WO2016072723A1

WO2016072723A1 - Mobile storage device having magnet embedded therein

Info

Publication number: WO2016072723A1
Application number: PCT/KR2015/011751
Authority: WO
Inventors: 김현준; 윤대영; 정승주; 김상민; 김정교
Original assignee: (주)에스피에스
Priority date: 2014-11-04
Filing date: 2015-11-04
Publication date: 2016-05-12
Also published as: KR20160001560U; CN105576436A; CN205212066U

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile storage device having a magnet embedded therein, the device comprising: a housing (100); an electrode unit (200) provided on one side of the housing (100) so as to come into contact with an external terminal unit (20) provided in an external device; a memory (300) located inside the housing (100), and connected to the electrode unit (200) so as to transmit/receive data to/from the external device through the electrode unit (200); and a magnet (400) located inside the housing, and making the electrode unit (200) and the external terminal unit (20) come into contact with each other by magnetic force such that a mutual electrical connection occurs therebetween.

Description

Removable storage device with magnet

The present invention relates to a removable storage device, and more particularly, to a removable storage device in which a magnet is built in the removable storage device to contact external devices by magnetic force, thereby causing electrical connection and data communication.

The portable storage device is a device for storing data such as a photo, a document, a video, etc., and is widely used in various fields because it is easy to store and carry data. Removable storage devices can store large amounts of data as technology advances, and their sizes have become smaller.

Among such removable storage devices, a terminal supporting a USB interface is formed, and a storage device having a flash memory inside the device is particularly called a USB storage device, which is one of the most commonly used removable storage devices.

1 is a view illustrating a conventional USB storage device and an external terminal by way of example, one end of the USB storage device is provided with a USB terminal, the external terminal is provided in the lower center of the mobile terminal. As the USB terminal is coupled to the external terminal, the USB terminal and the mobile terminal are electrically connected to each other to communicate data with each other.

However, such a USB storage device is inconvenient to use because the USB terminal is inserted into a USB port provided in an external electronic or electronic device such as a PC or a mobile terminal in one direction, and it is inconvenient to use. During the repetition, damage to the terminal occurs frequently.

In order to prevent the inconvenience of the coupling method and damage to the terminal, it is possible to consider the terminal-to-terminal contact method using the magnetic force of the magnet, rather than inserting the removable storage device to the external electronic and electrical equipment.

On the other hand, the use of magnets in connectors used to connect power supply devices to electronic and electrical equipment has been developed and used for a long time. However, the magnets are built in and the magnetic force is used to enable electrical connection and data communication. Removable storage devices do not exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile storage device which allows an external device to be coupled by magnetic force, thereby causing electrical connection and data communication with the external device.

In order to achieve the above object, a removable storage device according to the present invention includes a housing (100); An electrode part 200 provided on one surface of the housing 100 and in contact with an external terminal part 20 provided in an external device; A memory 300 located inside the housing 100 and connected to the electrode part 200 to exchange data with the external device through the electrode part 200; And a magnet 400 positioned inside the housing 100 and contacting the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal unit 20 by magnetic force so that an electrical connection occurs between them.

At this time, the housing 100 is characterized in that the memory insertion groove is further provided to insert and remove the memory 300 from the outside of the housing 100.

At this time, the electrode unit 200 is characterized in that consisting of the concentric pattern electrodes 210.

Alternatively, the electrode unit 200 is characterized in that consisting of pin electrodes 220 consisting of a pin.

In this case, the pin electrodes 220 are partially protruded to the outside through holes formed in one surface of the housing 100.

In addition, the removable storage device according to the present invention may further include at least one additional electrode part 2000 provided in the housing 100 and in contact with the external terminal part 20.

At this time, the additional electrode part 2000 is characterized in that the pin electrode consisting of concentric pattern electrodes or pins.

In addition, the removable storage device according to the present invention, the housing 100, characterized in that the additional female connector 3000 that can be inserted into the external male connector 30 provided in the external device is further provided.

Alternatively, the removable storage device according to the present invention is further characterized in that the housing 100 further includes an additional male connector 4000 that can be inserted into and coupled to an external female connector 40 provided in an external device.

According to the present invention, since an electrode part is provided on one surface of the mobile storage device and a magnet is located therein, the electrode part and the external terminal parts provided in the external device are brought into contact with each other by magnetic force, thereby electrically connecting each other. And communication of data can be made.

