JPH09330380A - Card type electronic equipment and electronic equipment using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simultaneously load plural cards without disconnecting any card type electronic equipment or cable on one side, by separately arranging plural rear connectors with the same shape and specification on a surface opposed to the surface where a front connector is arranged. SOLUTION: This equipment is composed of a PC card 1, front connector 2 provided on one side face of the PC card 1, rear connectors 321, 322 and 323 which are provided on the surface confronted with the rear connector 2 and respective have the same shape and specification, cable 4 connected to external peripheral equipment, etc., and cable side connector 5 having the shape and specification so as to be connected with all the rear connectors 321, 322 and 323. Thus, possibility to connect the cable 4 at the position not to disturb the cable 4 or the like of the adjacent PC card 1 is improved and without disconnecting any PC card 1 or cable 4 on one side, plural PC cards 1 can be simultaneously loaded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card type electronic device and an electronic device using the card type electronic device, which has a connector used for connection to a host system side on one side and another device on the other side in addition to the connector. It is suitable for a card type electronic device having a connector connectable with, for example, a PC card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to expand the functions of information devices and the like, a wide variety of card-type electronic devices have come on the market. Among the card-type electronic devices, a PC card will be described below as an example. Most host systems that can use PC cards have a structure in which two cards can be mounted on top and bottom. In this case, the user has a function that the user wants to expand from various PC cards on the market. Up to 2 cards can be installed.

In the case of a card having only a storage function such as an IC memory card or a magnetic disk card, since data is exchanged only between the host system and the card, there is no problem in connection with the host system. On the other hand, in the case of a PC card having a function of exchanging data with an external storage device or a PC card having a function of performing FAX or data communication using a telephone line, as shown in FIG. A front connector 2 used for connection to the host system side is provided on one side, and a cable 4 is provided separately from the front connector.
Has a rear connector 3 for connection with the cable-side connector 5 provided at one end of the other side surface.

[0004]

The physical shape of the PC card 1 and the front connector 2 for connecting to the host system.
Specifications of the rear connector 3
The shape and the position thereof, the shape of the cable 4, the shape of the cable-side connector 5 and the like are not specified in particular, so that they vary depending on the manufacturer. Since the position of the rear connector 3 for connecting the cable 4 is often at the center of one end surface as shown in FIG. 5, in a host system in which a plurality of PC cards can be vertically mounted, a thick cable or
When using a PC card that uses a cable with a thick connector or a cable with accessories such as a ferrite core near the connector, use multiple PC cards at the same time because adjacent cables collide with each other. There was a problem that I could not do it. For example, in the case of FIG. 6, since the first cable side connector 5 connected to the first PC card 1 which is about to be mounted in the lower stage is thick, this is an obstacle and the second PC card 11 is connected to the second cable 41. Cannot be installed on the upper level. Therefore, the second
When using the function of the PC card 11, the first P in the lower row
The C card 1 had to be pulled out from the host system 6 or the first cable 4 had to be removed from the first PC card 1.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and uses a card type electronic device and a card type electronic device in which a plurality of card type electronic devices can be simultaneously installed without removing the cable. It is intended to realize the provision of electronic devices.

[0006]

The present invention is to achieve the above object, and the contents thereof will be described below.

The card-type electronic device of the present invention has a front connector for connecting to a host system, a face opposite to the face on which the front connector is provided, and the other end connected to an external peripheral device. A card-type electronic device having a rear connector for connecting one end of a cable, the plurality of rear connectors having the same shape and specification on the surface opposite to the surface on which the front connector is arranged are separated from each other. It is characterized by being arranged. By taking such a configuration,
In a host system in which a plurality of card-type electronic devices can be mounted in the vertical direction, one card-type electronic device can be connected by selecting a rear connector at a position where cables of adjacent card-type electronic devices do not interfere Multiple card-type electronic devices can be installed at the same time without removing the or cable. Moreover, since the rear connectors provided have the same shape and the same specifications, it is only necessary to determine the position by using the cable as it is without any change.

