JP2001118368A - Peripheral devices for personal computers - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a personal computer peripheral device that can meet various design requirements of a user, is excellent in cost performance, and can prevent user's erroneous use. SOLUTION: A resin lower and upper case 200 and 300 combined with each other so as to cover a unit 100 from below and above in the height direction, and a combination of the lower and upper cases 200 and 300 combined with each other are held. As in the lower and upper cases 200 and 30
And a resin-made holder 400 detachably mounted on the side surface in the width direction 0. Lower and upper case 2
The outer surface 401 of the holder 400 mounted on the side surfaces in the width direction of 00 and 300 is inclined at a predetermined angle or more with respect to the height direction, so that the holder cannot be installed with the width direction being substantially vertical.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral for a personal computer which is installed outside the housing of the personal computer with its width and depth directions substantially horizontal and which is electrically connected to the personal computer for use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a personal computer peripheral device in which a unit that can be built in a housing of a personal computer is packaged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, various peripheral devices (peripheral devices) are connected to a personal computer.

Recently, various types of recording media that can be written with a large recording capacity, a data compression method with a high compression ratio, and an error correction method for highly accurate read data have been developed. Accordingly, storage devices for recording media such as, for example, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and DVD-RAMs are being widely used.

Recently, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) has been developed as a new generation interface specification for connecting peripheral devices to a personal computer. In the USB, the mouse and keyboard which were conventionally separate,
The company aims to standardize interfaces for printers, modems, speakers, and joysticks. When the personal computer has only one USB connector (USB port), the above peripheral devices can be star-shaped up to 127
Can be connected to a unit.

[0005] In addition to the initial USB 1.x, USB 2.x and the like that are upwardly compatible with the USB have been developed.
USB 2.x or the like has a high data transfer speed and is suitable as an interface for the storage device. As another new-generation interface specification having a high data transfer rate, IEEE1394 or the like has been developed.

[0006] Peripheral devices using a new generation interface such as USB have the following advantages.

[0007] There is no need to use an expansion board or set an ID for each device as in the case of SCSI, and it is easy to handle even for users who are not familiar with personal computers.

[0008] Even during the operation of a personal computer (operation system), it is possible to freely connect / disconnect to / from the personal computer (hot plug function), and it is easy for a user who is not familiar with a personal computer to handle.

The type (number) of connectors to be provided in the personal computer may be small, which can contribute to miniaturization of the personal computer.

[0010] The above-mentioned advantages are effective, and the advantages are that the personal computer itself often has only a minimum storage means, so that more personal computer users can use the new generation interface including the storage device. Peripheral devices that use are now being used. As more and more users use the peripheral devices, the peripheral devices are easier to handle and have a variety of personal computers that are used by each individual or the tastes and interiors of each individual There is a growing demand for sophisticated designs and so-called sophisticated designs. For example, a stationary type called iMac / iBook of Apple Computer /
A laptop personal computer has a USB port, but only a minimal storage means, simplifies operation, and offers a variety of translucent colors called skeleton bodies at the time of purchase. It has a selectable resin-rich housing. The user of such a personal computer is required to handle the peripheral device more easily, to design the personal computer main body or various designs that match the tastes or interiors of the users, or to call a so-called sophisticated design. Is requested.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of manufacturing and performance of the device, peripheral devices are excellent in cost performance, can be easily assembled in a large amount in a short time, and have sufficient noise and heat radiation measures. It is preferable that misuse by the user can be prevented.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION CD-R and CD-
A recording medium such as an RW is not packaged unlike an MO or a general DVD-RAM. For this reason,
Drives such as CD-Rs and CD-RWs record from the disk table unless they are installed in a substantially horizontal width and depth direction unless a separate package is prepared for use or a hold mechanism is provided on the disk table. The media drops. However, CD-R and CD
Peripheral devices for -RW and the like are relatively small, so that there is a possibility that the user may mistakenly install the so-called vertical direction in the width direction and the depth direction (so-called vertical installation). Conventionally, as a countermeasure, a note has been written in the instruction manual or on the casing of the peripheral device that the user wants to install it horizontally because it cannot be placed vertically. However, such passive measures can often be overlooked by the user, and a more proactive and user-friendly measure is desired.