In addition, according to the present invention, the electrode unit of the mobile storage device can be attached and detached by magnetic force to the external terminal provided in the external device, without the need for inserting and releasing the removable storage device to the external device, it is convenient to use, detachable process The risk of damage to the electrode of the removable storage device is reduced.

Further, when the external terminal portion is provided on the back cover surface of the mobile terminal or the back of the terminal case, and the electrode portion of the mobile storage device according to the present invention is connected to the external terminal portion, the mobile storage device according to the present invention is provided. The external memory of the mobile terminal can be configured, and accordingly, the storage capacity of the mobile terminal can be conveniently increased.

1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional USB storage device and an external terminal by way of example.

2 is a view showing a removable storage device and an external terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exploded perspective view of a removable storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view showing another embodiment of the electrode unit of the removable storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view showing a removable storage device and an external terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view showing a removable storage device and an external terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7B are views illustrating a state in which an additional connector is provided in the removable storage device according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals in the accompanying drawings refer to like elements, and descriptions of elements identical to those described above in the description of various embodiments may be briefly or omitted.

2 is a view showing a removable storage device and an external terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a removable storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Removable storage device according to the present invention is provided on the housing 100, one surface of the housing 100, the electrode portion 200 in contact with the external terminal portion 20 provided in the external device, located inside the housing 100 And are connected to the electrode unit 200, and are located in the memory 300 that exchanges data with an external device through the electrode unit 200, and the housing 100, and the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal unit. The magnet 400 is included in contact with the magnetic force by magnetic force to cause electrical connection to each other.

The present invention is characterized in that the electrode portion 200 provided in the mobile storage device is in contact with the external terminal portion 20 provided in the external device by a magnetic force and at the same time electrically connected.

The external device referred to in the present invention refers to an electronic and electrical device connected to a mobile storage device according to the present invention, such as a desktop, a notebook, a mobile terminal, a charging cable or a charging cradle including a data communication line, and capable of communicating data with each other. do.

In addition, the external terminal unit 20 means a terminal which is provided in the external device as described above, and can be electrically connected to the electrode unit 200 of the present invention by magnetic force.

At this time, in order for the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal unit 20 of the present invention to contact each other by magnetic force, a separate magnet (not shown) is disposed inside the external terminal unit 20.

Meanwhile, in the accompanying drawings, the housing 100 corresponding to the main body of the removable storage device is shown in a coin shape, but the housing 100 is sufficient if the electrode portion 200 may be provided on one surface thereof, and is limited to a specific shape. It doesn't happen.

In addition, the housing 100 may be an integral type or an openable type that may open and close a cover.

In addition, the housing 100 may have a structure capable of inserting and removing a micro SD memory or similar expansion memory from the outside of the housing 100. This means that a memory insertion groove (not shown), which is generally provided in an electronic device such as a digital camera or a small camcorder, may be provided on one side or one side of the housing 100, and the memory 300 may be provided through the memory insertion groove. ) May be located inside the housing 100.

The electrode unit 200 is provided on one surface of the housing 100, and when electrically connected to the external terminal unit 20, the electrode unit 200 receives power from an external device and communicates data between the mobile storage device and the external device. .

To this end, the power supply terminals (V +, GND) and the data terminals (D +, D-) are arranged in the electrode unit 200, and basically slave mode (slave mode) like a mobile terminal (smartphone, tablet PC, etc.). An ID terminal for recognizing the external memory by converting the external device to the host mode (host mode) may be additionally arranged. However, in converting the slave mode to the host mode, the mobile terminal may recognize the external memory by data communication between the mobile terminal and the mobile storage device without additionally disposing the ID terminal in the electrode unit 200. .

Like the electrode unit 200, the power terminals V + and GND and the data terminals D + and D− corresponding to the electrode unit 200 are disposed in the external terminal unit 20, and an ID terminal may be additionally disposed. have.

The memory 300 is located inside the housing 100, and when a voltage is applied to a power terminal of the electrode part 200, the electrode part 200 is used to exchange data with an external device through the electrode part 200. Is connected (not shown).

The magnet 400 is positioned inside the housing 100 to contact the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal unit 20 by magnetic force.

The magnet 400 is not limited to a particular shape, and may be a ring, plate, or two or more separate types. The magnetic force of the magnet 400 for contact between the electrode 200 and the external terminal 20 can also be adjusted by varying the shape of the magnet 400.

The memory 300 is not affected by the magnetic force of the magnet 400 because data communication with an external device is performed by a digital signal. Therefore, the memory 300 may be connected to the electrode unit 200, and may be located at any place within the housing 100 regardless of the position of the magnet 400.

