JP2000099206A - External unit for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer having a single unit storage portion and a connector into which an external storage unit is inserted, and uses the unit storage portion and the connector in common with the external storage unit. It is another object of the present invention to provide an external unit that can selectively use an arbitrary memory card, IC card, or the like. In a computer including a pack unit storage slot (1a) and a single connector for circuit-connecting a pack unit inserted in the storage slot (1a), a single pack provided in a housing is provided. A disc pack unit 3 or a card pack unit 4 containing a card adapter having a card slot is arbitrarily inserted into the unit storage slot 1a, and a circuit connection can be made.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a unit storage portion into which an external storage unit is inserted, and a unit to which a connector terminal of the external storage unit is connected when the external storage unit is inserted into the storage portion. The present invention relates to an external unit for a computer which is used in place of an external storage unit in a computer having a connector for connection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a personal computer which is easy to carry and can be operated by an internal battery, a rotating magnetic recording medium such as a floppy disk (FD) or a semiconductor is used as a storage medium for supplying information from the outside. A memory card or the like is used. Among them, in the device configuration using a floppy disk as the external storage medium,
Since a rotary drive mechanism is provided, a large amount of power is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the load on the internal battery is large, and the device is large and heavy. Further, in a device using a memory card as an external storage medium, there is a problem that the storage capacity per card is extremely small, and therefore, there is a problem in that practical limitations are imposed. At present, there is a problem that it is economically disadvantageous because it is very expensive, and it is not practical.

Further, in a computer having a unit mounting slot dedicated to an external storage unit having a pack structure containing a storage device and the like, and a connector for connecting a circuit to the external storage unit mounted in the slot, Conventionally, when using a variety of semiconductor cards such as a memory card and an IC card for which a connection interface is not provided in the computer main body, it is necessary to provide a storage unit and a connector specific to each semiconductor card to be used in the computer main body. Therefore, there is a problem that the structure of the computer becomes extremely complicated and expensive.

[0004]

As described above, a dedicated unit mounting slot for an external storage unit having a pack structure containing a storage device and the like, and a connector for circuit-connecting the external storage unit mounted in the slot. When a computer having a connection interface is not prepared in the computer main body, a memory card, a variety of semiconductor cards such as an IC card, and the like are conventionally used. It is necessary to provide the connector on the computer main body, so that the structure of the computer becomes extremely complicated and expensive.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
In a computer provided with a unit storage section into which an external storage unit is inserted and a connector for connecting the external storage unit inserted into the unit storage section, the unit storage section and the connector are shared with the external storage unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an external unit for a computer in which various types of memory cards, IC cards, and the like can be selectively connected to an internal circuit of the computer through an interface.

Further, the present invention relates to a memory card, an IC, and the like, in which a connection interface is not provided in a computer main body.
Various semiconductor cards such as cards are interfaced to the bus of the computer main body without providing a connection interface for the cards in the computer main body (ie, without any structural influence on the computer main body). It is an object to provide an external unit for a computer capable of doing so.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an external unit for a computer, which is inserted into a unit storage section provided in the computer instead of the external storage unit. A card adapter structure having a connector portion having the same terminal structure as the external storage unit, having one or more card slots on the rear end face in the insertion direction, and containing a card connection interface portion including a card connector therein. Features.

Further, the present invention provides a unit accommodating portion into which an external storage unit is inserted, and a unit connection to which a connector terminal of the external storage unit is connected when the external storage unit is inserted into the accommodating portion. An external unit for a computer comprising a connector, wherein the connector terminal is selectively inserted into the unit storage portion, and is connected to the unit connection connector on a distal end surface in a direction of insertion into the unit storage portion. A card connector having a card slot at the rear end face in the insertion direction, and a card to which a card to be inserted into the card slot is internally connected,
And a card connection interface for circuit-connecting the card connector to the unit connection connector.

The present invention is also directed to a unit accommodating portion into which an external storage unit is inserted, and a unit connection for connecting a connector terminal of the external storage unit when the external storage unit is inserted into the accommodating portion. An external unit for a computer comprising a connector, wherein the connector terminal is selectively inserted into the unit storage portion, and is connected to the unit connection connector on a distal end surface in a direction of insertion into the unit storage portion. A card connector having a plurality of card slots on the rear end face in the insertion direction, and a card connector internally connected to a card to be inserted into the plurality of card slots, and a circuit for connecting the card connector to the unit connection connector It is characterized by containing a card connection interface to be connected.

[0010] By using the external unit having the above-described configuration, an arbitrary memory card, an IC card, and the like can be used by using the unit storage section and the unit connection connector provided in the computer body in common with the external storage unit. It can be used by connecting to an internal circuit of a computer. In addition, by using the external unit having the above configuration, a memory card having no connection interface in the computer body,
The various semiconductor cards, such as IC cards, can be interfaced with the bus of the computer main body without providing any connection interface for the cards in the computer main body (that is, without any structural influence on the computer main body). Can connect.