Further, in the above invention, the first rear connector provided in substantially the center of the surface opposite to the surface provided with the front connector, and the surface provided with the first connector with the first connector It is preferable to have a second rear connector and a third rear connector that are respectively provided at equal intervals from the first rear connector. By adopting such a configuration, a portion which does not overlap with the connector of the adjacent card type electronic device is likely to occur, and as a result, one or more card type electronic devices can be removed without removing one of the card type electronic devices or the cable. Equipment can be installed at the same time.

As another means of the card-type electronic device of the present invention, a front connector for connecting to a host system and a surface opposite to the surface on which the front connector is provided have the other end. A card type electronic device having a rear connector for connecting one end of a cable connected to an external peripheral device, wherein the rear connector is movable on a surface opposite to a surface on which the front connector is disposed. It is characterized by being. By adopting such a configuration, in a host system in which a plurality of card-type electronic devices can be mounted in the vertical direction, the rear connector is moved to a position where the cables of the adjacent card-type electronic devices do not disturb the connection of the cables. Therefore, it is possible to mount a plurality of card type electronic devices at the same time without removing one of the card type electronic devices and the cable.

As still another means of the card-type electronic device of the present invention, a front connector for connecting to a host system and the other end on the surface opposite to the surface on which the front connector is provided are provided. Is a PC card having a rear connector for connecting one end of a cable connected to an external peripheral device, wherein the rear connector is provided so as to be displaced from the center position of the arrangement surface. Since only the position of the connector is shifted in this way, it can be easily set.

Further, the above invention is characterized by further comprising switching means capable of switching the function of each terminal in the rear connector. With this configuration, it is possible to change the function setting of each terminal in the connector, and even if the card-type electronic device is turned upside down to change the position of the connector, the terminals in the connector can be sufficiently supported. Become.

On the other hand, in an electronic device using the card type electronic device as described above, a host system having a card slot into which a plurality of card type electronic devices can be mounted and one surface of the host system are mounted in the card slot. A card-type electronic device having a plurality of connectors having the same shape and specifications on the other surface, one end of which is connected to an external peripheral device, and the other end of which is at least one of the connectors of the card-type electronic device.
And a cable connected to the two. Alternatively, a card system having a host system having a card slot into which a plurality of card type electronic devices can be mounted, and a connector having one surface mounted in the card slot and the other surface movable. The electronic device includes a cable having one end connected to an external peripheral device and the other end connected to the connector of the card-type electronic device. With such a system, when the host system, the card-type electronic device, and the cable are connected to each other, the inconvenience of disconnection is eliminated, and the connection can be easily performed.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A PC card will be taken as an example of the card-type electronic device for description.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a PC card according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a PC card,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a front connector provided on one side surface of the PC card 1, and 321, 322, 323 denote rear connectors provided on a surface facing the front connector 2, all having the same shape and the same shape. Have specifications. 4 is a cable connected to an external peripheral device, a telephone line, etc., 5 is provided at one end of the cable 4, and the rear connectors 321 and 32 are provided.
2 shows a cable-side connector having a shape and specifications capable of being connected to any of No. 2, 323.

FIG. 2 shows a host system in which two PC cards can be mounted one above the other, including the PC card shown in FIG.
It is a perspective view when mounting one PC card. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 is a host system having a card slot 7 in which two PC cards can be mounted on the upper and lower sides, and 1 is a conventional first system which is about to be mounted on the lower stage of the card slot 7.
Similar to the PC card shown in FIG. 5, the PC card is provided with the rear connector 3 at the substantially central portion of one side surface thereof. Reference numeral 4 denotes a first cable for transferring data and the like, which is connected to the first rear connector 3 via a first cable-side connector 5 provided at one end thereof. Reference numeral 12 is a second PC card according to an embodiment of the present invention which is about to be mounted on the upper stage of the card slot 7. One side surface of the second PC card 12 is provided with three rear connectors 321, 322, 323 having the same shape and the same specifications, and has the same configuration as the PC card shown in FIG. . The three rear connectors are provided with 322 at substantially the center of one end face, and 321 and 323 are provided on both sides thereof at equal intervals from 322. By doing so, at least one portion should not overlap with the first cable side connector. However, 321, 322, and 323 do not necessarily have to be provided at the above intervals. Reference numeral 42 is a second cable for transferring data and the like, and at one end thereof is provided a second cable side connector 52 which can be connected to any of the rear connectors 321, 322, 323.