It is required that the attraction force acts between the magnet 400 located inside the housing 100 and the separate magnets disposed inside the external terminal 20. Therefore, the magnet 400 located inside the housing 100 and the separate magnet should be forced to work with each other by different polarities.

In addition, the magnet 400 should be selected to have a magnetic force that can be easily attached and detached between the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal 20, in some cases by stacking a plurality of magnets 400 inside the housing 100 It can also be located at. In addition, the magnet 400 may be ferromagnetic or paramagnetic.

As described above, since the magnet 400 is embedded in the housing 100, the removable storage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention uses the electrode part 200 and the external terminal part 20 provided on one surface of the housing 100. It can contact by magnetic force.

As a result, an electrical connection is realized between the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal unit 20 to communicate data between the mobile storage device and the external device.

In the conventional USB storage device, the USB terminal provided at one end of the device is inserted and coupled in one direction to the USB port provided in the external device. However, in the present invention, the electrode unit 200 provided on one surface of the housing 100 is externally connected. Since the terminal portion 20 is brought into contact with each other by magnetic force, ease of use is improved, and it is possible to prevent the terminals of the mobile storage device from being damaged by the insertion coupling.

Meanwhile, in relation to the shape of the electrode part 200, FIG. 2 illustrates the electrode part 200 of the mobile storage device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as concentric pattern electrodes 210.

In this case, the pattern electrodes 210 are not necessarily limited to those patterned in a concentric shape, and may be any shape as long as they are patterned in a predetermined shape.

However, the concentric circular pattern electrodes 210 may be electrically connected to the external terminal 20 corresponding thereto even when the pattern electrodes 210 are rotated in an arbitrary direction.

The pattern electrodes 210 shown in FIG. 2 are patterned in a concentric manner on the substrate 217, and the power terminals 211 (V +, 214 (GND)), the data terminals 212 (D +), and 213 (D-). )) In addition, an ID terminal (not shown) capable of basically converting an external device operating in a slave mode to a host mode, such as a mobile terminal, may be additionally arranged in a concentric manner by shorting the GND terminal 214 with each other. .

At this time, the concentric circular pattern electrode 210 includes both a case of forming a continuous concentric pattern as shown in FIG. 2 and a case of forming a discontinuous concentric pattern as shown in FIG. 4. However, the discontinuous pattern electrodes 210 have a limitation in contacting by the magnetic force between the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal unit according to the present invention and rotating the mobile storage device after the contact.

The pattern electrodes 210 are in contact with the external terminal unit 20, and the external terminal unit 20 may be an external pin terminal 21 that is preferably composed of pins provided in an external device. However, the external terminal 20 which is in contact with the pattern electrodes 210 is sufficient if the configuration corresponds to the pattern electrodes 210 in a 1: 1 manner, and does not necessarily require a pin terminal composed of pins.

The external pin terminals 21 may be provided, for example, on various external devices such as on a charging base including a data communication line or one end of a charging cable, a back cover surface of a mobile terminal, or a back of a terminal case. As an example, the external pin terminals 21 are illustrated as being provided on the charging cradle 1 connected to a PC (not shown).

The external pin terminal 21 may be composed of a power terminal 21-1 (V +) and 21-4 (GND) and a data terminal 21-2 (D +) and 21-3 (D-). Terminals (not shown) may be further provided. The external pin terminals 21 are disposed to correspond to the pattern electrodes 210 provided on one surface of the housing 100 in a 1: 1 manner.

In order for the pattern electrodes 210 and the external pin terminals 21 to be in contact with each other to realize stable electrical connection, the external pin terminals 21 are partially moved outward through holes formed on the charging cradle 1. It is preferable to have a protruding shape, and it is preferable to arrange the terminals 21-1 to 21-4 at different distances alternately from the center terminal 21-1 to the left and the right.

An elastic part (not shown) such as a spring may be provided below the external pin terminals 21. Accordingly, when the pattern electrodes 210 and the external pin terminals 21 are in contact with each other, the external pin terminals may be provided. 21 moves back, and when the contact is released can be moved forward again by the elastic portion to return to the original position.

As mentioned above, a separate magnet (not shown) is provided inside the external pin terminals 21.

