JPH10134494A - Portable information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect the user from a high temp. at the time of changing a recording medium, etc., which are mounted inside the information terminal device capable of changing recording media, becoming the high temp. by the device operation. SOLUTION: A portable information terminal device such as an electronic camera, etc., fitted attachably and detachably with a recording medium 3 such as a hard disk, etc., via a recording medium changing mechanism 30 to a main body is moreover provided with a temp. sensor 5 for detecting a temp. of the recording medium 3 and a recording medium changing suppressing mechanism 34 for suppressing taking out the recording medium by the recording medium changing mechanism 30. Consequently, attaching and detaching the recording medium 3 as a replaceable part are suppressed in accordance with a heating temp. of this replaceable part, i.e., the recording medium changing mechanism 3 is locked. Consequently, even when the replaceable recording medium 3 becomes a high temp., a possibility of harming the user by this temp. is reduced, and startling surprise by the high temp. is of a weak possibility.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device such as a portable personal computer or an electronic camera, and more particularly to a portable information terminal device which is detachably attached to a main body of the device via an attachment / detachment mechanism. The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device provided with a safety mechanism for preventing an injury or the like due to heat generation of components.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable information terminal devices such as portable small personal computers and electronic cameras have been remarkably developed. In such a portable information terminal device, a recording medium is usually mounted on a main body of the device and used in order to store collected or input information.

[0003] In order to output the stored information to another device, or to replace the medium with another medium for newly storing information, the user can freely use the component including the recording medium from the device. It is often replaceable by a removable mechanism so that it can be removed. Here, as the recording medium, for example, there are small magnetic disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories, magnetic tapes, films, and the like.

[0004]

By the way, in an apparatus using replaceable parts typified by the recording medium as described above, the recording medium is operated electrically, magnetically or mechanically. As a result, the recording medium itself may become hot. In particular, in recent years, the increase in the recording capacity and the recording speed of the recording medium, and furthermore, the miniaturization and the improvement of the integration of the apparatus itself on which the recording medium is mounted, this temperature rise tends to be remarkable. is there. However, in a conventional portable information terminal device,
The safety against such temperature rise is not sufficient, for example,
Even when the temperature of the recording medium mounted on the apparatus was high, the storage medium could be freely replaced.

[0005] Therefore, when the user attempts to replace the recording medium, which is a high-temperature replacement part, in such a state, the accumulated heat causes burns including low-temperature burns on a part of the body such as a palm or a finger. And other injuries. Further, even if such an injury does not occur, there is a possibility that the user who took out the recording medium was surprised at the high temperature and dropped from his hand, breaking the recording medium.

Accordingly, in the present invention, in consideration of the circumstances in the prior art described above, the safety of a portable information terminal device having a replacement part such as a recording medium, which may reach a high temperature due to its operation, is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a configuration capable of increasing the number.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a portable component which is detachably attached to a main body via an attaching / detaching mechanism is provided with a replacement part which generates heat upon operation. Information terminal device, further comprising:
There is provided a portable information terminal device provided with means for suppressing an operation of taking out the replacement part through the attachment / detachment mechanism in accordance with a heat generation temperature of the replacement part.

That is, according to the present invention, in a portable information terminal device provided with replaceable parts including the above-described recording medium, for example, the recording medium is electrically, magnetically or mechanically operated. When the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, replacement of replacement parts including the recording medium is disabled. It is needless to say that the recording medium can be replaced when the temperature drops below the predetermined temperature again.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the recording medium cannot be replaced, the light or the sound causes the temperature to rise so that the user will not mistake the recording medium for a failure of the apparatus. This informs the user that the recording medium cannot be replaced.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
The temperature for judging whether or not the recording medium can be replaced can be changed.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, even when the temperature of the recording medium is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and the recording medium cannot be replaced by the mechanism described above, the recording medium can be discharged by performing an emergency operation. It becomes possible.

As described above, according to the portable information terminal device of the present invention, the use of the above-described means for suppressing the removal operation of the replacement part causes the replacement part such as a replaceable recording medium to become hot. However, the possibility of causing injury to the user due to the high temperature is reduced. Alternatively, the temperature may reduce the likelihood of surprise the user.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electronic camera as one embodiment of the present invention, that is, as an example of a portable information terminal device.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of an electronic camera which is a portable information terminal device, and reference numeral 2 denotes a camera unit including an optical lens and its automatic focusing device. The camera section 2 is rotatably attached to the main body 1 and can be directed in any direction. In addition, the main body 1 of the electronic camera is provided with a recording medium 3, which is a detachable replacement part made up of, for example, a card-type hard disk, for storing an image input input by the camera.

