection means 21 and information reading means 22
Are configured as means having a structure known per se.

The contact type information reading means 22
When the card holder 2 is provided, the electrical connection structure as shown in FIG. 4, for example, between the card holder 2 and the memory card 1, that is, the male terminal T ₁ on the card holder 2 side is provided.
Electrical connection means of an electrical connection structure (a structure corresponding to the electrical connection structure shown in FIG. 9 of Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 4-54097) consisting of a female terminal T ₂ on the side of the memory card 1 is provided. .

Reference numeral 3 denotes a card accommodating portion 2a of the card holder 2.
Inside, the card eject plate is provided so as to be movable by a predetermined amount in the B direction (card ejection direction) from its initial position (the position shown in FIG. 1), and the pushing operation of the right arm end portion 5a of the transmission lever 5 described later. When the memory card 1 is moved in the B direction, the memory card 1 inserted and placed on itself can be forcibly ejected in the B direction (external ejection direction).

The card eject plate 3 is a member corresponding to the information recording / memory member holding and ejecting member described in the claims, and the insertion side end portion 1a of the memory card 1 is provided on both sides of the front end thereof. Two rising portions 3a which can be engaged are formed, and the central portion on the back surface side thereof has
A falling-shaped pressing portion 3b that engages with the right arm end portion 5a of the transmission lever 5 is formed. Further, in a region near the pressing portion 3b, the pressing portion 3b and the transmission lever 5 are formed at the time of manufacturing (assembly).
Is formed with a work confirmation opening 3c for confirming the engagement state with the right arm end portion 5a.

In this case, the two rising portions 3a of the card eject plate 3 serve as a card insertion position defining portion for setting a predetermined storage position of the memory card 1 in the card storage portion 2a.

In the illustrated embodiment, the memory card 1
The predetermined accommodation position of is such that when the memory card 1 is inserted into the predetermined accommodation position, the outer end of the memory card 1 is located at a position that enters the electronic camera by a predetermined amount from the outline of the electronic camera. It is set. That is,
It is set so that fingers of a user or the like cannot touch the outer end of the memory card 1 when the memory card 1 is inserted into a predetermined accommodation position.

On the other hand, the card eject plate 3 is constructed so as to be constantly urged in the direction A by an appropriate urging means (not shown). From the initial position to the card ejection position of the memory card 1 by the action of the transmission lever 5. After being moved in the B direction, the memory card 1 is urged by the urging force of the urging means following the operation of the transmission lever 5 which returns from the attitude when the card eject plate 3 is moved in the B direction to the initial attitude. It is configured to be able to return from the card ejection position toward the initial position.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an eject button guide provided integrally with the card holder 2, which will be described later. It is configured to have a hollow portion 4a.

In this case, the straight guide hollow portion 4a serves as a moving passage for the eject button 7, and the straight guide hollow portion 4a is used.
A blocking claw 10 of a blocking claw member 10 described later is provided on an outer edge portion of the
It also has a structure in which a blocking claw opening 4b having a shape that allows a to come in and out is formed.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a transmission lever for forcibly moving the card eject plate 3 from its initial position in the B direction to the card ejecting position of the memory card 1 against the urging force of the above-mentioned urging means (not shown). At a portion near the lever opening 2c of the card holder 2 and the card eject plate 3
It is provided as a member configured to be rotatably supported by an appropriate pivot 6 in a portion facing the back surface of the.

The right arm end portion 5a of the transmission lever 5 is provided so as to be able to engage with the pressing portion 3b of the card eject plate 3, and the left arm end portion 5b of the transmission lever 5 is connected to the lever opening portion of the card holder 2. It is provided so as to protrude from 2c into the linear guide hollow portion 4a of the eject button guide 4.

Reference numeral 7 is an eject button for ejecting the memory card 1 inserted (accommodated) in the card holder 2 to the outside through the card eject plate 3, and is a straight guide hollow portion of the eject button guide 4. Slideable in direction A from its initial position within 4a (pushable)
It is provided in.

The eject button 7 is a member corresponding to the ejecting operation member described in the scope of claims, but the tip of the eject button 7 has a blocking claw which will be described later when the eject button 7 is pushed in the A direction. A rounded portion 7a having a shape capable of forcibly retracting the blocking claw 10a of the member 10 in the counterclockwise direction is formed, and the left arm end portion 5b of the transmission lever 5 is formed at the center portion in the thickness direction of the tip portion. The inner end portion 7b 'of the push-turn groove 7b for pushing the transmission lever 5 around the pivot 6 in the clockwise direction is formed by being engaged with.