In general, a peripheral device for a personal computer includes a unit including an electronic circuit unit excluding a mechanical unit and an interface unit and a power supply unit which can be built in the housing of the computer main unit, an interface unit, a power supply unit, and And a metal case made of a sheet metal which is housed and finished. Among them, the metal case is a particularly large component among the components of the peripheral device excluding the unit, and is a very design component that is always visible to the user. Considering the demands of the above-mentioned recent peripheral devices in general, that is, various designs that match the personal computer main body design or the tastes or interiors of the users, and so-called sophisticated designs, The user is required to prepare various shapes and colors of the metal case. But,
At present, it is difficult to prepare metal cases of various designs from the viewpoint of mass production because the metal case has a low degree of freedom in the shape that can be processed. Furthermore, even if the user gets tired of, for example, the design of the peripheral device once purchased, it is not easy to replace the device only for that reason.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a personal computer peripheral device which can meet various design needs of a user, is excellent in cost performance, and can prevent erroneous use of the user. .

[0015]

According to the present invention, a unit (10) that can be built in the housing of a personal computer is provided.
A peripheral device for a personal computer which is packaged outside of the housing, is installed in a substantially horizontal direction in the width direction and the depth direction, and is electrically connected to the personal computer for use. A resin lower and upper case (2) combined with each other so as to cover the unit (100) from below and above in the height direction.
00 and 300) and removably on the widthwise side surfaces of the lower and upper cases (200 and 300) to retain the combination of the lower and upper cases (200 and 300) combined with each other. An outer surface (401) of the holder (400) mounted on the widthwise side surface of the lower and upper cases (200 and 300). The peripheral device for a personal computer is characterized in that the peripheral device is inclined at a predetermined angle or more with respect to the width direction and cannot be installed when the width direction is substantially vertical.

Incidentally, the reference numerals in the parentheses are merely examples given for easy understanding, and the present invention is not limited to these.

[0017]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a peripheral device for a personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIGS. 3A and 3C, the peripheral device for a personal computer according to the embodiment of the present invention has a housing (Not shown)
The D-RW unit 100 is packaged, installed outside the housing with the width direction and the depth direction substantially horizontal, and used electrically connected to a personal computer to be output to the personal computer.
This is a CD-RW drive for reproducing information recorded from / on CD-RW to / from CD-RW.

The present apparatus is a CD-RW unit 1
00, the interface circuit unit 600, and the CD-RW
It has resin lower and upper cases 200 and 300 combined with each other so as to cover the unit 100 from below and above in the height direction (vertical direction in the figure). The lower and upper cases 200 and 300 have a rounded design.

The lower and upper cases 200 and 300 are
Flexible concave tongue piece 202 formed on lower case 200
And the projections 302 formed on the upper case 300 to form a pair. The device further comprises lower and upper cases 200 and 30 engaged with each other.
0 has a holder 400 mounted on the side surface in the width direction.

The holder 400 has lower and upper cases 200 and 3 so as to cover the engaging structures engaged with each other.
It is attached on the width side of 00. Specifically, the holder 400 includes the lower and upper cases 2 combined with each other.
A protrusion 402 engageable with the recess 305 formed on the upper case 300 and a flexible recessed tongue engageable with the protrusion 205 formed on the lower case 200 out of 00 and 300. 403. Then, it is detachably engaged with the lower and upper cases 200 and 300 combined with each other. That is, the present device has a simple assembly structure that basically does not require screwing.