First P mounted in the lower part of the card slot
When the vertical thickness of the first cable-side connector 5 connected to the C card 1 is equal to or greater than a certain thickness, the rear connector 322 and the second cable-side connector 52 provided at the center of one side surface of the second PC card 12 are provided. In the state where is connected,
Similar to the example shown in (1), the first and second cable-side connectors collide with each other, and it becomes impossible to mount the two connectors on the host system 6 at the same time. However, the other rear connector 3
It is possible to avoid a collision between the cable side connectors by connecting with either P21 or P323.
Both the C cards 1 and 12 can be installed in the host system 6 with the cables 4 and 42 connected, respectively.

Although the PC card according to this embodiment has three rear connectors, it is clear that even with two, some effects can be obtained, and with three or more, higher effects can be obtained. .

FIG. 3 is a view showing a PC card according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, 1 is a PC card, 2 is a front connector provided on one side of the PC card 1, 33
Is a rear connector provided on the surface facing the front connector 2, and has a structure capable of moving left and right within the surface. Reference numeral 4 denotes a cable connected to an external peripheral device, a telephone line or the like, and 5 denotes a cable-side connector which is provided at one end of the cable 4 and has a shape and specifications capable of being connected to the rear connector 3.

FIG. 4 shows a host system in which two PC cards can be mounted on the upper and lower sides, including the PC card shown in FIG.
It is a perspective view when mounting one PC card. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 6 denotes a host system having a card slot 7 into which two PC cards can be mounted on the upper and lower sides, and 1 denotes a conventional first system which is about to be mounted on the lower stage of the card slot 7.
Similar to the PC card shown in FIG. 5, the PC card is provided with the first rear connector 3 at the approximate center of one side surface. Four
Is a first cable for transferring data, etc., and the first cable via a first cable-side connector 5 provided at one end thereof.
It is connected to the rear connector 3. Reference numeral 12 is a PC card according to an embodiment of the present invention which is about to be mounted on the upper stage of the card slot 7. The second PC card 12
A second rear connector 33 that can move left and right in the plane is provided on one side face, and has the same configuration as the PC card shown in FIG. 42 is a second for transferring data
The cable is provided with a second cable-side connector 52 that is connectable to the second rear connector 33 at one end thereof.

First P mounted in the lower part of the card slot
If the vertical thickness of the first cable-side connector 5 connected to the C card 11 is greater than or equal to a certain thickness, the second PC
In a state where the second rear connector 33 provided in the substantially central portion of one side surface of the card 12 is positioned in the center, the cable-side connectors collide with each other as in the example shown in FIG.
It becomes impossible to simultaneously mount the sheets on the host system 6. However, by moving the position of the second rear connector 33 in either the left or right direction, the collision between the cable side connectors can be avoided, and the two first and second PC cards 1 and 12 are respectively the first and second. Second cable 4, 42
Can be mounted on the host system 6 in a state of being connected.

As an example of the moving structure of the rear connector 3, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a rail 81 is formed on a part of the frame 8 forming the side surface of the card. Then, the rear connector 3 is made movable along the formed rail 81. Further, a terminal group 91 is arranged in parallel with the rail 81 on the circuit board 9 inside the card. A leaf spring-shaped lead group 34 having a different length is connected to each terminal of the rear connector 33, and is pressed against the circuit board 9 by a spring retainer plate 35 fixed to the rear connector 33, and an appropriate terminal of the terminal group 91 is connected. Contact with. By adopting such a structure, a movable connector can be achieved.