Further, on the side surface of the eject button 7, there are formed a locked portion 7c for blocking which is brought into contact with a blocking claw 10a of a blocking claw member 10 which will be described later, and a projection 7d which is similarly engaged with a stopper 8 which will be described later. Is also configured.

In this case, the inner end portion 7b 'of the pushing and turning groove 7b is
The positional relationship between the lock portion 7c and the lock portion 7c is such that when the lock portion 7c reaches a position where it can engage with the blocking claw 10a of the blocking claw member 10, the inner end portion 7b 'of the pushing and turning groove 7b is still in the transmission lever 5.
The left arm end portion 5b is configured so as not to engage with the left arm end portion 5b.

Reference numeral 8 is a stopper for engaging with the projection 7d of the eject button 7 to set the initial position of the eject button 7, and 9 is a biasing spring for constantly biasing the eject button 7 in the B direction. Is.

Reference numeral 10 is a blocking claw member rotatably supported by a pivot 11, and one end of the blocking claw member penetrates the blocking claw opening 4b of the eject button guide 4 and engages with the lock portion 7c of the eject button 7. Accordingly, a blocking claw 10a for forcibly locking the movement of the eject button 7 from this position in the direction A is formed, and the other end of the blocking claw member 10 has an electromagnetic magnet 14 to be described later. Movable armature 1
A fork-shaped portion 10b is formed so as to engage with 4a.

Reference numeral 12 is a stopper for setting the initial position of the blocking claw member 10, and 13 is a coil spring for biasing the blocking claw member 10 to rotate counterclockwise around the pivot 11. The biasing force of the coil spring 13 is set to be weaker than the attraction force of the electromagnetic magnet 14 described later.

Reference numeral 14 denotes, for example, a plunger type electromagnetic magnet, which has a movable armature 14a which is in contact with the fork-shaped portion 10b of the blocking claw member 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the electromagnetic magnet 14 is configured such that the demagnetized state is the unlocked state and the excited state is the locked state, and the blocking claw member 10 is pivoted to the pivot 11 by the operation when the demagnetized state is switched to the excited state. It is configured so that it can be swung around within a predetermined angle range.

In the illustrated embodiment, the electromagnetic magnet 1
4 is configured to attract the movable armature 14a with a predetermined attraction force when it is excited, and the attraction force at this time will be described later in "Operation or action".

Reference numeral 15 is a general control section capable of controlling the electronic camera based on the sequence control information stored in the memory card 1 and also having other control functions such as display and warning, for example, an appropriate microcomputer. It consists of Then, for example, when a starting power source (not shown) of the electronic camera is turned on, the integrated control unit 15 is configured to shift to an operating state.

Reference numeral 16 is a magnet feeding circuit for exciting and demagnetizing the electromagnetic magnet 14 based on the command from the integrated control section.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a lock state display means connected to the general control unit 15, and only while the lock button 10a of the lock claw member 10 keeps the lock state of the eject button 7, that is, the electromagnetic magnet 14 is in the excited state. Only while in
The electronic camera is configured to be able to display to the outside that it is in the access state.

In this case, the lock state display means 17 is configured as, for example, a display means using a lamp, and moreover, while the lock state of the eject button 7 continues, the display confirmation can be performed easily and accurately. It is preferable that the display can be displayed by blinking.

Further, in a more preferable mode, the blinking display speed can be changed according to the access progress time of the electronic camera (general control section 15) so that the elapsed time of the access progress can be easily understood. Shall be configured in.

In the illustrated embodiment, the card fixing means for fixing the inserted memory card 1 in the predetermined accommodation position in the card accommodation portion 2a in a state where it is not easily removed is not particularly described. The memory card 1 is configured to be fixed at a predetermined accommodation position by using an appropriate fixing method known per se.

For example, when the contact type information reading means 22 is provided, in some cases, the contact resistance between the male terminal T ₁ and the female terminal T ₂ of the electrical connecting means is utilized. It is also an idea to fix the memory card 1 at a predetermined accommodation position.