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of a computer system to which a card pack unit according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a personal computer which is an object of the present invention, and reference numeral 2 denotes a display housing provided on the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable within a predetermined rotation range. Reference numeral 1a denotes a pack unit storage slot provided on one side surface of the main body 1, in which a plurality of types of pack units having the same external dimensions are inserted and removed. Reference numerals 3 and 4 denote pack units selectively inserted into the pack unit storage slots 1a. Of these, 3 denotes an external storage unit incorporating a small floppy disk drive (FDD) or a small hard disk drive (HDD), for example. 4 is used as a card adapter having a plurality of (here, three) card slots in a housing having the same outer dimensions as the disk pack unit 3. This is a pack unit (hereinafter, referred to as a card pack unit) which is an external unit. Reference numeral 5 denotes a semiconductor card such as a memory card or an IC card inserted into the card slot 40 of the card pack unit 4.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of a unit insertion portion of the pack unit storage slot 1a.
Reference symbol c denotes a connector provided in the apparatus body common to the pack units 3 and 4 mounted in the pack unit storage slot 1a.

FIG. 3 shows the pack unit storage slot 1.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a configuration of a disk pack unit 3 which is a kind of a pack unit to be mounted on a. FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. FIG. 4D is a front view showing the front end face, and FIG. 6D is a front view showing the rear end face in the insertion direction. In the figure, 3a is a storage medium (diskette)
, 31 is a plug portion formed of a connector terminal connected to the connector 1c on the main body side, and 32 is an FDD or HDD.
Reference numeral 33 denotes a circuit connection cable for circuit-connecting the disk drive 32 to the connector 31.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the structure of a card pack unit 4 which is a kind of a pack unit to be mounted in the pack unit storage slot 1a in the same manner as the disk pack unit 3, and FIG. FIG. 1B is a side view, FIG. 1C is a front view showing a front end face in the insertion direction, and FIG. 1D is a front view showing a rear end face in the insertion direction. In the figure, 40 to 44 are components of a card adapter, 40 is a card slot into which a semiconductor card 5 such as a memory card or IC card is inserted, and 41 is a connector terminal connected to the connector 1c on the main body side. Connecting part,
42 is a card housing, 43 is a card connector inserted into the card slot 40 and connected to a connector terminal of the semiconductor card 5 mounted in the card housing 42, and 44 is a circuit for connecting the card connector 43 to the plug 41. Connection cable.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a personal computer having a slot structure of a card pack unit in the above embodiment.

Here, the pack unit storage slot 1
a, the disk pack unit 3 or the card pack unit 4 is inserted into the connector 1c and the pack interface (P-IF) 20 common to each pack unit.
Is connected to the system bus (S-BUS) 10 via
Under the control of the CPU 11, access control of each of the pack units (3 or 4) is performed. The pack interface (P-IF) 20 holds information indicating the mounting state of the pack unit and the type of the mounted pack unit, and
It has a function to respond to

The CPU 11 has a pack interface 20
When the response information is received, the pack unit mounting state and the mounting unit type of the pack unit storage slot 1a are recognized from the information content, and the access to the mounting pack unit (3 or 4) is controlled in the access mode according to the recognition. In FIG. 5, 12 is a ROM for storing fixed programs and the like, 13 is a RAM for storing programs and data to be processed, 14 is a DMA controller (DMAC) for performing direct memory access control, 1
5 is an interrupt controller (PIC) that can be set by a program, 16 is an interval timer (PIT) that can be set by a program, and 17 is a clock module (RTC) having an original operating battery. Reference numeral 18 denotes a backup RAM (B) to which a backup power supply (VBK) is supplied.
K-RAM), which is detachably connected to the bus via a connector like the pack unit. Also, 21
Is a printer controller (PRT-CONT), 22 is an input / output interface (UART), 23 is a keyboard controller (KBC), 24 is a display controller (DISP-CONT), and 25 is a backup power supply (V
BK) is supplied to a video RAM (VRAM) 26, a kanji RO for obtaining a kanji character pattern from a kanji character code.
M and 27 are dictionary ROMs for realizing kana / kanji conversion dictionaries, etc.
It is. Reference numeral 28 denotes a power supply control interface (PS-IF) for connecting the power supply circuit 30 to the CPU 11 via the system bus 10. Reference numeral 29 denotes a power adapter (AC adapter) which rectifies and smoothes a commercial AC power supply (AC) to obtain a DC power supply having a predetermined potential, and is plug-in connected to the personal computer main body. Reference numeral 30 denotes a power supply circuit (intelligent power supply) having a power control CPU (PC-CPU), which always controls the state of the internal power supply under the control of the power control CPU regardless of the power on / off state of the apparatus. Has a monitoring function. 3
1A is a detachable main battery (M-BATT) in the form of a pack constituted by a rechargeable battery, and 31B is a sub-battery (S-BATT) built in the main body also constituted by a rechargeable battery. 34 is a printer connected as necessary to the printer controller 21;
Reference numeral 35 denotes an RS-232C interface device connected to the input / output interface 22 as necessary, 36 denotes a keyboard connected to the keyboard controller 23, 3
7 is an LCD display unit connected to the display controller 24,
Reference numeral 38 denotes a CRT display unit selectively connected to the display controller 24 as necessary. Reference numeral 40 denotes an expansion connector to which an expansion unit is selectively connected as needed.