Accordingly, the pattern electrodes 210 and the external pin terminals 21 may be brought into contact with each other by the magnetic force of the magnet, and at the same time, electrical connection occurs between each other, thereby communicating data between the mobile storage device and the external device. This is done.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the external pin terminals 21 are provided on the charging cradle 1 and the pattern electrodes 210 and the external pin terminals 21 are in contact with each other by magnetic force, An electrical connection is established between each other to allow data to be communicated between the mobile storage device and the PC.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an external terminal provided in a removable storage device and an external device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The electrode unit 200 of the mobile storage device illustrated in FIG. 5 is pin electrodes 220 composed of pins, and the external terminal unit 20 is an external pattern terminal 22 provided in an external device and patterned in a concentric shape. .

That is, in contrast to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the second embodiment of the present invention, all other components are the same, and only the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal unit 20 are formed opposite to each other. In addition, although FIG. 5 illustrates that the external pattern terminals 22 are provided on the back cover 2 surface of the mobile terminal as an example, this is only for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and the external pattern terminals ( 22) may be provided on the back of the terminal case of the mobile terminal, on the charging cradle including the data communication line or at one end of the charging cable.

The pin electrodes 220 are composed of a power terminal 221 (V +) and 224 (GND) and a data terminal 222 (D +) and 223 (D-), and basically operate in a slave mode like a mobile terminal. An ID terminal 225 capable of converting an external device into a host mode may be further shorted with the GND terminal 224.

The pin electrodes 220 are in contact with the external terminal portion 20, and the external terminal portion 20 may be the external pattern terminals 22, which are preferably patterned concentrically on the external device. However, the external terminal 20 in contact with the pin electrodes 220 may be configured to correspond to the pin electrodes 220 in a one-to-one configuration, and is not necessarily required to be concentrically patterned.

The external pattern terminals 22 are patterned concentrically on the substrate 27, and each terminal 22-1 to 22-5 is a power supply terminal 22-1 (V +) and 22-4 (GND). ) And data terminals 22-2 (D +) and 22-3 (D-). In addition, an ID terminal 22-5 for converting an external device basically operating in a slave mode to a host mode, such as a mobile terminal, may be additionally arranged in a concentric shape.

The pin electrodes 220 are disposed to correspond 1: 1 with the external pattern terminals 22.

In order for the pin electrodes 220 and the external pattern terminals 22 to contact each other to realize a stable electrical connection, a part of the pin electrodes 220 protrudes outward through a hole formed in one surface of the housing 100. It is preferable to have a shape, and it is preferable to arrange each terminal 221 to 225 alternately from the center terminal 221 on the left and right sides at different distances.

The lower portion of the pin electrodes 220 may include an elastic portion (not shown), such as a spring, so that the pin electrodes 220 when the pin electrodes 220 and the external pattern terminals 22 are in contact with each other. Is moved rearward, and when the contact is released can be moved forward again by the elastic portion to return to the original position.

A separate magnet (not shown) is provided inside the external pattern terminals 22.

Accordingly, the pin electrodes 220 and the external pattern terminals 22 may be in contact with each other by the magnetic force of the magnet 400 embedded in the housing 100, and at the same time, electrical connection may occur between the pin electrodes 220 and the external pattern terminals 22. Data may be communicated between the mobile storage device and the external device.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the external pattern terminals 22 are provided on the back cover 2 surface of the mobile terminal, the pin electrodes 220 and the external pattern terminals 22 are applied to each other by magnetic force. By contact, the mobile terminal operating in slave mode is switched to host mode. Accordingly, the pin electrodes 220 and the external pattern terminals 22 are electrically connected to each other to communicate data between the mobile storage device and the mobile terminal.

In this mode change, the ID terminals are short-circuited with the GND terminal 214 on the pattern electrodes 210 as described above, and are additionally arranged in a concentric shape, and the ID terminals are also provided on the external pin terminals 21. The GND terminal 21-4 may be short-circuited with each other, and may be similarly disposed when the external pin terminals 21 are provided on the back cover side of the mobile terminal or the back side of the terminal case.

Alternatively, in some cases, the memory 300 may be recognized in the mobile storage device by data communication between the mobile terminal and the mobile storage device without additionally disposing the ID terminal in the electrode unit 200.

6 is a diagram illustrating an external terminal provided in a removable storage device and an external device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the present invention may further include one or more additional electrode portions 2000 in contact with the external terminal portion 20 in addition to the electrode portion 200.

The additional electrode unit 2000 may be provided in the housing 100 regardless of the position.

In addition, in FIG. 6, the additional electrode part 2000 is illustrated as being composed of pin electrodes composed of fins. However, this is merely an example of the additional electrode part 2000, and the additional electrode part 2000 includes the above-mentioned electrode. Like the unit 200, power terminals V + and GND and data terminals D + and D- are arranged, and an ID terminal for converting an external device operating in a slave mode to a host mode basically, such as a mobile terminal, is GND. It may be arranged short-circuited with the terminal.