Next, the operation or action of the electronic camera thus constructed will be described. When the memory card 1 is not inserted in the card holder 2, the electromagnetic magnet 14 is placed in a demagnetized state and the card eject plate 3
Is located at the initial position shown in FIG. 1 by the urging force of the urging means (not shown), the eject button 7 is also located at the initial position where it abuts the stopper 8 by the urging force of the urging spring 9, and the blocking claw member 10 is also coiled. It is configured to be positioned at an initial position where it abuts on the stopper 12 by the biasing force of the spring 13.

In this state, the memory card 1 is inserted into the card accommodating portion 2a of the card holder 2 with the card eject plate 3 being inserted, and the insertion side end 1a of the memory card 1 is inserted into the card eject plate 3 It is inserted deeply until it contacts the rising portion 3a.

In this case, since the position where the insertion side end portion 1a of the memory card 1 and the rising portion 3a of the card eject plate 3 are in contact with each other is the predetermined accommodation position of the memory card 1, the memory card 1 can reach the predetermined accommodation position. When the card is inserted, on the one hand, the card complete housing state detecting means 21 on the card holder 2 side is in a state capable of detecting the complete insertion state by a contact method or a contacted method, and on the other hand, for example, information on the card holder 2 side, such as information. The reading means 22 is ready to read the sequence control information stored in the memory card 1 by a contact method or a contacted method.

Further, in the case of the contact type information reading means 22, at this time, for example, the male terminal T ₁ and the female terminal T _{2 of the} electrical connecting means are electrically connected.

When the starting power source of the electronic camera is turned on in this state, the general control section 15 shifts to the operating state,
The detection information from the card perfect housing state detecting means 21 is read, and the sequence control information stored in the memory card 1 is read via the information reading means 22 to start predetermined controls.

When executing various controls, first,
The integrated control unit 15 commands the magnet feeding circuit 16 to feed power to the electromagnetic magnet 14. as a result,
At this point, the electromagnetic magnet 14 shifts to the excited state and attracts the movable armature 14a with a predetermined attraction force.

Therefore, the movable armature 14a moves diagonally to the upper left in FIG. 1, and in the process, the blocking claw member 10 is pivoted through the fork 11 through the fork-shaped portion 10b.
The coil spring 13 is rotated clockwise against the urging force of the coil spring 13. Therefore, the blocking claw 10a of the blocking claw member 10 in the initial position penetrates the blocking claw opening 4b of the eject button guide 4 and projects into the straight guide hollow portion 4a of the eject button guide 4 to lock. It will be changed to the posture (also referred to as “lockable posture”).

When the blocking claw 10a of the blocking claw member 10 is moved to the locked posture, even if the eject button 7 is pushed in the direction A to eject the memory card 1, it cannot be pushed to the card ejecting position.

That is, when the eject button 7 is pushed in the direction A in such a state, the rounded portion 7a of the eject button 7 causes the blocking claw 10 of the blocking claw member 10 at the initial stage.
Since the blocking claw member 10 is brought into contact with a to rotate the blocking claw member 10 counterclockwise around the pivot 11 against the attractive force of the electromagnetic magnet 14, the pushing operation can be continued at this point.

However, when the lock portion 7c of the eject button 7 reaches a position where it can be engaged with the blocking claw 10a of the blocking claw member 10, the blocking claw 10a of the blocking claw member 10 is again rotated clockwise by the attractive force of the electromagnetic magnet 14. Rotate to Figure 2
As shown in FIG. 5, the lock portion 7c enters the lock portion 7c to be in the lock posture.

Therefore, in this state, the eject button 7
When pushed in the direction, the movement of the eject button 7 in the A direction is forcibly blocked when the blocking claw 10a engages the jaw of the lock portion 7c, and after this point, the memory card 1 is ejected. Moreover, even if the eject button 7 is pushed, the pushing operation becomes impossible. That is, the pushing operation of the eject button 7 in the A direction is locked at this point. In the illustrated embodiment,
It is preconfigured to select a predetermined attraction force of the electromagnetic magnet 14 to a value such that such repeated attraction operations are possible.

On the other hand, in this state, since the inner end of the push-turn groove 7b is not yet in contact with the left arm end 5b of the transmission lever 5, the electromagnetic magnet 14 is placed in the excited state. During this period, the ejection operation of the memory card 1 by the eject button 7 is disabled, and as a result, when the electronic camera (which is also the general control unit 15) is in the access progress state, the memory card 1 is always in the card storage unit 2.
The state of being completely inserted into the predetermined accommodating position in a is maintained.

By the way, when the electromagnetic magnet 14 shifts to the excitation state, at the same time, the general control section 15 commands the lock state display means 17 to start the operation. The flashing display is performed to externally indicate that the electronic camera is in the access state.