Still further, the moveable rear connector may take a structure that can be locked in any position or in a particular position to maintain stability.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the conventional PC card is installed in the lower part of the card slot and the PC card of the present invention is installed in the upper part of the card slot. It is clear that higher effects can be obtained by using the PC cards of the present invention for both of them.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, only the conventional PC card uses a cable having a thick connector. However, the PC card of the present invention uses a thick cable or a cable having a thick connector. The same effect can be obtained when used.

As another example (not shown), the rear connector is provided so as to be displaced from the center position of the rear connector arrangement surface. By displacing the position of the connector from the center position in this way, it is possible to easily avoid overlapping of cards and cables. On the other hand, since the card side can be set without increasing the number of connectors, the cost does not increase. Further, it is preferable to provide a switching means capable of switching the function of each terminal in the rear connector. It is possible to change the function setting of each terminal in the connector, and even if the card type electronic device is turned upside down to change the position of the connector, it is enough to make the terminals in the connector also be turned upside down, It will be possible to take sufficient measures inside the card.

[0027]

Since the PC card of the present invention has the above-described structure, in a host system in which a plurality of PC cards can be mounted in the vertical direction, the cables can be connected at positions where the cables of adjacent PC cards do not interfere. This increases the possibility that multiple PC cards can be installed at the same time without removing one PC card or cable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a usage example of the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a usage example of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional card type electronic device.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a usage example of a card-type electronic device including a conventional rear connector. (B) The front view which shows the usage example of the card type electronic device provided with the conventional rear connector.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a main part showing the inside of the card-type electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention. (B) A cross-sectional view of essential parts showing the inside of a card-type electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... PC card 2 ... Front connector 3, 33, 321, 322, 323 ... Rear connector 4 ... Cable 5 ... Cable side connector 6 ... Host system 7 ... Card slot

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A front connector for connecting to a host system, and one end of a cable, the other end of which is connected to an external peripheral device, is connected to a surface opposite to a surface on which the front connector is provided. A card-type electronic device having a rear connector for use, wherein a plurality of rear connectors having the same shape and specifications are arranged apart from each other on a surface facing the surface on which the front connector is arranged. Card-type electronic device. 2. A first rear connector provided in a substantially central portion of a surface facing the surface provided with the front connector, and the first rear connector provided on a surface provided with the first connector. 2. The card-type electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising second and third rear connectors provided at equal intervals from the rear connector. 3. A front connector for connecting to a host system, and one end of a cable, the other end of which is connected to an external peripheral device, is connected to a surface opposite to a surface on which the front connector is provided. A card type electronic device having a rear connector for moving the rear connector, the rear connector being movable on a surface opposite to the surface on which the front connector is disposed. 4. A front connector for connecting to a host system, and one end of a cable, the other end of which is connected to an external peripheral device, is connected to a surface opposite to a surface on which the front connector is provided. A card-type electronic device having a rear connector for use in the PC card, wherein the rear connector is provided so as to be displaced from the center position of the arrangement surface. 5. The card type electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising switching means capable of switching the function of each terminal in the rear connector. 6. A host system having a card slot into which a plurality of card type electronic devices can be mounted, and a plurality of connectors having one surface mounted in the card slot and the other surface having the same shape and specification. A card-type electronic device having the card-type electronic device and a cable having one end connected to an external peripheral device and the other end connected to at least one of the connectors of the card-type electronic device. Electronic equipment using equipment. 7. A host system having a card slot into which a plurality of card type electronic devices can be mounted, and a connector having one surface mounted in the card slot and the other surface movable. An electronic device using a card type electronic device, and a cable having one end connected to an external peripheral device and the other end connected to the connector of the card type electronic device. .