Further, reference numeral 4 in the figure denotes a display device for displaying an image input inputted by the camera, and is constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal device. Here, as an example, a tree whose image has been input is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal device 4. Further, reference numeral 10,
Reference numerals 10 and 11 denote various operation buttons for operating the electronic camera, and the user uses these operation buttons to input, store, and reproduce a desired image. The operation buttons 10, 10,... Also function as emergency discharge buttons by a special operation method or switching operation, which will be described later.

Next, FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the portable information terminal device 1, in particular, details of a mechanism for detachably mounting the recording medium 3 inside the device main body 1. That is, FIG. 5B shows a state where the recording medium 3 for recording information is mounted inside the apparatus main body 1, and FIG. 5A shows a state where the recording medium 3 is taken out from the apparatus main body 1. It is shown.

As is apparent from these drawings, the recording medium 3 is operated by operating the recording medium exchange mechanism 30, and more specifically, as shown by the arrow in FIG. By pushing up the bottom surface of the device 30 upward with a finger or the like, the recording medium 3 protrudes downward from the insertion opening provided on the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 1 via the fulcrum 31 and the action point 32, It can be easily taken out. Note that the recording medium exchange mechanism 30 is provided with a recording medium exchange inhibition mechanism 34. The recording medium exchange inhibition mechanism 34 receives a control signal from a determination circuit described later in detail, and performs recording. Medium exchange mechanism 3
This is a mechanism that locks the recording medium 3 so that the recording medium 3 cannot be replaced.

Reference numeral 5 in these figures denotes a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the recording medium 3 or the atmosphere of the recording medium. The temperature sensor 5 is adjacent to the recording medium 3 to be detected. It is arranged. Further, reference numeral 6 denotes a judgment circuit for controlling the operation of the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 based on the temperature information (detection signal) obtained by the temperature sensor 5.

Next, FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the temperature sensor 5, the recording medium exchange mechanism 30, the judgment circuit 6, and the recording medium exchange inhibiting function by the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34. It will be described with reference to FIG. In addition,
These figures are configuration diagrams including the electrical configuration. In these figures, reference numeral 9 denotes, for example, a battery which is a power source of a portable information terminal device, and the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism. The key 34 includes a key portion 41 therein and a coil 42 wound around the key portion 41 for driving the key portion 41 by electromagnetic force. The power supply 9 does not necessarily need to be a battery that is a power supply of the portable information terminal device, and may be a separately provided battery. Further, in these figures, a circuit for supplying a drive current to the coil 42 is omitted, but this is for example a circuit that is electrically connected to the power supply 9 and a circuit that controls the intermittent operation of the drive current. And the like.

First, in FIG. 2, the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 3
4 is not inserted into the concave portion 33 formed on the side surface (the left side surface in the figure) of the recording medium exchange mechanism 30, and therefore, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the recording medium 3 is provided on the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 1 via the fulcrum 31 and the action point 32 by pushing up the bottom surface of the recording medium exchange mechanism 30 with a finger or the like. The recording medium 3 is easily ejected downward from the insertion opening. Hereafter, as described above, the key portion 41
Is called an "unlocked state" while the key portion 41 is inserted into the concave portion 33 of the recording medium exchange mechanism 30 as described below. The state is called a “locked state”.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the key portion 41 is inserted into the concave portion 33 of the recording medium exchange mechanism 30, that is, a "locked state". That is, here, when the temperature rises due to the operation of the recording medium 2, for example, the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 5 provided adjacent to the loaded recording medium 3. The temperature (detection signal) measured by the temperature sensor 5 is input to the judgment circuit 6, and the judgment circuit 6 makes the measured temperature equal to or higher than the reference temperature A ° C. (for example, a temperature at which a low-temperature burn is caused). In such a case, a control signal is output. As a result, the recording medium exchange suppression mechanism 34 which has received the control signal inputs the key unit 4
1 is moved by electromagnetic force (to the right in the figure) and inserted into a concave portion 33 formed on the side surface of the recording medium exchange mechanism 30.
Thus, if the recording medium is currently in the unlocked state, the recording medium exchange suppression mechanism 34 is in the locked state. Then, the recording medium exchange mechanism 30 loses its function (cannot be pushed upward), and the user cannot perform the operation of exchanging the recording medium 3.

Thereafter, the recording medium 3 is released by heat radiation or the like.
When the reference temperature measured by the temperature sensor 5 falls below B.degree. C. (a temperature at which a low-temperature burn does not occur), the determination circuit 6 operates the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34. Is stopped. Specifically, when the temperature (detection signal) measured by the temperature sensor 5 is input, the determination circuit 6 stops outputting the control signal when the temperature drops to B ° C. or less. As a result, the key portion 41 of the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 is moved by electromagnetic force (to the left in the drawing).
The concave portion 3 that moves and is formed on the side surface of the recording medium exchange mechanism 30
3 and returns to the unlocked state as shown in FIG. 2 again. Thus, the user can operate the exchange mechanism 30 to exchange the recording medium 3 again.

