JPH0734211B2 - Coupling inspection device for memory cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic device which can be coupled with a memory cartridge by a physical signal (electrical signal, magnetic signal, optical signal, etc.) when the memory cartridge is mounted at a predetermined position. Regarding the device.

An IC card, a CPU card, or a memory card having a semiconductor element such as an IC or a semiconductor device built-in is used as an alternative to a conventional magnetic card on the one hand, and to an external memory such as a floppy disk on the other hand. Its use as an electronic medium or control means is being sought in a wide range of fields, and some have been put to practical use. When this type of card is installed in a predetermined place of an automatic machine, a control device, or other electronic device, it becomes possible to be connected to the electronic device by a physical signal (electrical signal, magnetic signal, optical signal, etc.). That is, the connection terminal of the card is connected to the connector of the electronic device, or magnetic or optical coupling is achieved. In such a state, the electronic device and the card communicate with each other, and the electronic device performs card processing such as writing data in the memory of the card.

In general, IC cards, CPU cards, and memory cards are handled by hand, so oil, dust, and other foreign matter are likely to adhere to the connection terminals, which causes connection failure. When the connection terminal is in the poor connection state, the above-mentioned normal card processing cannot be performed. That is, an error occurs in the communication between the electronic device and the card, and it becomes impossible to write the correct data in the memory of the card.

By the way, a memory with a relatively large capacity
As one of the uses of the card, it is considered to be used as a medium for recording image data taken by a digital electronic still camera. Since this type of camera is used not only indoors but also outdoors, water easily adheres to the connection terminals of the memory card, and this easily causes oxidation and corrosion of the connection terminals. If this happens, a connection failure will occur and normal recording of video data will not be performed. It is expected that the number of connection terminals will increase as the memory capacity of the memory card further increases. If even one terminal causes a poor connection, reliable recording cannot be expected, which increases the risk that normal recording will not be performed.

Not only those that can be joined by electrical contact between the connection terminals of the card and the connector of the electronic device, but also in the case of a card that is magnetically or optically coupled, dust adhesion or the like causes a coupling failure.

Further, normal card processing cannot be expected even when the card is not properly mounted (for example, inserted) in the electronic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a coupling check between an IC card, a CPU card provided with a memory, a memory card, etc. (collectively referred to as a memory cartridge) and an electronic device can be performed by a relatively simple process. The purpose is to do so.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for inspecting a combined state of a memory cartridge and an electronic device, the memory cartridge having a memory and a plurality of first connecting terminals, and the memory cartridge having a plurality of second connecting terminals. Sometimes it comprises an electronic device capable of being electrically coupled to the memory cartridge through a plurality of first and second connection terminals.

The memory cartridge has an inspection code generating means for generating an inspection code, a switching means for switching connection between the plurality of first connecting terminals and the memory or the inspection code generating means, and the plurality of first and second connecting terminals. There is provided means for controlling the inspection code generating means so that the inspection codes are repeatedly generated while changing the inspection code so that the codes 0 and 1 are passed at least once.

One of the memory cartridge and the electronic device is provided with means for detecting that the memory cartridge is mounted at a predetermined position of the electronic device, and an inspection code generating means when the above-mentioned detection is performed. There is provided means for controlling the switching means so as to connect to the connection terminal.

The electronic device inspects the inspection code sent from the inspection code generating means via the plurality of first and second connection terminals, and determines whether the connection by the plurality of first and second connection terminals is good or bad. Means are provided for determining.

The memory cartridge means the one in which the memory is built in a case such as a card-shaped case or a box-shaped case as described above. Not only those with a CPU and memory, those with a liquid crystal display and keyboard, but also those without a CPU, only the memory, or those that have the necessary power supply in addition to the memory and some other circuits are memory cartridges. It goes without saying that it is included in the concept of.

According to the present invention, when the memory cartridge is attached to the electronic device, the predetermined inspection code generated in the memory cartridge is transferred to the electronic device side through the plurality of first and second connection terminals. .
On the electronic device side, it is inspected whether the inspection code sent from the memory cartridge is a predetermined one. If it is determined that the code is the predetermined code, it is determined that the electrical connection between the connection terminals of the memory cartridge and the electronic device is normal, and if they do not match, it is abnormal.

Symbol 0 is assigned to each of the plurality of first and second connection terminals.
The check code is changed and repeatedly generated so that the (low level signal) and the code 1 (high level signal) pass through at least once. Then, it is repeatedly inspected whether or not this inspection code is a predetermined one. This makes it possible to check whether or not the reference numerals 0 and 1 pass through each connection terminal, and it is possible to check whether or not there is an abnormality in all the connection terminals.