In addition, the additional electrode part 2000 may include not only pin electrodes composed of fins but also concentric pattern electrodes, and the configuration of the pattern electrodes and the pin electrodes may include the pattern electrodes 210 described in the above embodiments. ) And the pin electrodes 220 are the same as the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Since the magnet 400 is embedded in the housing 100, the removable storage device illustrated in FIG. 6 may be in contact with the external terminal portion 20 by magnetic force through the additional electrode portion 2000 in addition to the electrode portion 200. Accordingly, electrical connection and data communication between the mobile storage device and the external device can be performed.

Although the external terminal portion 20 of FIG. 6 is shown as being provided on the back cover 2 of the charging cradle 1 or the mobile terminal, the external terminal portion 20 may be provided in other external devices. In addition, the electrode unit 200 is connected to the external terminal portion 20 provided on the charging cradle 1, the additional electrode portion 2000 is provided on the back cover 2 of the mobile terminal 20 of the external terminal portion (20) The electrode unit 200 and the additional electrode unit 2000 correspond to the external terminal unit 1: 1 in each case so that an electrical connection can be realized between the mobile storage device and the external device. It is enough.

As such, by providing one or more additional electrode units 2000 in addition to the electrode unit 200, the convenience of use of the removable storage device may be improved.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the removable storage device according to the present invention further includes an additional female connector 3000 capable of inserting and coupling the external male connector 30 provided at one end of the cable 3 in one direction. can do.

In this case, the cable 3 with the external male connector 30 refers to a cable (USB cable or other communication cable) for supplying external power to a device such as a mobile terminal to perform charging and data communication. When the additional female connector 3000 is additionally provided in the housing 100, the conventional cable 3 having the external male connector 30 at one end can also be used in the mobile storage device according to the present invention. 3) also provides power to the removable storage device to enable communication of data.

Alternatively, the removable storage device according to the present invention may further include an additional male connector 4000 that can be inserted into and coupled to the external female connector 40 provided in the external device in one direction, as shown in FIG. 7B.

The additional male connector 4000 may be a USB connector or other communication connector, and is inserted into and coupled with an external female connector 40 provided in an external device (for example, a desktop, a notebook, a mobile terminal, etc.) to receive power. At the same time, data communication can take place.

Removable storage device according to the present invention, when the additional female connector 3000 or the additional male connector 4000 is provided in addition to the electrode unit 200 provided on one surface of the housing 100, provided in an external device It can be electrically connected to various kinds of terminal parts, so that the convenience of use can be further improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made.

Claims

A housing 100;

An electrode part 200 provided on one surface of the housing 100 and in contact with an external terminal part 20 provided in an external device;

A memory 300 located inside the housing 100 and connected to the electrode part 200 to exchange data with the external device through the electrode part 200; And

A magnet is included; the magnet 400 is located inside the housing 100, and makes contact between the electrode unit 200 and the external terminal unit 20 by magnetic force, so that an electrical connection occurs between them. Removable storage device.
The method of claim 1,

The housing (100) is a removable storage device with a magnet, characterized in that the memory insertion groove which is further provided to insert and remove the memory (300) from the outside of the housing (100).
The method of claim 1,

The electrode unit 200 is a removable storage device with a built-in magnet, characterized in that consisting of concentric pattern electrodes (210).
The method of claim 1,

The electrode unit 200 is a removable storage device with a built-in magnet, characterized in that consisting of pin electrodes 220 consisting of a pin.
The method of claim 4, wherein

The pin electrodes (220) is a removable storage device with a built-in magnet, characterized in that the portion protrudes to the outside through a hole formed in one surface of the housing (100).
The method of claim 1,

The storage device with a magnet built in the housing 100, the magnet further comprises at least one additional electrode portion (2000) in contact with the external terminal portion (20).
The method of claim 6,

The additional electrode part 2000 is a removable storage device with a built-in magnet, characterized in that consisting of a pin electrode consisting of a pattern electrode or a pin of concentric circles.
The method of claim 1,

The housing (100), the removable storage device with a magnet, characterized in that the additional female connector 3000 is further provided that can be inserted into the external male connector 30 provided in the external device.
The method of claim 1,

The housing (100), the removable storage device with a magnet, characterized in that further provided with an additional male connector (4000) that can be inserted into the external female connector 40 provided in the external device.