As described above, according to the electronic camera as the portable information terminal device according to the above-described embodiment, the recording medium which is detachably mounted on the main body and heated by the operation state is dangerous. When the temperature reaches a predetermined high temperature or higher, the replacement of the recording medium is temporarily disabled,
This makes it impossible for the user to replace the heated recording medium, thereby protecting the user from dangerous high temperatures of the recording medium. Thereafter, when the temperature of the recording medium drops to a safe temperature, the recording medium can be replaced again.

In the above embodiment, the key portion 41 of the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 is pressed in one direction (left direction in the figure) by means such as a spring. The recording medium is moved rightward by the electromagnetic force during the output period and inserted into the concave portion 33 of the recording medium exchange mechanism 30, so that the exchange of the recording medium is disabled. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and a configuration that requires a power supply only when the recording medium exchange suppression mechanism 34 transitions from the locked state to the unlocked state or from the unlocked state to the locked state may be adopted. Good. Specifically, means such as a spring for pressing the key portion 41 to the left in the drawing is removed, and the direction of the drive current supplied to the coil 42 is switched by a switching element or the like, so that the key portion 41 A configuration that requires a power source only when moving can be achieved.

According to this configuration, for example, in the above-described apparatus, when the temperature of the recording medium 3 rises, the operation of the temperature sensor 5 and the determination circuit 6 causes the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 to be in a locked state. The exchange of the recording medium 3 becomes impossible. Immediately thereafter, when the power supply to the device is cut off as shown in FIG. 6, such as when the user removes the battery of the device, the temperature sensor 5 cannot measure the temperature, and the determination circuit 6 The control of the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 cannot be performed. However, according to the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 that requires power only at the time of the state transition as described above, the user cannot take out the recording medium 3 because the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 is already in the locked state. . That is, according to such a modification, even if the temperature of the recording medium 3 once becomes high and immediately after the temperature cannot be measured for any reason, the user can take out the recording medium 3 just in case. Therefore, the user can be more reliably protected from the dangerous high temperature of the recording medium.

FIG. 7 shows an electronic camera as a portable information terminal device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In an electronic camera according to another embodiment,
In the electronic camera according to the embodiment described above,
Further, a notifying means for notifying the user that the replacement of the recording medium 3 is disabled due to the dangerous temperature rise is added.

Here, specifically, the above-mentioned display device 4 is used as this notifying means, and “High temperature caution!” 7 is displayed on the display screen of the display device 4.
The user is notified that the temperature of the recording medium 3 has risen dangerously and cannot be replaced. In this case, the control signal from the determination circuit 6 is simultaneously input to a control circuit (not shown) for controlling the screen display on the display device 4, and the warning signal can be displayed by the control signal. . Further, in the present embodiment, the display device is used as the notification means, but, instead, a light emitting diode, a buzzer, a speaker, or the like may be used instead. In this case, in a state where the recording medium cannot be replaced, instead of displaying a message indicating that the recording medium cannot be replaced due to a rise in temperature on the display device 4, for example, as can be seen, The arranged light emitting diode is turned on, or a warning sound or a warning message is generated by a buzzer or a speaker.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a sensor 8 for detecting that the user is about to change the recording medium is provided inside the main body 1 of the electronic camera which is a portable information terminal device. The sensor 8 detects that the user is about to replace the recording medium, and only when this is detected, the warning is displayed on the display device 4 as the notification means shown in FIG. 7, or the light emitting diode is turned on. Alternatively, a warning sound or a warning message may be generated by a buzzer or a speaker.
The sensor 8 may be, for example, a sensor that detects pressing of the recording medium exchange mechanism 30, a switch, or the like. According to the portable information terminal device according to the above-described embodiments, even when the recording medium cannot be exchanged, the fact is displayed by the notification unit, so that the user can use the device. It is less likely to be mistaken for a failure.

Next, FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.

According to the portable information terminal device according to the still another embodiment, a memory 61 is added to the urine, for example, in the configuration shown in FIG. Depending on the function, a reference temperature A ° C. for the determination circuit 6 to make a state transition of the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 4 from the unlocked state to the locked state, or a reference temperature for making the state transition from the locked state to the unlocked state. This is an improvement that allows the user to freely adjust B ° C.

More specifically, the reference temperature A ° C. and the reference temperature B are stored in the memory 61 whose contents can be freely rewritten.
The value of ° C. is stored, and the judgment circuit 6 controls the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 with reference to the reference temperature A ° C. and the reference temperature B ° C. stored in the memory 61. The reference temperature A ° C. and the reference temperature B ° C. stored in the memory 61 may be the same value or may be different values.