In this way, whether the connection of the connection terminals between the memory cartridge and the electronic device is normal can be determined in a relatively short time and with a relatively simple process.

Description of Embodiments FIG. 1 shows a connection state between an electronic device 10 and a memory cartridge 20.

The electronic device 10 includes a memory, which is a medium for storing predetermined data, such as the digital electronic still camera described above.
The cartridge 20 is required. The electronic device 10 is provided with a recess or guide 15 for mounting (eg, inserting) the memory cartridge 20. A large number of connection terminals 24 are formed in the portion of the memory cartridge 20 that is inserted into the recess 15. In the recess 15 of the electronic device 10, there is provided a connector 14 having the same number of terminals 24 as the terminals 24 that make electrical contact with each connection terminal 24 when the memory cartridge 20 is mounted. In addition,
A limit switch 16 for detecting that the cartridge 20 is properly mounted in the recess 15 is arranged in the recess 15. The detection signal of the limit switch 16 is given to the system controller 11 including the CPU. The mounting of the memory cartridge 20 can be detected by various sensors such as a photoelectric switch for optically detecting and a switch for magnetically detecting. Further, it is possible to detect the mounting of the memory cartridge 20 by an electrical detecting means as shown in FIG. Connector for electronic device 10
One terminal 14a of 14 is connected to its ground and the other terminal 1
System controller 11 via amplifier if 4b required
It is connected to the. On the other hand, the terminals 24a, 24b to be connected to the above-mentioned terminals 14a, 14b of the memory cartridge 20 are connected to each other and to the ground of the card 20. When the memory card 20 is attached to the electronic device 10, the terminals 14a, 24
The ground level signal passes through a, 24b, 14b
Since it is given to the controller 11, the controller 11 detects that the card 20 is mounted.

The electronic device 10 controls various operations of the electronic device and performs a memory cartridge connection check process described later.
A system controller 11 including a CPU is provided. In addition, an alarm device (not shown) including a buzzer, a light emitting diode, and the like for notifying that the connection is determined to be abnormal is provided in the electronic device 10 and connected to the system controller 11. . When the electronic device 10 is a digital electronic still camera, video data to be written in the memory 21 of the memory cartridge 20 is A / D conversion and signal processing circuit in the form of analog signal from an image pickup device (not shown). Given to twelve. A / in this circuit 12
The image data created by the D conversion and the predetermined signal processing is applied to the 3-state buffer 13 by the data bus. The 3-state buffer is
It is a buffer that can have a high output impedance according to the input control signal. At this time, the signal supplied from the output side is prohibited from being input to this buffer. The three-state buffer normally has a low output impedance, and the signal on the input side is directly guided to the output side. This 3
An address bus and a control bus from the system controller 11 are connected to the state buffer 13. The output side of the 3-state buffer 13 is connected to the connector 14 and also to the system controller 11.

The memory cartridge 20 includes a memory 21 including one or more memory chips, a generation circuit 22 for a predetermined inspection code, a memory 21 or a multiplexer 23 for switching the connection between the generation circuit 22 and a terminal 24, and an inspection circuit. Power supply (not shown) for supplying operating power to the code generation circuit 22
(Battery) is provided. The multiplexer 23 normally connects the terminal 24 and the memory 21 (a side). Terminal 24A
When the switching control signal is given from the multiplexer 23, the multiplexer 23 connects the output side of the inspection code generating circuit 22 to the terminal 24 (b side) for a fixed time. When the memory 21 is volatile, the memory 21 is also powered by the power supply.

Some of the terminals of the connector 14 and the corresponding connection terminals 24 of the memory cartridge 20 are for transmitting an address signal for designating the address of the memory 21 of the memory cartridge 20, and others. Some of them are for data transfer. There are also control signals such as a chip selector signal, a read / write command R / W, and the above-mentioned switching control signal (terminal 24A).
Therefore, when the memory cartridge 20 is installed in the electronic device 10, the address bus, data bus and control lines in the electronic device 10 are connected to the corresponding buses and lines in the memory cartridge 20 by the connector 14 and terminals. The system of the electronic device 10 connected via 24
The CPU of the controller 11 can directly access the memory 21 of the memory cartridge 20. Since the inspection code is used to inspect the connection state of all of these terminals 24 and the terminals of the connector 14, the generation circuit
The inspection code generated from 22 is applied to all terminals 24 (except terminal 24A) via multiplexer 23.