The external display by the lock state display means 17 is displayed while the electromagnetic magnet 14 is in an excited state, that is, while the push-in lock of the eject button 7 by the blocking claw 10a of the blocking claw member 10 is working. It will be continued inside.

Now, for example, when the general control section 15 executes a predetermined photographing sequence and all of it ends (that is, when the access state of the electronic camera ends), the general control section 15 determines based on the access state end signal. , And instructs the magnet feeding circuit 16 to stop feeding the electromagnetic magnet 14.

As a result, the electromagnetic magnet 14 is demagnetized at this point, and the blocking claw member 10 released from the attractive force of the electromagnetic magnet 14 rotates counterclockwise by the urging force of the coil spring 13. Then, the movable armature 14a returns to the initial posture together with the movable armature 14a, and the blocking claw 10a is retracted from the straight guide hollow portion 4a through the blocking claw opening 4b of the eject button guide 4. That is, at this time, the lock state of the blocking claw 10a with respect to the eject button 7 is released.

Therefore, after this state, when the user pushes the eject button 7 in the A direction to eject the memory card 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the eject button 7 is locked by the lock portion of the eject button 7. 7c and blocking claw member 10
It is possible to move in the A direction beyond the position at which it can be engaged with the blocking claw 10a.

Therefore, if the pushing operation is continued in this state, the inner end portion 7 of the pushing and turning groove 7b of the eject button 7 is
b ′ engages with the left arm end portion 5b of the transmission lever 5, and pushes the transmission lever 5 around the pivot 6 in the clockwise direction.

Therefore, the right arm end portion 5a of the transmission lever 5 comes into contact with the pressing portion 3b of the card eject plate 3, and pushes the card eject plate 3 in the B direction against the urging force of the urging means.

As a result, the memory card 1 is also pushed by the rising portion 3a of the card eject plate 3 and moves in the direction B together with the card eject plate 3 toward its own card ejection position. Therefore, the user can pinch the memory card 1 that has come out to the card ejection position with fingers.

After this, when the user releases the finger from the eject button 7, the eject button 7 is returned to the position where the protrusion 7d of the eject button 7 contacts the stopper 8 by the urging force of the urging spring 9.

Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the integrated control unit 15 is configured to control the electronic camera based on the sequence control information stored in the memory card 1, but the sequence control information stored in the memory card 1 is not included. In addition, it is possible to control the electronic camera based on the unique information stored in advance in the general control unit 15.

In the illustrated embodiment, the card holder 2
Is provided on the back cover portion of the electronic camera, but it may be provided on other places. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the electromagnetic magnet means 14 is configured as a plunger type, but other types can be used. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the blocking claw 10a of the blocking claw member 10 is configured to shift to the locked posture when excited, but conversely,
The blocking claw 10 when the electromagnetic magnet means 14 is demagnetized
It is also possible to configure so that a shifts to the locked posture.

In any case, the state in which the blocking claw 10a of the blocking claw member 10 is placed in the initial posture is the non-locking state,
A state in which the blocking claw 10a is moved to the lock posture is referred to as a lock action state.

On the other hand, in the illustrated embodiment, the memory card 1
Of the card eject plate 3, the guide 4 for the eject button, and the movement of the movable armature 14a at the time of suction of the movable armature 14a are set as linear movements, and the transmission lever 5, Although the movements of the blocking claw member 10 are set as rotary movements, it goes without saying that these movements can be replaced with other types of movements as necessary.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the lock state display means is constituted as the light emitting means, but it may be constituted as the sound generating means. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to information devices other than electronic cameras.

[0077]