When mounted on the widthwise side surfaces of the lower and upper cases 200 and 300, the holder 400
The outer surface 401 is inclined at a predetermined angle or more with respect to the height direction (vertical direction in the figure) of the present apparatus and has an arc shape, and is installed when the width direction is substantially vertical (so-called vertical installation). I cannot do it. As a specific example, for example, in the case where the height of the device when it is placed horizontally is approximately 50 mm,
The outer surface 401 has an arc shape with a radius of 120 mm and a radius of 6 mm. In the present invention, even if the outer surface of the holder is not arc-shaped, it is sufficient that the outer surface of the holder is inclined at a predetermined angle or more with respect to the height direction of the apparatus so that the holder cannot be placed vertically.

If a plurality of replacement holders having different designs (shapes, colors, etc.) are prepared in advance as alternatives to the holder 400 for the present apparatus, the user can easily select an arbitrary holder by himself / herself. Can be exchanged.

This device is electrically connected to a personal computer via a USB interface.

[0025]

The peripheral device for a personal computer according to the present invention is a combination of a resin lower and upper case combined with each other so as to cover the unit from below and above in the height direction, and a combination of the lower and upper case combined with each other. A resin holder removably mounted on the lower and upper case widthwise side surfaces to hold the upper and lower cases, and the outer surface of the holder mounted on the lower and upper case widthwise side surfaces is high. Since it is inclined at a predetermined angle or more with respect to the width direction and cannot be installed with the width direction substantially vertical, it can respond to various design requirements of the user, and is excellent in cost performance, In addition, user misuse can be prevented.

That is, a peripheral device for an unpackaged recording medium such as a CD-R and a CD-RW,
Even if the device cannot be placed vertically, erroneous use, such as the user accidentally placing it vertically and falling over, can be prevented.

Further, it is possible to meet the user's demand for various designs that match the design of the personal computer main body or the taste or interior of each user, or so-called sophisticated designs. In particular, by preparing a plurality of replacement holders in advance, the user can easily change the design without replacing the peripheral device once purchased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a peripheral device for a personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the personal computer peripheral device shown in FIG. 1 in a partially exploded manner.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a partial front view and a partial longitudinal sectional view, respectively, showing a main part of the personal computer peripheral device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 CD-RW unit 110 chassis 120 front panel 200 lower case 202 recessed tongue piece 205 projection 300 upper case 302 projection 305 recessed part 400 holder 401 outer surface 402 projection 403 recessed tongue piece 600 interface circuit section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A unit which can be built in a housing of a personal computer is packaged, installed outside the housing so as to be substantially horizontal in width and depth, and electrically connected to the personal computer. Peripheral devices for personal computers used as
A resin lower and upper case combined with each other to cover the unit from below and above in the height direction,
A resin holder removably mounted on the widthwise side surfaces of the lower and upper cases so as to hold a combination of the lower and upper cases combined with each other; An outer surface of the holder mounted on the width direction side surface of the upper case is inclined at a predetermined angle or more with respect to the height direction, so that the holder cannot be installed if the width direction is substantially vertical. A peripheral device for a personal computer, characterized in that: 2. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the holder includes a recess or protrusion engageable with a protrusion or recess formed on one of the lower and upper cases combined with each other, and the lower and upper cases combined with each other. And a flexible concave tongue or projection engageable with the projection or the flexible concave tongue formed on the other of the upper case and the lower and upper case combined with each other. 2. The peripheral device for a personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is detachably engaged. 3. The personal computer peripheral device according to claim 1, further comprising a replacement holder having the same shape as the holder. 4. The lower case and the upper case are combined with each other, and a protrusion formed on the width direction side surface of one of the cases and a flexible formed on the width direction side surface of the other case. The holder is fixed to each other by an engagement structure including a pair with a concave tongue piece, wherein the holder has the width of the lower and upper cases so as to cover the engagement structure engaged with each other. The peripheral device for a personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is mounted on a side surface in a direction. 5. USB interface or IEEE
The unit is electrically connected to the personal computer via a 1394 interface, and transmits information to be output to / from the personal computer to the unit in a direction substantially parallel to the width direction and the depth direction of the unit. The peripheral device for a personal computer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is a storage device for reproducing / recording from / to a recording medium used by being placed on a table.