In some cases electronic device 10 to memory cartridge 20
There is also provided a connection terminal for connecting a power supply line for supplying electric power to the.

The outline of the procedure of the connection check process performed by the CPU of the electronic device 10 is as follows.

When the limit switch 16 provides a mounting detection signal for the memory cartridge 20, the CPU of the controller 11 outputs a switching control signal. This control signal passes through terminal 24A and the corresponding terminal of connector 14 to the multiplexer.
23 and check code generating circuit 22. Therefore, the output side of the inspection code generation circuit 22 is connected to the terminal 24, and the generation circuit 22 generates and outputs a predetermined inspection code. At the same time, a control signal is applied from the controller 11 to the 3-state buffer 13, and its output side becomes high impedance. The inspection code generated from the generation circuit 22 is given to the system controller 11 via the multiplexer 23, the terminal 24 and the connector 14. Since the buffer 13 has a high output impedance (high input impedance for the inspection code), the inspection code is not input to the buffer 13.

The CPU of the system controller 11 checks whether the input inspection code is a predetermined one. This check can also be performed by storing the inspection code in the controller 11 in advance and comparing it with the input inspection code to see if they match. Also, the inspection code generated in the circuit 22 has regularity. If it is one (for example, 1010 such that 1 is the head and 1 and 0 are repeated alternately), this regularity can be checked. It is preferable that two or more kinds of inspection codes are sequentially generated from the generation circuit 22 so that the signals of 1 and 0 are transmitted to all the terminals 24 and the terminals of the connector 14. If there is no abnormality in checking all the inspection codes, the CPU stops the output of the switching control signal, switches the multiplexer 23 to the memory 21 side, and stops the generation of the inspection code from the generation circuit 22. Then, the process proceeds to a predetermined process for the memory cartridge 20, such as writing video data to a predetermined memory area.
As a result of checking the inspection code, if there is even one bit error, a command is given to the alarm device to notify it. In some cases, the alarm may be issued only when an OK determination result is not obtained after repeating this inspection processing a plurality of times. Further, in the case where the automatic loading mechanism for automatically loading the cartridge is provided, even if the result of NG judgment is obtained in the check processing of the above inspection code, the operation of remounting the cartridge once and re-loading it may be performed. Good.

If the memory cartridge has a CPU, the inspection code may be generated by this CPU. Alternatively, a cartridge mounting detection switch may be provided in the memory cartridge, and the CPU in the cartridge may instruct the switching of the multiplexer 23 and start generation of the inspection code in response to the mounting detection.

Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the terminal 14a and the cartridge is mounted, the terminal 24a
The voltage appearing at may switch the multiplexer 23 and trigger the invention of the test code. In this case, after the inspection, the voltage applied to the terminal 24a is dropped to the ground, or a timer is provided in the cartridge and the inspection time is managed by this timer, and when the time is up, the multiplexer 23 is returned to the memory side. Moreover, the generation of the inspection code may be stopped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a connection state between an electronic device and a memory card and an electrical configuration thereof, and FIG. 2 shows another example of detecting the mounting of the card. 10 …… Electronic device, 11 …… System controller, 14 …… Connector, 16 …… Mounting detection limit switch, 20 …… Memory cartridge, 21 …… Memory, 23 …… Multiplexer, 24 …… Connecting terminal .

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A memory cartridge having a memory and a plurality of first connection terminals, and a plurality of first and second connection terminals when the memory cartridge is equipped with a plurality of second connection terminals. And an electronic device that can be coupled to the memory cartridge by an electrical signal through the memory cartridge. The memory cartridge includes an inspection code generating means for generating an inspection code, a plurality of first connection terminals, a memory or an inspection code generating means. So that the reference codes 0 and 1 pass through each of the plurality of first and second connection terminals at least once, and the check code generating means repeatedly generates the check codes while changing the check codes. Means for controlling the memory cartridge and / or the electronic device are provided. Means are provided for detecting that the electronic device is mounted at a predetermined position, and means for controlling the switching means so as to connect the inspection code generating means to the plurality of first connection terminals when the above detection is made. The electronic device inspects the inspection code sent from the inspection code generating means through the plurality of first and second connection terminals, and couples with the plurality of first and second connection terminals. A memory cartridge coupling inspection device, which is provided with a means for determining the quality of