As described above, according to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, when the information recording storage member and the device body are being accessed, the ejecting operation member is locked so that the user can operate it. Since the operation for taking out the information recording / storing member can be made impossible, it is possible to prevent an access mistake due to an erroneous operation by the user.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 2 to 4, when the operation of taking out the information recording storage member is in the locked state, it is possible to display to the user that it is currently in the locked state. The effect is that it does not give unnecessary anxiety.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a lock device of an electronic camera using a removable information recording / storing member.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the lock device of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1, when the eject button is pushed to a position where the lock part and the blocking claw of the blocking claw member can be engaged with each other, the blocking mode has been changed to the lock posture. FIG. 11 is a state explanatory view showing a state in which the blocking claw of the claw member is once pushed and rotated by the rounded end portion of the eject button to the retracted position and then again moved to the locked posture by the attractive force of the electromagnetic magnet.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a case where the lock device for the electronic camera of FIG. 1 changes the electromagnetic magnet to a demagnetized state when the access state of the electronic camera ends, and the blocking claw of the blocking claw member shifts from the locked posture to the initial posture. It is a state explanatory view showing the state of.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of electrical connection means provided between a card holder and a memory card when a contact type information reading means is provided in the electronic camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 memory card 1a insertion end 2 card holder 2a card storage 2b straight guide groove 2c lever opening 3 card eject plate 3a rising part (card insertion position regulating part) 3b pressing part 3c work confirmation opening 4 eject button guide 4a Linear guide hollow part 4b Blocking claw opening 5 Transmission lever 5a Right arm end part 5b Left arm end part 6,11 Axis 7 Eject button 7a Rounded part 7b Push-in groove 7b 'Inner end part 7c Lock part 7d Projection part 8,12 Stopper 9 Energizing Spring 10 Blocking Claw Member 10a Blocking Claw 10b Fork Section 13 Coil Spring 14 Electromagnetic Magnet 14a Movable Armature 15 General Control Section 16 Magnet Power Supply Circuit 17 Lock Status Display Means 21 Card Complete Housing Status Detection Means 22 Information Reading Means T ₁ Male terminal T ₂ Female terminal

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information device using an information recording / storing member, which stores various kinds of necessary information and is detachably or exchangeably attached to the body of the information device, as a recording medium. And a housing holder for housing the information recording / storing member, and the housing holder between a position defining a predetermined housing position of the information recording / storing member in the housing holder and a discharge position of the information recording / storing member. An information recording storage member holding and ejecting member that is configured to be relatively movable with respect to the information recording storage member, and that is provided so as to be detachably or replaceably held on the prescribed position of the predetermined storage position. The information recording / storing member holding / ejecting member is directly engaged with the information recording / storing member holding member by the state transition motion from the initial state to the pushing state. A discharge intermediary member configured to be capable of forcibly moving the combined eject member from a predetermined storage position of the information recording storage member in the storage holder toward a discharge position of the information recording storage member, and a manual operation A discharge operation member configured to be operated so as to forcibly shift the discharge intermediary member from its initial state to the pushing state by the motion in the almost end region of the predetermined amount of motion, and the unlocking action state. When the information recording storage member is inserted into the predetermined accommodation position and the information recording storage member and the main body of the information device are in an access state, An electromagnetic magnet means that is controlled to maintain the electromagnetic magnet means, and a transition operation of the electromagnetic magnet means from the unlocked state to the locked state. It is configured to shift from an initial state to a locked state, and by the shifting operation to the locked state, the predetermined amount of movement of the discharge operation member can be forcibly blocked in a movement region before the movement in the final region. And a forcible locking means provided therein. An apparatus for locking information equipment using a detachable information recording and storing member. 2. A locking device for an information device using the detachable information recording / storing member according to claim 1, wherein the information recording / storing member is inserted into the predetermined accommodation position, and A lock device for an information device using a detachable information recording / storage member, characterized in that a lock state display means that operates only when the main body of the information device is in an access state is additionally provided. 3. A lock device for an information device using the detachable information recording and storing member according to claim 2, wherein the lock state display means is constituted as a light emitting means for blinking display. Device for information equipment using the information recording and storing member of. 4. A lock device for an information device using the detachable information recording / storing member according to claim 3, wherein the blinking speed of the lock state display means, which is configured as a light emitting means for performing blinking display, is set to the information. A locking device for an information device using a detachable information recording and storing member, characterized in that it can be changed according to the access progress time of the device. 5. A lock device for an information device using the detachable information recording / storing member according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is provided in the information device and at least in the information recording / storing member. An integrated control unit configured to control the information device based on the stored necessary information, and an insertion state when the information recording storage member is inserted into a predetermined accommodation position in the accommodation holder. Is detected by a contact method or a non-contact method, and a complete accommodation state detection means provided on the accommodation holder side so that the detected information can be introduced into the integrated control unit, and the information recording storage member The necessary information stored in the information recording / storing member is read when it is inserted into a predetermined accommodation position in the holder, and the read necessary information is stored in the comprehensive control. A lock device for information equipment using a detachable information recording / storing member, further comprising: an information reading means provided on the housing holder side so as to be introduced into a control section.