According to this configuration, if the temperature information obtained from the temperature sensor 5 is equal to or higher than the reference temperature A ° C. and is currently in the unlocked state, the determination circuit 6 sets the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 in the locked state. A control signal is output such that The temperature information obtained from the temperature sensor 5 is the reference temperature B.
If the temperature is not more than ° C. and the current state is the locked state, the determination circuit 6 sends a control signal to the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 4 so that the recording medium is in the unlocked state. According to this embodiment, the user can freely change and set the reference temperature for determining whether or not the high-temperature recording medium 3 can be replaced.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show still another embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in these figures, even if the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 is in the locked state,
Further, by providing an emergency ejection circuit 12, the recording medium 3 mounted in the apparatus main body 1 can be ejected.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of emergency discharge buttons 10, 10,...
Buttons 10 and 10
... normally function as operation buttons of the information terminal device. However, for example, when the user presses these buttons 10, 10... (For example, two or three) simultaneously and continuously for a certain period of time, this emergency operation is performed only by an operation far from a normal operation. The discharge circuit 12 operates. That is, in response to the output from the emergency ejection circuit 12, the above-described determination circuit 6 outputs a control signal to the recording medium exchange inhibiting mechanism 34 so as to be in an unlocked state. It is possible to discharge the loaded recording medium 3. As described above, according to the information terminal device of the present embodiment, it is possible to respond to a special user's request that the user wants to discharge the recording medium 3 despite the high temperature of the recording medium. .

In the above-described embodiment, as the recording medium 3 which is a detachable replacement part, only a recording medium composed of, for example, a card-type hard disk has been described. Without limitation, other recording media, for example, a small magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic tape, a film, or the like, and a battery ( (Including rechargeable batteries).

[0038]

As is apparent from the above detailed description, according to the present invention, a portable information terminal device equipped with a replacement part, such as a recording medium, which may reach a high temperature due to its operation. Also, since the removal is automatically suppressed at a high temperature, the user is amazed by the recording medium having a high temperature, or the user is prevented from being injured, and the safety is enhanced. An excellent effect that a safe portable information terminal device can be provided is exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal structure serving as a characteristic part of a portable information terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention, particularly, an internal structure in a locked state.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the above-described FIG. 1, particularly, an internal structure in an unlocked state.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a situation in which a recording medium is taken out in an unlocked state in the internal structure of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a portable information terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an internal perspective view for explaining a take-out operation of a recording medium exchange mechanism of the portable information terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the portable information terminal device when the power supply is cut off.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a portable information terminal device according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a user is notified that the temperature is high.

FIG. 8 is an internal perspective view showing the structure of a recording medium exchange mechanism inside the portable information terminal device.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an internal structure including a circuit of a portable information terminal device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an internal structure including a circuit of a portable information terminal device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a portable information terminal device according to still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 information terminal device main body 2 camera unit 3 recording medium 30 recording medium exchange mechanism 31 fulcrum 32 action point 34 recording medium exchange suppression mechanism 4 display (liquid crystal) device 41 key unit 5 temperature sensor 6 judgment circuit 61 memory 8 sensor 9 information terminal device Power supply 10, 11 operation button 12 emergency discharge circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Atsuhiro Ohno 1410 Inada, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Visual Information Media Division (72) Inventor Susumu Otsuka 1410 Inada, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi, Ltd. Within Media Division (72) Inventor Shinya Tsubota 1410 Inada, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Pref. Hitachi, Ltd. Visual Information Media Division

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A portable information terminal device in which a replacement part generating heat by operation is detachably attached to a main body via an attachment / detachment mechanism, further comprising the replacement part carried out via the attachment / detachment mechanism. A portable information terminal device provided with a means for suppressing a take-out operation according to a heat generation temperature of the replacement part. 2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a temperature of said heat-exchange part, wherein a temperature detected by said temperature detecting means has become equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The portable information terminal device, wherein the suppression unit sometimes suppresses an operation of removing the replacement part. 3. The information terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising: when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit becomes equal to or lower than another predetermined temperature, the suppression unit performs the replacement. A portable information terminal device configured to release suppression of a component removal operation. 4. The information terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising: a predetermined temperature at which the removal operation of the replacement part is suppressed, or the suppression of the removal operation of the replacement part is released. A portable information terminal device wherein another predetermined temperature can be set variably. 5. The portable information device according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying a user of an operation of removing the replacement part when the operation of removing the replacement part is suppressed. Terminal device. 6. The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for enabling removal of the replacement part despite suppression of the removal operation of the replacement part by the suppression means. A portable information terminal device characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the replacement part is a recording medium forming a part of the information terminal device.