As described above, the pack unit storage slot 1a and the connector 1c common to each pack unit (3, 4) for circuit-connecting the pack unit (3 or 4) inserted in the storage slot 1a. In the computer provided, a disk pack unit 3 or a card pack unit 4 serving as a card adapter having a card slot is inserted into each pack unit (3, 4) in a single pack unit storage slot 1a provided in the housing. ) Can be arbitrarily inserted and connected to the circuit via a common connector 1c, so that only a kind of connector 1c is prepared in the computer main body. Optional selection of rotating magnetic recording media such as disks and hard disk packs, or memory cards and IC cards It can be used to also easily and quickly perform the selected task. Further, by preparing the card pack unit 4 serving as a card adapter according to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, for the various semiconductor cards 5 for which the connection interface is not prepared in the computer main body 1, the computer main body 1 does not have any connection interface of those cards. The various semiconductor cards 5 can be interface-connected to the bus of the computer main body 1 only by the interface connection of the pack unit 4 without giving (that is, without affecting the computer main body 1 in any structural manner).

In the above-described embodiment, the pack unit 3, which is attached to and detached from the pack unit storage slot 1a,
Reference numeral 4 is not limited to the illustrated shape and configuration, and is, for example, an external storage unit structure that is attached to and detached from another external storage unit installation slot of the computer main body 1, or a card pack unit structure that has only one card slot. Is also good.

[0022]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided a computer having a unit storage section into which an external storage unit is inserted and a connector for connecting the external storage unit inserted into the unit storage section. In this case, an external unit for a computer that can selectively use various memory cards, IC cards, and the like can be provided by using the unit storage section and the connector in common with the external storage unit.

Further, according to the present invention, various semiconductor cards such as a memory card and an IC card for which a connection interface is not provided in the computer main body can be used without providing any connection interface for these cards in the computer main body (ie, the computer main body). External unit for a computer that can interface the above various semiconductor cards to a bus of the computer main body without any influence on the structure).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a configuration of a computer system to which a card pack unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a unit insertion portion of a pack unit storage slot in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a disk pack unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a card pack unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a personal computer having a slot structure of a card pack unit in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body 1c ... Connector 2 ... Display part housing 3 ... Disk pack unit 3a ... Insertion part of a storage medium (diskette) 31 ... Connector part 32 ... Disk pack (FDD or HDD etc.) 33 ... Circuit connection cable 4 ... Card Pack unit 4c Connector 4s Card slot 41 Connector section 42 Card storage section 43 Circuit connection cable 10 System bus (S-BUS) 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 DMA controller (DMAC) 15 ... Interrupt controller (PIC) 16 ... Interval timer (PIT) 17 ... Watch module (RTC) 18 ... Backup RAM (BK-RAM) 20 ... Pack interface (P-IF) 21 ... Printer controller (PRT-CONT) 22 ... On Output interface (U RT) 23 Keyboard controller (KBC) 24 Display controller (DISP-CONT) 25 Video RAM (VRAM) 26 Kanji ROM 27 Dictionary ROM 28 Power control interface (PS-IF) 29 Power adapter (AC adapter) 30) Intelligent power supply (power supply circuit) 31A ... Main battery (M-BATT) 31B ... Sub-battery (S-BATT) 34 ... Printer 35 ... RS-232C interface device 36 ... Keyboard 37 ... LCD display unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An external unit which is inserted into a unit storage section of a computer instead of an external storage unit, and has a connector section having the same terminal structure as that of the external storage unit on a front end surface in a direction of insertion into the storage section. An external unit for a computer having a single or multiple card slot on the rear end face in the insertion direction, and having a structure in which a card connection interface section including a card connector is housed inside. 2. A unit storage section into which an external storage unit is inserted, and a unit connector to which a connector terminal of the external storage unit is connected when the external storage unit is inserted into the storage section. An external unit for a computer, comprising: a connector terminal that is selectively inserted into the unit storage portion and that is connected to the unit connection connector on a distal end surface in an insertion direction into the unit storage portion; A card connector which has a card slot on the rear end face in the insertion direction and in which a card to be inserted into the card slot is connected by a connector, and a card connection interface for circuit-connecting the card connector to the unit connection connector. An external unit for a computer, comprising: 3. A unit storage portion into which an external storage unit is inserted, and a unit connection connector to which a connector terminal of the external storage unit is connected when the external storage unit is inserted into the storage portion. An external unit for a computer, comprising: a connector terminal that is selectively inserted into the unit storage portion and that is connected to the unit connection connector on a distal end surface in an insertion direction into the unit storage portion; A card connector having a plurality of card slots on the rear end face in the insertion direction, and a card connector internally connected to a card to be inserted into the plurality of card slots, and a card connection for circuit-connecting the card connector to the unit connection connector An external unit for a computer, which houses an interface.